Kill Your Beloved Mercury

Chapter 1

Chapter 01

"Okay, now you can talk about your husband."

Horikawa Kunihiro pushed his laptop to his side, placed his hands neatly on his knees, and tried to make his posture look like that of an elementary school student who was preparing to listen attentively to a lesson.

"That's not my husband! I'll say it again, we're not married, he's just my boyfriend, at most we're living together!" His friend's words made Kashuu Kiyomitsu, who was already on the verge of a meltdown, explode. He slammed his hand on the armrest next to him, his voice becoming even faster with excitement, like a machine gun firing non-stop.

"Okay, okay, your boyfriend." Horikawa innocently raised his hands and quickly corrected himself. He knew this person's arrogant temper, especially when the other party was so angry, he had to go along with him and not add fuel to the fire.

"Besides, I only got together with that guy in the first place because of an emergency, and I had to find someone to pretend to be my boyfriend. He can't be considered a real boyfriend at all!" Kashuu Kiyomitsu said angrily, leaning back. The soft sofa cushions behind him made him feel a little better.

"So, can you tell me now what's going on between you and your fake boyfriend?" Horikawa sighed, feeling like he was becoming more and more like a mother hen.

Upon hearing this, Kashuu Kiyomitsu became even angrier. His handsome face twisted slightly with anger, and his crimson eyes burned with rage. His right hand slammed uncontrollably on the table in front of him, and the poor table could only let out a pitiful groan before breaking off a corner.

Before Horikawa could even feel sorry for his mahogany table, he was stunned by Kashuu Kiyomitsu's next words.

"I suspect that guy is cheating on me!"

To talk about Kashuu Kiyomitsu and his fake boyfriend Yamato no Kami Yasusada, we have to go back to five years ago.

At that time, as a rising star within the organization, Kashuu Kiyomitsu's performance naturally attracted the attention of many high-ranking members and even some bigwigs in the underworld. To meet their expectations, Kashuu Kiyomitsu had to give his all. Missions not only couldn't fail, but they also had to be completed efficiently and effectively. Only in this way could he smoothly navigate this dark and treacherous path.

It was during this time that his friendship with Horikawa was formed. As partners in the same group, one was responsible for intelligence gathering and provision, while the other was responsible for covert infiltration and assassination. Although there are no permanent friends in the underworld, without some genuine feelings and trust, how could one entrust their life to another for long? In a sense, their acquaintance was extremely fortunate, since being betrayed by a partner is a common occurrence in this cannibalistic underground world.

But reality is often unpredictable, and there are always times when even the best plans can go wrong.

Whether it was an error in the intelligence team's investigation, a mistake in Tankawa's command at headquarters, or Kashuu Kiyomitsu's recent lack of sleep causing him to lose focus during the operation, whatever the reason, he unfortunately failed and had to retreat in a hurry.

Fortunately, the mission location was a renowned nightclub, a place where extravagance was always bustling at night. Stepping out of the private room was practically like plunging into a sea of people. Although he couldn't stand the surrounding smoke, given the circumstances, Kashuu Kiyomitsu could only frown and hurry out, changing his attire as he went. He tossed his jacket on the ground, removed his baseball cap, and let his full head of red hair cascade down, casually securing it with a hair tie at his shoulder. By the time he reached the lobby, he looked no different from the other young people who had come to this brothel for pleasure.

But the enemy was clearly faster. Before he even reached the door, Kashuu Kiyomitsu had already spotted several burly men there, checking each person trying to leave. Kashuu Kiyomitsu clicked his tongue in annoyance. He knew that going out alone at this time would definitely attract attention, which would be like walking into a trap. The best solution was to have someone escort him out.

