When the first ray of morning sunlight gently bathed the earth once more, the terrifying storm that could have wiped Kyoto off the map had long since vanished without a trace.
As if last night's apocalyptic battle between gods and demons had been nothing but an unreal nightmare.
Tokyo, a hidden safe house. (Property of the Kagura Financial Group)
Warm sunlight streamed through the clean floor-to-ceiling windows onto a large, soft bed.
Chizuru Kagura, who normally brimmed with energy as the "Wangan Queen," now curled up under the covers like a wounded kitten, sleeping soundly.
Faint traces of dried tears remained on that stunning face, and her long lashes occasionally trembled with whatever she was dreaming.
Clearly, last night's heart-stopping battle and the sight of her sister nearly dying had drained every last ounce of her strength. The power Cloud had temporarily awakened in her had also dissipated, leaving her looking especially vulnerable.
At the bedside, Cloud was carefully wiping another woman's face with a warm, damp towel.
Maki Kagura.
This usually elegant, composed, serene priestess now appeared heartbreakingly fragile.
She wore a clean white nightgown, lying quietly on the bed, her complexion as pale as paper.
Though Cloud's care had healed most of her physical wounds, the spiritual exhaustion from overusing her divine power wasn't something that could be recovered quickly.
Looking at her exquisite sleeping face—stripped of all pretense, leaving only pure exhaustion and vulnerability—Cloud felt an indescribable tenderness well up in his heart.
This woman...
She's too strong, and too heartbreaking.
Just then, Maki's long lashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened those deep, beautiful eyes.
"You're... awake?" Cloud's voice unconsciously softened.
"Mm..." Maki's voice was still weak. She struggled to sit up.
"Don't move." Cloud quickly pressed her back down. "You need to rest."
Looking at this man before her—watching her with such genuine concern—ripples of complex emotion spread through those usually still-as-ancient-wells eyes.
Shock, gratitude, curiosity, and a trace of... dependence, though even she hadn't noticed it herself.
Yesterday, that man had descended like a heavenly god, single-handedly reversing the tide. That image had been seared into the depths of her soul.
"Cloud..." she called his name softly, her voice carrying a dreamlike confusion. "Who... exactly are you?"
She certainly didn't believe his nonsense about being "a branch member of the Kusanagi clan."
That terrifying power capable of contending with "gods"...
That impossible technique of perfectly fusing two opposing divine flames...
Including... that forbidden technique from Yagami legend that could seal time itself...
The mysteries surrounding this man ran deeper than the "Orochi Seal" she had guarded for a thousand years.
"Me?"
Cloud smiled when he heard this.
He didn't brush her off with his usual "playboy" routine.
Instead, he looked into her eyes with an unprecedented seriousness.
"I'm a man... destined to liberate you sisters from that damned fate."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was as solid as bedrock!
BOOM——!
Those words struck the softest place in Maki Kagura's heart like a thunderbolt!
Liberation... from fate?
How... how many years has it been?
How many years since anyone dared speak such "blasphemous" words to her?
Everyone only knew that the priestesses of the Kagura clan were born to live for protecting the seal and die for protecting the seal.
This was their glory, and their inescapable curse.
But this man before her...
Looking at those dark, profound eyes that seemed capable of drawing her in, Maki felt her frozen heart begin to pound uncontrollably!
[Ding! Target Maki Kagura's Affection has changed: +20 (He... he actually... saw through to my deepest desire... This man... he...)]
"Sister! You're awake!"
Just as the atmosphere grew somewhat "intimate," a voice full of surprised joy shattered the room's tranquility.
Chizuru Kagura had woken up at some point.
Seeing her sister conscious, she immediately bounced over like a cheerful little bird, hugging Maki's arm tightly.
"That's wonderful! Sister! You're okay! I was so scared... so scared I'd never see you again..." Her eyes reddened as she spoke.
"Silly girl." Maki stroked her head affectionately, her own eyes glistening.
Yesterday, she truly had been prepared to die.
If not for...
Unconsciously, she turned her gaze toward the man watching their sisterly reunion with a look of "satisfaction."
Chizuru followed her gaze.
Then both sisters' pretty faces flushed red simultaneously.
How could they not understand now?
From the very beginning, this man's approach had nothing to do with "chasing girls" (though that might not be untrue now) or some "silly prank."
He had been there to... protect them from the start!
He had known about Goenitz's attack all along!
That's why he appeared on that street racing night!
That's why he shamelessly moved into the shrine!
That's why he descended like divine reinforcement at the critical moment!
Realizing this, the way both sisters looked at Cloud changed completely.
...
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