[C] Unlikely Bonds [AO | TBTP | Closed]

He felt it, the slight stirring of an energy- a presence that appeared a distance from him, but it wasn't so close that he had to be worried just yet. He was high in a tree- trying to get down now would just attract more attention, still, he kept his gaze on the light for only a brief moment before his gaze slid around the surroundings. Searching for the best locations to escape if he had too- locating nearby trees that he could possibly leap to in order to escape if he so desired. Once he had multiple escape routes, he would slowly adjust his positioning to minimize his sound as much as possible before he completely halted the energy he gave off. Hiding it away, sinking it deeper and deeper into his core- like a ghost or a wisp of smoke, the small bit of energy that had been slipping out completely disappeared. His presence gone, he would continue to quietly sit within the tree, keeping the back of his mind on the presence that was fluttering around him from one tree to the next, up and down, it was odd- what exactly was it doing? Searching for food in the form of nests, perhaps? It was close enough he could tell it wasn't a hollow, perhaps just a creative soul looking for eggs.

That wasn't a terrible idea actually- sadly the eggs didn't have their own presence or he could just locate them that way .. but it was a possible source of food. He could track the presence of the birds instead, in theory, it was something worth thinking about. But he didn't intend to linger on the line of thought to well- he didn't' have much in the way of physical stamina and trying to push himself would only burn more energy than he gained from the effort. Thievery was the best way for him to get nourishment, he'd already discovered that fact quite early on. Such casual thoughts trailed through his mind as he watched the light, keeping track- and then he felt the presence at the base of the tree he was currently perched on. He had a choice, try to run now, or wait and remain as silent and still as possible and hope that the presence (now noted as a male) left him alone, or at least didn't intend him harm. He was likely busy looking for his food anyway, or whatever he was doing.

Mako retained his calm demeanor, relaxing on the surface as his face remained blank and his eyes simply stared at the sunlight that was peeking through the branches actively now. The boy continued up to him- and then, to his distaste, introduced himself nad took far to much interest in him. He hated social situations, it was why he was in a damn tree- what kind of fool couldn't realize that? Still, it appeared he meant no harm- and thankfully he seemed to be one of those idiots like Moriko and a few others that were "kind", a notion he knew didn't actually exist in the world. People only put on smiles so that they could seem less intimidating to others because they wanted something- friendship was just a code word for an individual that they could make feel indebted to them, a pawn for their personal use however they may desire. His cold, dead eyes turned slowly toward the boy after several moments of silence after his "polite introduction", ignoring the hand entirely as he examined the boy- Yuuta, as he would call himself.

At the very least he should respond he supposed he should at least introduce himself as well if the boy was so focused on such things- it would ensure he didn't lash out at him or some other dangerous line of thought. Slowly, his lips parted as he kept his face relaxed and expressionless. "Mako," he stated simply- doubting the boy, Yuuta, was educated enough to know the meaning of the name- and yet still he prepared for the usual reaction. Being named literally "Cursed Child" tended to cause people to react to him warily- even if it was "just a name" if it was given to him by a parent it was clear he was at least, to some degree, a danger. At least that was how most people viewed it, he had found.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 732
Total Words: 1,437
Total GP so Far: 28

As his name was repeated, Mako's eyes continued to examine him blankly- waiting for the response he figured was coming, but it never came. This, of course, didn't compute initially as he slowly relaxed back into the tree just slightly- contemplating this information, so he didn't know what it meant? Well, that was fine. Though it took him a few moments in order to properly understand that Mako had no intention of shaking his hand, in fact, he even edged a few inches away- clearly wanting his personal space. Despite this, once he had it he would quietly sit to the side and return his gaze toward the sun- though he kept his senses expanded, waiting for the moment the young man twitched or had even the barely of a violent feeling pass through him. Mako would be out of the damn tree faster than the fucker could think "punch" if he had too. Instead, he would compliment his name, proving even more that he either had terrible tastes, a terrible sadistic sense of humor, or he was uneducated (even more so than he was) and had absolutely no idea what the name meant. All the better for him, he supposed.