Just as Kashuu Kiyomitsu was looking around to see who to target, the lights suddenly went out, and gasps of surprise erupted from the surrounding young men and women. The party emcee quickly grabbed the microphone and explained that it was just another one of those random, unpleasant entertainment activities – the same old story of enjoying a secret tryst in the dark. Kashuu Kiyomitsu frowned; this put him in a difficult position. As a hopelessly attracted man, he didn't want to just grab any fat, scrawny guy. But with so many people around, there was a chance the other party's bodyguards might be chasing after them. The best-case scenario was to find someone and hide in a corner as soon as possible.

As Kashuu Kiyomitsu thought this, he slowly backed away, but the couple next to him, deeply engrossed in their kiss, didn't notice him. The girl, caught up in the moment, almost lost her footing and nearly fell onto Kashuu Kiyomitsu. He frowned and quickly dodged, but accidentally stepped on the foot of the person behind him.

"Hiss—I'm talking to you—"

The man seemed somewhat annoyed and wanted to say something, but Kashuu Kiyomitsu found the voice extremely young and inexplicably pleasant. Adhering to the idea that most good-looking people are not bad even if they are voice-blind, Kashuu Kiyomitsu decisively turned around, grabbed the man's collar, leaned in, and kissed him.

ice.

This was Kashuu Kiyomitsu's first reaction. He wondered if the other person had just drunk something with ice, as their lips were almost completely cold, a stark contrast to his own fiery warmth. A lingering spiciness of the alcohol seemed to remain on their lips, mixed with the coolness of mint, and the surrounding tobacco scent made Kashuu Kiyomitsu dizzy. He listened intently to the footsteps around him, while casually tracing the other person's lips. Just as Kashuu Kiyomitsu thought the person was almost gone and was about to leave, the person, seemingly startled by his sudden action, abruptly grabbed Kashuu Kiyomitsu's arm, pulling him tightly into a hug, and deepening the kiss without warning.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu was startled by his actions and almost reached for the dagger at his waist with his right hand. Fortunately, the guy seemed to be just a little lustful, so he loosened his grip on his waist and simply let the other person gnaw at him like a small animal.

Although it was dimly lit, Kashuu Kiyomitsu squinted and could still make out the person's appearance through the faint light. While the features weren't very clear, the overall shape was quite good, especially the pair of luminous eyes that honestly reflected his own image. Before Kashuu Kiyomitsu could delve into the emotions within, a burst of colorful light erupted overhead, and the event was over. Slight complaints arose from the surroundings, but were quickly replaced by the passion of the ensuing rock music.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu finally got a good look at the person in front of him. He was indeed as handsome as he had expected, the kind of clean-cut good-looking man he preferred. His eyes were a clear, light blue, and he was looking at him with a half-smile. His hair was tied in a ponytail, and the fluffy ponytail inexplicably reminded him of a Pomeranian's tail.

Seeing that the other person was still scrutinizing him, the young man couldn't help but cough. Kashuu Kiyomitsu then realized that the two of them should have kissed enough, and he quickly stepped back, putting some distance between them, feeling a little embarrassed.

"I haven't asked you yet—"

"Let's go get a room."

"—Name... huh?"

The blue-haired youth blinked, seemingly surprised by the other's enthusiasm. But since they had already kissed, he wasn't embarrassed. Just as he was about to discuss with the handsome young man where to go for some adult fun, the other suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door. Near the door, the boy snuggled into his arms, expertly wrapping his arms around his waist, pressing his face against his chest with a blissful expression. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were incredibly eager for something.

The young man found it amusing, but with a beauty in his arms, he was happy to let her take the initiative. So he brazenly placed his right hand on the boy's buttocks, pretending not to notice that the boy's body suddenly stiffened, and swaggered towards the door, looking just like a lecherous ghost seduced by the little vixen in his arms.

While Kashuu Kiyomitsu smiled ambiguously on the surface, he was inwardly cursing the man who had taken advantage of him countless times, even though he had long forgotten that he was the one who had leaned in to kiss him first. As soon as he was out of the bodyguards' sight, Kashuu Kiyomitsu immediately broke free from the other man's embrace and glared fiercely at the young man who had his arms crossed and was smiling innocently.

