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Shinobu was exactly where I expected her to be—inside her laboratory, surrounded by neatly arranged vials, dried herbs, and the faint scent of something medicinal. The soft glow of a lantern illuminated the room, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
She didn't acknowledge me immediately. Her delicate hands worked with precision as she measured out a glowing liquid into a small glass flask. But I knew she had sensed me the moment I entered.
"What is it, Alex?" she asked, her voice calm and even, but I caught the subtle shift in her shoulders—stiffness that hadn't been there before.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "I'm leaving."
She finally looked up, her deep violet eyes locking onto mine.
"Leaving?" she repeated, setting the flask down with deliberate care.
I nodded, a small smirk playing on my lips. "Yeah. My time here is almost done. I'm going to the next world."
For a split second, something flickered in her eyes—surprise, hesitation, maybe even something deeper. But she quickly buried it behind her usual composed demeanor.
Shinobu stood up from her seat and walked toward me, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What?" she asked, her voice quieter this time.
I said nothing at first; I just looked at her, letting the silence settle.
Her fingers twitched slightly against her arms. "But what about your promise to help me defeat Doma?" she asked, her voice sharper now, laced with something she wouldn't admit.
I chuckled. "You sound so betrayed."
She frowned. "I am betrayed. You made a promise, Alex."
I sighed dramatically, tilting my head. "True, true, but you're acting like I'm abandoning you forever."
Shinobu narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you?"
I stepped closer. "Not quite."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
I leaned down slightly, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I made a permanent portal to this world. I can come back whenever I want."
Her breath hitched just a little.
Then, understanding settled on her face, followed immediately by something else—annoyance.
"You knew I'd misunderstand, didn't you?" she said flatly.
I grinned. "Maybe."
She huffed, turning away. "You're insufferable."
I laughed. "But I did defeat two Upper Moons, and I helped Uzui rescue his wives from another one. That's worth something, don't you think?"
Shinobu exhaled, rubbing her temples. "Yes, yes. You're very strong. Do you want a medal?"
"Not quite," I said smoothly.
She turned back to me, raising an eyebrow. "Then what do you want?"
I took another step forward, closing the distance between us. She didn't move away.
"You already know," I murmured.
Her breath hitched slightly, but she quickly masked it with a skeptical look. "Oh? Do I?"
I reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear before trailing my fingers down to her throat, feeling the rapid pulse beneath her soft skin.
She didn't stop me.
She could have—she could have stepped back, deflected, and turned this into a joke like she usually did.
But she didn't.
"What about your promise to me?" She whispered, her voice softer than before. It wasn't just a reminder anymore.
Her eyes searched mine, and for the first time, she wasn't hiding behind her usual teasing smirk or composed mask.
May it be because of the talk she had with Akeno, or because I told her I was leaving, or maybe a bit of both—something had changed.
We were close, close enough that our breaths synchronized. If I pushed just a little more, I knew what would happen.
I could take her right now, claim her, and she wouldn't stop me.
But something was off.
If I took her now, she'd be mine in body but not in heart.
And I didn't want that.
So I stopped.
I let my hand drop from her throat, my fingers barely grazing her collarbone as I pulled away.
Shinobu's expression didn't change immediately, but there was a brief flash of something in her eyes.
Confusion?
Relief?
Maybe both.
I gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Hey, Shinobu," I said slowly. "If Doma dies, then you won't mind if I make a move on you, right?"
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She didn't answer.
Honestly, I do understand why she doesn't want to pursue her love.
She was afraid that if she gave herself to me now, she would forget.
Forget the pain. Forget the hatred. Forget the grief of losing her sister to Doma.
And if she forgot, she would have nothing left to hold onto.
So I smiled, stepping back entirely, giving her space.
"Then let's finish my promise; after that, I will make you mine." I said.
[Greater Teleportation] I cast as both Shinobu and I disappeared from her laboratory.
~~~
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