Immortal Mythos: Bound by Void-Chapter 6: Feathers and Falling Girls

That night, Yuki couldn't sleep.

Not because of what Aiko said—though her words haunted him.

Not because his body still felt strange, like something alive pulsed just beneath his skin.

It was the feeling of being watched.

Like the night itself was holding its breath.

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From his bedroom window, the wind howled stronger than usual. Trees bent like they were bowing to something unseen.

Suddenly—

CRACK!

The window shattered inward.

Yuki jumped up, heart hammering, ready to defend himself. But the figure that appeared wasn't charging at him. It stood there, tall and still, black feathers falling gently to the floor.

A man—no, not quite human—dressed in dark robes. Eyes glowing faintly beneath a hood. A pair of black wings folded behind him, and a long, feathered fan hung at his side.

"...You've awakened," the stranger said, voice like wind scraping across stone.

Yuki stared, confused and on edge. "Who—what are you?"

The man stepped forward. "I am Ren. And I've been watching you for a long time."

Yuki instinctively took a step back. "Watching me? Why?"

Ren didn't answer right away. He examined Yuki like a hawk sizing up prey. "Because the world shifts when a kitsune stirs. And you... are the only one left."

Yuki's breath caught. "Kitsune...? That's impossible."

Ren's eyes narrowed. "Is it?"

Before Yuki could say another word, the wind exploded around them.

In the blink of an eye, Ren vanished through the shattered window like smoke on the breeze.

All that remained were feathers... and a thousand questions Yuki wasn't ready to answer.

---

The next morning came way too fast—and Yuki definitely wasn't ready for it.

He kept replaying Ren's words: Kitsune. Only one left. Others will come.

Was this what Aiko meant?

Yuki was so deep in his own head, he didn't notice the warning signs: fast footsteps, a swinging bag, a quiet "oh no" echoing down the hallway—

WHAM!

Something—or someone—slammed into him from the side, sending him crashing to the floor like a bowling pin.

He landed with an "OOMPH!"—and something soft (and very not-floor-like) landed square on top of him.

He opened his eyes.

Aiko.

On top of him.

Staring.

"...Hi," she said flatly.

Yuki's brain short-circuited.

"Hi—wait—what—uh—are you—what's—ARE YOU OKAY?!"

Aiko blinked. "I think I bruised my ego... and maybe your ribs."

He turned a shade of red not found in nature. "W-WHY ARE YOU ON ME?!"

"I was following something. A spiritual presence. Didn't expect you to be in the way."

He raised an eyebrow. "You were following a ghost and tripped over me? Seriously?"

She smirked. "Don't flatter yourself. You're not that special."

"You just tackled me!"

"I tripped. You were in the way. Gravity did the rest."

"...Gravity's rude."

A few students nearby had stopped to stare.

One guy pointed. "Yo, Yuki finally got a girlfriend?!"

Aiko glanced at the crowd. "Congratulations. You're popular now."

"Th-This is NOT what it looks like!"

"Oh? So you did want me on top of you?"

Yuki made a sound that could only be described as a broken kettle.

Aiko stood up like nothing happened, brushing her uniform off. "Next time, move faster."

"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU WERE COMING!"

She turned and walked off coolly, tossing her hair. "Exactly."

Yuki lay there, brain sizzling.

Spirits? Easy.

Girls? Terrifying.

---

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