"Hey, I'm the one who rescued you, and this is how you treat me?" The young man looked at the person who was about to explode and said with a hint of sadness.

"Thank you, is that enough?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu snorted coldly, feeling the warmth still on his buttocks, and his face darkened even more.

"Did you sneak in here? Young people these days are really something, knowing how to get into places like this at such a young age," the young man said, seemingly oblivious to the other's cold gaze, still chatting with him with a smile. "Are you a high school student? You look so young, yet your kissing skills are actually quite good."

"Huh?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu looked at him with a dark expression, thinking that he was just dressed a little more fashionably today and had a hairstyle that made him look younger, so how did he become a high school student?

"But you're so young and you already know how to book a hotel room. How about I show you the adult world tonight?" The young man grinned, revealing eight big white teeth.

"You're a high school student, aren't you! You're crazy." Kashuu Kiyomitsu glared at him, feeling that the mission for tonight had failed and there was no need to stay and get entangled with this idiot, so he turned around and prepared to leave.

Who knew this person seemed to take an interest and kept following Kashuu Kiyomitsu, chattering away.

"You're not a high school student? How old are you then?"

"You're an adult? Then maybe we really can go to a hotel room."

"Why aren't you talking to me? Oh, by the way, my name is Yamato no Kami Yasusada. What's your name?"

With their temporary residence almost within reach, Kashuu Kiyomitsu finally couldn't hold back any longer and yelled at Yamato no Kami Yasusada behind him, "I'll call you a high school student, okay?!"

"Haha, you're so funny."

You're the one who's funny! Your whole family is funny!

That very night, having finally escaped the clutches of that lunatic and thinking he'd never have to see him again, Kashuu Kiyomitsu, for some unknown reason, encountered Yamato no Kami Yasusada in several subsequent missions. If he hadn't accidentally tested Yamato no Kami's fighting abilities and found him to be surprisingly weak, he would have suspected Yamato no Kami was a spy sent by the rivals. But these missions seemed to be plagued by misfortune, failing one after another. The most dangerous mission was only saved by Yamato no Kami's delighted greeting, "You're here too, Kiyomitsu!" which allowed him to escape.

Kashuu Kiyomitsu was feeling rather frustrated. Because of the mission's failure, he and Horikawa had both been severely punished, and to make matters worse, he kept running into Yamato no Kami Yasusada's irritating face, which was incredibly annoying. But he couldn't exactly grab the guy by the collar and question him about whether he was truly a jinx sent by heaven, so he could only swallow his anger and try his best not to get annoyed.

However, Kashuu Kiyomitsu had to admit that Yamato no Kami Yasusada had indeed saved his life several times. Feeling guilty, he paid attention to the guy a few times, only for the shameless man to take advantage of his inattention and kiss him forcibly again. This made Kashuu Kiyomitsu so angry that he repeatedly warned himself not to lay a hand on a commoner, which prevented him from cutting off the bastard's groping hand.

You really can't have a conscience when it comes to this kind of person!

Whether by fate or not, after a few encounters, the two actually became acquainted. To this end, Kiyomitsu had to fabricate a whole host of lies about his identity, transforming himself from a professional assassin into a reporter chasing news. Fortunately, his organization controlled a newspaper, making his lies airtight. Meanwhile, Yamato no Kami Yasusada revealed his identity as a freelance photographer shortly after their initial meeting, which seemed to explain his elusive nature. It must be said, reporters and photographers do share some similarities.

The main reason why contact with Yamato no Kami Yasusada was not completely severed was because of a casual remark made by Horikawa.

"If that person is really an idiot, then why not make use of him? Aren't these civilians the best protective shield?"

Kashuu Kiyomitsu thought this made sense, so he got a new phone card to use as a reporter, even though it only contained Yamato no Kami Yasusada's number.