Still, as the boy commented that it must be "rare" he would simply let his gaze flicker back to him- watching him for several moments, before finally responding in the same, empty, dry tone. "You could say that" he responded simply as he slowly lowered his upper body, watching him quietly, his eyes half closed as the small pupils and irises would watch every motion- from facial expression to eye movement, feeling anything- everything he could. His guard was up, and it would remain up, he had no intention of slipping up and suffering due to the decision. No, instead he would quietly observe him at every turn- and this would prove effective as the young man would begin swinging his legs and gripping the limb. Obviously deep in thought- who knows what for? Probably some idiotic attempt at conversation, even though it clearly wasn't needed- nor was the company as a whole, really. He saw little reason for such things. Though he did need to get down soon .. he had yet to eat, and if he didn't do it soon it wouldn't be absorbed in his body by the time he got back home to his father .. and by that point, he'd be puking up anything he tried to eat anyway.

Making a mental note to escape soon, he would start preparing to evacuate- before Yuuta would speak again, causing Mako's gaze to focus on his face and lips as they moved. He wanted the reasoning for why he was in the tree- which was an utterly pointless question in his eyes, really. What did it matter?

But he also knew he shouldn't be hostile, he didn't need or want a fight- he never did. So, with that thought, he would simply shift a bit on the branch stiffly- before his gaze trailed toward the rays of light that were shining through the trees, he supposed there was no reason to lie here. The idiots that acted "kind" never actively used anything against him in a direct manner anyway, and there was no risk to informing him of something so menial and pointless anyway. He didn't even understand fully why he was doing it, simply that he had. So, with a simple motion of his head he would- just barely, nod toward the rays of light peaking through the branches, and the sun that was slowly lifting itself across the sky far above them. "I was watching the sun," he stated simply- without further need to divulge more content. He didn't know why he was doing it, really- it was soothing, that was the only thought that passed through his mind watching it all. He could only assume that was the primary reasoning, the soothing feeling it gave him- it was something for him to live for, in a way. His promise to Reika kept, with his reasoning found.

As weak as it may be.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 687
Total Words: 2,124
Total GP so Far: 42

Slowly, Mako's face turned toward the young man- who had let him keep his space- not giving chase, something that he was thankful for at least, he didn't like males- but even more than that he hated being near others in general. Letting a slow breath flow from his lips he would focus on the rays of light once more, enjoying the silence, even if it was hindered by someone besides him breathing. It was still better than talking, awkward social interactions were a pain .. its why he didn't do them, he avoid other people for a reason. Though sadly it seemed "Yuuta" didn't understand that concept- causing his eyes to slowly turn toward the boy once more as he began to talk, internally sighing even as his expression retained its blank, neutral state. He was talking poetically now, instead of the forced "I want to make an impression" bullshit from before .. it seemed like he didn't know how to talk to people either- though the difference appeared to be that he still wanted too, he just didn't know how. Unlike Mako whom just didn't give a fuck in the first place- he knew the basics of communication, but not holding a conversation- nor did he have any desire to learn them, really.

Still, the words that were slowly forming from Yuuta's mouth struck a small chord inside him. He hated to admit it, but it seemed the boy actually understood him a bit more than Mako had intended to let on- he'd only replied the most basic, simple response. Was the guy actually smarter than he looked? Slowly, his head turned to face away from him and look toward the sky quietly instead. Contemplating the words that had been spoken- it was a roundabout way of saying it, but it reflected his thoughts well enough. Perhaps that was why it was so serene to him, soothing- because if something as all powerful as night and day were in a balance that in a way- his life had to be as well. Hope was an over-dramatized word to use to describe it, he had no hope, only reality. Hope was as bad as religion, as bad as having faith in anyone, or thing- it was a weakness of the individual: and the refusal to accept that weakness. He knew he was weak .. and he knew that it wasn't something he could fix.

So he had no hope. But the understanding that eventually, the world, his life, had to balance out- just like the night and day did, was refreshing- and soothing. It eased his mind, and helped him, even if it was only slightly.

With these thoughts, he slowly let his gaze trail back down and focus on Yuuta- before he finally replied. "Yeah, that's accurate .. though you over-dramatized it," he would state with that same, dry, monotone voice- he wasn't used to having people stay with him this long. It was odd, having to say more than a single sentence before he wasn't being beaten, ignored, or spit on. Slowly, he would let his gaze trail upward .. should he say something back? But he didn't really want to talk to anyone .. he disliked being social.

