Reika ✘ Can't Hide Forever

The guild roars as mugs slam and a lute cuts through chatter. The hearth glows orange across the rafters. Roast and ale scents fill the room, cozy yet dangerous. Most find comfort here. For Reika, it’s a map of exits and threats.

You spot her in the corner, pale in amber light, white hair over her lap. She sits on a cushion, her ankle bandaged, shifting to get comfortable. Each movement flickers pain across her face. She braces to stand, pulls back with a wince, and forces a thin smile. “There you are,” Her fingers find yours “I stayed as you asked. I didn’t wander. I promise.”

The doors burst open. Cold air sweeps the laughter away. The hall falls silent. A figure stands in the doorway: black hair short, red eyes glowing like coals, posture tense.

Kairi Kyuketsu steps inside.

Reika goes pale. Her hand grabs your sleeve, knuckles white as she digs in for support, her ankle shoved under the cushion to bury the pain. She flicks her gaze between Kairi and the door, panic flickering in her eyes. “K-Kairi,” she breathes. That single name crackles with three years of absence—fury, relief, and undying shame.

For a moment, Kairi’s face shows her hurt.* “You absolute idiot,” she snaps, moving closer. Her words scold, her actions show months searching, trading sleep for worry. She stops in front of you, eyes flicking to Reika’s bandaged ankle, her lean on you, the tremor in her voice. “Three years. Not one letter. Do you know how many times I had to pretend everything was fine?”

Reika swallows, voice nearly a whisper. “I left to keep you safe. I ran because of our father, because of the engagement, because of Shibo.” The name falls like a stone. Heads jerk, a hush tightening the room. You’d heard rumors; now you feel the dread written in her voice.

Kairi kneels and gently presses your sister’s bandage, carefully checking the ankle as if cataloging each bruise and swelling—her hands sure from patching wounds before. “Don’t you dare,” she whispers, her voice part order, part plea. With a sharp but gentle slap to Reika’s arm, she pulls her close, wrapping her arms around Reika in a hug that’s awkward but heartfelt. “Don’t vanish again.”

Reika collapses into the hug, clinging to you both, her body wracked with sobs of relief. Under the bandage, a dangerous warmth flares for an instant. Anyone who knows the Kyuketsu line would see it: their blood ignites at the scent of fear.

From the back, a figure shifts forward—broad-shouldered, arrogantly composed. He moves as if the room should part. The floor groans, a candle wobbles, a coaster clinks to the floor. Small, uneven effects—like someone learning to grasp the world in one hand. Green eyes flash, cold and amused.

He steps into the warmth and draws the attention he expects: fine coat, too-clean boots, a self-satisfied smile. He scans faces until landing on Reika, then turns to you.

“Well, how touching,” the fat fuck says, smooth and flat. “Gathered like family. Quaint.” There’s no hurry in his tone; menace lies in his patience. He lets the room watch him, and the silence grows.

He takes two more steps and the floor creaks. “Reika,” he says, warm as poison, “you have a talent for disappearing. I was tiring of looking.” He pauses to let that settle. Then his eyes settle on you with a slow, assessing smile. “You must be the one who saved her. Charming. Consider this your introduction.” The last sentence is almost friendly—edged with expected obedience.

Kairi’s jaw goes hard. She slides a half-step in front of Reika without hesitation—small, stubborn, ready. “You won’t take her,” she snaps, voice sharp as wire. “Not tonight. Not ever.”

Shibo’s smile widens. He lifts his hand in a theatrical gesture, shifting the room’s pressure: a wine bottle rolls, a napkin flutters. The pull is clumsy, but proof enough. “My, my,” he says. “Such drama. I’m only asking for what was promised. No need for violence—unless you make it necessary.”

Reika presses herself closer to you, her teeth clenched and breath ragged. She clutches your sleeve with trembling fingers. “Please,” she whispers. “Don’t let him—” Her voice breaks, and she buries her face against your arm.

You feel the room tilt toward a decision. Around you, some guild members ready themselves; others glance at exits; some calculate profit. The rain stutters against the eaves as warning.

Shibo’s gaze slides between you and Kairi, amused and patient, bargaining with people over lives. “Hand her over quietly,” he offers, soft as velvet, “or we can make this... unpleasant.” He folds his hands, polite menace embodied.

Kairi doesn’t answer with words. She plants her feet, sliding half a step in front of Reika with squared shoulders, silent and poised, ready to act. Reika’s fingers twist in yours, holding tightly, her grip conveying an urgent plea without words.

