Chapter 12 – "Before the Storm"
AIRI TANAKA'S POV
His lips were on mine, and for a second, the world made sense.
The tension that had built between us for weeks—every stolen glance, every heated argument, every quiet moment where we pretended not to care—exploded in that kiss. I clung to him, to the scent of smoke and danger and something deeply Ren, and I let myself fall.
But all too soon, he pulled back.
His eyes lingered on mine—dark, unreadable, but burning.
"I'm driving you back," he muttered, brushing his thumb across my cheek. "You've had enough for one night."
I nodded, heart pounding. The car ride was silent, filled only with the soft hum of the engine and the echo of his lips on mine. We didn't say anything. Maybe we didn't need to.
But I didn't sleep that night.
Not after what happened between us.
Not after that kiss.
The next morning felt... surreal.
Classes buzzed around me, normal and loud, like the world hadn't shifted. I spotted Ren leaning against the wall near the library, arms crossed, usual scowl in place.
He didn't look at me.
Not directly, anyway.
But I felt his gaze.
Every time I turned away, my skin prickled like he was watching.
Mei noticed immediately. "So. Something happened."
"What?" I squeaked.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're walking like you kissed a god and didn't know if you survived it."
I choked. "I did not—"
"You so did." Mei leaned closer, whispering with delight. "You kissed him."
I stayed quiet.
She gasped. "YOU DID."
"I said shut up!"
Mei squealed and spun around dramatically. "Our girl is in love with the mafia prince."
I flushed red. "He's not—ugh. You don't even know the half of it."
"Maybe not," she said, eyes softening, "but I know you. And if you're falling… I just hope he's worth it."
I looked over her shoulder.
Ren was still leaning there.
Watching.
Always watching.
REN KUROGANE'S POV
I shouldn't have kissed her.
But I did.
And now everything felt... dangerous.
Not just because of the enemies circling closer, the traitors sniffing around my network, or the threats I couldn't yet name.
No—she was the danger now.
Because she mattered.
Because she made me weak in all the places I couldn't afford to be.
I watched her walk across the courtyard with Mei, laughing, brushing her hair behind her ear.
She didn't know it, but I'd stationed a guy at every corner of the campus. Unmarked. Silent. Armed.
They wouldn't touch her. Not again.
Still, I stayed. Close.
Watching.
Waiting.
Needing to see her breathe.
Later that day, I caught her in the hallway near the empty art room.
"You've been following me," she said, arms crossed, that fire in her eyes.
"Making sure you're safe."
"I'm not a porcelain doll."
"No," I said, stepping closer, voice low. "You're the one thing I can't replace."
Her breath hitched. She opened her mouth—then closed it again.
"Say it," I whispered. "You felt it too, last night."
"I did," she whispered. "But you're still infuriating."
I smirked. "You like me that way."
She shoved me playfully. I caught her hand, held it for a moment too long.
That's when Mei showed up.
She eyed us, smirking. "Interrupting something?"
Airi blushed and pulled away. "No."
Mei grinned. "Sure."
AIRI TANAKA'S POV
By the time we left school, the air had shifted. I didn't notice it at first—just a strange chill, the way the wind carried too much silence.
Ren had gone to a call. Said he'd be five minutes behind us.
So Mei and I walked ahead, down the path near the trees.
We were laughing.
I turned for a second to check my phone.
Then—
Hands.
Pain.
A scream that didn't make it out.
Everything went black.
REN KUROGANE'S POV
I knew something was wrong the second my call ended.
Airi's location tracker blinked.
Offline.
I bolted through the school gates, my men following close behind. Mei was on the ground, dazed, a bruise already forming on her temple.
"They took her," she cried, "They—they dragged her into a van. I couldn't—"
My blood went cold.
"Where?" I barked.
She pointed. "East road. Black van. No plates."
I didn't wait.
Didn't breathe.
I just ran.
Because someone took what was mine.
And I was about to burn the world to bring her back.
To be continued...