Tokyo, Japan
Shigeyoshi residence, Kichijoji neighborhood, located in the west of Tokyo.
June 18, 2026
6:12 AM.
Morning light seeped through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Ray stirred, his sharp and heightened senses rousing him from sleep before his eyes even opened. He exhaled slowly, his mind sharpening as consciousness took hold. As his gaze adjusted to the dim morning light, he turned to his left - and there she was.
Akane.
She peacefully curled up beside him, her small frame rising and falling with each gentle breath. Her face was serene, framed by strands of her dark brown hair that cascaded over the pillow. She looked vulnerable, exhausted, yet safe.
Memories of the previous night hit him like a crashing wave. The sudden. The terror in Akane's eyes. The brutality and cruelty of the men who sought to take her. The raw, unrestrained violence he and Izanami had unleashed to ensure her safety. If Akane hadn't run to his house in time....
Ray clenched his fists. He didn't even want to think about what could have happened to her.
Then, a faint, inviting aroma of breakfast drifted into the room, stirring his sense. He sniffed the air. Someone was cooking. He silently slipped out of the bed, careful not to disturb Akane. She needed rest after what she had been through.
His bare feet padded against the cool wooden floor as he made his way to the door. Before stepping out, he cast one last glance at Akane. His hardened exterior softened for a brief moment. He wasn't one to get attached easily, but there was a strange feeling stirring him when he looked at her -
A need to protect her, to ensure she never felt fear like she did last night ever again.
Pushing the door open, Ray moved down the hallway toward the kitchen. The sound of soft humming met his ears before he saw the figure standing by the stove.
Izanami.
And she was wearing his own damn clothes.
A loose white t-shirt, a size too big for her, draped over her frame, hanging off one shoulder. His sweatpants, tied at the waist, clung snugly to her hips. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Must've stolen them from his own wardrobe.
His gaze flickered to the table, her signature, Queenwomen edition, in perfect condition, two shard daggers rested beside a neatly folded cloth. Always within reach.
Izanami, as always, was a contradiction. A deadly weapon in a deceptively gentle scene.
"Didn't take you for the cooking type." Ray exhaled sharply.
Without turning, Izanami flipped an egg with practiced ease. "You were asleep. Someone had to make a breakfast."
His brow quirked. "So you raid my wardrobe and my kitchen?"
She finally turned her head slightly, just enough for him to catch the faintest ghost of amusement in her eyes. "Your clothes are comfortable."
Ray walked over, leaning against the counter, crossing his arms as he studied her. "And the breakfast?"
Izanami shot a quick smile at him.
"I'm hungry. You could be. And your Akane girl will be, later." She answered.
Ray rolled his light silver eyes over Izanami's smartass remark.
A minute of looking at Izanami's served breakfast, Ray pulled out a chair and sat.
"Smell's good." A simple compliment from him.
Izanami shot him a quick but genuine smile. "Eat."
He picked up the spoon and fork, served by the Englishwoman, instead of chopstick. Then he took a bite. The warmth of the food spread through him, grounding him in the moment.
The Dawning Devil and Queensman eat in silence, the clinking of cutlery against ceramic the only sound between them. Izanami, watching him carefully, hesitating to open up something.
Then...
"You might be the reason why she's here." Izanami began.
Ray's grip on his fork tightened. He closed his eyes briefly, forcing the surge of emotions back into the cold abyss where they belonged.
The name - Risa Rourke - his mother's name, had struck him like a dagger. A tidal wave of memories, of warmth and betrayal, a longing and hatred, swirled through him in an instant before he ruthlessly pushed it all back down.
"Your mother - " Izanami tried..
"I don't fucking care." He suddenly muttered, his voice eerily steady and cutting of Izanami's words.
"I don't care about her, about what the hell she is, or why she's here." Ray continued.
Izanami pressed her lips together.
"Damn it, Ray. I -"
"I don't want to ruin my morning." He cut her off again coldly, stabbing into his food with finality.
"Drop it, Izanami or I swear to god." Ray warned her coldly.
Izanami sighed, defeated, and the conversation lapsed into silence oncee more.
After they finished eating, she gathered their plates and stood.
"I'll wash these." She offered, taking them to the sink without waiting for a response.
The soft sound of water running and dishes clinking filled the quiet space between them. Izanami worked quickly but efficiently, cleaning everything with the same precision she handled her daggers.
When she finished and dried her hands, she turned back to Ray, who was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes - cold, piercing, light silver eyesc - held something expectant.
"What really went down in that hotel, Izanami?" He finally spoke, his voice low but firm.
Izanami heaved a heavy sigh. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, preparing herself.
"Everything doesn't make sense, Ray." She said, her voice steady but carrying an edge of frustration.
"The mission at that...hotel - nothing made sense. The Queen called me for a mission, something urgent, something spontaneous. No preparations, lacking of explicit details, just like...feels like a demand. That's never happened before." She continued.
Ray's gaze was steady. He remained silent, allowing her to continue.
"Hera and Valkyrie.....They attacked me out of the blue. Of course, I fought back and escaped. And now, I'm here." Izanami recalled.
"Then, Risa Rourke, your mother and the Queen's sister - revealed to be the Matriach, suddenly appeared in that hotel." Izanami didn't stop.
Ray's jaw clenched at name.
"And there's Rakshesha. She betrayed the Queen, her vow, and all of us. She revealed herself working for your mother and fiercely and savagely attacked me, as if I was her longtime archenemy." Izanami ended.
A heavy silence fell between them. Izanami studied Ray's reaction, but he kept his face blank. He didn't move, didn't flinch.
"None of this fucking really make sense to me." Izanami repeated but with a hint of frustration.
"And the worst part? I feel like if I go back to the palace, I'm in -
"In deep shit." Finally, he muttered, interrupting Izanami.
Izanami sighed and nodded slowly.
"Yep."
"Sounds like you really did something....suspicious." Ray implied.
Izanami narrowed his eyes and shot Ray a deadly glare. "You think I would do something that will threaten the Queen's trust?" Izanami argued.
"Is that what you really think of me?" Izanami continued, feeling a bit of betrayal.
"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you." Ray flatly said.
Izanami didnt reply anymore. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath.
Ray turned away, running a hand through his blonde, soft hair.
"So, what now? You're here in Tokyo, standing in my kitchen, spilling all of this to me. What do you expect me to do?" He said, his expression cold and unreadable.
Izanami met his gaze, her eyes burning with conviction. "I don't expect anything, Ray. But I know one thing - you're at the center of this. And whether you want to acknowledge it or not, your mother's presence here means something. You might not give a shit about her, but based on our...meeting, she sure as hell give a shit about you. Even if she's the most evil woman in the world and a potential threat to the Queen and our country."
Ray scoffed, shaking his head. "If she cared, she wouldn't have left."
Izanami sighed, rubbing her temples.
"Maybe. But she's here now. And that means something."
"I need some air." Ray suddenly pushed off the counter.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Izanami standing there, watching him go with a contemplative expression.