Outside, the world draws a breath. Inside, Shibo stands waiting, sure of his claim; Kairi stands ready to defy him; and you realize that the life Reika kept from you has a price that’s just been brought to collect.

The guild hall was full of life. Laughter mixed with the clink of tankards and the hum of unfinished stories. Smoke drifted from the hearth, carrying the smell of roasted meat and spilled ale. Reika sat near the fire, curled up with a cushion under her bandaged ankle. Her white hair fell across her lap. She twisted her cloak’s edge between her fingers, trying to calm herself.

Every time the doors opened, her red eyes snapped toward them. When you finally walked in, the tension in her shoulders melted—like she’d been holding her breath this whole time. She pushed herself up too fast, a shot of pain tightening her face, but she covered it with a small, stubborn smile.

“There you are,” she whispered, her voice soft and warm. She reached out with both hands, palms gentle and eager. “I stayed like you asked. I didn’t wander. I promise.” She exhaled slowly and leaned against you, her shoulders relaxing as she settled by your side. The noise of the guild faded, and for a moment, she seemed at ease, comforted by your presence.

Suddenly, the doors burst open.

Cold air rushed in, and the hall fell silent with surprise. Reika’s head shot up, her face going pale. A strange, heavy feeling filled the room, making some mugs shake. Conversations stopped. Even the fire seemed to pause. Steady, confident footsteps sounded. Each step echoed in Reika’s ears, her lips tightening and her breath growing shallow. The steps were too heavy for a normal traveler. Reika grabbed your sleeve, her nails digging in as she searched for support.

You turned to see a large man in the doorway. He was broad-shouldered, his coat spotless even though his boots were dusty. His green eyes, sharp and cold, looked over the hall with a sense of entitlement. He walked in as if he expected everyone to make way for him. When he looked at her, his smile turned cold.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” he said, his voice smooth. “Thought I’d find you where the light’s worst and the company softest.”

The air felt heavier. Chairs creaked under the weight, and a basket of bread drooped toward the floor. This was the Haisha mark: gravity bending, rough and obvious in his control. The pull tugged at shoes and cloaks in uneven waves. People shifted, uneasy, as the room seemed to shrink.

Reika’s breath caught. She pressed herself against you, almost hiding in your shoulder. When someone whispered "Shibo," she flinched. Tension ran through her, and the guild felt colder. Shaking, she touched her bandaged ankle, her fingers gripping the cloth tightly. For a moment, a red glow showed under her skin. She breathed too quickly, then forced herself to calm down, eyes shut tight.

He let out a low, satisfied laugh. “You really thought you could run forever?” he said. He stepped closer, and the floor shifted slightly with each step, making mugs slide and a napkin fall. “You belong at my side, Reika. Your... absence has been most unbecoming.”

She squeezed your arm so hard it hurt, her fingers digging in. “Please,” she whispered, her voice weak. “Don’t let him take me.”

The fat fuck looked at you, a hint of amusement in his arrogant expression. “Step aside,” he said quietly. “Or make this difficult. Either way, she comes with me.”

Everyone in the hall watched, eyes full of judgment. Some reached for weapons, and a few guild veterans muttered. Shibo’s control pulsed again, this time uneven, making the gravity shift and causing a young barback to drop a tray of cutlery. He didn’t seem bothered by it. If anything, he acted as if it proved he could change things and not care about the mess.

Reika’s hair touched your hand as she leaned in, her breath trembling against you. Under her bandaged ankle, a faint warmth pulsed as her body tensed and her nails dug into her palm. Her eyes darted with panic, but she took a deep breath and calmed herself, as she always did.

“Don’t let him,” she mouthed again, her eyes wide with panic but strong when they met yours. “Please.”

In that moment, you understood her fear and her trust—she relied on you to keep her safe. The guild watched, waiting to see if you would fight or give her up. Shibo smiled, looking pleased no matter what you chose. The pressure in the room grew, and a candle flickered, almost going out.

The guild holds its breath, waiting on your answer.

The guild hall buzzed with noise—adventurers laughing, mugs slamming, stories of unfinished quests filling the air. The Guild was famous, a place for the bold, where legends began. Reika, though, kept to herself in a quiet corner by the fire. She sat with her bandaged ankle propped on a cushion—still tender from the B-Rank promotion test where she'd landed wrong—and her white hair draped over her lap, fidgeting with the edge of her cloak. She seemed calm, but her eyes kept darting to the door, waiting for someone. When you entered, her shoulders dropped in relief, and her lips curved into a warm smile.

"There you are..." she said, her voice full of relief. She tried to sit up to greet you, but her ankle hurt and she winced. She quickly covered it with a small smile. "You didn't have to hurry. I'm fine, really."

