Let the world burn

7

Lisa's POV

The sunlight streamed through the mansion's windows, too bright for how early it was. I stood outside Ryujin's room, leaning against the wall with a half-empty coffee cup. Sleep had been a luxury I couldn't afford recently—not with everything that had happened.

Ryujin hadn't left her angel's side since bringing her here. And honestly, none of us could believe what we were seeing.

The Ryujin we knew was a devil. Ruthless, unflinching, and terrifyingly efficient. She didn't just defeat her enemies; she crushed them, made sure they regretted even existing. She was our rock, but she was also cold—her smiles rare, her laughs rarer. Even with Little Flower, the kid she loved more than anything, her affection was more protective than soft.

And now? She was a completely different person.

I was still lost in thought when Jennie walked up, her sharp eyes gleaming with curiosity. Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, and she looked effortlessly put together, as always.

"How's the angel?" she asked, stopping beside me.

"Still out," I replied, taking a sip of my coffee.

Jennie tilted her head, intrigued. "Can I see her? She's the one who saved Ryujin, right?"

I hesitated. "You know how territorial Ryujin gets when she's in protective mode. Maybe wait a bit?"

Jennie's eyebrow arched in that way that said she wasn't about to listen. "Territorial? Ryujin? That's new."

I sighed, knowing I couldn't stop her. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

She pushed the door open, and I followed, ready to intervene if Ryujin snapped.

But what we saw made us freeze.

Ryujin, the devil herself, was lying in bed, cuddling her angel.

Her arms were wrapped around the girl protectively, cradling her like she was something fragile. The angel—her angel—was curled up against her chest, her face buried in Ryujin's hoodie. She looked peaceful, her breathing steady, the usual tension in her features replaced by calm.

Jennie let out a soft gasp, and I glanced at her to find her staring, wide-eyed.

"What the hell..." she whispered, barely audible.

I didn't respond. I couldn't.

Flashback

Three nights ago, Ryujin had stormed into the mansion, covered in blood—not her own—and carrying the angel in her arms. Her expression had been a mix of rage and desperation, a look none of us had ever seen on her face before.

We'd all gathered in the living room, demanding answers.

"She's the one I've been searching for," Ryujin had said, her voice sharp but trembling. "She's the one who saved me that night."

Her words stunned us into silence.

"She's been through hell," Ryujin continued, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. "And if we'd been a day later, those bastards would have..." She trailed off, but we knew what she meant.

"She didn't deserve any of it," she finished, her voice quieter but full of fury. "No one does. And I'm going to make sure those sons of bitches pay."

The sheer emotion in her voice was unlike anything I'd ever heard. It wasn't just anger. It was personal.

Back to Present

Jennie finally broke the silence, her voice soft. "I've never seen her like this."