Shini takes a moment, inhaling sharply to ground herself, attempting to ease her nerves and rid herself of any lingering doubt. That’s when she catches it, the sight of the man perched up on the highest fire escape. Her brows knit together, a sudden expression of irritation dancing across tired features. Was he waiting for a grand performance?

Attention snaps back to the spirit before her, it had finally finished its ❛ transformation ❜. Its ashy skin seeming almost translucent as it wrapped around bone, seeming as if it was going to rip apart with a sudden movement, its teeth resembling a sabertooth. Clearly it had been born from feelings of human starvation. And it’s hungry.

❝ Do you get off to things like this? ❞ Voice rings out into the direction of the man, her tone filled to the brim with aggravation. ❝ I thought men liked getting in on the action, not just watching, or do you just have a fetish? ❞

“F-f-fetish?” he echoed, slipping by accident. A deadpan look stared into nothingness— ( or rather at you, the reader ) —as he fell upside down. Curiously, he descended with a speed not fitting his weight, murmuring, “She thinks I get off on this? What the hell… It’s Narada that’s the creepy one, not me…” He quickly shook his head and yanked himself back to reality. He had a curse to exorcise. As if defying gravity itself, his body turned until his feet hit concrete. Energy, cursed and malevolent, gathered around his left hand. His cursed technique was not made to work in tandem with others—like gravity, it was a force of nature itself.

“Rakshasa: Air Rendering,” he pronounced, flicking his finger. What followed was not a faint draft, but rather a gale that blew the spirit against a wall, freeing her for the time being.

any other moment that tone would have pissed her off, to hell with the wasting money because it seems perhaps he has it coming - but she wants to play good for the sake of her mission, not causing too much unwanted trouble having the priority over everything. "mhm, afraid not." head shakes lightly as grin spreads over lips. "could use some lessons." gaze drops on his hand, watching as he pays for her drink. oh well.

statement met with a curios hum, akari takes a sip of her drink, her gaze darting over neon lights circling the fighting arena. if watching previous matches had taught her anything, he comes with the sort of power that if she could get just close enough, could get her further up the list and to whoever is behind the disappearances. "i'm not backing away from the match." and it's final.

And yet, to those he deemed unworthy of his wrath, he remained a pacifist. In truth, he abhorred unnecessary violence. "For all I know—?" he began, echoing her words. "That's the thing: I don't know much, but I do know one thing." Clearing his throat, he continued, "Let's discuss what interests you, and I'll make you an offer you can't refuse," he said, mimicking Don Vito Corleone as he took a sip of whiskey.

( This woman... Is she sizing me up or checking me out ? ) In that moment, his golden eyes glowed slightly as he "selected" her. Her height, weight, muscle mass, bone density, heart rate—all became visible and mapped before him. "Interesting," he murmured, noting that something about her was amiss, not genuine. It piqued his curiosity.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓? this man was terrifying; she'd rather him scream at her, try to injure, or fight her, not bend down on one knee to prove his devotion. not only was it off-putting, but she had already given her heart to a man before, and it ended with him throwing her out of their marital home.

men were nothing but liars, abusers, and assaulters, selfish and concerned only with what interested them. this rohan wasn't any different, she just knew it in her bones, and it was much, much easier to hate and blame him than to admit her own lack, her own insecurities. her anger fizzled out, arms folding under her breasts. cheeks puffed, she avoided his eyes and grumbled.

“ you don't have to do all of this, you know. if you want sex, we can work something out. coming after my heart is uncalled for. ” she crouched in front of him, hands resting on her knees. “ the last man i trusted left me to die, and you expect me to give you my heart so easily? ”

peeking up at him, kagura assessed his expression and sighed. “ perhaps you can explain your intentions tonight. be my date at the party, and i'll hear you out. ” she raised a finger. “ but if you're just waiting to betray me, so long as you have water in your veins, i will make your organs implode all at once. i don't care if i die, so long as you die with me. ”

“Your date ? You wanted to slice my dick off a whole 4 seconds ago...” he muttered, standing up and adjusting the brim of his hat, regaining his composure. “I NEED to protect you from a coupla uninvited guests at the party. Ideally, I'd take them out first. Can't let you bite the dust, can't let them walk free. Simple.” He paused, their eyes locking again. “Can we get off the water already? And for the love of God, put something on. You're... distractin’.”