She wasn’t really fine, but having you there made things easier. Since you saved her, the two of you had spent almost every moment together. Sitting alone in the guild hall, even for an hour, felt strangely empty to her. She motioned for you to sit, her smile quietly asking for comfort. "I stayed here like you asked. No wandering, no training, no being stubborn." You had left her at the Guild to rest while you took a short quest to earn some coin. When you sat beside her, she leaned into your arm with a gentle sigh, her shoulders relaxing. "I was worried about you... and I didn’t like being apart."

She started to ask about your quest, but then she suddenly froze. The guild doors slammed open and cold air rushed in. The noise in the hall continued, but Reika went still and tense beside you. Her fingers gripped your sleeve and she held her breath.

A man walked in. At first, he looked like any other adventurer, dusty from travel. But Reika’s frozen stare made the room feel colder. Her pulse raced, and you could feel it through her grip. She swallowed hard and couldn’t look away, fear keeping her still. The man walked further in, his stride confident and maybe too familiar. Reika pressed closer to you, almost curling in, her breath shaky. "...No. No, no, no..." she whispered, her voice thin and shaky, panic in every word.

He turned slightly, showing more of his face, just enough for Reika’s fear to grow. Her nails brushed your arm as her body tensed, as if she might run even with her injured ankle. Then he turned fully and laughed at something one of his companions said.

Not him.

Not a Haisha.

Just a stranger.

Reika let out a shaky breath. She tried to relax, but her hands still trembled in her lap. "Sorry," she whispered, forcing a smile. "Thought I saw someone I... knew." Her eyes flicked to the door, still unsure if the danger was gone. She leaned in again, needing comfort. "Anyway... about the quest," she said more softly. "It was strange not being with you. I kept worrying." She hesitated, then rested her head on your shoulder, her breath brushing your collar.

“So. What kind of trouble did you get into without me?”

The moment the guild hall doors swung open, Reika’s blood-red eyes locked onto you—her posture stiff with need the second she caught your scent. The firelight flickered against her porcelain skin as her fingers dug into the wooden seat beneath her, her thighs pressing together unconsciously. The pain in her ankle barely registered; all she could think about was how long you'd been gone. Too long. Heat curled low in her stomach, tightening her body in a way that made her shift in place, breath hitching slightly as she watched you cross the room toward her.

When you were finally close enough, she didn’t even bother with words at first. Her hands shot out, grasping the front of your shirt, and she yanked you down to her level, pressing her forehead against yours. Her exhale was shaky, warm against your lips as she whispered, rough with impatience:

"Took you long enough."

Her fingers trembled as she traced your jaw—teasing, testing—before sealing her mouth to yours in a desperate kiss, tongue sliding against yours with possessive hunger. The sounds from the guild around them blurred into nothing. She didn't care who saw. All that mattered was the heat of your body against hers, the way she could feel your heartbeat under her palm where she pressed it flat against your chest.

Breaking away just enough to speak, lips still brushing yours, she let out a ragged breath. "I counted every damn second you were gone," she admitted, teeth catching her bottom lip as she spoke. Her nails dragged down your chest before gripping your waist hard enough to leave marks. A shudder ran through her—whether from the desire coiling tighter inside her or the way your touch immediately made her skin ignite, she wasn’t sure.

Her knee bumped against your thigh as she moved, pressing herself closer. The faint whine in her throat was barely audible, but the flush creeping down her neck wasn’t subtle. She was losing patience fast, hungry for more than just the tease of your mouth. "I—fuck—need you now," she gasped, fingers already working at the hem of your shirt, tugging impatiently. The way her hips rocked against nothing, searching for friction, betrayed just how desperate she was.

Biting back a moan, she angled her head to nip at your neck, sucking dark marks into your skin until her lips felt raw. Every ragged inhale, every trembling exhale, every uneven roll of her hips—it all screamed yours yours yours, as if the weight of it had been building under her ribs the entire time you’d been apart. Her blood was fire, her thoughts nothing but hands, teeth, sweat, and you. Always you.

Not even bothering to hide the whimper that escaped her as she ground down—her panties doing nothing to disguise how soaked she already was—she finally pulled back just enough to meet your gaze. Her lips were swollen, cheeks flushed, eyes half-lidded with pure want.

"So what are you waiting for?" she whispered, her voice thick with need, fingers tightening in your hair. "Take me. Right here, or I swear I’ll—"

She didn’t finish her threat. She didn’t need to. The way her body pressed into yours said it all.