The Eminence in Shadow: The Dark Swordsman

Chapter 10: Moonlit Pursuit

He noticed the fear and panic in her eyes, understanding that her actions were driven by a desperate reaction. In a moment of empathy, Kirito made a quick move, disarming her and performing a front foot sweep that left her off balance.

Before she could hit the ground, Kirito caught her, his strong arms enveloping her in a gentle embrace. "Easy there," he whispered, his voice soothing. "I've got you." Zeta's initial panic began to subside as she found herself in Kirito's arms, her heart racing for a different reason now.

Zeta gazed into Kirito's eyes, her heart racing as she felt his steady heartbeat against her chest. In that silent moment, she couldn't help but let her guard down, showing a vulnerability she rarely revealed.

However, as their eyes met again, she suddenly became aware of how close they were, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She swiftly stepped back, breaking the intimate moment, and muttered, "You're an idiot. You should've just taken me down or knocked me out."

Zeta quickly jumped away from Kirito, putting some distance between them. Her flushed cheeks gave way to a determined expression as she straightened her posture and said, "I won't surrender, no matter how kind or sincere your intentions may be. This isn't over yet."

Kirito couldn't help but chuckle to himself, finding Zeta's stubborn determination and fiery spirit strangely reminiscent of his own sister's behaviour when she was just a child.

"Alright," Kirito conceded with a nod, realizing that Zeta's determination left him no choice but to take things more seriously. He readied his stance and said, "I'll give you that. You're quite the challenge."

Zeta, now more wary and focused, observed Kirito closely, ready for his next move. She had proven herself as a formidable opponent. The moonlit rooftop chase continued, each of them now aware of the other's skills and determination, making the pursuit even more intense.

As the moonlight bathed the rooftop, Kirito suddenly disintegrated his sword, and with a sigh of exhaustion, he plopped down on the ground, crossing his legs. He looked drained and muttered, "Man, all this running and fighting really takes it out of you."

Zeta, not expecting this sudden turn of events, couldn't hide her surprise and confusion. She blinked at Kirito and then raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, is that so?" she replied with a smirk. "Well, you know, sitting ducks are my favourite kind of target. Easy pickings, really."

With a dramatic sigh, Kirito exaggerated his exhaustion even further. "Well, in that case, I guess I'll just have to hope you're not as ruthless as you claim." He gave her a playful wink and a lopsided grin, fully aware that Zeta wouldn't actually take advantage of his "exhausted" state.

Zeta chuckled at his antics, her playful side emerging once more. "You're lucky I prefer a challenge, I hate boring things."

Kirito, with a sly grin, looked at Zeta and said, "How about we make a little bet? If I can catch you before sunrise, you owe me a good explanation of who you and your organisation truly are."

Zeta, her curiosity piqued by his proposal, raised an eyebrow and replied, "And what if I manage to elude you until sunrise?"

Kirito leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well," he teased, "if you manage to elude me until sunrise, you can say goodbye to our little game of cat and mouse."

Zeta flashed a confident grin and nodded in agreement. "You've got yourself a deal," she said. With a playful wink, she suddenly vanished into the shadows, leaving Kirito alone on the moonlit rooftop, eager to resume their thrilling game of pursuit until sunrise.

With Yukime and Delta...
Yukime, her large fox ears perked up and tails swaying gracefully, faced off against Delta, a fierce girl. The moonlight illuminated the clearing where they had chosen to confront each other, casting an eerie glow on the battle.