However, this also inadvertently allowed Yamato no Kami Yasusada to infiltrate his life even more, especially after the guy got his phone number. Sending text messages every day became commonplace, and he always sent some very incomprehensible messages, leaving people speechless for a while. At first, Kashuu Kiyomitsu forgot to put the phone on silent mode, and as a result, during one mission, with his dagger already at the target's neck, the default ringtone of an iPhone broke the silence. Kashuu Kiyomitsu could only awkwardly grab the knife and quickly cut the target's artery, then answer the phone with his hand covered in blood. Although, after answering, Yamato no Kami Yasusada just excitedly said that he had seen the sunrise at the beach that day, which looked especially like the fried eggs at the Western restaurant they often went to.

"What the hell is this?" Kashuu Kiyomitsu angrily hung up the phone and silenced it, vowing never to bring it on his next mission.

Yet, one has to admit that Yamato no Kami Yasusada is truly remarkable. Having been brought into the organization from a young age, growing up amidst bloodshed and death, perhaps the last vestige of his humanity is what prevented him from becoming a killing machine. Nevertheless, Kashuu Kiyomitsu's childhood was far from ordinary. While other children were reciting their lessons in classrooms, he was forced to clutch a dagger and rush into every killing. Even when he spoke politely to people, it was merely a meticulous preparation for the next fatal blow. Having grown up surrounded by underworld figures, he had to be constantly on guard, always holding a dagger and a gun. Even with his partner, the bond he shared with Horikawa—a bond so strong they could entrust their backs to each other—was forged through countless life-or-death experiences. Therefore, in Kashuu Kiyomitsu's understanding, developing a relationship with someone that doesn't require weapons takes a considerable amount of time and comes at a significant cost.

But none of this applied to Yamato no Kami Yasusada. This guy was like a nemesis sent from heaven, specifically designed to completely counter him, Kashuu Kiyomitsu. His emotions, which had been trained to remain calm, suddenly became unusually vivid after being provoked by Yamato no Kami Yasusada, as if this man knew exactly what to say and what to do to make him fly into a rage.

This was a completely new and novel interpersonal experience for Kashuu Kiyomitsu. Yet it was also incredibly complicated. On one hand, his true identity was too shocking to be exposed; on the other hand, he was so attached to this extraordinary relationship. Unlike his relationship with Horikawa, and certainly not with those who required him to speak with weapons, this relationship allowed him to relax and rediscover himself.

Despite his partner's repeated attempts to persuade him, Kashuu Kiyomitsu refused each time, promising that he would maintain the right balance and not expose his true identity. Seeing his resolute attitude and the fact that he handled things very well, Horikawa eventually let him be. After all, it wasn't a bad thing that his friend had found someone who could keep his true self.

However, as the relationship deepened, Kashuu Kiyomitsu increasingly noticed something amiss. For example, if Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't text him for a day, he would feel uneasy all day; if Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't reply to his messages, he would feel so enraged that he wanted to tear his target to pieces; and when he needed to use his body to get closer to his target, the first thing he thought of was Yamato no Kami Yasusada's cool, thin lips from their first encounter.

However, by the time these anomalies had accumulated to the point where the truth was about to be revealed, it was after Yamato no Kami Yasusada had lured him into bed. When he looked at Yamato no Kami Yasusada sleeping beside him with a look of utter disbelief, along with the marks on his body and the discomfort between his groin, the reasons that had kept him awake day and night seemed to have become clear.

The first thing Kashuu Kiyomitsu did was take out his personal cell phone and, with a sorrowful expression, send a message to Horikawa:

The inscription read: "I have lost my virginity."

-TBC.

Chapter Two, Part Two

To wait for the perfect sniping opportunity, Yamato no Kami Yasusada had been staking out this rooftop for three hours. Unfortunately, a light rain started during that time, leaving the back of his shirt completely damp and sticky against his back. Despite countless urges to put down his sniper rifle and rush back to change into something cooler, years of professional ethics compelled him to suppress his restlessness and continue posing as a stone statue on the rooftop.

