The night was bright, and the winds were strong—just like always. Moonlight spilled over the empty streets, casting silver streaks across the cobblestones. Each gust of wind rattled shutters, whipped stray leaves along the road, and carried the faint scent of smoke and earth. Akitsu Shouga’s steps echoed softly as he approached the address Kaito Morikawa had given him.

  Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the night itself were pressing against his shoulders. The houses grew fewer, the streets quieter, until the only sounds were the wind and his measured breathing. Shadows stretched long, dancing and merging with the darkness of the road.

  Finally, he stopped.

  Before him loomed a large mansion, its wrought iron gates towering above the narrow street. Moonlight gleamed off the black iron, sending thin streaks of light across the cobblestones. The building behind it was immense, elegant yet unnervingly silent, as if it were alive and watching his every move.

  Akitsu froze, heart tightening. “…This place,” he muttered under his breath.

  Seraphine Orion floated beside him in her small white kitsune form, tails swaying lazily, eyes scanning the mansion. “Why are you scared?” she asked. “Let’s go inside. It’s not like you’ll die… well, maybe possibly die in there.”

  Akitsu exhaled slowly, jaw tight. “Doesn’t Haruya Takeda live here?”

  Seraphine tilted her head, a playful smirk forming. “Who’s that? Never heard of him… didn’t you mention him this evening?”

  Akitsu let out a long sigh, shoulders tensing. “This is going to be a hassle.”

  The gates creaked faintly in the wind. Seraphine’s eyes flicked over them. “No guards. We could just make a run for it.”

  “…Yeah,” Akitsu said, balling his fists. “Let’s do this.”

  He sprinted forward, muscles coiled and released, and leapt cleanly over the iron gate. Landing silently on the other side, he pressed off the ground again, running toward a nearby tree. His fingers gripped the rough bark, and within moments he had scaled the trunk and perched himself on a sturdy branch.

  “That was quick,” Seraphine said, impressed.

  “I thought you didn’t like climbing trees,” she added.

  “I’m afraid of heights,” Akitsu admitted, gripping the branch tightly. “But that doesn’t stop me from achieving my goals.”

  Seraphine’s gaze shifted to the mansion. “Looks like we can reach the second floor through that window.”

  “Create some vines so I can climb up,” Akitsu said.

  “Alright.” With a flick of her tails, thick vines shot down from the roof, twisting and curling like living ropes. Akitsu grabbed hold and scaled them quickly, stopping just beneath the open window.

  He peeked inside, eyes scanning the dimly lit room. “…No one’s here.”

  He slipped in, landing lightly on the polished wooden floor. Seraphine followed, hovering silently behind him.

  “This room seems a little… girly,” she muttered, tails flicking. Pink walls, soft lace curtains, and the faint scent of flowers filled the air.

  “It looks too girly to me,” Akitsu muttered, already moving toward the door. He opened it slowly and peered into the hallway. Empty.

  “The coast is clear.”

  “Where could Kaoru be in a place like this?” Seraphine whispered.

  “The most likely answer is the cellar,” Akitsu replied without hesitation.

  “…Good point, but how do you know that?”

  “I just randomly guessed,” he admitted. “Trust me, I don’t even know this house that well.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “…Which way do we go?”

  “Stop talking like a background character,” Akitsu snapped quietly. “Of course we go down.”

  Suddenly—soft footsteps echoed through the hallway. Seraphine froze.

  “Quick! Hide! I hear someone coming!” she hissed.

  Akitsu bolted into the nearest room and shut the door just in time.

  Inside, a girl with white hair and piercing blue eyes stood silently, staring straight at him.

  “…Uh?” Akitsu froze.

  “Hello… may I come in?” he asked nervously. The girl nodded without a word.

  Akitsu stepped forward cautiously, eyes darting to the window. Should I jump and run? he thought. No… she’ll catch me before I even land.

  “Why are you so scared of that girl?” Seraphine whispered.

  “She’s a wandering spirit. She cannot hurt you,” she added.

  “What do you mean?” Akitsu whispered back.

  “She’s human. She isn’t a spirit!”

  “She is a spirit,” Seraphine insisted.

  “How could you not tell she’s not human?” Akitsu asked, voice low.

  “The last time I saw her was at Sunwind Village,” he murmured, memory flickering. “Or… a few hours ago.”

  The three paused, tension thick in the air. Slowly, the girl’s eyes widened. “…Father?” she said quietly.

  Seraphine shivered. “This is starting to creep me out.”

  “I agree,” Akitsu whispered. “Wanna get out of here?”

  “…Yeah.”

  They moved toward the door—but it opened before they could reach it. Another small girl with white hair and blue eyes stepped inside.

  “Brother, where are you?”

  The room froze. The next second, she screamed. Akitsu dodged instinctively and sprinted from the room. Seraphine followed, panic in her eyes.

  Akitsu raced toward the staircase—and three figures appeared, coming up toward him. Without hesitation, he leapt over the railing, dropping from the second floor to the first.

  “You’re crazy!!” Seraphine shouted.

  He landed hard but kept running, bursting into the nearest room.

  “Where are you going?!” Seraphine cried.

  “Isn’t this the dining room?!” she added, flustered.

  “The cellar should be in the kitchen, right?!” Akitsu snapped, pushing forward.

  He changed direction abruptly, bursting through the doors to the great chamber.

  Haruya Takeda sat frozen in his chair, eyes wide.

  “It’s you!!” Akitsu shouted. Haruya screamed in terror.

  Ignoring him, Akitsu sprinted toward the cellar.

  Nothing.

  “…Where is it?!”

  “I don’t know!” Seraphine said, her voice trembling.

  “You said she was supposed to be here!”

  “That old man tricked me!!” Akitsu snarled, kicking the wall in frustration.

  The wall rotated with a soft click, revealing a hidden entrance.

  “Hey!! Stop! Intruder!!” Haruya yelled.

  “…Jackpot!!” Akitsu muttered, diving down the stairs.

  “You either have insane luck,” Seraphine said, “or this was just a coincidence, right?”

  “…I don’t know,” Akitsu admitted.

  At the bottom, Kaoru sat tied to a wooden chair. Behind her stood a massive wooden cross, drenched in blood.

  “…Creepy,” Akitsu muttered, rushing toward her.

  “We have secured the package!” Seraphine declared. “That’s something you couldn’t do.”

  Akitsu ignored her, scanning the room. “She’s unconscious… and what’s with that cross?! The blood…”

  The air felt thick, heavy with menace. The room was too quiet. Too still. Too late.