Chapter 14 : The price of redemption

Sora sat silently, his eyes locked on Mikuya as she lay on the couch, her wounds wrapped in bandages that contrasted starkly with her pale complexion. The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of neon signs bleeding through the cracked window. Outside, the city hummed—a restless beast that never slept. But here, in this small, quiet room, everything felt still. Too still.

His mind churned with everything that had happened. The Syndicate—the only life he had known—was gone. Torn from him in a whirlwind of betrayal and violence. Renzo, the man he had once followed without question, had turned against him. He had lost everything. Everything but her.

His gaze softened as he looked at Mikuya. She had saved him. Twice now. And yet, Sora couldn’t understand why. What did she see in him—a broken, discarded soldier with nowhere left to go?

Mikuya stirred slightly, a soft groan escaping her lips. For someone who had taken so much damage, she still radiated an air of defiance. Even now, injured and exhausted, she looked like she could cut down anyone who dared cross her path. That unyielding spirit—it was something Sora admired. Something he envied.

He leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why did you save me?”

For a moment, he thought she wouldn’t answer. But then, her eyes flickered open—those piercing amber eyes that always seemed to see right through him. Her expression was unreadable as she studied him in the dim light.

“You looked like you needed saving,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Sora let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not worth it.”

Mikuya frowned, pushing herself upright despite the pain etched across her face. “That’s not for you to decide,” she said sharply. “You think your life doesn’t matter just because Renzo cast you aside? You’re wrong.”

Her words hit him harder than any punch ever could. For so long, he had believed that his only worth came from serving the Syndicate. Without it, he was nothing. Just a shadow. But Mikuya—she saw something else. Something he couldn’t see himself.

“Why do you care?” His voice cracked slightly, and he hated how weak he sounded. “I’m nothing to you.”

Mikuya’s expression softened—just a fraction. “You remind me of someone I used to know. Someone who thought they didn’t matter… until they did.” Her gaze drifted to the floor, and for the briefest moment, Sora saw a glimpse of something rare—vulnerability. “I couldn’t save him. But maybe… maybe I can save you.”

The weight of her words settled deep in Sora’s chest. He had spent so long believing that no one would ever fight for him. But here she was—fighting, bleeding, risking everything—for him.

A heavy silence stretched between them before Mikuya spoke again, her voice colder this time. “But don’t mistake my kindness for weakness, Sora. I saved you because I chose to. Not because I need you.”

Sora swallowed hard, nodding. “I understand.” And he did. Mikuya wasn’t someone who gave freely—everything she did had a reason. But still, the fact that she had chosen to save him meant more than he could put into words.

A sudden knock on the door broke the silence, and Mikuya’s hand flew to her katana. Sora was already on his feet, heart pounding in his chest. His instincts screamed danger, but Mikuya remained calm—cold and calculating as always.

“Stay behind me,” she ordered, her voice low and deadly.

Sora ignored her command, stepping forward instead. Whoever was on the other side of that door, he wasn’t going to let them hurt her—not after everything she had done for him.

The door creaked open, and a shadowy figure stepped inside. Sora’s heart stopped for a beat before rage surged through his veins.

“Kaito?” His voice dripped with disbelief. “What are you doing here? Did Renzo send you?”

Kaito, ever the picture of cool indifference, leaned casually against the doorframe. “Relax, Sora. I’m not here to kill you.”

Mikuya’s grip on her katana tightened. “Then why are you here?”

Kaito’s usual smirk faded into something more serious. “I came to warn you. Renzo’s not done. He knows you’re alive, and he won’t let that stand. But I’m not on his side anymore.”

Sora’s mind reeled. Kaito—one of Renzo’s most trusted enforcers—was turning against him? It didn’t make sense. “Why should we trust you?” he demanded.

Kaito sighed, his expression darkening. “Because I’m tired of following orders. And because I know what Renzo’s planning next. If you want to survive, you’re going to need me.”

Mikuya studied him for a long moment before lowering her blade slightly. “Fine,” she said, her tone clipped. “But if you betray us—”

“I won’t,” Kaito interrupted. “I’ve made my choice.”

A tense silence followed before Kaito turned his attention back to Sora. “You’re free now. No Syndicate. No chains. What’s your next move?”

The question hung heavy in the air, and for the first time, Sora realized he didn’t have an answer. Without the Syndicate, who was he? What was he supposed to do now?

“I…” He hesitated, struggling to find the words. His gaze drifted back to Mikuya. “I want to follow you.”

Mikuya raised an eyebrow. “Follow me?”

“You saved me,” Sora said, his voice trembling slightly. “You gave me a reason to fight again. I’ll protect you—serve you—whatever you need. I owe you that much.”

For a moment, Mikuya just stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she stepped forward and flicked him on the forehead—hard.

“OW!” Sora exclaimed, rubbing the sore spot. “What was that for?”

“You’re an idiot,” Mikuya said bluntly. “You can’t just give your life away like that. This isn’t a debt you owe me. Your life belongs to you—no one else.”

Sora’s heart pounded in his chest. “But… I can’t walk away from this. I can’t walk away from you.”

Mikuya’s gaze softened—just for a breath. “I’m not asking you to walk away. I’m asking you to live. For yourself. Not for me. Not for anyone else.”

The weight on his chest began to lift—just a little. For so long, he had let others decide his fate. But maybe… maybe Mikuya was right. Maybe it was time to start living for himself.

“I’ll try,” he said quietly. “But I’m not leaving your side.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Mikuya’s lips. “Good. Because if you’re going to survive, you need to get stronger. And I’m not going to carry you.”

Sora chuckled softly, the warmth of hope blooming in his chest. “I’ll train harder than ever. I won’t let you down.”

As the three of them stood together—Sora, Mikuya, and Kaito—something shifted. For the first time in a long time, Sora didn’t feel alone.

And for the first time in a long time, he believed that maybe—just maybe—he had a future worth fighting for.

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