Renjiro's POV
I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until Kaein's subtle shift told me he felt it too. That quiet, something's wrong twitch of his muscles. My chest tightened. My stomach knotted.
"Move," he muttered, barely lifting his eyes from the hallway. His hand hovered over his blade. That tone of his the one that says he's deadly serious and not in the cute, I'll annoy you way made my blood run cold.
I tilted my head. "You smell it too?" I asked, because I knew the answer.
He didn't answer. He just stepped forward, blade ready. That's Kaein for you: move first, explain later.
And then I saw it. A small shape at the edge of the hall, hunched, shoulders shaking. Night demon. Alone. Lost. Sad. Its eyes found mine immediately, and for half a heartbeat, I swear it recognized me.
Kaein's blade was free before I could even blink. "Outside," he said, voice sharp, clipped. "Let's fight outside. Not here."
I gave him a faint smirk, the one I save for when people completely underestimate me. "You're very chivalrous tonight."
His jaw tightened. "Move."
The demon flinched at him, then glanced at me again. Recognition sparked in its tiny, wet eyes. My stomach twisted. I wanted to step forward, to calm it, to tell Kaein it wasn't worth the fight. But I stayed hidden in plain sight, letting him think he was protecting me.
I caught Kaein's movement too late. He lunged, blade flashing, catching the demon across the shoulder. It squealed in that pathetic, pitiful way. I moved, too. Just as I planned, silently, carefully. Keeping Kaein between me and it.
"You're behind me," he snapped.
"Sure," I said softly, letting my smirk stretch. I wasn't behind him. Not really. I was poised to intervene if things went south.
Then came the swarm. Tiny, vicious, buzzing, snapping. Perfect chaos. They lunged straight for Kaein. He swung, slicing through two, just like that, no hesitation. I barely had to think. My reflexes kicked in, muscles moving without conscious thought. I impaled one midair, the warm splash hitting my chest.
Kaein's eyes went wide. "How did you move that fast?" he demanded, voice rough with surprise.
"Adrenaline. Or maybe you're just too slow, Slayer," I said, panting, smirk teasing the edge of my lips.
His blade pressed against my throat. "Don't play games with me."
I smiled faintly. "Not playing." My eyes flicked to the night demon, still trembling, still trying to crawl away. Kaein didn't even hesitate. He drove the blade into its chest.
I couldn't stop the hiss of frustration that escaped me. "Really?" I muttered. "Really, Kaein?"
"It's a demon," he said, voice clipped. "That's my job."
"Right," I said quietly, letting the anger coil like a snake. "Your job."
I didn't step in. I didn't make a move. He didn't notice me standing there, simmering. He didn't notice that I was furious, furious at him for killing something I could have helped. And I let him think he'd done everything.
The rest of the swarm collapsed. The hall smelled like blood and iron, sticky and heavy.
"Let's move," Kaein said. Blade wiped clean, voice steady.
I followed silently, letting him think he carried the fight alone. He didn't know I'd saved him once or twice from the swarm's little ambushes. He didn't need to.
The river came into view, silver and shallow, the current cutting through the low fog. Kaein stripped first. Shirt tossed aside, his muscles were gleaming with sweat and blood. Exhaustion and adrenaline made him beautiful in that raw, lethal way. I caught myself staring, cursed under my breath, and stepped closer to the water.
"You're quiet," he said, not looking at me. Just straight forward, blade tucked at his side.
"You're covered in blood, and you care about my mood," I said, smirking faintly, teasing, though my body was tense with adrenaline.
He shot me a look. "You didn't stay behind me though."
"You're welcome for saving your life. Again," I said, smirking faintly, letting my chest calm.
"Don't get used to it," he said, voice low.
I laughed quietly. A sharp, bitter sound. "I won't. But you're getting used to someone who moves faster than you. You should be scared."
He didn't answer. I could see him in the half-light: wet, blood-smeared, still alert. That was Kaein. Always alert. Always braced. Always human.
I moved closer, letting the cold water curl around us. He didn't flinch. Not even a twitch. Not that he ever did.
"You think I don't see it?" I said softly. "The way you look at me. The way you pretend you're not thinking about me."
His jaw tightened. "And what are you?"
I smiled faintly, just enough to make him question me. "You'll figure it out."
I reached out, brushing a wet strand of hair from his face. His eyes caught mine, sharp and dangerous, full of exhaustion.
"You can't hide forever, Kaein," I whispered, letting the words hang.
His hand twitched, brushing against mine briefly. "Stop teasing me," he said softly.
I smirked faintly. "Not teasing you, I'm informing you."
He leaned closer, and I felt the pull, the dangerous, magnetic drag of his presence. My breath caught. He was too close. Too tempting. Too human.
I let my fingers trail along his jawline, feeling the heat of his skin. He shivered and his breath hitched.
I leaned in, brushing my lips along the edge of his mouth. He didn't flinch. Not even slightly. And I knew, I just knew, he wanted this as much as I did.
But that's
where it stopped. Right at the edge. Right as the world tilted. Right before the kiss.