Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 9: Little Time Left

They had landed in the middle of a barren field, where twisted, sparse trees reached for the sky with blackened branches that resembled withered claws. In the distance loomed a cliff that dropped into a gray void, from which an icy wind howled. Everything around them looked like a place forgotten by the Gods—devoid of time, devoid of life.

Esenya didn't even try to look in the nogitsune's direction.

"That's right. Be afraid of me," the boy's voice held a mocking edge, but something else flickered in his dark eyes—something hidden beneath a mask of indifference. "And don't you ever make the mistake of seeing me as something I'm not. I am what I am. I'll never become who you want me to be."

She pressed her palms into the grass, feeling its numbing cold, and slowly lifted her gaze to him, eyes filled with exhaustion and sorrow.

"You think I'm afraid of you?" Her voice was muted but steady. "Maybe I should be... What you did to him—it was disgusting. But I can't make myself fear you. I'm more disappointed. I didn't think—no, I didn't want to believe you were capable of that."

She lowered her head, as if weighing her words, then continued more quietly:

"We're nothing to each other. But for some reason, I still care. I didn't want to believe it until the very end, even when the truth was staring me in the face. I can't understand why you feed on your own kind... and until I do, I won't be able to justify or accept it."

The fox watched her, studying her face intently.

"Why would I need your understanding?"

His indifferent tone struck deeper than any insult. But she didn't let it show.

"If you don't need it, then we've got nothing to talk about, Tomoya."

She stood up, her gaze unwavering. Pain. Disappointment. Confusion.

"Don't look at me like that," he said flatly.

"Like what? Like you left behind the cat who saved your life?"

He said nothing, but his jaw tightened.

"I could only take one of you," his voice turned sharp, almost cutting. "It was foolish to think, even for a second, that I'd choose anyone but you."

"But you didn't even hesitate," she whispered. "And he saved you."

"He's a foolish yōkai, ruled by emotion. That kind doesn't live long."

"Interesting," Esenya said coldly. "And what emotion made him save you? Maybe... nobility? Ever heard of it?"

Tomoya didn't respond.

"And what were you thinking of when you saved me?"

She paused, watching a flicker of irritation pass over his face.

"Ah, right..." she tilted her head slightly, as if some truth had clicked into place. "You're just desperate to find out how I got here. Your own agenda torments you more than anything else."

Still, Tomoya said nothing.

"If that's really all you care about..." her voice chilled, "then listen closely: I ended up here because of a stone. It used to be part of a temple—one dedicated to the goddess Inari. It had soaked in enough energy and blood to bring me here."

She folded her arms, locking eyes with him.

"There. Now you know everything. And you don't need me anymore."

"I already knew," he said quietly.

Esenya frowned.

"What?"