The air inside the study was warm, laced with the rich scent of aged wine. A fire crackled in the ornate hearth, casting long shadows across the walls.

Akira sat comfortably in a high-backed chair, one leg crossed over the other. A delicate glass of wine rested between her fingers.

A silent figure stepped forward from the darkness, gliding across the room with practiced grace. The Shadow Butler, a tall, slender man in an impeccable black suit, took the bottle from a nearby table and refilled Akira’s glass. Beside him, his female counterpart moved soundlessly, arranging a tray of elegantly plated dishes on the table before retreating into the background.

Zane watched them with a wary frown. He had questions—a lot of questions—but asking them would mean acknowledging just how weird this entire situation was, and he wasn’t sure he had the mental bandwidth for that right now.

Instead, he glanced at Akira. “You know, most people just hire regular staff.”

Akira smirked, lifting her glass. “I suppose.”

Zane’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Right. And you just had to be different.”

“Of course.” She took a slow sip of her wine. “It would be a shame to be ordinary.”

Before Zane could fire back, the doors swung open. Kaito entered, his expression as unreadable as ever.

“She’s here,” he said.

Akira didn’t react immediately. She swirled her wine, watching the deep red liquid coat the glass. Then, with a flick of her fingers, a blinding shimmer bled into the air beside her. Threads of light twisted and wove together, forming a suspended screen that pulsed faintly with life. The image steadied—two figures cutting through the mist outside.

Kira, as expected. But beside her…

Akira’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“She brought the stray,” she mused.

Zane stiffened. His stomach twisted when he recognized the second figure.

Kimiko.

His fist clenched against his thigh. “You said you wouldn’t hurt her.”

Akira didn’t bother looking at him. “And I won’t.”

She lifted her free hand in a lazy gesture. “Take care of them.”

The Shadow Butlers bowed wordlessly before vanishing into the swirling black mist.

Zane shot to his feet. “Hey!”

Akira’s gaze flicked toward him, a single brow arching.

“You promised,” he growled.

Akira exhaled through her nose, unimpressed. She lifted her glass again, taking another slow sip.

“I won’t harm anyone,” she repeated smoothly. “As long as you behave.”

Zane gritted his teeth, his fists tightening. His eyes flicked toward the golden screen, watching as the shadows slithered toward Kimiko and Kira.

Before he could think of a plan, Kaito spoke again.

“…Something’s wrong.”

Akira’s head tilted slightly. “Oh?”

Kaito’s eyes were locked onto the screen, his expression darkening.

“I can only sense Kira.”

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Akira let out a quiet, amused hum.

She set down her glass with a soft clink, her lips curling into a smirk.

“Well,” she murmured, her golden eyes glinting, “the stray is a bit more interesting than she looks.”

Zane’s patience snapped.

He slammed his fist onto the table, rattling the silverware. “I swear, if you touch her—”

Akira’s gaze slid to him.

“Sit down.”

Zane’s breath was coming harder now, anger simmering beneath his skin. Lightning flickered around his fingertips, aching to be used.

Akira leaned back in her chair, resting her chin on her knuckles.

“You don’t want to test me right now, little prince,” her tone sharp. “Now, be a good boy and enjoy the show.”

Zane’s eyes burned into the golden screen as the thick mist coiled like restless spirits around Kimiko and Kira, who crouched behind the gnarled trees, their breath visible in the cold air as they eyed the looming silhouette of the mansion ahead.

Kimiko shuddered. “This place is straight out of a horror movie. All it’s missing is some creepy music and a guy with a chainsaw.”

Kira smirked, her sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. “Give it a minute. I’m sure they’ve got something way worse than that.”

Kimiko swallowed. She knew Kira wasn’t joking.

The mist around them slithered like it had a will of its own.

Kimiko crossed her arms. “Okay, what’s next? Please tell me it’s not just ‘charge in and hope for the best.’”

Kira snorted. “Nah, I only do that when I’m feeling particularly reckless. Anyway, it is time for you to go in.”

Kimiko immediately frowned. “Wait—what?”

“You’re sneaking in. I’m causing a scene. Did you forget already?”

Kimiko blinked. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m not exactly ‘stealth expert’ material. If I walk in there, I’ll be caught in five seconds—”

“Nope,” Kira interrupted. “They won’t even notice you.”

Kimiko hesitated. “…What do you mean?”

