The night was unusually quiet. The streets were damp from the earlier rain, lamps flickering faintly as Lira walked home. She carried the memory of Kai's words in her chest, a dangerous promise that echoed louder than the storm itself.
"Then I'll protect you. No matter what it costs me."
Her steps slowed as a faint sense of unease grew. She could almost feel eyes on her.
Then, like a shadow peeling away from the darkness, Kai appeared beside her.
Lira: (startled) "Kai… you scared me."
Kai: (calmly) "Good. It means you're still aware. Never walk alone without caution."
Lira: (frowning) "So you've been following me?"
Kai: (quietly) "Guarding you."
His words should have sounded cold, but instead, her heart skipped a beat.
---
The Watchers
They reached the old district, where buildings leaned like tired giants. The silence was broken by the faint hum of an engine. A black van parked at the far end of the street, its windows tinted.
Lira's breath caught.
Lira: "They're here, aren't they?"
Kai: (nodding) "Don't look. Just keep walking."
But the moment they turned, the van doors slid open, and figures dressed in black stepped out, their faces hidden.
Man in Black: "You can't hide forever, Kai. Orders are clear: return with us… or she doesn't leave alive."
Kai pushed Lira gently behind him. His voice dropped, deadly calm.
Kai: "If you touch her, you'll never leave this street."
---
The Clash in the Shadows
The men charged. Knives flashed under the pale glow of the lamps. Kai moved swiftly, meeting them head-on. His fist connected with one man's jaw, sending him crashing into a wall. Another lunged with a blade, but Kai twisted his wrist and slammed him to the ground.
But there were too many.
Lira pressed herself against the wall, heart pounding as the chaos unfolded. She saw Kai take a blow to his ribs, his body staggering for the first time.
Lira: "Kai!"
Her voice was desperate, but it was enough to spark something in him. He fought harder, sharper, striking with a ferocity that scared even her.
When the last attacker fell groaning to the pavement, silence returned. The van screeched away, leaving only the wreckage of the fight.
---
Aftermath
Kai stood with his shoulders heaving, blood dripping from a cut on his lip. Lira ran to him, grabbing his arm.
Lira: "You're hurt again… why do you keep doing this alone?"
Kai: (hoarse, looking away) "Because if I depend on you… you'll get dragged deeper."
Lira: (holding tighter) "Then let me fall. I'd rather fall with you than stand alone without you."
Her voice trembled, tears mixing with the night air.
Kai froze. The words shattered the wall he had built for so long. Slowly, painfully, he raised his hand and brushed her cheek with trembling fingers.
Kai: "…You don't know how dangerous that choice is."
Lira: (softly) "Then teach me. Let me face it with you."
---
Whispers
For the first time, Kai allowed his guard to drop completely. Under the broken streetlight, with the shadows of enemies retreating, he leaned close—not enough for a kiss, but close enough that she felt the warmth of his breath, the trembling in his chest.
Kai: (whisper) "Stay by my side… but don't ever regret it."
Lira: (meeting his eyes) "I never will."
In the darkness, their bond deepened—not yet love declared, but a promise sealed in whispers.
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