Veil Of Shadows //Sunki FF

Chapter Three: Into the Darkness

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The following evening, Niki found himself lingering by the river’s edge, the glow of city lights reflecting off the water. He knew he shouldn’t be out here, drifting in his thoughts. His focus needed to be on the case, on solving this endless puzzle and bringing the so-called “Saint” to justice.

But in his mind, there was only one face: Sunoo.

Every time he tried to push the stranger from his mind, those calm eyes and the hint of a secretive smile would resurface, weaving their way through his thoughts like a delicate thread that he couldn’t sever. There was something haunting about Sunoo—something that felt as dangerous as it was beautiful.

“Detective Nishimura,” a voice cut through the quiet, and Niki turned, catching his breath as Sunoo emerged from the shadows nearby. The soft, ever-present smile on his lips made it impossible to tell if this meeting was coincidental or deliberate.

“Sunoo,” Niki replied, his voice steady, though he felt his heartbeat quicken. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Sunoo shrugged, his movements so effortlessly calm that it sent a chill down Niki’s spine. “Morcrest isn’t so big. It seems we have a habit of finding each other.”

Niki smirked, feeling the weight of the night settle around them. “Or maybe you’re just following me.”

A hint of amusement flickered across Sunoo’s face. “Would that bother you, Detective?”

Niki didn’t answer. Instead, he let the silence speak for him, the tension between them thickening in the cool night air. Sunoo’s gaze held his steadily, as though he were silently challenging him to see through his calm exterior, to uncover the secrets he guarded so carefully.

“Tell me something,” Niki said, breaking the silence as he took a step closer. “You said you do your research. Are you interested in the case, or… in me?”

Sunoo’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, and he tilted his head, a hint of that hidden edge revealing itself in his expression. “Why can’t it be both?”

The words lingered in the air, sending a jolt of tension through Niki. For the first time, he felt himself slipping, his carefully constructed guard starting to weaken. He wasn’t used to feeling uncertain, but there was something about Sunoo that had a way of disarming him, leaving him exposed.

Before he could respond, Sunoo closed the distance between them, his movements smooth and almost hypnotic. He leaned in, his voice a low murmur. “You’re not like the others, Detective.”

Niki’s breath caught. “The others?”

Sunoo’s smile grew faintly, his expression soft but his gaze unwavering. “Those who see only what they want. Who judge others by their appearance… their power.”

For a moment, Niki felt as if Sunoo’s words held a double meaning, an accusation that resonated deeply. He could feel his pulse quicken, the thrill of their strange dance drawing him in, despite the alarms going off in his mind.

“Maybe that’s why I’m here,” Niki replied, his voice barely a whisper. “Because I don’t see things the way others do.”

A dangerous glint flickered in Sunoo’s eyes, and he leaned closer, his face mere inches from Niki’s. “Then I’d be careful, Detective. Curiosity has a way of getting people into trouble.”

Niki could feel the tension crackling between them, their gazes locked as if in silent combat. He wanted to pull away, to sever this inexplicable connection, yet he was rooted in place, entranced by the mystery in Sunoo’s gaze.

Without warning, Sunoo stepped back, the spell between them breaking. His smile softened, taking on that calm, gentle quality that made him seem almost angelic again.

“Until next time, Detective,” Sunoo murmured, before slipping into the shadows, his figure disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.

Niki watched him go, a mixture of frustration and fascination burning in his chest. He knew he was getting too close, that his fascination with this stranger was becoming something dangerous. Yet he couldn’t help but feel that this encounter had pulled him deeper into the shadows surrounding the Saint of Shadows.

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LATER THAT NIGHT

Back in his dim apartment, Sunoo let the events of the night replay in his mind. His heart still raced from the tension he’d felt, standing so close to Niki. The detective was clever, sharp, and persistent. And though he should be cautious, Sunoo found himself drawn to Niki in a way he hadn’t anticipated, a thrill that made his pulse quicken and his resolve waver.

He walked over to a small desk by the window, where a black rose lay in a glass vase, its petals dark as midnight. He reached out, brushing his fingers against the petals, the memory of Niki’s piercing gaze filling his mind.

No one had ever come this close to understanding him, to seeing past his mask. No one except Niki.

A part of him wanted to let Niki closer, to see if he could uncover the secrets Sunoo kept hidden. But the other part—the part that had survived on vengeance and careful calculation—knew he couldn’t afford that kind of weakness. Not if he wanted to continue his work. Not if he wanted to keep the city’s monsters at bay.

Still, he couldn’t deny the pull Niki had on him, the way the detective’s quiet intensity stirred something within him. He knew it was dangerous, that this connection could unravel everything he’d worked for.

And yet, for the first time, he found himself wondering if he could let down his guard, just once.

Just for Niki.

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Idk what to say, I LOVE THIS BOOK