Kira’s grin widened slightly. “You have to just trust me on that.”

Kimiko gave her a suspicious look. “That’s… not reassuring.”

Kira rolled her eyes. “Would you rather stay out here and fight with me?”

Kimiko exhaled sharply. “Fine. But if I die in there, I’m haunting your ass.”

Kira snickered. “Friend for eternity. Yeah!”

Then—

The wind shifted.

Kira stiffened.

“…They know we’re here,” she muttered.

Kimiko’s stomach dropped. “Already?”

Kira grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. “No more time for second thoughts. Go. Avoid the weird-looking shadows. I’ll draw them away.”

Kimiko hesitated, her eyes darting to the mansion. The mist thickened, curling toward them like hungry fingers.

Then—

A whisper of movement.

Kira’s eyes narrowed. “Move, now!”

Kimiko’s heart pounded as she turned and sprinted toward the side of the mansion.

Behind her, a whisper of movement.

Kira turned her head slightly. “One, no, two You guys, you sure love dramatic entrances—”

SWISH!

She ducked. A curved dagger sliced clean through the space where her head had been. The air barely had time to settle before a second strike came at her ribs. Kira twisted, narrowly dodging, her grin widening.

“Ooooh, now that was close!”

The attacker landed softly a few feet away. A woman—clad in black, eyes empty, face devoid of emotion.

Kira tilted her head. “You always this fun at parties?”

No response.

“No wonder you are not getting invited.”Kira added with a mocking tone.

Then—

The woman vanished.

Kffft—!

Like mist dissipating in the wind.

And from behind—

Another figure materialized out of thin air.

Kira’s eyes flicked to the side just in time to see a blade plunging toward her back.

She threw herself forward, rolling across the ground as the dagger narrowly missed her spine. The second figure—a man, nearly identical in appearance to the woman—stood where she had just been.

Kira blinked. Then grinned. “Wait, hold on—tag-team, you guys are like ghost ninjas? Oh, this is soo cool.”

No response.

The man lunged.

Kira dodged sideways, her foot barely touching the ground before—

Kffft—!

He vanished.

And just as he did—

The woman appeared, her dagger sweeping toward Kira’s throat.

Kira barely managed to lean back, the blade grazing a strand of her hair. But as she moved, she caught something for a fraction of a second. A flicker, a delay between their disappearances. Like a tether snapping back into place.

Her grin widened.

"Oh-ho! "I see what's happening now," she teased, bouncing lightly on her feet. "One swings, the other poofs. Other swings, the first one poofs. It's like a really messed-up magic trick."

No response.

The woman lunged.

Kffft—!

Gone.

The man appeared behind Kira, blade arcing downward.

This time, she wasn’t fast enough.

A searing pain shot through her side as the dagger grazed her ribs. Kira let out a low whistle, pressing a hand to the wound. “Oof. You got me. I mean, barely—but hey, points for effort.”

The man said nothing. He simply stepped back.

And vanished.

The woman reappeared, this time from the trees.

Kira wiped a bit of blood, shaking her head. “Alright, alright. Let me get this straight—you all only exist one at a time? What, did you only have enough budget for one at a time?”

No reaction.

Kira grinned. “Seriously though, what happens if I knock one of you out? Does the other just stay gone? Or does this whole spooky act fall apart?”

Silence.

Then—

The woman attacked.

Kira dodged.

Kffft—!

She vanished.

The man materialized, his dagger already mid-swing.

And Kira saw her chance.

Instead of dodging, she stepped inward, grabbing his wrist just as his blade nearly touched her neck.

His eyes widened in the first real emotion she had seen from him.

“Gotcha.”

Before he could react—

Kira landed A brutal knee to the ribs.

His body jerked, but before he could vanish—

She twisted his arm.

A sharp crack.

The dagger slipped from his grip.

The man gasped, staggering back—

Kffft—!

Gone.

But the woman didn’t reappear.

Kira straightened, dusting off her clothes.

“Ahhh, so that’s the trick,” she mused. “If I mess one of you up bad enough… the other just doesn’t come back. Boring.”

Silence.

A breeze swept through the trees.

Kira tapped her chin, pretending to think. “Wow. I kicked your friend’s ass hard enough… And are you just going to stay in the void forever? Damn. That’s rough, mate.”

No response.