"Hey Yasusada, weren't you supposed to be off today? Why are you here taking on a mission? This is so unusual for you." Izumi no Kami Kanesada's lazy voice came through the wireless headset. After years of getting to know each other, Yamato no Kami Yasusada could almost immediately picture the other person lounging around with his legs crossed.

"There's nothing we can do. There are always times when we can't go home even if we have one." As dusk approached and midsummer nights were teeming with flying insects, Yamato no Kami Yasusada casually replied while swatting a mosquito off his ankle.

"Looks like your partner's been having some trouble lately? That's why being single is the best policy. What's the point of dating? It's just child's play." Izumi no Kami said with a hint of schadenfreude on the other end of the earpiece.

“You can’t say that,” Yamato no Kami Yasusada retorted calmly. “First of all, I’m not a child, and secondly, this isn’t dating, it’s married life.”

The matter-of-fact tone almost made Izumi no Kami spit out his water. He laughed so hard he was almost out of breath. "If Ichigo Hitofuri-senpai, that brother-obsessed guy, said that, I might believe it. You, the big demon king of the organization, are more than capable of killing people with one shot. And you talk about a married couple life? That's hilarious. Your partner should see the expression on your face when you blow someone's head off. Even the neighbor's kid would cry."

Yasusada was already used to his friend's daily sarcastic remarks, taking it as just the rant of a single guy and letting it go. The two chatted casually for a few more minutes, and finally, when the target appeared in the sniper scope, they both tacitly shut up, no longer wanting to disturb the mission.

As the target moved, Yamato no Kami Yasusada silently calculated the best moment to snipe. His breathing gradually lessened until it was almost inaudible, and he remained motionless like a lifeless boulder. Everything around him gradually receded into the distance, leaving only the thermal image formed by the infrared night vision device in this small area. It's no wonder that Izumin no Kami always joked about the look in his eyes when he shot someone; after all, when you are stared at by those indifferent eyes that look down on everything, not even the lives of thousands, anyone would feel a chill run down their spine, because those eyes clearly stated that their life was not valued and could be taken at any time.

Once the target moved to the intended location, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, with his years of experience, decisively pulled the trigger. When he saw the person a hundred meters away suddenly fall to the ground, he immediately got up, his fingers flying, and in a few quick movements, he disassembled the sniper rifle and put it into the backpack next to him.

"One hit, looks like I can get a good night's sleep tonight." Izumi no Kami's joyful voice came through the earpiece after the mission was successful.

Yamato no Kami Yasusada still had a magazine in his mouth. The long period of crouching had left his limbs somewhat numb, and he stood up and shook his hands to feel much better. He quickly walked towards the stairwell while slinging his backpack over his shoulder. This time, he chose the top floor of a hotel directly opposite his target. So, when Yamato no Kami Yasusada was almost in front of the people, he secretly pulled a baseball cap from his pocket and put it on his head, pretending to take out his phone and put it to his ear as if he was talking to someone, although he was actually chatting with Izumi no Kami on the other end of the earpiece.

"But you've been coming home so late these past few days, doesn't your partner have any complaints?" Seeing that he could finish work for the night, Izumi no Mori opened a bottle of beer and started drinking, the sound of typing coming through the headset.

"I told him I'm going to shoot some night scenes soon," Yamato no Kami Yasusada whispered as he dodged an approaching waiter.

Although he lowered his voice so much that no emotion could be heard, it still didn't escape the ears of Izuminokami, who had known him for several years. The keyboard sounds stopped almost immediately, and then Izuminokami's slightly gossipy voice came through the headset, "Why aren't you happy that we're going home to live as a married couple soon? Is there a relationship crisis? I was wondering why you've been working so hard lately. So it's because of the one hiding at home."