But .. he did feel like he should do something in reply, was this some social cue that was ingrained in a person on instinct? He'd never felt it before, but he supposed that would make sense. People were, by nature, social animals- if most people were wolves or sheep- then he was the oddity, he was a bear. Solitary, quiet, happy to live the life of a loner. But then, even bears communicated occasionally he supposed- and with that thought, he finally would let his gaze focus on Yuuta once more. "Why did you come up here?" it was a blunt question, but there was no harshness to his tone, the same bland, blank expression and tone as before. He simply couldn't think of anything else to say- so he asked the most obvious question. Yuuta had asked him what his purpose was here, and in a way, discovered the deeper reason behind it himself. It seemed to be the correct social interaction to reflect the inquiry back at him- though he wasn't completely certain it was the right decision.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 716
Total Words: 2,840
Total GP so Far: 56

Mako's head slowly tilted to the side, examining the boy who appeared absolutely giddy that he'd managed some form of conversation- meaning his initial assumption that he didn't know how to talk to others was most likely correct. How annoying, he'd been found by a troublesome guy who wanted to talk and get some social experience: Mako was the least suited for something like that. Slowly, he would face back toward the sky and simply listen and wait- feeling the slight tremors in the branch with each movement Yuuta had, noting how he was obviously the type to attempt and use physical movement in order to distract his mind, how simple. Putting the information away for future use he would quietly lean forward, simply resting his elbows on his knee's and staring outward into space as he contemplated how best to deal with the current issue at hand: it wasn't exactly an easy one to think over, sadly. The boy obviously had every intention of staying there and getting as much social interaction as possible out of him for some unknown reason: that meant he was severely limited in choice, run away, or sit here and bare with it- and he felt like the boy was the type to either become incredibly offended, or chase after him if her performed the later option.

He wasn't sure which it was, and either one could become a problem if he wasn't careful- and for now, this wasn't becoming too troublesome. Though he was wary of how badly any extended comments may effect his food schedule, as well as any openings to threats that may loom over his head shortly. He didn't know if the boy was with any gangs, or anything about him really- and unknowns were a terrifying thing, better to stay away from them than trying to learn and risking yourself by putting your neck out there to possible betrayal, or damage in general. His line of thought was ended due to Yuuta instantly answering his question he had offered as the thoughts passed through his head- face remaining blank, but he was a bit confused by the boy's complete lack of forethought. Who never thought about what they were about to say, at all? He'd heard of "wearing your heart on your sleeve" which, he knew, was an idiotic idea in the first place. But this seemed to take that even further, the total opposite of himself in many ways- the thought made him internally sigh once more- what had he gotten himself into?

So he climbed the tree to train? There had to be far better ways to train his body than climbing tree's- that was what prey did in order to escape. What the hell was he expecting out of this, exactly? Slowly, he shook his head and let his gaze trail to the side as he contemplating this: following the next statement. Why did he want to be one of those useless shinigami? They were good for nothing, preaching about how they had power, and it was their responsibility to protect the balance, defeat hollow, all this shit- but he knew all too well that it never worked out that way. They stayed locked up in their white castle, on their thrones of glass- and only patrolled the area's near them- area's that mattered because if Hollow got that close then they could have a problem to their own environment. They didn't care about anyone or thing but themselves, and it nearly made him laugh thinking of this boy becoming one- idealistic, dreaming, his first thought of categorizing him as an imbecile, a fool, seemed all too accurate now. How tiring.

However, his next words at least allowed his eyes to trail toward the young boy- and it was odd, he sounded so .. determined. Hopeful. Was this how some people were? But it was foolish and pointless- what on earth did he hope to achieve, he'd just run off to his death if he became a damn shinigami- and that was a big if. Slowly, he lowered his head just a bit to let his chin rest on his arms crossed over his knee's, pulling his legs up so he was perched carefully at the center of his balance. He felt like he should say something- but what should he do? Tell him how useless that thought was? That hope? It seemed like needless cruelty that could get him hurt instead if Yuuta lashed out at his disbelief or logic. Dreams betrayed everyone, there was no such thing as hope and dreams- so what did that leave him to say? A troublesome line of thought, why was he even bothering- he could just stay silent and avoid the entire situation .. and yet, some small part of him wanted to say something. Even if it was small, something to encourage this boy that had everything he'd never had.

