VI

· — Words are just words,

unless you keep them.

Makino had sharp ears and he was trained well by Kira because they knew they might get in trouble as Kira's assassinations increased as time passed. Makino pretended that he didn't hear anything when he heard someone breathing right by the table, as if they were tired from doing something, maybe running a lot.

The person by the table saw Makino's feet come to him, but he knew the young boy was armed as he entered the room. He just couldn't see his face because of how dark it was. He could just see his silhouette in the light from the dining space.

"Who sent you?" Makino whispered as he turned on the lights in the room, illuminating the room with brightness as he tried to make out the man's face. The table went flying over when the man jumped in surprise when he saw Makino in attack mode. The man's first instinct was to defend himself.

The man wore a beige-coloured Yukata, and his feet were covered with Japanese-styled socks. He looked middle-aged as Makino scanned him. He had a scar across his face, from his forehead to his cheek, right over his eyes.

"My mum isn't home. Don't ruin the house. I'll have to clean everything if you do," Makino said neutrally. The man took a pocket knife from the insides of his Yukata sleeves as he confronted Makino. The boy rolled his grey eyes and tried swiftly to kick the knife away from the man's grasp.

The keyword here would be "tried," because the man had moved away from his place. He was now right behind Makino. The move surprised Makino. But the younger wasn't that stupid to just surrender. Makino bent backwards, his back and knees bending down as he dodged the man's attempt to slice him.

Makino swiftly grabbed the man's hand and twisted it to make the man unable to use his weapon and drop it. Despite the twisted position of the man's hand, he head-locked Makino in his arms, causing Makino to choke. Yet he gripped the man's arms with his full strength. He dug his nails into his skin. He flipped the man over on the floor and climbed on top of him.

Makino scoffed before pointing the sharp knife at the man's eyes, which were only an inch apart.

Makino asked, pretended he didn't know who he was, and he didn't put the knife down.

He even kept his guard up because he couldn't put his trust in the man.

"Who are you?" the younger growled.

"Listen kid, I'm just here to deliver this message to Akuma-Sama." The man placed his hands under his head.

"Just tell me who you are or I'm poking your eyes out of your eye sockets." Makino said, gritting his teeth. The man was getting on his nerves.

I'm working with Akuma-Sama. I'm not an enemy. I swear. I was just sent here to talk to him. I'm just an informer." He said as he held his hands in front of him to defend himself from Makino, who was rather towering over him.

"He's asleep. He'll kill you if you make him wake up now." Makino said, flipping the knife in his hand like he was penspinning after getting off of the man.

"Please kindly wake him up. It's urgent." The man pleaded as he bowed on his knees, apologetically.

Makino purses his lips, unsure whether he should awaken Kira.

"What's making so much noise?" a deep, yawning voice came from the staircase. The sliding door to the living room slowly opened, revealing Kira in a black t-shirt with Itadori Yuuji from Jujutsu Kaisen printed on the front and a pair of black sweatpants.

"Dude, this intruder says he works with you." Makino said.

"What did you do to the living space, Kojiro?! You dumb bastard!" He growled as he made eye contact with the man after rubbing his irritated eyes with his fist.

"I—I apologise to Akuma-Sama! But this is important!" Kojiro said. His tone changed as soon as he saw Kira.

"Ruining my house is important? What—?" Kira asked wryly.

"No. I meant this!" The informer handed an envelope to Kira and stepped back.

"What's this?"

"This is information about this man whom you need to assassinate within three days. Three days later, he will fly out of the country. You need to end his life before he does." The informer said as Kira took out the picture of a young man who looked in his late twenties.

"This might be mission impossible as there would be several security guards and cops around. You need to be very cautious when you're on it. Make sure you don't get caught." Kojiro said, his arms covered with his Yukata sleeves. Something in Makino felt anxious.

"Fine. How much am I getting paid?" Kira said as he put the picture back in.

"Indefinite. You'll get paid after you annihilate him. The contractor said he will pay as much as you want." That made Kira smirk.

"I need an advance payment. It'll be done after he pays." The informer sighed in relief and bowed.

"Please tell me how much you wish to get paid in advance."

"Hundred K for now. I'll tell him the rest of the payment after I'm done with the work."

"Thank you, Akuma-Sama." The man bowed and made his way out. After thanking Kira, he went to the front door and left after closing the door as quietly as he possibly could.

"Well, what now?" Makino asked.

"I will go sleep again. Hurry up if you have any work left." Kira said as he yawned again and left the living space.

"Yeah..." Makino cleaned up the kitchen and turned the lights off, only leaving the corridor lights on. Kira washed his hands one more time and went upstairs to sleep. He twisted the doorknob as he entered the room he and his brother slept in.

He yawned as he rolled into his soft bed. He felt sleepy, but he also didn't feel sleepy. He felt too anxious to fall asleep. He turned and tossed on his bed. And Kira noticed it even though he was asleep. He had good sub-consciousness.

"What's wrong, Maki-Chan? You can't seem to sleep."

"Nothing, Kira. Go back to sleep. Sorry if I bothered you." Makino said quietly as he stared up at the ceiling, which was littered with glowing stars and planets, which he and Kira had decorated when they were kids.

"No, talk to me. Maki, I don't see you worried so often. It must be serious. What happened? Did something happen? Did someone tell you something?"

"Nothing..."

"Makino." Kira whispered as he got up from his bed, approaching the bed of his brother, sitting on the edge while his best friend slash brother lied on the bed.

"Tell me, Maki. I'll try my best to help you." Kira whispered as he soothed Makino by squeezing his arms softly with his big cold hands.

Kira said, "It's jus—it's just this that I'm worried about you." Makino sighed, something in his chest feeling heavy.

"Why?"

"I'm worried about you. I'm scared that you might get into trouble whilst doing all this killing-stalking. I don't want to lose you, Kira. You're my only friend, my best friend, in fact. I don't want to lose my best friend and only sibling. I don't want to be alone again. I don't want to feel scared of being alone while Oka-San and Otou-San are out working late," Makino said lowly as he choked on his breath. eyes stinging with tears.

"I heard what Kojiro-San said today. I don't want our parents to find out about you. Please Kira."

"Makino, you're being silly! Nothing would happen to me! I'll be absolutely okay. And our parents would find out nothing. I won't let that happen. Not when I'm still alive." Kira said affectionately as he leaned in, his lips touching Makino's arms.

It was nothing sensual; it was just their way of showing affection. Kira and Makino weren't fans of skin ship, but during times like this, they seemed to crave a little interaction like this between them. They fill the gap themselves, which their parents were unable to fill.

Makino is grateful to Kira's parents for disowning their child. He got a chance to feel the love of an older brother and, in general, because of them. He didn't want to taint his and Kira's relationship by any means. He loved Kira a lot, and Kira knew it.

For Kira, Makino was the best thing that ever happened to him. He felt like he needed to protect Makino with everything he had. He treated Makino like a brother would, but deep inside, he saw Makino as a delicate flower who needed to be protected at all costs or it would break off.

He knew Makino was strong and kind of cold-hearted, but he still had a soft side, which he hesitated to show sometimes. He would only show it to Kira and no one else, not even his parents.

"Promise me, Kira." Makino perked his pinky finger up in front of Kira.

"What promise?"

"That you won't die in your assassinations." Kira smiled and hooked his pinky finger with Makino.

"Okay bro. I won't die. I love you." The ravened head said as he hugged the boy, completely climbing on the bed and covering himself with his brother's blanket. Makino let out a breathy chuckle as he snuggled into his brother's chest.

"I love you too."

Feeling safe, he let slumber take him over. Same with Kira, not knowing what was coming for them later on.