"You have quite the imagination. Have you been reading too many novels lately? I've told you to read less, it'll make you mentally challenged." Yamato no Kami Yasusada's lips twitched, and he abruptly ended the call, pulling his hat brim down low as he walked out.

As soon as he left the hotel, Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't linger. He hailed a taxi and casually gave them an address. People in his line of work know how to disguise themselves best, and no one would know that this ordinary young man with a backpack had just taken someone's life.

After getting into the car, Yamato no Kami Yasusada didn't sit idle. He took out a different phone from the one he had just used, unlocked it, and started scrolling. Sure enough, Kashuu Kiyomitsu hadn't sent any messages. Yamato no Kami Yasusada's face darkened. He tucked the phone into his pocket and stared calmly at the bustling traffic outside the window.

Although Izumi no Kami is known for reading idol novels and CEO romance stories, and spouting nonsensical and chuunibyou remarks all day long, it has to be admitted that this time, that guy actually guessed right.

After going to great lengths to win that person's heart and living together smoothly for four years, Yamato no Kami Yasusada unfortunately encountered an unprecedented relationship crisis. Although Kashuu Kiyomitsu, with his proud and aloof nature, stubbornly refused to admit their relationship even after living together, Yamato no Kami Yasusada knew that this two-faced guy had already accepted him in his heart.

The initial days were indeed chaotic. Two people with no prior dating experience were brought together, and the bumpy ride was almost as bad as the most difficult mission Yamato no Kami Yasusada had ever undertaken. Unlike dating, a mission only required a single shot to kill, while a relationship needed to withstand years of adjustment and nurturing. This left Yamato no Kami Yasusada in a bind. Although he considered himself the team's top marksman, known as the "Great Demon King" and virtually unstoppable, he was at a loss for what to do in this situation. He desperately wanted to ask the rest of the team for help, but they were all just desperate criminals like him, and even their relationships were purely for professional purposes; they knew nothing about proper romance. In the end, it was Izumi no Kami, who had read many romance novels, who gave him a few ideas. Even looking back on those days much later, he still wanted to beat up his friend who had given him such terrible advice.

In the past, he would never have believed he would actually be willing to lay down his gun and try to spend the rest of his life with someone. But when they kissed for the first time in a dimly lit, cramped corner, the other's clean scent almost instantly captivated him. And to make matters worse, the other guy wanted to flirt and run away. Yamato no Kami Yasusada had been drinking that night, and his mind went blank. He grabbed the other's arm and pulled him into his arms again. That was the first time he had lost control after being famous for so long and having mastered the art of self-confidence.

Not only was he surprised, but even his close friends in the team were astonished to hear that he was currently pursuing a beautiful young reporter. A few gossipy types immediately gathered around, curiously watching Yamato no Kami Yasusada's fingers fly across the screen. Lion King asked, "What are you doing?" Without hesitation, Yamato no Kami Yasusada replied, "Dating," which kept the team in turmoil for days.

Izuminokami commented that he had killed so many people that he had a desire to do good, while others said it was because he had been abstinent for too long and his desires were acting up. Yamato no Kami Yasusada curled his lip. He had always been unrestrained and naturally didn't care about other people's opinions. He continued to curl up on the sofa and send Kashuu Kiyomitsu meaningless jokes. Only when the message box showed that the message had been sent did he silently put down his phone, leaning his head against the sofa cushions with a strange expression. It wasn't because he wanted a home or any other warm reason, as they said. He had been struggling on the edge of a knife for too long and had long since given up the idea of living a normal life. He just simply wanted to continue teasing that guy and see him get angry because of his words and actions. Thinking about it this way, he realized that he was indeed extremely wicked.

Even someone as arrogant as him never imagined that this pursuit would last for several years. His initial thoughts of teasing and amusing himself gradually transformed into a genuine desire to spend the rest of his life with this person. By the time he realized it, he had already slept with that pretty young reporter. In the blink of an eye, four years of cohabitation had passed, and even Yamato no Kami Yasusada had to accept his fate, realizing that he was probably truly doomed to be with Kashuu Kiyomitsu for the rest of his life.