"i saw you place a bet on me losing the match," easy going smile is offered as she takes a seat at the counter, arm raised to flag the bartender. "the usual please." polite nod is given when glass of scotch is placed in front of her, yet gaze immediately darts back to the new face in the club. "i'll have you know, i never lose." a pause to down her liquor. "you might want to change that bet ... unless losing money is your thing."

"That seat was ta—ah, it's YOU. Didn't your parents teach you not to talk to strangers?" he spoke somewhat teasingly. Nonchalantly, he reached into his pocket for the yen and paid for her drink in advance. "Well... truth be told..." He paused, adjusting his posture to face her. Black trousers, a white tank top, and a black hat—mundane compared to the myriad scars that mapped his body. Presumably, the reason why most fighters steered clear of him, but not her. She was different.

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆? kagura could not decipher; it didn’t matter when the air grew heavier, thick, unable to breathe in. her eyes flit up, pupils dilating in fear as her brain thrashed between fight, flight, or freeze. what a frustrating prey response—until her hunger not only pushed to the forefront, but opened herself wide, devouring that heaviness in the air without having to lay a hand on him.

that had never happened before, but she’d also never met anyone as strong as him, with unyielding, delicious vitality that filled her as if she’d had bowls and bowls of the finest wagyu. with him, she could reach a strength she had not achieved in centuries. pacified, for now, she thought over his words almost in a daze. people would kill her tonight. damn, she had not selected a successor yet. and what would they do to her body? how exactly would she die? decapitation? stabbings? dismemberment? would they defile her afterward? would she even be allowed the dignity of a burial? and this one, obviously trying to coerce her into something, made her feel trapped, cornered.

she hated it.

“ you didn’t finish. if i don’t join you, i’ll die. you may even kill me yourself. what value does my life have to you? ” the blade melted, and she stepped up to him with fierce eyes, rising on her toes, chin lifted. “ am i to believe you’ll protect me? or are you trying to lead me to a humiliating death? if you are truly here without malice, submit to me. get on your knees and show me you are no threat. ”

𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐘? As he approached, instincts pushed kagura back, keeping tight hold on the fear spreading through her chest. she was an apex predator, a monster; nothing and no one was above her. green eyes cutting, she barely listened to his words. what did he mean, everything she worked for . . . was in danger?

was that a threat?

and yet, he stood in the middle of a boiling pit of water, trying to boast of his abilities and assert his dominance. god, she hated men who didn't know their place. brows raised under a thick black fringe, aggravated with his audacity. and to think she would touch him? ( although. . .he did look tantalizing, like a fresh piece of meat prancing into her private quarters. )

“ move, and i'll slice your dick off. ” her hand flicked, water droplets coagulating into a levitating blade pointed at his crotch. the pool's boiling temperature dropped as she treaded the water's surface, slowly circling him, sizing up his height, his build, the power he radiated.

was he some kind of demon? a sorcerer? an enhanced mortal?

she'd remember if he were an old client. facing him, her brow arched, indignant. “ you damn near kill me with your stupid entrance and now you demand things? you must want to fight because no man i heed would do such a thing. fix my ceiling! ”

“S-sorry for nearly killing you ?” he stammered before his mind trailed elsewhere, to another elsewhen. On the roof, his handler and he discussed whether they would SAVE or ERADICATE Bunni themselves. Kagura, being a spirit wrought from nature itself, boasted an extreme amount of points. Any player would not think twice about killing her. She would be on the RUN, watching her EVERY step, NEVER finding peace. Her empire and everything she had worked for would collapse by the jest of the Outer Ones. Inattentive, he listened to portions of the lost files of her past they could uncover. Sadness overwhelmed him. That was no way for a woman to live, especially not one who had endured so much turmoil. It was the main reason why he personally made a bouquet of flowers— the flowers. “idiot!” was the thought that yanked him back to reality.

In that instant, a thickness filled the air, his mere presence alone captivating. What once appeared like an ordinary individual now stood before her like a force. The facetious facade melt and gave way to the true persona underneath. In that moment it appeared like time itself came to a halt to heed his words. The twisted waltz of DOMINANCE between the two stopped in motion. This could not be mistaken as an arrogant showcase of power: this was an absolute.