There, standing before Kai among the shattered columns and broken walls, was someone he had thought he'd never see again. The sunlight glinted off her hair, and her eyes locked onto his. Right there, in the flesh, was Kitsuna.
"Hi…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Her brows furrowed just a little, caught between surprise and confusion.
Kai hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixed on her as though he were making sure she was real. Slowly, almost awkwardly, he lifted his hand. "Hi…" he echoed, forcing a small wave.
Kitsuna blinked a few times. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
"We… we didn't think we'd ever see you again," Mei admitted, looking her in the eyes.
Kitsuna tilted her head slightly, her expression caught somewhere between suspicion and genuine confusion. "Why?" she asked.
Brother and sister exchanged a silent glance, an entire conversation flashing between them in that single moment — hesitation, fear, hope.
