We Were Meant to Be Together Forever

Step by step, Coleman backed away, only for Illumi to press him closer and closer.

Coleman never would have guessed things could line up so perfectly.

He had only just checked into a hotel near Heavens Arena when he came face-to-face with Illumi, whose expression was as impassive as ever.

Now he was in Illumi's room, forced to shuffle backward one step at a time.

A sheen of cold sweat broke out on his face, and his smile was a little strained.

"Brother, I've already checked out of my room."

Coleman spoke in a small, sweet voice, acting coy.

"Look at me."

Though Illumi's voice was soft and utterly flat, it startled Coleman into looking up without thinking.

Completely unprepared, his red eyes met his brother's pitch-black ones.

Lifeless. Dull.

Like a puppet.

But Coleman could sense the tightly sealed emotions hidden deep within them.

Possessiveness. Control.

Perhaps a little anger, too.

And a hint of confusion.

For instance, why had his younger brother broken their agreement? And why hadn't the boy who was always so attached to him come looking for him right away?

After all, he'd secretly slipped away.

How could Coleman have held back from coming to find him?

It made no sense!

The moment one of them lost track of the other, he should have been filled with panic and anger, just like me.

Instead of still having the leisure to pay attention to other people or things!

Illumi couldn't understand Coleman's behavior, and he didn't want to.

He would make him like himself.

No, he would set him straight!

We were two halves of the same whole. Shouldn't we be alike, at least to some extent?

We were meant to be one person, so in this world, you should be just like me.

Dark, chilling thoughts gradually took over Illumi's mind.

They nearly robbed him of his ability to think clearly.

And yet, he was still perfectly calm.

He knew it was wrong, but he wanted to do it.

Tie his beloved younger brother to his side and train him for a while.

He tilted his head. His innate possessiveness won out.

Illumi reassured himself that he only wanted to keep his brother from going astray.

What if Coleman got tricked by someone?

That was why he'd brought him along.

I'm doing this for his own good.

It took less than ten seconds for Illumi to convince himself.

Across from him, Coleman could tell from his brother's expression that the man was planning something less than pleasant.

He should have been figuring out how to appease his brother, but he couldn't stop his gaze from drifting downward.

His eyes landed on the whip in Illumi's hand.

From what Coleman had seen in both his lives, this thing definitely wasn't an ordinary leather whip...

Where had his brother gotten it?

At last, Coleman had nowhere left to retreat. His back pressed against the door.

He raised his hands above his head in surrender.

With a helpless sigh, he said, "All right, all right, dear brother. I'll tell you everything. Every last detail."

Coleman told him almost everything that had happened over the past few days, down to the smallest detail.

Including the fact that he'd asked about Nen.

Then Coleman smiled and took a step forward.

He blinked at his brother, who was deep in thought.

Suddenly, he opened the box on the floor, and a pile of books spilled out.

Illumi's attention turned to them, and Coleman spoke at the same time.

"Weren't you looking for books about Nen? I got some!"

As he spoke, Coleman put on an expectant, praise-me expression.

Like a Samoyed wagging its tail.

Waiting for its owner to praise it.

Illumi said nothing, but his gaze softened a little.

Coleman knew this wasn't over yet.

He raised one hand, dropped to one knee, and gave the most proper knight's salute.

"I promise, dear brother, we'll never be apart."

Smiling, Coleman let his possessiveness show in his eyes without holding back for the first time.

"We're two halves of the same whole. We were meant to be together forever."

Was there any relationship closer than being twins?

Coleman didn't think so.

Illumi didn't think so, either.

They had been together since birth, and they were meant to be together forever.

Because they were supposed to be one person.