But he couldn't think of what to say- and he didn't understand why he wanted to say anything in the first place. Then- before he could say anything, he felt it: a slight touch on his shoulder, and the world froze around him. He could feel his father's grip on his shoulder, hear the cloth tearing from his body, feel breath on his neck- feel blood dripping down his leg and back, and the emotionless, expressionless boy for the first time reacted. His fist balled, knotted knuckles from constant breaks, bone and sinew flexing- Mako had two settings when it came to being touched, especially by a male. Aggression, or terror. This boy was not strong, he was not like his father- and so his instincts took over and he subconsciously went with a single route: aggression. His fist snapping out like a thread of grass in the wind, the back of his knuckles aiming directly at Yuuta's face to knock him away, and likely clear off the branch: the brief moment before impact, Yuuta would see the first expression on Mako's face. Eyes wide, pupils dilated, his mouth set in a grim line- his forehead lined with creases, but beyond anything else- his eyes shown with clear, absolute terror .. and then the fist landed, be it blocked, dodged and hit a tree, or hit Yuuta directly was up to the boys reaction time to the surprise assault, and clear fear on Mako's face.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 1,065
Total Words: 3,905
Total GP so Far: 78

How long had it been, since he had felt such a reaction to anything anyone did? Usually, he just cowered and endured, but the boy- Yuuta, had managed to force him into reacting harshly, and it was a confusing sensation. He hadn't ever really been the one striking out, and the sensation of his fist crashing into the kid's jaw and sending him tumbling felt .. good. This sensation is what confused him to such an extensive degree, and that same confusion is what caused him to hesitate in jumping from the tree in fear in order to attempt to escape.

This is what caused him to glance downward, blinking in confusion as he realized Yuuta was already working his way back up the tree- and his survival instincts activated once more. Eyes shooting from one area of the tree to the next, searching for a weapon of some sort- he could break off a branch, and hurl it down at the boy; he had no doubt he was attempting to come after him. He had struck him out of nowhere, after all, anger was the obvious response, anger that led to pain, abuse, and him being beaten and bloody. The thought made his stomach clench and made him start trying to break a smaller branch off all the faster.

However- to his utter confusion, Mako's eyes focused on the young man whom instead of yelling angrily, complimented him, his hand raised in a thumbs up as Mako simply stared at the boy- his face blank, but there was clear confusion in his eyes. There had been a lot of outcomes and lines of thought going through his mind- but this had not been one of them; not at all. There was no anger, even when he searched his presence, searched every motion of his body- there wasn't a tinge of deceit- it was as if he'd never laid a hand on the boy despite the bumps and scrapes that now decorated his form.

At this point, Mako was beyond confused- was he really just that stupid? Or was he one of those types that liked getting hit? He'd heard people mutter about people like that before- usually as an insult thrown from drunken lips to embarrass another. No matter the reasoning, he couldn't comprehend it- and so his brain automatically filed it under "Idiot" and moved on. It wasn't worth wasting his brainpower on, he didn't know what the boy was actually going to do in a few moments anyway after all. That thought made his eyes narrow, just slightly as he stared at the boy who continued to grin like a fool at him as he remained silent- before his expression turned to pain and insecurity.

There was the pain. Perhaps he just had a delayed reaction- now the counter attack would come- the thought made his eyes narrow on the boy, his grip on the branch tightening, prepared to tug it toward him as a spike should Yuuta leap on him- a way for the boy to impale himself so that Mako had a chance to escape by jumping to a new perch and then below. However- the attack never came, in fact, he .. apologized? Mako slowly blinked, his empty eyes staring into Yuuta's own- what the hell was this kid? He was either an even better actor than he was a body language and presence reader- or he was a complete and total anomaly. Even compared to the other happy, polite, hopefully, imbeciles that he had encountered through his life- most of which had happened recently; no one just took a fucking punch and then apologized for being hit.

