A few days later...

Illumi smiled, seeing Corliss as a nice distraction from work. As much as he wanted to ditch, he had phone calls to make and orders to place. Putting it off would only keep them behind. His telephone started to ring, signaling someone downstairs was calling.

"Three people are here to see you, two children one young adult. They don't have an appointment. Send them away?" they asked.

"Names?" Illumi asked.

"Honjo and Yurina!" said a young voice.

"Send them up." he said then hung up.

Honjo was definitely an intelligent kid. Most kids would be caught before they got a foot out the door. He certainly needed 24/7 supervision. Minutes passed and a knock was heard.

"Come in." he said then heard the door open. "Ah, you are...?"

"Yurina's older sister. She kept asking me to take her to Sunny Side, so I did. Then we went there and then she wanted to come here after he said he wanted to go and here we are." she said, glancing at the two kids. "The caretaker said it was okay as long as I kept him posted every ten minutes."

"I was wondering how he got permission to leave after several offenses..." said Illumi, well aware that the caretaker didn't want to deal with him. "Well, nice to meet you. I happen to be friends with one of the caretakers and I have a good relationship with the kids there."

Honjo wormed his way onto Illumi's lap then started messing around on his desk. Illumi scolded him as he put things back in its place. They both looked as the woman was chuckling.

"Ah, don't mind me. If I didn't know already, I would've thought you two were related." she said, a small smile on her face.

"Mr. Zoldyck is my dad and Ms Steinbeck is my mom!" he said proudly.

"Oh? You're in a relationship...?" she asked with big eyes.

"No, no. Don't listen to him." Illumi said, covering Honjo's mouth. "Ms. Steinbeck will be his legal mother soon. I'm just a friend in all of this."

"I see... Well, since I'm here, I think I'd like to learn about your company. My friend was thinking of remodeling her entire house." she said, taking a business card. "Don't know where she's going to get the money though."

Honjo moved Illumi's hand as he and Yurina's older sister talked. He didn't want List to become his dad. Yurina tapped Honjo and quietly told him to follow. The two kids quietly left the room. They eagerly explored the building, often disrupting the people working there. They were soon caught by two employees who have had enough of their shenanigans.

"Someone call security. Tell them we got two kids without supervision." said one.

Just as they were about to be taken away, Yurina's sister appeared, asking if they've seen a little girl and boy.

"Are these two yours?" the other said.

"I apologize for the trouble they caused. We were just about to leave." she said, taking their hands.

"I want to say goodbye to Mr. Zoldyck." Honjo fussed.

"I'm sure you'll see him again. For now let's go so you two don't get into serious trouble." she said, noting the disapproving looks.

____

Corliss still hadn't responded to him. What all was she preparing for a measly three months? She wasn't this busy for the other monthaversaries. He was brought out of his thoughts by a shutter sound.

"You..." Illumi whispered.

"Long time no see, champ." they said, showing their face from behind the camera. "Missed me?"

Illumi quietly rose from his seat and hurried over to give them a hug. He squeezed them tight, rubbing his cheek against his head.

"Where did you disappear to Chubear?" Illumi fake weeped. "I was so lonely."

"I told you stop calling me Chubear. We aren't kids anymore." they fussed.

"Yet you look like one height wise." Illumi jokes, earning himself a heavy punch in the gut.

"This is why I travel. To get away from idiots like you." they said, upturning their nose.

"God Chuuya, just how much stronger did you get... I can't stand." Illumi whined.

"Anyway, I came back for a reason." said Chuuya, sitting him up. "You. You're the reason."

"Eh? Me? Do you need something?" Illumi asked, massaging his gut.

"I need you to pose as my boyfriend just for a day." he said, remembering how it came about. "I was drunk and I told them I was dating someone. They recorded me so now I have to prove it. You're the only one I can ask. Please say yes."

"Sure." said Illimi.

"Pretty please? I won't- wait, did you agree?" he asked.

"Yeah. Let's hope it can fit into my schedule." Illumi replied, gesturing towards his desk.

Chuuya spread his legs as to not step on Illumi and searched on his desk for his calendar. Illumi blinked, receiving a face full of crotch. A part of him wanted to be evil, but that would just give Chuuya another reason to punch him.

"The hell are you doing?" Chuuya asked, feeling something against his crotch. "You...!"

Illumi covered his head while laughing as Chuuya started to hit him with his calendar.

"I thought you weren't into guys huh? Are you messing with me?" Chuuya snapped, delivering one final blow.

"Actually..." Illumi said, setting a dark mood. "I don't know."

"Huh? You don't know? Weren't you proudly parading around not too long ago about loving women?" Chuuya commented, sitting down in front of Illumi.

"I was until I met a guy... Everything changed. I wanted him like I would a woman. I didn't know what to do or how to act." said Illumi, remembering that cold winter evening a year ago. "Ended up hurting the both of us..."

"You never told me this... Why?" asked Chuuya.

"Well for starters, you were in another continent... and even if I did tell you, you'd probably make fun of me." Illumi said, knowing Chuuya's personality.

"Okay, that's true, but we always got each other's back. So now you're in limbo?" asked Chuuya, writing down the meet up on his and Illumi's calendar.

"Yeah. I haven't dated since then. I don't really have time for it either." he said, leaning his head back against his desk. "Anyway, I need to get back to work."

