The moonlight cascaded through the balcony, bathing Riku's quarters in soft silver. He had just returned after a long day—his body still adjusting to the weight of being declared the next Demon Lord. Power, loyalty, and fear followed him like shadows. But inside these walls, there was silence… and someone waiting.
Riku paused.
There she stood by the window, her back facing him—Moon Gyu, blue hair prodigy of the thunder palm Clan. But tonight, something was different. Her long, crimson hair was no longer bound. It flowed freely like a waterfall of rubies, lit faintly by moonlight. And for the first time, she had removed her mask.
Riku's eyes widened.
She turned slowly, revealing a face that legends could barely describe—flawless porcelain skin, sharp yet soft violet eyes that glowed with intensity, and lips curved into a half-smirk.
"You look surprised," Moon Gyu said, stepping forward with that familiar arrogance she wore like armor. "Did you think only you could grow during seclusion?"
Her voice was confident, but her eyes flickered with vulnerability.
"I've mastered the Grandmaster Blade Style. I shattered a people alone. I even tamed a cursed sword," she said proudly, then paused, her gaze locking with Riku's. "But there's one thing I couldn't conquer… you."
Riku was stunned. She had never spoken like this before—not to him.
"I tried to ignore it. Tried to bury it under training, anger, and pride," she admitted, "but every time I closed my eyes, I saw your back… growing more distant."
She took a step closer. "So tonight, I've decided—since you became Demon Lord, I'll take what's mine."
Before he could react, she closed the distance, her hands grabbing the front of his robe, her lips crashing against his in a passionate kiss. Riku's surprise melted into fire as he responded, their lips moving with urgency, their breath quickening. Her hands ran over his shoulders, pulling him down.
They stumbled back toward the bed, lips never parting, the kiss growing deeper—tongues intertwining, breaths mingling. Their hearts thundered in unison. Clothes were discarded piece by piece, revealing the bodies forged through war and trial.
In the moonlit quiet, the tension of years—unspoken words, stolen glances, suppressed feelings—unraveled between them.
The night was not loud.
It was soft gasps, heated whispers, warm skin against skin.
She rested her head on his shoulder afterward, her blue hair cascading over his chest and the bed like flames. Her fingers gently traced the scar over his heart—the one he'd earned in his duel against his own father.
"You really would've died that day," she whispered.
"I didn't," he replied, turning to kiss her forehead.
Silence lingered.
Then she murmured, almost shyly, "You belong to me now, Riku. I won't let anyone take you away—not the cult, not the Demon Lord, not fate."
His arm tightened around her waist. "Then protect me, Moon Gyu. Because I've got nothing left to run from."
---
Morning Light
The first rays of sunlight streamed through the window. The battle drums outside the Demon Fortress were silent today—out of respect for their new lord.
Riku opened his eyes slowly.
Beside him, Moon Gyu slept soundly—her face relaxed and peaceful, something he rarely saw. Her hair sprawled across his chest, soft and tangled across the silk sheets like a lover's oath.
He felt a warmth in his chest, something he had long buried beneath ambition, hatred, and duty.
Then something stirred inside him.
His vision shifted… the world suddenly became sharper, slower, clearer. Riku sat up carefully, trying not to wake her.
He looked into the mirror—and his eyes burned scarlet.
Not the regular Sharingan.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Spiraling tomoe formed a pinwheel in his pupils. He could feel its power surging through him.
System Notification: Mangekyō Sharingan awakened. Ability unlocked: Kotoamatsukami – The power of absolute illusion and mind control.
Riku exhaled.
This wasn't just power.
This was command—an ability said to rival the strongest of illusion arts. A gift tied to emotion, unlocked through trauma or love. Perhaps last night… had given him both.
He looked down at Moon Gyu again. She had always been more than a sparring partner, more than a rival.
She was the only one who challenged his heart.
Gently, he placed his hand on her cheek. "From now on, we walk this path together. You and I, Moon Gyu."