Ravihiro's eyes slowly opened. His entire body ached. The fight against that unknown entity in the abyss had drained every ounce of strength from him. As his vision adjusted, he realized he was back at the Sky Demon Sect, lying on an ornate bed draped with silk.
🔥 SLAP!
A sharp sting exploded on his cheek.
Before he could react, another slap came—harder this time. His head tilted slightly from the force, and standing before him was Rumina, eyes burning with rage.
🔥 "You reckless, heartless, STUBBORN idiot!" Rumina yelled, her fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
She was breathing heavily, her face twisted with a mix of anger, relief, and frustration. Ravihiro, still groggy from his injuries, instinctively raised his hand to his stinging cheek.
🔥 "Tch… Damn, that hurt," he muttered.
🔥 "Not as much as it hurt me!" she snapped. "Do you even realize what you've done? Sealing me away while you fought alone?!"
Her voice cracked at the end, betraying the pain hidden beneath her fury.
🔥 "You weren't supposed to—" Ravihiro started, but she cut him off.
🔥 "Don't you DARE give me that 'I had to protect you' speech! You think I'm weak?!"
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but her anger kept them from falling.
Ravihiro sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. He knew Rumina well enough to realize words wouldn't calm her down right away.
🔥 "I just—"
🔥 "Do you even care what I went through?!" she interrupted, voice shaking. "Do you know what it felt like, waiting for you to come back, not knowing if you'd ever wake up?!"
🔥 "Rumina…"
🔥 "I was terrified, you idiot!"
Her voice broke. She was breathing hard, trying to keep herself composed, but the pain in her eyes was undeniable.
For a long moment, there was silence.
Then, suddenly—
🔥 "Tch. Come here."
Ravihiro grabbed her wrist, pulling her close.
🔥 "Wha—?"
Before she could protest, he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder.
🔥 "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I really am."
She stiffened at first, but then, slowly, her hands gripped his back.
🔥 "You always do this…" she mumbled against his chest. "Always acting like you're untouchable, like you don't need anyone."
Ravihiro sighed. "I just… don't want to lose you."
🔥 "Then stop making me feel like I'm losing you every damn time!" she snapped. "We fight together. Always."
He didn't answer. He just held her tighter.
After a long silence, she pulled back slightly, her face inches from his.
🔥 "Promise me, idiot," she whispered. "No more running away from me."
🔥 "I promise."
Their foreheads touched, and for a moment, everything else disappeared.
🔥 "Tch… You're still mad, huh?" Ravihiro smirked, trying to lighten the mood.
🔥 "Shut up," Rumina muttered, before pressing her lips against his.
The kiss was filled with frustration, longing, and an unspoken bond—the kind of love that survived battles, betrayals, and time itself.
🔥 "You're still reckless," she mumbled against his lips.
🔥 "And you're still stubborn," he murmured back, pulling her closer.
For the first time in a long while, Ravihiro felt at peace.