"May I?" Chuuya asked, holding up his camera.

Illumi waved him off, giving him permission to take photos. Chuuya smiled happily then snapped a photo.

____

Corliss rubbed her cheek with the back of her hand that was covered in multiple things. List would be arriving in an hour, giving her enough time to ice the cake with frosting. She happily hummed as she applied it. She thought about Illumi's suggestion. She wrote down "You make me blush" instead, deciding to keep it appropriate.

An hour soon came to pass and she did a double check, making sure the things she wanted visible were in the right place. She heard the buzzer and quickly moved to answer it.

"List! So glad to see you. Come, come." said Corliss, sitting him down at the table.

"Wow... you made all of this?" he asked in surprise.

"When you live alone, cooking is important." she said, sitting across from him. "There's cake too."

"You went all out huh? I must be one lucky guy." said List, laughing happily.

Corliss smiled then turned on the music.

"My favorite music too? I'm really being spoiled." he said, shaking his head. He pulled out two small boxes from his bag, setting both in front of her. "You can only choose one."

Corliss quietly thought it over then picked the one with the blue bow. She opened it and saw a necklace with a ring on it. She picked it up and carefully inspected it. She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it could mean it.

"It's not a proposal, don't worry. I just thought the words on it fit you." he said, noticing her concerned look.

"Ah, I get it. So, what was in the other box?" she asked curiously.

He opened it, revealing a necklace with the same design but with different words. Corliss watched him pick it up and put it on himself.

"Matching necklaces. Cliche, but still cute." she said, happily fingering hers. "Hey, List."

"Hm? What is it?" he asked quizzically.

"Do you love me?" she asked.

"Indeed I do. I love every inch of you." he responded, kissing the back of her hands.

They happily chatted as they ate, endlessly complimenting and making the other blush. List offered to help her clean up and refused to accept no for an answer. Clean up went by fast and Corliss started to dread what came next. List wrapped his arms around her then kissed her cheek.

"I have another present for you." he said, leading her.

Corliss found herself in her bedroom. It clicked instantly. She turned around in his arms, allowing him to kiss her. Something that had always occupied a dark corner of her mind was coming to light. List moved from her lips and started to leave his marks on her neck. It was when he palmed her crotch that he stopped.

"What- What is it...?" she asked quietly.

List looked down then lifted her skirt. He narrowed his eyes then looked at her.

"Am I a joke to you?" he asked, dead serious.

"Of course not! Why would you think that?" Corliss replied, wondering what the problem was.

"You have a dick for fucks sake, Corliss. Is that even your real name?" he said in an angry tone.

"What are you getting upset for? You just said you loved every inch of me!" she shouted.

"Because I thought you were a woman!" he shouted back.

"I am a woman!" Corliss shouted, her voicing breaking.

"I'm not doing this shit. Absolutely not." he said, leaving the room.

Corliss bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. There was no reason to, she brought it upon herself. Her tears fell regardless. Did it matter if she told him earlier in their relationship? Maybe, maybe not. She wouldn't be able to find out now. Her sobbing became worse, her breathing becoming short and haggard. Her parents were right, there was no way anyone would love someone like her.

A freak that didn't belong in the world. She heard her ringtone suddenly go off. She didn't answer it. She only wanted to disappear somewhere, where no one could find her. Her ringtone sounded again. It continued like that for two minutes straight until she answered.

"You finally answered! How's- wait, are you crying...?" Illumi asked, watching Chuuya look through his photos. "Did he cancel on you? Need a shoulder to cry on?"

"I want to die." she said after a long silence. "It hurts so much..."

"What's going on, Lin? Talk to me." he said, leaving Chuuya behind to get to his car. "I'm heading over there now, so you better have your door open when I do."

She quietly cried as she tried listening to Illumi talk. It was hard when her entire mind was full of List's rejection on repeat. She climbed out of bed and made her way to the kitchen.

____

Illumi dashed up the stairs and repeatedly pressed on her doorbell. He didn't want to lose someone dear to him. Not again. He tried the knob and found the door to be open. He quickly headed inside and looked around. Everything seemed normal. He poked his head into rooms then started to panic as he saw a part of Corliss's body on the floor.

He moved in, only to see her passed out on the floor, a knife in hand and a mutilated cake. Illumi moved the knife out of her hand and held her in his arms. It was clear what she needed more than anything was comfort and support. Corliss turned in his arms, now facing his chest.

"I'm here, Lin... You can rest easy now." he whispered, feeling her relax slightly.

"You came..." she whispered, having been awoken by his hold on her. "Go home..."

"I'd have to be stupid to do something like that. I'm staying here the night. Let's get you in the shower and wash off this cake." said Illumi, standing up with her in his arms.

"You're doing too much. I can do this myself." she said, squirming in his arms.

"I think you misunderstand. I don't have any intention of seeing you shower." he said. "I'll be waiting in the living room."

He set her down on the sink then gave her a smile. She avoided his gaze. Illumi figured she wanted to be left alone, so he turned on his heel to leave. She grabbed his arm then hopped off the sink to give him a proper hug.

"Thank you..." she whispered.

"You're my precious Lin. I couldn't sit idle knowing you're upset." he said, patting her head.

A faint smile graced her face as she let him go. A simple hug wouldn't be able to express her appreciation for everything that he had done for her.