Having made this decision, he knew he had to be absolutely sure of everything. The thought of his true identity, Yamato no Kami Yasusada, gave him a headache. To conceal his constantly on-the-go travels, he had deliberately disguised himself as a freelance photographer. Fortunately, his excellent track record over the years had ensured that his superiors could arrange everything from fake exhibitions to fake photo albums. Coincidentally, Kashuu Kiyomitsu was a renowned journalist who frequently traveled to various locations to gather firsthand information, leading to the common scene of the two of them traveling together, each dragging a suitcase, saying goodbye at the door.

Perhaps it was because of their long periods of infrequent meetings and separations, but the emotional turmoil that other young couples experienced was almost nonexistent in their relationship. Yamato no Kami Yasusada was a free spirit, his greatest pleasure being teasing Kashuu Kiyomitsu. Watching Kiyomitsu's face flush red with anger as he charged at him, he inexplicably felt that the coldness he had cultivated over the years due to the many lives he had taken had been washed away, and he had finally developed a bit of humanity. However, Kashuu Kiyomitsu wasn't one to be bullied easily. Since Yamato no Kami Yasusada wasn't an all-around assassin, specializing only in firearms, the challenging task of cooking naturally fell to Kashuu Kiyomitsu. As the saying goes, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and vice versa. From then on, whenever Yamato no Kami Yasusada gained the upper hand in a fight, his meals would inevitably consist of incredibly salty fried eggs, soups so spicy they'd make you cry, and all sorts of other bizarre dishes. Yamato no Kami Yasusada, knowing he was in the wrong, could only eat them, mouthful after mouthful, tears streaming down his face. But upon seeing Kashuu Kiyomitsu laughing heartily beside him, someone suddenly felt that it didn't seem like a big deal to suffer a stomach ache just to see such a bright smile.

But even this harmonious cohabitation eventually began to experience its disharmony.

When Yamato no Kami Yasusada quietly opened the door, Kashuu Kiyomitsu was already asleep. A light was still on in the living room, as if waiting for someone's return. Opening the shoe cabinet, which was filled with all kinds of shoes, Yamato no Kami Yasusada took out a pair of dark blue slippers from the bottom, quickly changed into them, picked up his backpack, and went inside.

He didn't go straight into the bedroom, but instead walked through the living room and upstairs to the second floor. This duplex apartment was an apartment assigned to him by his superiors a long time ago. Because he was constantly on the move due to missions, he had hired a cleaning lady to clean it thoroughly before bringing Kashuu Kiyomitsu with him. The reason he gave for living together back then was ridiculously childish: he said he was lonely living alone and wanted to find a roommate. Kashuu Kiyomitsu stared at him with a teasing look for several minutes before Yamato no Kami Yasusada finally gave in, hanging his head and saying, "Okay, actually I just want to live with you." Only then did the other man, in a victorious posture, proudly raise his head and condescend to move in.

Besides the shared bedroom, the two also had their own studios. Of course, this was just a cover for Yamato no Kami Yasusada to store his weapons. Upon entering the room, which was filled with various photos and photography equipment, Yamato no Kami Yasusada casually tossed his backpack on the ground, rummaged through the props to reveal a seemingly metallic compartment. After tidying up the contents of his bag, Yamato no Kami Yasusada stood up, rubbed his slightly sore shoulders, and slowly walked towards the bedroom.

Pushing open the slightly ajar door, a figure was indeed lying on the bed. Kashuu Kiyomitsu leaned against the door, seemingly fast asleep, the blankets slipping slightly with his breathing, revealing his bare back. Yamato no Kami Yasusada subconsciously swallowed. He suddenly realized that because of Kashuu Kiyomitsu's inexplicable temper these past few days, the two of them hadn't made love in a long time. Seeing this scene of inviting a wolf into his trap, his little brother indeed began to stir.