Scaring him? So he was good at reading people after all? Or had his mask slipped in his moment of terror? Either was entirely possible- but either way, he felt no malicious intent, none at all. He even fucking bowed his head and stayed his hand, keeping his distance as Mako's eyes burned into him in confusion. After several long moments, Mako finally spoke- but it wasn't to accept his apology, or even to comment on the bowing of his head. No, instead it was a direct request for reasoning- because Mako simply couldn't comprehend, couldn't understand, what the fuck was going on. "I just hit you," he stated bluntly, staring at him- though his voice did not have any tone to it, an underlying questioning ring resided within his statement as he sat there watching Yuuta.

"Out of the tree," he couldn't comprehend this- had he forgotten? Did he forget it already? He did seem like an idiot- but he had apologized for his touching, and had complimented his punch. Short term memory loss? Selective memory? What the hell was going on? "Did you forget?" the blunt question was said in the same monotone, blank tone, but there was a complete puzzlement lightly shining in his dead, grey eyes. He'd never met someone quite this foolish, this wrapped up in the desire to be nice, and innocent- such ideas were wasted. They only were used to get others indebted to you, to put others at a disadvantage and raise yourself up- and yet, here the boy was, the very pinnacle of that foolish thought. Hopes, dreams, goals, happiness, kindness- he was either the most skilled manipulator in existence .. or the biggest idiot in existence.

Mako wasn't sure which of the two options he preferred, really.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 908
Total Words: 4,813
Total GP so Far: 96

The constant "Mmhmm's" that he was being offered in retaliation to his words were not helping him remain focused in the slightest- in fact, it was the polar opposite, it was just that much more confusing. What was the kid talking about? The blank stare continued, even as he would finally move on to explain his feelings, and why he had no intention of prying into his feelings or reasoning- so he had been read after all. Still, what kind of person just, took a hit to the face without any question or issue? Not mad? Was he on drugs? He knew a lot of people in the slums tended to be, or alcohol, but he was too coherent for that to be the case.

Instead, he would slowly lean forward a bit, resting his elbows on his knee's as he stared at Yuuta, seeming to just analyze him, like trying to understand a complex puzzle that had no answer- before he slowly blinked, just once, as he inquired about his hand. That he had punched him with- out of the tree. Nevermind his own scratches, bruises, bumps, and lord knows what else? How was his hand?

After several moments, Mako finally decided- he was an idiot. A unique specimen that had no sense of self-preservation, and was being ruled by this idea that he had to make everyone around him feel safe and happy- why was an unknown, perhaps he felt indebted to the world for some reason. Perhaps it was his way of coping, even if it was a foolish one, but no matter what the reasoning was- it no longer mattered. Filed under a unique fool, Mako would slowly let his gaze trail toward his knuckles, noting that the wounds that coated them had reopened in some areas due to his attack. After a few moments he would simply raise the hand, letting the boy see the wounds- scrapes, scratches, and bruises- his knuckles were knotted from constant breaking and re-healing.

Due to this, his knuckles themselves appeared fine- but the cuts had re-opened as blood leaked from them slowly. After a moment he simply lowered his hand and would place it back in his lap, blinking slowly, pain killers? In the slums? That was rare- or perhaps he just wasn't used to seeing what a "normal" home in the slums was like. He supposed it made a degree of sense. Still, as the boy would offer them he would calmly shake his head, "It doesn't hurt," and matching his words- he didn't appear bothered in the slightest, the pain was just pain, it had no place in his mind as far as he was concerned. He'd endured far worse, taken on far more damage, to let something like that truly affect him.

With this thought his gaze shifted from his hand back to Yuuta as he would instead offer to give him food, making his lids lower once in a blink, face remaining blank before he stated simply, "I can't, I'll owe you," it was that simple- and it was how Mako saw the world. It wasn't so much that he didn't want any- he simply refused to take charity. He couldn't allow himself to become indebted to another, it was unacceptable- to be in debt meant that someone had him under their thumb .. and that idea along was absolutely terrifying as a notion. Still, if Yuuta had some way of letting him earn the food in what Mako felt was a fair trade, then he wouldn't be opposed to the process of obtaining something to eat- and so he would slowly trail his gaze back toward the sky, deliberating quietly, what would Yuuta want?

