The night was heavy with the scent of scorched earth. The battlefield was long abandoned, yet the remnants of chaos still clung to the air like a lingering curse. Shin stood at the edge of a ruined temple, the moonlight casting a pale glow upon the shattered pillars and broken statues that once stood as monuments to an age long past.
His cloak billowed in the cold wind, his Abyss Eye dimmed but still pulsating with dormant power. For the first time in a long while, there was silence—not the eerie stillness of the void, but something more tangible. Something almost peaceful.
Yet, peace was an illusion.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
Shin didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"I knew you'd come," he said, his voice steady but devoid of warmth.
Kaede stepped forward, her expression unreadable. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, though she had not drawn it yet. "You left us behind."
"I had to," Shin replied. "There's no turning back now."
She exhaled sharply, taking another step closer. "You think you're protecting us? Is that it?"
Shin didn't answer.
Kaede's grip tightened on her sword. "You always do this," she muttered. "Taking everything on alone. Refusing to let anyone in."
The wind howled between them. Shin finally turned to face her, his Abyss Eye gleaming in the darkness.
"This power… the void… it's a part of me now," he said. "The further I go, the harder it is to hold on."
Kaede shook her head. "That's not true."
Shin narrowed his eyes. "You saw what happened back there. I nearly—" He stopped himself, as if the thought was too much to bear.
Kaede took another step. "You nearly lost yourself. But you didn't."
A bitter smile ghosted Shin's lips. "Not yet."
She clenched her fists. "Then let us help you before it's too late."
Shin looked away. "It's already too late."
The temple groaned under the weight of time, loose stones crumbling from the edges of its broken foundation. The ruins had been abandoned for centuries, a relic of an age forgotten by most. But to Shin, standing here felt familiar—like something buried deep in his memories was stirring.
Kaede followed his gaze, studying the worn carvings etched into the temple walls. Symbols of warriors long gone, their legacies reduced to dust.
"You brought me here for a reason," she said.
Shin hesitated. "I used to come here when I was younger. Before everything… changed."
Kaede's eyes softened. "Before the abyss."
Shin nodded. "Before I knew what I was."
The silence between them stretched, neither willing to break it.
Then, Kaede spoke. "You think walking away will save us?"
Shin exhaled, his shoulders tensing. "If I stay, I'll drag you all down with me."
"That's not your choice to make."
Shin looked at her then, something unspoken flickering in his gaze. "Kaede—"
She unsheathed her sword in a swift motion, the sound of metal ringing through the night.
"If you really believe that," she said, "then prove it."
Shin stared at her. "You want to fight me?"
Kaede raised her blade. "I want you to stop running."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The temple ruins stood as silent witnesses to the storm brewing between them.
Then Shin sighed, unsheathing his own katana. "You won't win."
Kaede's lips curled into a small smirk. "Then fight me properly."
The air between them crackled with tension.
Then, in an instant, they moved.
Kaede struck first, her blade cutting through the night like lightning. Shin countered with minimal effort, deflecting her strike with a flick of his wrist. Their swords clashed, sparks flying as they danced between the broken pillars of the temple.
Kaede pushed forward, relentless. Shin was faster, sharper, but she knew his movements—knew how he fought. And for the first time in a long while, he wasn't holding back.
Their blades met again, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the air. Kaede gritted her teeth, forcing Shin back step by step.
Shin's expression remained unreadable. "You're stronger than before."
Kaede scoffed. "And you're hesitating."
Shin's grip on his sword faltered for a fraction of a second. It was all the opening Kaede needed. She twisted, landing a kick to his side and forcing him backward.
Shin exhaled sharply, steadying himself. His Abyss Eye flared, the void energy around him rippling. "You shouldn't have come."
Kaede raised her sword. "Then make me leave."
Shin surged forward, his movements blurring with inhuman speed. Kaede barely managed to block, but the force sent her skidding back.
She refused to yield.
The battle raged on, neither of them willing to give in. But Kaede wasn't fighting to win. She was fighting to reach him.
And she wasn't leaving without him.
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