Kodoku

Chapter 22

Rin’s heart raced as she stepped into the silent halls of Yaga’s headquarters. The usual bustle was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness that sent chills down her spine. She had just returned from a string of exhausting, fruitless meetings with their contacts, desperate to secure a safe haven for the women of Tenjiku. But now, as she entered the dimly lit corridor, something felt deeply wrong.

She barely had time to process the unsettling atmosphere before Nanami appeared, his expression grim and urgent. Without a word, he took her by the hand, leading her swiftly into a small room. He locked the door behind them, the click of the lock echoing in the stillness.

Before Rin could ask what was happening, Nanami pulled her into a fierce embrace. His lips found hers, and he kissed her deeply, almost desperately. She could feel the tension in his body, the way his hands trembled as they held her close. He buried his face in her neck, his breath warm and ragged against her skin as he just held her, clinging to her as if she was his last tether to sanity.

Finally, Rin whispered, her voice soft and worried, "What’s wrong?"

Nanami hesitated, his hold on her tightening as if he feared letting her go would mean losing her forever. Then, with a voice that was barely more than a hoarse whisper, he admitted, "I’m afraid, Rin."

The admission sent a jolt of fear through her. Nanami, the steady rock she had always relied on, was afraid. "What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.

He pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. "All those plans we dreamed of, all those things we wanted to do together—we have to do them now, Rin. We can’t wait anymore. It’s all falling apart."

Rin’s heart pounded in her chest as he told her everything—about Yaga’s death, the chaos that had erupted in the aftermath, Gojo’s unraveling, and Geto’s insidious attempt to turn Gojo against him. The weight of it all crashed down on her like a tidal wave, leaving her breathless and furious.

Rin’s fists clenched, her anger flaring up like a wild fire. "That bastard! I’ll—"

Nanami gently placed a hand on her cheek, calming her with his touch. "No, Rin. You need to keep a level head. Getting angry won’t help us now." His voice was firm but laced with desperation, "I need you to get somewhere safe. I’ll come find you as soon as I can."

Rin shook her head, her eyes fierce. "I can’t just leave, Kento." She said, "The others need me. I have to protect them, and I have to find Boe and Sarah."

Nanami’s expression darkened. "Rin, Sarah has consumed all of Sukuna’s fingers," he said quietly, "She’s losing herself, and Boe… Boe is missing. No one knows where she is. This place… it’s not safe for you. There’s nothing but danger here."

Rin’s breath caught in her throat, the gravity of the situation hitting her like a blow. But she couldn’t leave. She couldn’t abandon the women she had sworn to protect, the friends who had become her family. "I have to stay, Kento. I need to protect them."

Nanami’s grip on her hands tightened, his eyes pleading with her, "Rin, please. If anything happened to you—"

Rin shook her head firmly. "I’ll only agree to leave if you promise to help me get the others out first," she said, holding his gaze, "I can’t leave them behind."

Nanami’s jaw clenched as he struggled with the decision. He knew the danger, the risks, but he also knew he couldn’t force her to leave. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Alright," he relented, "We’ll get them out together. But after that, you need to get to safety. Promise me."

Rin hesitated, her heart heavy with the weight of the promise she was about to make. But she knew it was the only way. "I promise, Kento."

They stood there for a moment, holding each other in the silence of the small room, knowing that the world outside was teetering on the edge of chaos. And in that moment, they made a silent vow to each other—to survive, to protect those they loved, and to fight for the future they had once dreamed of, even if it meant facing the darkness head-on.