AKARI

Naru was already boiling with rage. His golden eyes glowed dangerously, his jaw clenched so tightly it seemed his teeth might shatter.

"Leyla knows she's connected to this world," he said through gritted teeth. "She knows she hasn't always been called Leyla. And that she was never just an ordinary lawyer."

She shivered at his words.

"But she doesn't know everything," he added darkly.

Then he leaned forward as if he were about to rip Raizen's soul from his throat and whispered, his voice laced with threat:

"Watch what you say."

Raizen laughed. Madly, thunderously, as if this was all just a performance he was thoroughly enjoying.

"Oh, Naru, Naru... Are you afraid of the truth? Or are you afraid that she will find out?"

Leyla looked between the two of them, feeling her heartbeat spiral out of control.

"Naru..."

"Don't listen to him, Leyla," he cut in immediately, but Raizen had already stepped forward, his smile promising chaos.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

He leaned in closer, then slowly, his voice dripping with malice, uttered the words that stole the breath from Leyla's lungs.

"Three… hundred years ago…"

Everyone fell silent.

"There was a girl," he continued. "Her name was Akari."

Leyla's body trembled involuntarily. That name… it echoed in her chest, but she didn't know why.

"Akari was someone of immense importance to this world," Raizen went on, walking slowly around them like a storyteller weaving a tragic tale. "Her powers were unmatched. She had the ability to see and shape destiny. She could redirect energy flows, prevent disasters, create protective seals stronger than any ever seen. The Yokai world depended on her, but her existence wasn't a blessing… it was a curse."

Leyla wasn't breathing.

"She was too powerful. Too significant. And so, they forbade her from ever belonging to anyone."

Raizen paused, then let out a bitter laugh.

"But love… love doesn't care about rules, does it?"

He turned to her, looking straight into her eyes.

"She and I were in love."

Naru clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Leyla felt both a chill and an unsettling warmth wash over her.

"We planned to escape," Raizen continued. "We planned to go somewhere where no one could tear us apart. But the world is not kind to those who defy its laws."

He took a breath, then, his voice carrying the weight of a cruel truth, said:

"She chose to end her own life."

Leyla turned pale.

"No…"

"Yes." Raizen nodded. "She couldn't bear to be a puppet controlled by others. So she chose to end it. But…"

He paused again, relishing their reactions.

"Her powers couldn't simply disappear. So she passed them on… to someone who wasn't from this world."

Leyla froze.

"Someone who wasn't from this world…"

"And that someone… is you."

The silence was heavy. Unbearable.

Leyla felt her legs shaking.

"You're lying…"

"Am I?" Raizen chuckled. "Do you really think it's just a coincidence that you ended up here? That you caught my attention? That Naru is so desperately trying to protect you?"

She turned to Naru, but he said nothing. He didn't even blink. He just stared at the ground, like someone who already knew how this would end.

"You are Akari," Raizen concluded, his voice quiet but loud enough for all to hear. "Just… in a new form."

Leyla's body no longer felt like her own.

"No…"

"You know it's true," Raizen laughed. "Can't you feel it?"

Leyla pressed a hand to her chest.

She could feel it.

But she had no way to explain how.

At that moment, Naru suddenly stepped forward and pulled her behind him, glaring at Raizen with pure hatred.

"You're done."

"Oh, Naru… but we've only just begun."