Veil of Shadows

A New Memory.

As the night draped its comforting veil over the city, Eien lay ensconced in the deep slumber of exhaustion, oblivious to the passing hours and the shadows that prowled beyond his doorstep. Unbeknownst to him, the ease with which Kin had found him was a chilling reminder of the vulnerability that lurked in the wake of their encounter.

As dawn surrendered to dusk and the hands of the clock crept steadily onward, a tiny bug nestled discreetly on the collar of Eien's shirt served as a silent sentinel, transmitting his every move to the watchful eyes of his adversary.

It wasn't until the deepening darkness of the evening sky cast its somber hues upon the city that Eien stirred from his restless sleep. The sound of a gentle knock at his door roused him from his slumber, the echoes reverberating through the stillness of his home like an ominous harbinger of the night's secrets.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Eien rose from his bed with a sense of unease gnawing at his senses. The events of the previous day swirled in his mind like fragments of a fractured dream, and the realization that he had overslept weighed heavily upon him.

With cautious steps, he made his way to the door, a knot of apprehension tightening in his chest. As he turned the handle and pulled the door open, he braced himself for whatever awaited him on the other side, knowing that the answers he sought lay just beyond the threshold, Veiled in shadows 

As the door swung open, revealing the figure standing on the threshold, Eien's heart leaped into his throat. It was Kin, his features obscured by the hood of his cloak and a face mask, his presence a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

Eien's breath caught in his chest as Kin stepped into the house, his movements calculated and deliberate. Before Eien could voice his protest, Kin's hands reached out, gently smoothing down the disheveled strands of Eien's hair with a touch that sent a shiver down the hero's spine.

"Why are you here-!" Eien began, his voice tinged with a mixture of confusion and apprehension. But before he could finish his sentence, Kin interrupted him, his attention already diverted to another matter.

"Where's your kitchen?" Kin asked, his tone casual and indifferent, as if Eien's presence in his own home was inconsequential. Ignoring Eien's question entirely, he continued forward, his footsteps echoing through the quiet house.

"H-hey, wait, stop!" Eien protested, his frustration mounting with each step Kin took. But his words fell on deaf ears as Kin pressed on, his determination unwavering.

With a frustrated sigh, Eien rolled his eyes, his cheeks burning with embarrassment at the audacity of his uninvited guest. "Fine, don't tell me!" he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with annoyance. "I'm going to bed. Don't go in my room!"

With that, Eien slammed the door shut and locked it, the sound reverberating through the empty house like a final punctuation mark to their tense encounter. Leaning against the door, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the tumult of emotions roiling within him. But the sense of unease lingered, a constant reminder of the precarious balance between hero and villain that defined their complicated relationship.

In the quiet stillness of Eien's kitchen, the savory aroma of frying mushrooms and chicken filled the air, mingling with the comforting scent of eggs sizzling in the pan. Kin moved with practiced ease, the familiar clatter of utensils punctuating the otherwise silent night as he prepared Eien's favorite dish.

As the minutes ticked by, the hands of the clock creeping ever closer to midnight, Kin continued his culinary endeavor, his focus unwavering despite the late hour. With each deft movement, he infused the dish with a touch of care and attention, a silent offering to the slumbering hero whose presence loomed large in the room.

Meanwhile, Eien lay cocooned in the embrace of sleep, oblivious to the passage of time and the preparations unfolding in his kitchen. The soft glow of moonlight bathed the room in an ethereal light, casting long shadows across the floor as the night pressed on.

It wasn't until the clock struck 11 PM, its chime a gentle reminder of the hour, that Eien stirred from his restless slumber. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he sat up groggily, his senses slowly coming back to him as he surveyed his surroundings.

His gaze fell upon Kin, who sat quietly at the table, a stack of magazines scattered before him as he waited patiently for Eien to awaken. The sight of the plates of food, steaming and tantalizing, drew Eien's attention, the rumble of his empty stomach betraying his hunger.

As Eien finally emerged from the depths of sleep, the clock taunted him with its relentless march forward. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the windows, casting eerie shadows across the room. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Eien glanced around outside (please be gone, please be gone) he said to himself, his gaze then falling upon the sight of Kin, seemingly engrossed in the pages of a magazine.

It was 11 PM already, a fact that only added to Eien's disorientation as he tried to make sense of the situation. Before he could fully gather his bearings, the aroma of food wafted through the air, drawing his attention to the table where plates of steaming eggs, mushrooms, and chicken awaited him.

But as he reached for a glass of water, his eyes caught sight of Kin sprawled comfortably on the couch, a spread of food laid out before him. Eien's stomach rumbled in protest, betraying his hunger despite his reluctance to acknowledge it.

For a moment, he hesitated, torn between his pride and the gnawing ache of hunger. But in the end, his stomach won out, and with a resigned sigh, Eien begrudgingly approached the table, steeling himself for the inevitable confrontation that awaited him. As he settled into his seat, he couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the night had in store.

Eien's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject with Kin. Clearing his throat, he finally mustered the courage to speak, his gaze still fixed on the plate before him.

"Is this for, um, me?" Eien asked tentatively, his voice barely above a whisper as he avoided making eye contact with Kin.

"Eat up," Kin replied casually, his attention still fixed on the magazine in front of him.

With a sense of resignation, Eien began to eat, the flavors of the dish offering a brief respite from the awkward tension that hung heavy in the air. But as he took a sip of water and reached for a beer from the mini fridge, Kin's playful remark brought the events of the previous night crashing back into focus.

"You're still gonna drink after last night? Naughty hero~" Kin teased, his tone light and playful.

Eien bristled at the implication, his cheeks flushing with indignation. "I-I... nothing's gonna happen!" he retorted defensively, though his protests lacked conviction.

As he took a long swig of the beer, Eien couldn't shake the sense of disquiet that settled over him like a heavy blanket. The memories of the previous night were hazy and fragmented, a jumble of sensations and emotions that left him feeling unsettled and vulnerable.

"So, um, what happened last night?" Eien asked tentatively, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Kin's response was casual, almost flippant.

"Oh? You wanna know?" Kin amused, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Hmm, let's see. We kissed, then you crawled onto me, then... ##### " His words trailed off as he filled in the gaps with a series of suggestive gestures, leaving Eien speechless in his wake.

Eien's cheeks burned with embarrassment and frustration, his mind reeling from Kin's brazen recounting of their shared night. With a sharp inhale, he interrupted Kin's casual recollection, his voice trembling with a mix of indignation and disbelief.

"O-okay, okay, shut up!" he exclaimed, his words laced with urgency as he attempted to halt Kin's unabashed retelling of their intimate encounter.