Chapter Text
Rin struggled to his feet, bruised and exhausted, clutching the empty sword sheathe Shura had tossed him. His chest heaved as he tried to process what had just happened. Shura leaned casually on the unsheathed blade, her expression one of amused triumph.
“Well, well, kid,” she said with a smirk. “You win.”
Rin blinked, confusion clouding his expression. “Wait—what? Win? How did I—”
“You didn’t,” Shura interrupted, hefting the blade over her shoulder. “Not even close. But you’ve got guts, and that counts for something. Still…” She glanced at the sword in her hand. “You’re not getting this back until you learn to control your flames. Until then, I’m keeping it safe.”
Rin frowned, his grip on the sheathe tightening. “That’s not fair! How am I supposed to learn without my sword?”
Shura shrugged nonchalantly, the wicked glint in her eye not fading. “Figure it out. You’ve got an angel watching over you, don’t you?” Her gaze flicked to Kuri, who stood frozen, her wings partially unfurled as if ready to shield Rin at any moment. “Seems like you’ve got plenty of help.”
Before Rin could respond, Yukio stepped forward, his voice sharp and cold. “That’s enough, Shura. This isn’t a game.”
Shura turned to him, one eyebrow arching lazily. “Relax, kid. Your brother’s tougher than he looks. A little humiliation won’t kill him.”
Yukio’s jaw tightened as he stepped closer, his fists clenching. “You don’t get to decide that. Rin’s already—”
“Yukio.” Reiko’s voice was calm but firm as she placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. Her green eyes were steady as she looked at him, her touch grounding him. “Let it go.”
Yukio shot her a sharp look, frustration simmering beneath the surface. “Reiko—”
She shook her head, her grip on his arm tightening slightly. “This is Rin’s fight, not yours. He needs to figure this out on his own.”
Yukio exhaled sharply, pulling away from her touch, but her words had struck a chord. He took a step back, his arms crossing tightly as he glared at Shura.
Shura shrugged, a wicked glint in her eye as she turned to Rin. “Figure it out, Rin. You’ve got an angel watching over you, don’t you?” Her gaze flicked to Kuri, and her grin widened. “Speaking of which, looks like you’ve got more to work out than just your flames. Good luck, kid.”
With that, Shura turned and walked off, leaving the two standing awkwardly in the aftermath. Rin looked at Kuri, his mind spinning with everything that had happened. She had tried to leave quietly, her wings folding back, but Rin wasn’t going to let her escape this time.
XXX
“Kuri, wait!” he called, chasing after her as she hurried out of the training hall.
Kuri’s heart raced as she quickened her pace, weaving through the corridors and finally emerging into the courtyard. Students were scattered about, eating lunch and chatting, but she barely noticed them. She just needed to get away, to think, to process everything.
But Rin was faster.
He caught up to her in the middle of the courtyard, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. “Kuri, stop running,” he said, his voice breathless but steady.
She turned to face him, her eyes wide and shimmering with uncertainty. “Rin, I… I can’t—”
“Yes, you can,” he interrupted, his grip tightening slightly. “You don’t have to hide, Kuri. Not from me.”
The courtyard grew quieter as students began to take notice. All eyes turned to the two of them, curiosity and whispers spreading through the crowd. Yukio stood in the distance, his expression darkening as he watched the scene unfold.
Rin didn’t care. His focus was entirely on Kuri.
“I heard everything,” he said, his voice steady and strong despite the eyes on them. “What Shura said, what you didn’t deny. And if I don’t say this now, I might never get another chance.”
Kuri opened her mouth to speak, but Rin pressed on, his voice growing more passionate. “Kuri, I’ve never been good at saying the right thing. I mess up all the time, and I know I’ve made things harder for you, for everyone. But the one thing I know for sure is how I feel about you.”
Her breath hitched as his words washed over her.
“You’ve been by my side through everything,” Rin continued, his tone softening. “You’ve protected me, believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. You’ve seen me at my worst and never turned away. You’re my light, Kuri. You make me want to be better, to prove I’m worth your faith. And… I love you.”
The courtyard went utterly still, the whispers dying out as Rin’s words echoed in the space between them. Kuri’s eyes glistened, her lips parting as if to respond, but nothing came. She was speechless, completely overwhelmed.
Rin stood there, vulnerable and exposed, his cheeks flushed as he searched her face for any kind of response. “I… I had to tell you,” he said softly. “Because I’ve felt this way for a while now, and I couldn’t keep it in anymore.”
Kuri didn’t respond with words. Instead, she stepped forward, her wings spreading slightly as she leaned up and kissed him. It was soft, tender, and full of everything she couldn’t put into words. Rin froze for a moment, his eyes wide, before he melted into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her instinctively.
The courtyard erupted into a mix of cheers and gasps, the students’ chatter resuming with fervor. Yukio’s expression darkened further, his jaw tightening as he turned and walked away.
But Rin and Kuri didn’t notice any of it. In that moment, there was only the two of them, and the unspoken emotions they had finally laid bare.
XXX
Before their kiss could finish, Yukio’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. “Am I interrupting something?”
They turned to see Yukio and Reiko standing at the edge of the courtyard. Yukio’s expression was unreadable, but the tension in his posture was unmistakable.
Reiko stepped forward, her tail flicking as she placed a hand on Yukio’s arm. “Relax,” she said softly, her voice soothing. “Let them have their moment.”
Yukio didn’t respond, his jaw tightening as his eyes flicked between Rin and Kuri. Reiko sighed, then pulled him aside, her touch firm but gentle.
“Yukio,” she murmured, her voice low enough that only he could hear. “You need to stop doing this to yourself.”
He frowned, his blue eyes narrowing. “Doing what?”
“Comparing yourself to Rin,” Reiko said simply, her hand sliding down to take his. “You’re not in competition with him. He’s your brother, not your rival.”
Yukio looked away, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “I’m not jealous of Rin.”
Reiko smiled knowingly, leaning closer until their faces were inches apart. “Sure you’re not.” Before he could retort, she kissed him, her lips soft and warm against his. The kiss was brief but enough to make Yukio’s shoulders relax, the tension leaving him as he sighed quietly.
When they pulled apart, Reiko gave him a teasing smile. “Feel better now?”
Yukio rolled his eyes, but a faint smile tugged at his lips. “A little.”