It was too hard to tell, usually Mako was good at reading others- but in this case, he was limited in his options, Yuuta was an oddity, he had no idea what the boy may actually like- and due to that he was stumped rather rapidly. Making his lips narrow even more into a flat line if that was even possible before his gaze slowly moved back toward Yuuta- focusing on the boy. "What do you need done?" he asked simply, it was the most effective way to find out now. He was sure the boy had something that he wanted if it was something within Mako's power to do, and a fair trade for some food, then he had no issue with accepting the deal.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 745
Total Words: 5,558
Total GP so Far: 111

Yuuta seemed to be contemplating, and Mako was content to wait- his feet remaining stagnant, much like the rest of his body as he allowed his gaze to focus on him- reading his facial expressions. It was clear this wasn't something planned previously as if the situation itself didn't say that enough- he was obviously struggling to find even something basic that he wanted to be done. Slowly, he would let his gaze shift toward the sky instead as he felt the branch bounce lightly with each movement of Yuuta's legs- not commenting until he finally fell back to something that made him want to rub his face, thankfully he remained immobile and expressionless.

"I'll sew your clothing, then," he stated simply- before his gaze slid down toward the lower branches slowly, before simply motioning for Yuuta to go first. He would have to lead the way anyway, and even more so the boy was closest to the trunk of the tree- he wasn't going to try and clamber over him to get to the trunk. He'd rather jump off then touch the boy again, he was still trying to control his shaking from the fear that had raced through his mind on pure instinct at the action. Still, despite that he would wait patiently- and once Yuuta had clambered down the tree, and touched down to the ground he would haul himself toward the trunk as well.

Going much slower than Yuuta, it was clear he didn't do this often, carefully making his way down the tree- his eyes following every motion of the wind, each time the branches moved- he froze, making it that much harder for him. However he slowly made his way down, until he managed to touch his feet to the earth- and slowly released the trunk as he instead lowered them to his sides- now that he stood next to Yuuta, it was clear the boy was taller than him, as well as broader. Though Mako's terrible posture made him appear even smaller than he actually was, slouched, with his head lowered and facing toward the ground as he waited for the other boy to lead the way.

He had no idea where they were going, after all, he could make some general assumptions- but that only went so far sadly. It was a safer bet to just remain behind Yuuta- besides, that meant if they ran into anyone that knew Mako he could run using Yuuta as a minor barrier to slow them down. He doubted Yuuta would actually try to help him in such an instance, but even just the minor confusion that Mako was traveling with someone- and that the someone as in their way, would be a nice deterrent and give him a few extra moments to escape if push came to shove. Anything and everything helped, even if it was the slightest advantage- it was still an advantage, and Mako wasn't the type to throw anything like that away.

Still, they wouldn't get anywhere without Yuuta leading anyway- due to this Mako would simply fall back and watch, waiting for him to move first so that he could quietly follow- whenever he did, patiently doing just that- remaining about a meter behind him, keeping his distance but being close enough to make it clear they were "traveling together" so to speak. Letting the boy lead as he wished, not speaking unless he had no other option really- though he was sure with how Yuuta appeared to act the boy would likely never shut up. If he had a guess he was the type that spoke basically everything they were thinking aloud to better make sense of their thoughts.

It was a terrible way to go about things- but at least it did involve thinking, it was better than those that acted without anything said or thought, to begin with- he knew a few of those as well, and they were nothing but bait for natural selection to snap up to prove that it still existed in this universe. Slowly, his gaze slid toward the buildings as they passed them, noting that they were on the opposite side of the slums to where his father's home was- that was good. He didn't want the man noticing he was going anywhere, he'd just bring violence to them: and though he didn't particularly care about other people, he also saw no need to bring harm to those that were willing to offer him a deal to earn some food, really.

Even if they were weird fuckers that didn't make any sense and were slightly stupid.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 773
Total Words: 6,331
Total GP so Far: 126

As Yuuta commented that he was glad he had made it down safely, Mako's eyes glanced at him briefly- he was starting to become used to it, but the boy was truly odd. No one usually was just so eager to help and watch over others. He couldn't help but expect the boy to lash out at him as soon as something came along that gave him an excuse to do so, Mako simply wasn't programmed to deal with kindness- especially not to this degree. Though, as Mako had assumed, it would appear that Yuuta didn't like the silence too much, and he would begin speaking when it came to general ramblings- most of which didn't really matter to Mako personally.

