The battle was over, but the war within Aiko had just begun.

The ruins of the shrine lay in eerie silence, the final embers of foxfire flickering against the frost-covered stone. Lady Hisako was gone, the Onibane scattered, yet Aiko felt no triumph. The power of the Ninth Tail still pulsed through her, vast and unruly, whispering in a voice only she could hear.

She feared what she had become. And worse—she feared what it meant for the ones she loved.

Ryou sat in silence by the fire. The glow cast shadows over his face, highlighting the sharp angles softened only when he looked at her.

"You're different," Ryou finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aiko tensed. "I know."

"Not just the power." He hesitated, his fingers flexing as if debating whether to reach for her. "You carry it alone. Like you always have."

She turned to him, the weight of his gaze pulling her in. The air between them felt charged, more dangerous than any battle they had fought.

"I don't know how to be anything else," she admitted.

"You could try," he said, his voice low, steady.

For a heartbeat, she wanted to. She wanted to let herself lean into him, let him be the anchor in this storm. His hand lifted, fingers brushing her cheek—soft, hesitant, as if giving her a chance to pull away.

She didn't.

Aiko felt the warmth of him, the unspoken promise in the way he lingered. Their breaths mingled, the space between them vanishing, her heart pounding against her ribs.

And then—

A snap of a branch.

The spell broke. Ryou pulled away instantly, his sword in his hand before Aiko could even process the loss of his warmth. Mei was already standing, and Takeshi had his blade half-drawn.

"We're not alone," Mei murmured.

Aiko rose to her feet, the ghost of Ryou’s touch still lingering on her skin. The shadows beyond the fire shifted, and then they stepped into the light.

A group of cloaked figures, their presence heavy with something ancient, something knowing. They didn’t move like assassins or soldiers. They moved like watchers—like predators waiting for the right moment to strike.

The leader stepped forward, a woman with silver-streaked hair and eyes the color of storm clouds. She did not bow, did not raise a weapon. She simply looked at Aiko.

"You’ve awakened the Ninth Tail," the woman said. "And in doing so, you've shattered the balance."

Aiko’s fists clenched. "Who are you?"

"The ones who have kept the world from collapsing under the weight of beings like you," she replied. "The Watchers."

A heavy silence fell.

"We are not your enemy," the woman continued. "But if you do not come with us willingly, we will become one."

Aiko met Ryou’s gaze, the intensity of their interrupted moment still burning between them. He gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. Whatever happened next, they would face it together.

Even if the world was turning against them.