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The sun was setting as Yuki walked home. The air had cooled, and the city was quieter than usual—an eerie calm hanging in the air. Aiko had left earlier, promising to meet up the next day. But even her comforting presence couldn't shake the strange feeling Yuki had.
He felt like something was coming.
Something dark.
Suddenly, he froze.
A shadow swept across his path.
Yuki whipped around, heart racing. His senses flared, picking up the faintest trace of something… off.
Energy.
Not human. Not right.
Before he could react, a figure appeared in front of him, stepping out from the alleyway.
The air around the figure crackled. It wasn't the same feeling Yuki had with his own power—it was colder. Sharper. A cold, malicious presence.
The figure was cloaked in black, hood drawn low to obscure most of their face. Only two glowing violet eyes pierced through the darkness, fixed on Yuki.
"Who are you?" Yuki demanded, trying to keep his voice steady.
The figure didn't respond right away. Instead, they tilted their head, studying Yuki as if he were some kind of puzzle.
"I've been watching you, kitsune," the figure finally spoke, their voice a smooth, unsettling whisper. "You've awakened."
Yuki's eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
The figure smirked, stepping closer. "I know more than you think."
Before Yuki could react, the figure lunged at him, a burst of dark energy crackling around them. Yuki barely had time to defend himself, raising his hands in a weak attempt to block. The energy hit him, sending him crashing back into a nearby wall.
His breath was knocked out of him as his head slammed against the bricks. The pain was instant, sharp, but it didn't stop him from reacting.
The figure advanced, each step deliberate, slow, like a predator closing in on its prey.
"Your power is impressive," the figure mused. "But you're too weak to control it. Too… human."
Yuki struggled to get up, forcing himself to his feet. His body trembled with the strain of the attack, but he wasn't about to give up. His aura flared, glowing brightly as he drew on his power.
"I don't know who you are," Yuki growled, "but I'm not going down that easy."
The figure chuckled darkly. "You should be careful. The last thing you want is to unleash your full power without control. It'll destroy you."
Yuki clenched his fists, ready to strike, but just as he was about to launch his attack, a gust of wind swept through the street.
A figure appeared on the rooftop above, silhouetted against the darkening sky. It was Ren.
"Enough."
Ren's voice was calm, yet commanding. The wind around him died down as he landed lightly on the ground in front of Yuki, blocking his path to the mysterious figure.
The cloaked figure hissed in frustration. "You again."
Ren didn't move, his eyes cold. "Leave. Now."
The figure scowled, but without another word, they vanished into the night, their dark energy dissipating like smoke.
Yuki stood there, still shaking, his fists clenched. "Who was that?"
Ren didn't answer right away, his gaze following the retreating figure. After a long pause, he turned back to Yuki. "Trouble."
Yuki frowned. "What do you mean, trouble?"
Ren's gaze softened, just for a moment. "That was no ordinary enemy. They're part of a larger group—one that knows more about you than you do yourself."
Yuki's heart raced. "A group?"
"Not just any group. A dangerous one," Ren said, his voice low. "They're hunting beings like you. Beings with power—like the kitsune inside you."
Yuki's mind reeled, but before he could respond, Ren continued.
"I don't know what they want with you, but we need to get stronger. Fast."
Yuki nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then teach me. Show me how to control this. I won't let them take me down."
Ren looked at him for a long moment, his eyes unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "We begin tomorrow. Prepare yourself."
With that, Ren turned and walked away, his presence vanishing as quickly as it had come.
Yuki was left standing there, the weight of Ren's words pressing down on him. His powers were growing, but so were the dangers surrounding him.
---
Later that night…
Yuki lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced—thoughts of the mysterious enemy, Ren's cryptic warning, and the powers he was still trying to understand. He was caught in the middle of something much bigger than he could handle on his own.
As he closed his eyes, he heard a soft tap on his window.
Yuki sat up, eyes wide.
It was the girl—the one with violet eyes.
She was standing outside, staring at him.
Her lips curled into a faint smile.
"I told you we'd meet again."
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