However, one line of thought that did catch his attention was the last bit- altruistic, hm? That made sense at least in his mind, he'd not considered that because he thought the word was just a pretty fairy tale- but it would appear that he now had living proof of its existence. It was the only thing that made sense- no person was actually giving, or kind, there had to be a reason for it. If the boy, Yuuta, was altruistic, that would explain everything that had happened in terms that Mako could understand. He wanted to help others because it made him feel better about himself- he was being selfish, his selfish actions just had positive repercussions for the most part.

At the very least he could understand the boy to some degree now- but it just made him that much more of a fool. At some point, he likely assumed, even if it was on a subconscious level, that the good "karma" of his actions would come back and help him- when really it never would. Similarly, the other option was he simply was being mindlessly kind following his altruistic mindset- which would only lead him down a life filled with being used, abused, and tossed away. The world wasn't kind, and growing up int he slums, there was no way he didn't know that. Despite that, he had this sort of mindset. He almost pitied how idiotic the way of thinking was, his eyes blankly staring into the back of Yuuta's head as the thoughts ran through his mind slowly.

He understood that it was foolish and that it was stupid. But for some reason .. his chest felt tight, looking at the boy. He felt emotions so briefly, that it took him a few moments to understand what he was feeling initially- before he realized what it was: Envy. He was envious of this idiot, that was so full of dreams, hope, goals- that could without fear step forward and be kind. Even if it was idiotic, it was also brave, incredibly so. They were all things that Mako lacked, that he knew he'd likely never actually have. He was empty- void of such feelings because he knew how much trying, even for a brief moment, could haunt you until the day you died. He never tried, but it wasn't like he hadn't ever tried in the past.

Tried to make friends. Tried to have a goal. Tried to better himself.

It had happened before, and the scar's from those attempts still clung to him- both physically, and mentally. He knew it was idiotic, wishful thinking- and yet he couldn't help but wish he had a fraction of this boy's courage. Maybe he could have kept trying .. maybe he wouldn't be so weak. But just like the other thoughts, that was wishful thinking- he wasn't brave. He was weak, small, cowardly- and though he hated himself for those qualities .. they were the only reason he was still alive. His fear questioned everything, and it meant he never got fooled. He was weak, so he had to find other ways to cope and survive beyond fighting. He was small and plain- so he was easy to hide and escape from the wrath of those that wished to do him harm.

There was no point being envious now, and so he buried those feelings- and brushed them aside like the worthless emotions he knew them to be. Instead, he came out of his mind as the door was opened, blinking slowly at the building, by the slums standards- it was pretty nice. Most were lucky to have one room, in a one floor home- but they had a double floor home with multiple rooms if he had a guess from the size. As he stepped inside, he glanced down at the rug, noting how well cared for everything was. His eyes flicking from one area to the next, perceiving as much as possible as his hands slowly lowered to settle at his sides.

He took in every aspect, from the way the furniture was clearly washed and maintained actively, to the floor mat that had been beaten this morning, the lack of dust from constant sweeping, how the door itself had obviously had an extra lock put in it within the last few years. His eyes burned into each detail quietly, and a general image began to form in his head. They'd likely inherited the home somehow- perhaps Yuuta's father had killed the previous resident and taken it over? There were too many ways they could have inherited it, legal or otherwise.

Either way, it was clear they couldn't afford the home- or they wouldn't spend so much time maintaining every little thing so deliberately, so carefully. Nor would an extra lock be installed with the obvious intent to keep others out, if the home could be afforded then most likely they could afford to replace things worst case. Of course, they could be the paranoid type, but it seemed unlikely if they had a foolish son like Yuuta. As he deliberated this, his feet carefully kicking the mat to clean his feet, he would step forward- eyes continuing to examine the rooms. Furniture, accessories, anything he could use as a weapon in an emergency- or an escape route.

Blinking, he let his eyes lower- focusing on the food that he was being presented with, bread and jam- the jam alone wasn't an easy thing to obtain, though the bread was a bit more common. Still, he examined it quickly, wary of poisons or drugs- before he slowly lowered his body to the floor as well. Though he didn't sit nearly as comfortably as Yuuta, instead he crouched, sitting on his heels with one arm wrapped around his leg- a sitting position that allowed him to run at the drop of a hat without having to scramble and rise at all. The way Yuuta was sitting could cost him precious seconds in an escape attempt if he was suddenly attacked, he couldn't afford to be comfortable.

Still, his hand extended, carefully taking the piece of bread and rapidly scarfing it down without any need for manners or etiquette, obviously intended to get the food inside him as quickly as possible before something happened that could take it away. Though in some instances that didn't work and he just got beaten till he puked it up anyway- it still increased his chances of getting to keep the meal if nothing else. After scarfing the food in a matter of seconds, his eyes would slowly lift toward Yuuta, before he would slowly rest his other arm, wrapping it around his legs as well to join the first. "How long ago did you inherit this place?" he asked simply, eyes looking into the boys briefly before looking down again.

He wasn't sure why he asked. Perhaps he felt some need to finally offer him a conversation, since he seemed so eager to talk, and he had helped him- even if he was going to be repaying the debt imidiately.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 1,308
Total Words: 7,639
Total GP so Far: 152

Mako listened quietly as the question was answered, and let his gaze slide around the home slowly once more- so it wasn't done through murder, or at least, according to Yuuta's mother it wasn't. Since Yuuta himself didn't remember it could easily be that his mother poisoned the man so that she could keep the home for herself. It was impossible to say, though if she was anything like her fool of a son- that seemed a bit unlikely. Still, there was no way to know unless he met her and had time to analyze her .. and even then it didn't matter enough to really bother- she was a threat whether she had or not. Perhaps she did do it, but it was because the man was an abusive monster like his own father- it was entirely understandable either way.

Slowly, his gaze settled back on Yuuta as the boy offered him the other half of a piece of bread, and after a moment of hesitation, he simply took it without a word- the bread disappearing like a thing of magic into his mouth before his gaze slid back toward Yuuta once more. He had felt that slight shift in his presence when he had mentioned his father; a Shinigami, he had said. Mako wasn't entirely sure why the boy would idolize any of those individuals, he had a feeling the boy didn't realize that most of his thoughts on them were most likely all wrong. But he also saw no point in bringing him down, so he simply tucked the information away for later usage as his gaze slowly slid toward the door, debating if he should go before a thought passed his mind.

He couldn't really understand why the boy would offer up a portion of his own food to him, beyond the fact the boy may feel pity- but pity was just a false emotion that led down toward the path of kindness just as he had seen before- as Yuuta had said, he was altruistic. He supposed as per before, he was just giving him extra food in order to better his own feeling and standing with himself and his selfish desires- but it didn't change the fact that accepting it meant a risk for Yuuta, as well as himself in a way. That line of thought is what made his gaze flicker back from the door, toward Yuuta once more.

For a moment he sat quietly before he finally spoke, ".. Your mother won't be angry that some of the food is gone?" it wasn't so much that he cared about Yuuta's sake, so much as he didn't wish to be blamed for the issue and be attacked by the woman. Similarly, he didn't want to feel indebted to them if his mother didn't think his form of payment for the meal was enough, which he knew could be a very real possibility if a parent hasn't been clear with their child on the financial status of the household. Mako didn't touch food in that man's home- because he knew all too well even if a crumb was missing, he would be struck by it, whether he actually ate it or not. It was better to just leave it all alone, not even to touch or move it out of his way.

After the question was asked, he would be reminded that he had to pay back the boy for the food either way- and would glance around once more in search for anything that could hold the needle and thread required, as well as any spare fabric that may be laying around. "What am I stitching, and what am I using to do it?" the question was simple enough, and to the point as Mako slowly adjusted his footing to be slightly more comfortable as he held his legs against his chest, waiting for the directions on where exactly it all was. There were too many options, including the upstairs area that he had yet to even see- it was better to just ask the boy where it was and wait in order to do it properly with as little energy spent as possible.

Whenever he was told where it was, Mako would rise slowly and head toward the location- obviously intent to do it himself, unless he was told to halt- it was Yuuta's home, if the boy insisted on bringing him the items to do his payment then he wouldn't stop him.

---

Tags: @tags
Post Words: 741
Total Words: 8,380
Total GP so Far: 167