Kira smirked. "Hey, don't be shy now. Come out—I wanna play."

Nothing.

Kira sighed dramatically. “Welp. Guess we’re done here—”

The woman appeared again, her dagger flashing toward Kira in a final, desperate strike.

But Kira was faster. She caught her by the throat.

The woman gasped, her dagger slipping from her fingers.

Kira pulled her in close, grinning. “Yay, I win.”

And with one swift motion—

She slammed her into a nearby tree.

The woman slumped, unconscious.

For the briefest moment, her empty eyes flickered—with the realization that she had lost. Then, just like the mist, she faded into nothingness.

Kira stepped back, exhaling.

The forest was silent.

Then—

A sudden breeze.

She glanced up.

The fog had begun to creep in, slow and quiet.

It coiled around the trees, swallowing the ground in a thick mist.

Kira’s grin faded slightly.

“…Alright. Hope Lan-Lan is not mad at me.”

Without another word, she turned toward the mansion.

And walked forward.

The grand room in the mansion was silent.

A faint clink.

Akira tilted her glass, letting the last drop of wine touch her lips before setting it down with a soft tap. Her fingers lingered on the rim, tightening just slightly. The faintest trace of irritation flickered across her expression—gone as quickly as it appeared.

Zane leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Sooo... did that go the way you wanted?"

“Incompetent.”

The word dripped with disappointment.

The tension in the room felt suffocating, like the very air had thickened.

Akira stood, her movements slow. She adjusted the sleeve of her elegant gown, her fingers brushing the delicate fabric as if the entire situation was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Zane raised a brow. “Oh? So you're heading out there yourself? You sure about that? Might want to enjoy the show instead."

Akira’s gaze met his, unbothered. “Oh, I intend to. But this time, I’ll be the one setting the stage.” Then, without missing a beat, she turned slightly toward Kaito.

“Eyes on him, Kaito. I don’t want our little guest slipping through the cracks.”

Kaito’s expression didn’t change. “…Understood.”

Zane shifted slightly in his seat, casting a glance toward her.

Akira turned, stepping toward the large doors of the room. The moment her fingers touched the handle, a gust of wind seeped through the cracks, carrying with it the faintest trace of fog.

She paused.

Then, without looking back, she pushed the doors open.

The air outside was thick with mist, curling along the floor like ghostly fingers.

Akira stepped forward, vanishing into the fog.

The doors closed behind her with a soft click.

A heavy silence followed.

Zane leaned back in his chair, rolling his shoulders. “Sooo, this whole hostage thing—how’s that work with you as my guard dog? Do I get a meal plan, or is it more of a ‘starve until I comply’ situation?”

Kaito didn’t look up. “Depends.”

“Depends on what? Zane cut him immediately. My attitude? My charm? My ability to make you crack a smile?”

Silence.

Zane hummed, undeterred. “Alright, let’s try something else. What’s your job title? Chief of Brooding? Executive of Long Stares? Personal Kidnapper?”

Kaito exhaled. “Keeping an eye on you.”

“Wow. Mysterious. Are you always this talkative, or do you not really like me?”

Another pause. Then, “You ask too many questions.”

Zane smirked. “That’s funny, ‘cause you answer too few. We kinda balance each other out.”

No response.

“So, Kaito, right? Do you ever, I dunno, have fun? Or is your idea of a good time sitting in a dark room, probably sharpening knives while classical music plays in the background cuz you kinda give off that vibe?”

Kaito gave him a slow, unreadable glance. “Are you trying to be annoying on purpose, or do you need something?”

“Yeah, actually, now that you mention it.” Zane stretched. “Gotta hit the restroom.”

Kaito stood, motioning for him to follow. “Follow me.”

Zane raised a brow. “Are you afraid I’ll escape? Cuz if so, let me tell you, I won’t simply because this place is massive. If I run, you’ll probably find me crying in a random hallway.”

Kaito didn’t react. “Would you come, or should I bring you a bucket?”

Zane sighed dramatically. “Man, you are just a riot.”

He stood and followed, glancing around as they walked. “So, what’s the interior design theme here? ‘Gothic menace’? ‘Villainous chic’?”

Kaito said nothing.

Zane clicked his tongue. “Okay, tough crowd. What about Akira? She is always this extra, or is it just me?”

Still nothing.

“Mann... You and I are going to be best friends, I can feel it.”

To be continued…