After an unknown amount of time, Ryuji finally opened his dark brown eyes. He was lying in the very park where he had nearly died. People walked by, casting strange looks his way. Not surprising — he was sleeping right in the middle of the park. Surely, they must have taken him for a homeless person or a runaway teenager. Glancing down, Ryuji noticed a hole near the crotch of his once impeccable suit.
"Great... And how do you plan to make up for my torn suit?" Ryuji smirked. "Demonic fox Lin Tong."
Suddenly, scarlet smoke burst forth from Ryuji's right hand, taking the shape of a tiny fox that hovered before him.
"You're the demonic fox yourself! This lady is an immortal fox! Pure and beautiful, gentle and kind, a little immortal fox!"
"You didn't look very kind when you tried to drain all my life force," Ryuji laughed carefreely.
"You're strange..." Lin Tong twitched her ears cautiously. "You nearly died just now, but you act like it's nothing."
"I couldn't die — gods don't die!" Ryuji shrugged his broad muscular shoulders.
"G-gods?!" Lin Tong recoiled, staring at him like he was insane. "You filthy mortal dare compare yourself to gods?!" Her ears twitched in fury, her voice breaking into a shriek.
She jabbed a finger at him sharply:
"You're just an arrogant, thick-headed human! Thought you were immortal? You were lying in a puddle, nearly dead like a dead fish!"
She crossed her arms behind her back, raising her chin with theatrical contempt:
"This lady is a true immortal fox! Beautiful, powerful, noble! And you're just a dirty slob in a torn suit with delusions of grandeur!"
"Help me become a god, won't you?" Ryuji grinned without breaking eye contact. "After all, you want to break free from that seal, right?"
Lin Tong froze. For a moment, her eyes widened, her tail twitched nervously. But in the next second, her beautiful face flushed with anger.
"Y-you!" she hissed, clenching her fists. "How did you find out?! That was supposed to be a secret! Were you spying?! Eavesdropping?! You… perverted megalomaniac!"
She spun on the spot, shaking her ears angrily.
"This lady was going to explain everything herself! Formally! At the right moment! And you ruined it all with your insolent mug!"
Ryuji lazily stretched and smirked:
"Oh, sorry for being smarter than you expected. Looks like your 'brilliant' plan wasn't so secret after all."
He looked at her with mock pity:
"Immortal, huh? Yet you behave like a spoiled schoolgirl who just got her tail stepped on."
Lin Tong blazed up:
"Who's spoiled?! This lady is noble and calculating! It's just that… you… you're annoying!"
She kicked the ground, sending up a tiny puff of dust.
"Do you have no self-preservation at all?! I nearly killed you! And you're grinning and spouting nonsense!"
Ryuji shrugged casually:
"Well, since you didn't finish me off, fate must have brought us together for a reason. You want freedom — I want power. A fair deal, don't you think?"
Lin Tong stared at him, her golden eyes sparking lightning.
"A deal?!" she snorted. "You're crazy! This lady doesn't make deals with arrogant, self-satisfied mortals!"
She lifted her nose and turned away, crossing her arms.
"Especially not with ones who have holes in their pants in the most indecent place."
Ryuji glanced down lazily and chuckled.
"Don't look if it embarrasses you. And if you're so worried — mend it yourself."
"Pervert!" Lin Tong shouted, burning with indignation. Her tail flared with crimson flames, nearly scorching the grass beneath her feet. "This lady's hands aren't for patching clothes of some lowly mortal!"
"That's fine," Ryuji replied calmly. "Then focus on a more serious task — breaking the seal. I'll help. If, of course, you don't mind a 'lowly mortal.'"
Lin Tong froze. She was silent for a few seconds, clearly battling herself. Finally, she muttered quietly:
"Hmph... If you really can help… then maybe I'll agree. But only because it benefits me! And don't you dare think I trust you!"
"Not the slightest doubt," Ryuji smirked. "You're yelling that too loudly for it to be true."
"Ah, you...!" Lin Tong shrieked, swinging at him but stopping, growling under her breath. "You'll regret getting involved with me!"
"We'll see who regrets it first," he smiled. "But for now, let's start. We have a contract. Or are you scared?"
Lin Tong threw him a burning glance... then reluctantly extended her palm. Her whole posture screamed irritation, but there was determination in her eyes.
"This is temporary!" she spat. "Once I no longer need you — I'll vanish!"
Ryuji touched her hand, and a thin, resonant sound echoed in the air, like invisible chains trembling.