The battle was chaos.
Wolves came from every direction, their shadow-fangs snapping at air where Akira and Kaori had been milliseconds before. The demon circled, attacking with blasts of dark energy that scorched the earth.
But Akira and Kaori moved like they'd been fighting together for years instead of days. He would strike high; she would strike low. She would dodge left; he would cover right. Their marks pulsed in perfect rhythm, and their weapons sang through the air in deadly harmony.
"There's too many!" Kaori shouted, taking down three wolves with one spinning attack.
"Then we use what worked before!" Akira called back. "Together!"
They came back-to-back, hands joining, marks blazing. The twilight energy erupted around them in a sphere of light and shadow. Wolves that touched it dissolved instantly. The demon recoiled, hissing.
"Impossible! You've only been bound for days! This level of synchronization should take years!"
"Maybe we're overachievers!" Kaori yelled.
She and Akira moved as one, their joined energy forming a wave that swept across the battlefield. Wolves scattered, dissolving into mist. The demon tried to flee, but Akira was faster. His sword, empowered by their bond, cut through the creature's wing.
The demon fell, snarling. "You may have won this battle, but the Master has already sent his generals. They will crush you. Your bond means nothing against true power!"
"We'll see about that," Akira said coldly.
With a final strike, the demon exploded into shadow that faded into nothing.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Akira and Kaori stood together, still holding hands, both breathing hard. Their clothes were torn, they were covered in minor cuts and bruises, but they were alive.
"We did it," Kaori whispered.
"We did," Akira agreed.
They should have separated then. The battle was over. But neither let go.
"Akira, when we combine our powers, I can feel what you're feeling," Kaori said quietly.
"I know. I can feel you too."
"So you know that I'm terrified. Not of the demons or the Void Emperor. But of this. Of how natural it feels to fight beside you. To trust you."
Akira turned to face her fully, their hands still joined. "I'm terrified too. I've spent two years thinking of you as the enemy. But when we fight together, when our powers merge, I don't feel like we're enemies. I feel like we're..."
"What?" Kaori asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Like we're exactly where we're supposed to be."
Their faces were close now, so close. Kaori's violet eyes searched his, looking for... what? Doubt? Deception? But all she saw was honesty.
"This is crazy," she breathed.
"Completely insane," Akira agreed.
"We barely know each other."
"I know you saved a child without hesitation. I know you fought a demon to protect a forest. I know your sister's name is Yuki and she means everything to you."
"And I know you lost your parents. I know you became an agent to protect people. I know you're far kinder than you pretend to be."
They were silent, the air between them charged with something neither had names for yet.
Then Kaori stepped back, releasing his hand. The loss of contact felt like cold water.
"We should keep moving," she said, not meeting his eyes. "The demon said more are coming."
"Right. Of course."
But as they walked, their hands kept brushing, and neither moved away.