ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ᴛᴡᴏ

୨⎯ It is the Start of an Ending. ⎯୧

As I take a breather, exiting through the front door of this vintage house that belongs to my brother, Rindou frantically follows me from behind, his breath shakes heavily as if there is something wrong. My eyes pan through the sides to glance at his anxious face.

I then stop, swiftly turning around and asking him, "Tell me you are gonna explain everything to me, Rin. How do you know my brother? How long have you known him?"

He gulps inaudibly before responding to my bombardment of a question, "No more lies, right?"

"Yes!" I exclaim.

Rindou answers, sweating as he speaks, "I only know Sanzu because of my brother who is in the same organization as him, Bonten. It was only last week when I found out Sanzu is actually related to you. Believe me when I say it but what we have right now has nothing to do with him!"

I take a step forward as I watch him turn blue as anxiety devours him fully, "Then what are you afraid of now that you are talking to me?"

"I am afraid that you wouldn't trust my word. I am afraid that I might lose you because of all this." He says, his eyes trembling in worry. I run towards him, embracing him tightly.

Rindou rests his warm palm on my head as he lowers his voice, "I trust Sanzu wouldn't hurt you despite him being a part of a criminal organization. I know how bad Bonten can be with unwanted visitors, but don't worry, you will be safe as long as you are with me, Y/n."

He now looks at me with an adoring gaze, locking his hands with mine. "I wouldn't kill for you. I would die for you, Y/n. Because protecting you is enough for me. Seeing you alive makes me feel alive even if I am already at death's door."

I let out a tiny chuckle as my eyes stare at him with a smile so vibrant. "What are you saying? Is this your wedding vow to me?" He proceeds to pinch my cheek as he replies with an eased expression, "I just felt like saying it to you."

"Hmm?" I then brush my finger on his nose and say, "Then I would kill for you, Rindou. It sounds about right. I don't need saving when it doesn't come from you, boo~"

Rindou laughs, "Come on, you don't have to kill people for me. That's seriously unnecessary for you to do!" I then strike him a poking expression as I respond, "Then you don't have to die for me, idiot. It's as simple as that."

"I don't want your hands to get stained." He says, raising my slender hands to his chest as he cups it into his palms. I reply back to him, grinning, "I don't want your heart to stop beating for me."

"It's a deal."

"Mhm, good." I say before we both share childish laughter. Then, our eyes meet again, screaming for 'I love you.' as we slowly lean for a sweet and tender kiss. Synchronously, we both say "I love you!" at the same time as we end the romance.

"God, are we turning into those cringey couples?" I ask in a joking manner. "I mean like those in the movies where the main character and the male lead are kissing in the rain but here, it's literally pitch dark. Do you get my-!"

Rindou kisses me one more time before saying, "What are you yapping about? We are a perfectly fine couple who are about to get married soon and...possibly have a kid."

"Okay, stop right there. You are jumping a bit too far. Let's start with getting married first. Let us not overwhelm ourselves!" I point out, widening my eyes with his suddenness. His impulsiveness highly surprises me sometimes like how he took part in that experimental film just for me.

"You don't want my kid?!" He yells, bantering with me.

"Oh, Jesus..." I utter with awkwardness entering the room. "I did not say that. My point is we should do things one at a time. Don't get ahead of yourself, Rin."

"Hey, those two actually happen on the same day... I think."

I simply roll my eyes at him but in return, Rindou grips my jaw fast and says with a smirk, "Didn't I mention to you last time that you'll get the taste of your own medicine when you roll your eyes at me again? Y/n, you are in for a treat."

He hastily picks me up, carrying me in both of his arms, where I squeal out of surprise as he brings me back inside the house. He carries me with ease and I can feel him being delicate with my body. Is this how light I am or is he just that strong?

Sanzu then chimes in emerging from the background, "I didn't know you two were this close. How come I am not aware that you plan to marry my little sister, Rindou?" His proper stance and innocent smile reveals his true form which is being a manipulator at heart.

Rindou brings me back to my feet and answers, "No shit. You never told me you have a sister. And isn't it weird to refer your own sister to your lethal weapon? To me, Y/n is like honey. Sweet and addicting."

Sanzu's eye twitches just now. I quickly nudge Rindou by his back to make him quit the jokes. "You are quite bold to spill your dirty joke to me. Your language disgusts me. If you are gonna do it, don't do it inside my house. I built this house as my sanctuary."

I laugh awkwardly as I deny what he said, "We aren't! Rindou and I are just a normal couple. We can't possibly be out here doing it!"

"Nah, I don't really care-!" I abruptly cover his mouth as I stare at my brother with an apologetic chuckle escaping my breath. "I hope you don't get the wrong idea about your sister, Sanzu. ...Rindou is just a jokester from time to time!"

"You have my approval of the said marriage. It's rare for me to see Rindou being like this, all jolly and 'joking' around." He says, having his composed expression back as he speaks to me.

"Well, what is he like when it's just you and him?"

"He usually stays serious when I give him a call. Oh, he loves brutally degrading people before killing them. You know, he is such a great accomplice. I have not been captured once thanks to him cleaning up my mess!" Sanzu replies with a sanely happy smile on his lips. Surprise doesn't even match my current reaction.

"Uhm...I can explain." Rindou says. "This is my only way to know about my brother's condition since he joined Bonten for my sake."

"So you really are an accomplice of a criminal organization!" I exclaim, horrified for his actions. But, he says in a speedy tone, proving his case, "N-No! I only help Sanzu, not the whole Bonten. Sanzu makes sure that no other Bonten members know about what he's doing or about me so don't worry!"

"I wish you could have told me this earlier. What have we gotten ourselves into now?" I speak in disbelief. "We are technically all tied to a life of crime now. How are you so sure that this organization won't hunt you two down?"

"I don't know." Sanzu answers, shrugging his shoulders. My mouth slightly drops. "Y/n, I am a huge risk-taker. Don't have your hopes up for me, but as for Rindou, nobody really knows about him the last time I checked."

Rindou then says, speaking in amazement, "I don't know how he does it even after an incident from the past which involves me walking into one of Bonten's secret deals. Well, that's the reason why Ran joined Bonten...to put my life out of danger."

"How did you even get there..."

"Uh... It's a long story."

Sanzu then casually walks towards the front door before I stop him as I call for his attention, "Where are you going in the middle of the night? Should we also take our leave?"

He moves his head to the side and answers my question with a smirk, "I'll be setting Takeomi's last treasure into ablaze. I have blown up three of what he owns: his old car, his crappy house, and this luxurious hotel passed down to him by a friend."

"Wait, what is his last treasure...?" I ask but he just places his index finger in front of his lips, remaining mysterious and sinister throughout the end. He then takes his leave while Rindou and I are just alone in his house.

Rindou watches with me as my brother walks away. "It's best not to know, Y/n. It is so easy for him to slash somebody's throat let alone burn an estate down to the ground. This is who your brother really is. He isn't a monster, but he resembles one."

My expression fades to a concerned look as I add, "Monsters can have hearts too. Why does fate forbid him to love when it is the only cure to his torn soul? The formula is complex, however, the result is worthwhile."

Rindou leans my head to his shoulder and plants a kiss on the side of my forehead. "Hopefully this will be the last thing we have to settle because, god, I want to marry you already, Y/n. I just love everything about you."

♥ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ...