The atmosphere was still, calm. The only noise that could be heard was the sound of pages turning and a rumbling.

The source of the rumbling? Power's snores.

The pages turning? Denji's attempt at reading a manga.

Power was nestled comfortably in his lap, her head laying between his thighs. His best friend snored away, occasionally wrinkling her nose whenever Denji absentmindedly twirled his finger gently around her strawberry blonde locks.

When Denji reached the final page, he set the manga aside. He stared at the ceiling.

The hybrid wondered how he got to where he was now.

All his life before his fateful meeting with Makima, he ate like shit, smelled like shit, and lived like shit. His education was non-existent. After all, he believed, a boy who killed his father and lived in severe poverty could never get far in life.

He knew he got lucky, more lucky than he could ever imagine. Makima saved him from having to continue to live a life in that shed and paying off his dead father's debts. She gave him a home. She gave him Aki and Power. He was grateful and in love. He wanted a connection with her and whatever affection he received he treasured it. His favorite thing about Makima was her smile.

She would smile at him.

Though... her smile always seemed off.

In the past couple of days, she would smile at him when she gave him and Power a mission(she would just look between him and Power and then smile). It wasn't like Power's which shined brightly and gave him a burst of energy, but a smile that made him nervous.

But he didn't understand why. Why would he feel uneasy around her? He loves Makima. That smile should have him filled with joy but instead made him wary.

He shook his head, banishing those thoughts away. Makima would never hurt him.

Denji carefully lifted Power's head off his lap. When he extracted himself from the couch, he gently tucked his right arm under her knees and left arm around her shoulder. He lifted her up bridal style as she snored lightly. He knew she wasn't getting up any time soon.

Denji carried her to her bed and tucked her in.

With that he left Power's room, heading to his.

He sat down on his bed and stared at the picture standing next to his lamp.

Power was behind him, right arm wrapped around his right shoulder, right leg wrapped around his right leg. They were in front of a café, both flashing the peace sign and smiling for the camera. It was just after their one of their dates that he had the strange urge to have it stored as precious day between them. One thing led to another and that ended up with him asking a random guy(more like intimidating him) to take a picture of him and Power. Power didn't seem to mind and they posed for the camera.

That day was a very special day, a memory that he would always look at before he went to bed.

If only Aki was the one who took the picture.

Aki...

It was only the day after they had fought the Darkness Devil that he found himself and Aki sitting in the dining room.

Power had finally stopped her screaming during the night. When he went to take a piss in the middle of the night, he saw Aki sitting down with a glass of milk, just staring at it.

Denji thought nothing of it and walked past the man, going to do his business. When he walked past Aki again...

"Denji."

He paused. Turning around Denji got a better look at Aki. His skin was paler than usual and there were heavy bags under his eyes.

"We need to talk."

Denji thought about ignoring the guy and going back to sleep, but lately...

He's felt attached to the man.

He doesn't know how or why but the feelings pushed away his need to walk away or shoot some snarky comment.

Denji sat down across from Aki. The two stared at each other for what seemed like hours before Aki spoke first.

"I've been thinking..."

Uh oh. Aki was thinking, that spelled the end of the world.

There goes any feelings he held for the man.

"You need an education. I've been thinking about enrolling you in high school."

"Why?" Denji asked stiffly, feeling fire rushing through his veins.

Who the hell did Aki think he was? The prick felt like he could look down on him for being born into poverty? Why the hell would he need an education?

"Yesterday made me realize how close we got to death. To tell it to you straight... I might not make it out alive. I'm not like you or Power. I'm only human. If I die then..." He stopped, a look of shame passed through Aki's face. Denji had no idea why the man felt that way. Aki took a deep breath before continuing.

"I already enrolled you for next year. You'll be attending school and getting an education. You'll be able to read, write, and socialize. You can be a part of society. I know how much of a shitty life you've lived so I... I'll give you part of what you've been missing your childhood. Think of it as a thank-you gift for helping the Devil hunters." Aki got up and chugged the rest of his milk before putting his empty glass in the sink.

He left Denji, disappearing into his room.

The boy sat at the table in shock.

Those feelings he had about Aki were now resurfacing.

He never thought that the prick would care. His duty of letting him and Power live in his home was just that, a duty. But the education part was completely unexpected.

Denji felt his lips quivering for some reason.

He stood up and went back to Power, he laid next to the fiend who pulled him closer in her sleep.

Denji let the darkness envelop him closing his eyes, which felt... moist.

Denji held Power's hand as she dragged him around the amusement park. The two had been on over 10 rollercoaster and that many rides ended with them both spilling their guts onto the pavement.

He wouldn't have it any other way. Power laughed as they stopped at a food stand. He could see the looks other people gave her and he clenched his teeth.

Power must've felt him tense up because she turned around and gave him a soft smile, squeezing his hand softly.

A warm feeling enveloped him, calming Denji.

The two eventually ordered their food and ate like starving animals.

Denji occasionally would look up and see Power happily stuffing her face away and a realization came to him.

She was someone very precious to him. Someone to love, treasure and protect.

After Aki, all they had now was each other.

It was only a couple of weeks after Aki's death when he decided to go out to get something...

Denji grabbed his wallet and opened the apartment door.

"I'm gonna go buy ice cream. You want anything?" He asked.

"A rice ball with meat!" Was Power's enthusiastic response.

He smiled softly and closed the door.