The streets were quiet now, washed clean by the evening rain. Kai and Lira walked side by side, the silence between them heavy yet comforting. The neon lights reflected off the puddles, casting long, flickering shadows.
Lira finally spoke, her voice soft but determined. "Kai… you can't keep hiding everything from me."
Kai's hands tightened into fists. He didn't meet her eyes, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed him. "Some things… you don't want to know."
"I do," Lira insisted, stepping closer. "If we're going to face this… whatever it is… together, you have to trust me."
For a moment, Kai said nothing. Then, finally, he stopped and turned to her. The rain dripped from his hair, glistening like tiny crystals in the neon glow. His dark eyes softened, just a fraction, but the fire within them still lingered.
"Years ago," he began quietly, "I was trained to be a weapon. A tool for an organization that… doesn't forgive mistakes. I was their best fighter, but I wanted out. I wanted freedom."
Lira's eyes widened. "And the men chasing you? They're…?"
"Part of it," Kai admitted. "They've been sent to bring me back… or eliminate me if I resist. And anyone who gets too close…" He swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper. "…becomes a target too."
Lira reached for his hand. "Then let me stay. Let me face it with you. I don't care about the danger. I care about you."
Kai's chest heaved. Her words struck something deep inside him—fear, but also longing. He looked away, his jaw tight. "You don't understand what that means… You could get hurt. Or worse."
"I'd rather be hurt with you than safe without you," Lira said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "I chose this, Kai. You didn't drag me into it—I'm choosing to be here."
For a long moment, he didn't speak. The rain fell around them, pattering against the umbrella Lira held, their breaths mingling in the damp night air. Then, slowly, Kai exhaled, almost a whisper.
"…Alright," he said finally. "But you need to promise me one thing."
"Anything," Lira replied.
Kai's dark eyes locked onto hers, fierce and vulnerable all at once. "Promise me… you'll stay strong. And trust me, even when I fail."
Lira nodded without hesitation. "I promise."
They walked on in silence, their hands brushing occasionally, until Kai finally linked his fingers with hers. It wasn't yet a confession, not even a kiss—but it was a start. A small, fragile bond forming in the shadows of danger.
Suddenly, the faint sound of footsteps echoed behind them. Lira froze.
"Stay close," Kai warned, his voice dropping low. He released her hand just enough to draw a blade from his jacket, eyes scanning the darkness.
From the shadows, a single figure emerged—this time, not an attacker, but someone who had been watching, waiting. Their presence was quiet, almost invisible, yet it radiated menace.
Kai's stance hardened. "You again…"
The stranger smiled faintly, a cold, knowing smile. "We meet again, Kai. But this time… you won't have her by your side."
Lira's grip on Kai's arm tightened. "Who… who is that?"
Kai didn't answer. Instead, he stepped in front of her, blade ready, and whispered, "…Someone from my past. And trust me… they won't stop until they get what they want."
The night darkened, the tension thickening. But for Kai and Lira, one thing was clear: together, they were stronger. And no matter what came next, they would face it side by side.