THE WALL BETWEEN WORLDS

Warm water dripped onto her shoulders, but Leyla felt nothing.

She stood in the shower, her forehead pressed against the cold tiles, as the water washed away an invisible weight from her body. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing—no, that someone was missing.

Naru.

Her hands trembled.

She didn't know how long she had been standing there, but it didn't matter. She didn't have the strength to move anyway.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was knocking on her apartment door.

Leyla flinched, turned off the water, and wrapped a towel around herself. She didn't feel like talking to anyone, but she knew that if she didn't open the door, that person wouldn't leave.

"Leyla, are you in there?!"

Yumi.

Her roommate and coworker.

Leyla swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"Coming!"

She quickly dressed in something comfortable and opened the door. Yumi stood there, holding a bag of snacks and a bottle of juice.

"Hey… sorry, I forgot my key at work. Lucky you're home. But, wow, you look like you just survived a war." Yumi walked in without waiting for an invitation, tossing her jacket onto the couch. "What happened?"

Leyla tried to act normal.

"Ah, you know… just a rough day at work."

"A rough day?!" Yumi raised an eyebrow. "Leyla, you don't look okay. Are they harassing you at work?"

Leyla forced a smile.

"Don't worry, it's nothing serious."

Yumi studied her skeptically.

"So, seriously, what happened?"

Leyla shrugged.

"Some office drama. I got caught up in it, and… I just didn't feel great. I needed some time to pull myself together."

Yumi sighed.

"Girl, you are terrible at lying. But if you don't want to talk, I won't force you."

Leyla felt a lump in her throat. She knew Yumi probably wouldn't believe her anyway… but how could she explain that she had spent months in a world of yokai beings, that she had fallen in love with the prince of that world, and that now she had no idea if she would ever see him again?

No one would believe her.

And yet, keeping it all inside hurt.

Yumi handed her the bag of snacks.

"Here, I brought your favorite chocolate cookies. Eat something and get some rest. And tomorrow, we're going out for coffee, and whether you like it or not, I'll get the whole story out of you!"

Leyla nodded and took the bag.

"Thanks, Yumi."

Her roommate winked.

"What would you do without me?"

Leyla managed a weak smile.

But the truth was—she had no idea what she was going to do now.

Meanwhile, in the Yokai World

Kaito and Akihiro stood in front of the ancient portal.

"Alright, the prince managed to do this last time. Let's try the same thing," Kaito said, slapping his hands against the stone symbols.

Akihiro sighed.

"You really think it'll be that easy? The monk already told us it's impossible now."

"Eh, what does the monk know?!" Kaito rolled his eyes.

Naru stood a few steps behind them, silent and motionless.

Akihiro turned to him.

"Prince, what do you think?"

Naru didn't respond.

"Oh, right, of course, you're still not talking. Guess I'll just have a conversation with myself then." Akihiro shook his head.

Kaito suddenly turned to Naru.

"Listen, I know this is hard for you. But if you just stand here and say nothing, nothing will change!"

Naru lifted his gaze toward the portal.

"I already said," he finally spoke. "We will try."

Kaito and Akihiro took battle stances, preparing to channel their energy into the portal.

"Okay, how did he do this last time?" Akihiro asked.

"I don't know! Just focus and think about Leyla!" Kaito shouted.

"Let Naru think about Leyla. I'll think about something else!"

Kaito rolled his eyes.

They took deep breaths and released their energy. The portal flickered for a moment as if it might open…

And then—nothing.

The dust settled.

Everything remained the same.

"Nothing?!" Kaito groaned.

Akihiro shook his head.

"The monk was right. We can't use this portal anymore."

Naru clenched his fists.

"I won't leave her there."

"And we won't," Akihiro placed a hand on his shoulder. "But we'll have to find another way."

Kaito sighed and sat on the ground.

"Alright… let's sum up. The princess is missing, the prince is depressed, we're completely incapable of opening a portal… and now we're stuck waiting for something that might never happen."

Akihiro sat beside him.

"Well put."

"Thank you."

"But completely useless."

"I know."

The two of them looked at each other and laughed, despite the seriousness of the situation.

And then, for the first time in days, Naru let out a quiet chuckle.

"We're going back to the palace," he said.

Akihiro and Kaito stared at him in surprise.

"You… you're joking?"

"No," Naru nodded. "If we can't open the portal, we'll find someone who can."

The prince was finally coming back to himself.

And that meant only one thing—he would not give up on Leyla.

Naru's Room

Naru sat in his room, staring at the flickering candle on his table. His hands were clasped together, his thoughts chaotic. Kaito and Akihiro stood beside him, watching him in disbelief.

"Okay, prince… maybe I misheard, but did you just say you want to reach out to your mother?" Kaito was the first to break the silence.

"You heard correctly," Naru muttered.

Akihiro crossed his arms.

"No, no, wait. Are we talking about the same person? Your mother, who practically vanished all those years ago? The woman you personally banished from the palace and told never to return?"

Naru remained silent, his jaw tight.

"Yes."

Kaito gawked at him, then turned to Akihiro.

"Okay, someone hit me. This can't be real."

Akihiro shook his head.

"I don't know what's worse—that you're considering this or that you're willing to go back on everything you once stood for because of Leyla."

Naru clenched his fist.

"I will break every rule if it means bringing her back."

Kaito whistled.

"Well, if nothing else, this is love on a whole new level."

Akihiro still looked skeptical.

"Naru… do you even know where she is? How do you plan to find her?"

The prince said nothing.

He didn't know how to find her. But he knew where she was.

His mother understood the path between worlds better than anyone. If anyone could open the portal—it was her.

But… would she want to help him?

And, more importantly… could she forgive him?

Many Years Ago – The Night of Betrayal

The fire raged in the fireplace, casting long shadows across the palace walls. The family hall was filled with tense silence, and at its center stood Naru—then still a young prince, but with the same cold determination in his eyes.

Before him, lined up, stood his family members—his mother, his father, his older brother, and several court advisors.

"Naru, calm down," his mother's voice was calm but firm.

"Calm down?!" Naru raised his hand and slammed his fist against the table. "You betrayed me!"

"That's not true," his father said.

"It is!" Naru shouted. "While I was fighting to protect this world, you were secretly negotiating with Raizen! With a man who would see us all destroyed!"

The tension in the room was unbearable.

"It's not that simple," his older brother finally spoke. "Raizen is powerful. If we have him on our side—"

"He will never be on our side!" Naru almost growled. "You have all betrayed what we once stood for! You have betrayed me!"

His mother stepped forward.

"Naru, my son… We were trying to find a solution. You're young, you still don't understand—"

"I understand enough!" he cut her off.

He looked at them one by one, feeling his pain turning into fury.

"I don't want to see you in this palace ever again," he said, his voice cold as ice. "You are all dead to me."

His mother looked as if she had been struck.

"Naru…"

"Leave," he said, turning his back on them.

And in that moment, he lost his family forever.

—

Naru closed his eyes, returning to the present.

Akihiro and Kaito watched him, waiting for an answer.

"I don't know how I'll approach her," he finally said.

"Great," Kaito muttered. "So we're off to find someone who probably wants to kill us."

Akihiro shook his head.

"This is a crazy idea."

"But it's the only one we have," Naru replied.

And with that, they made their decision.

Next stop—Naru's mother.