Chapter 1

Yuki stared at the ground, a dizzying 10,000 feet below her, as dark clouds swirled in the night sky, punctuated by flashes of bright lightning. Her thoughts were as turbulent as the storm brewing above, as she had always been strangely interested in what was beyond death, as if the thought of the afterlife had an irresistible pull on her.

With her blue eyes fixed on the void, she contemplated what would be if she were to vault from the rooftop of the structure where the wild party raged on. Would the impact be nippy and final? Would she wake up as an invigorated in another life, or would she remain a restless spirit? Yuki's mind was a whirlwind of curiosity.

She lifted a glass of wine to her lips, the rich red liquid was shimmering in the dim light, and for a moment, she considered pouring it down into the abyss below. As the liquid swirled on the brink of the glass, she wondered if it, too, would vanish into the night.

"That's dangerous," a deep, husky voice spoke from behind her.

Startled, Yuki flinched and then turned around. A tall, enigmatic man stood behind her, his eyes a piercing shade of red, and his jet-black hair glistening in the faint glow of the part lights. He wore a mask with intricate gold linings, he had an aura of elegance and mystery that set him apart from the crowd below. Yuki found herself mesmerised by his presence, and she couldn't fathom how he had gone unnoticed by everyone around her.

Feeling embarrassed, Yuki stammered," I am sorry, that was wrong of me. Who are you?"

The man continued to smile, his aspect unyielding as he replied," You know who I am, Yuki."

Confusion swirled in Yuki's wide, blue eyes. She had noway seen anyone as striking as this mysterious man, and indeed though his features were incompletely concealed by the mask, she was certain that none of her musketeers or classmates matched his air at all.

The man let out a deep, throaty chuckle, causing Yuki's heart to race. He leaned in closer, his sharp gaze never leaving her face as he continued, "No, you know me. You ask me questions all the time."

Yuki's eyes widened, and she struggled to comprehend his cryptic statement. Her mind raced, trying to place this enigmatic figure in her life, but she drew a blank.

"Yuki, why did you try to throw your wine down from the rooftop?" he asked, leaning casually against the railing beside her, his presence both imposing and intriguing.

Yuki bit her lip nervously, her palms were beginning to sweat. She had no idea who this man was, yet he seemed to possess a surprising amount of knowledge of her actions and thoughts. The thunder rumbled in the distance as the storm overhead mirrored the confusion within her heart.

"I was curious," she whispered, her voice barely audible with all the noisy crowd surrounding her. She hoped the man hadn't heard her, but his piercing gaze made it clear that he did. He continued to watch her with a mix of curiosity and understanding.

"Curious about what?" he probed, his cheek resting on his arm as he leaned against the railing.

Yuki hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never considered sharing her deepest thoughts with a stranger before, but something about this man compelled her to speak. "Curious about what it would feel like to fall," she admitted, her voice trembling.

The man's response surprised her. Instead of shock or concern, he tilted his head sideways and asked, "Aren't you scared?"

Yuki blinked at his question. It was as though he had expected her answer. She took a deep breath and continued, "I turned 21 this year. I have no family, no friends, no money, and no passion. Throughout my life, I've tried many things to feel something other than the loneliness that always weighed on my heart, but I never found it. As a child and even now, the only thing that has ever fascinated me is what happens after death."

A single tear streamed down Yuki's cheek, and she was struck by the mysterious man's lack of reaction. His gaze remained fixed on her, and he wore a grin that sent shivers down her spine. It was a grin that felt unnatural, no human could ever make that expression.

Without warning, Yuki felt a sudden throb of pain in her chest, causing her to flinch. She pressed a hand to her heart, but the pain vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Who are you?" Yuki croaked, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and wonder.

The man's grin widened as he drew nearer to her. "You know who I am," he repeated, his voice low and hypnotic.

Yuki's mind raced, her thoughts jumbling together. It was as if a flood of memories and realisations were crashing over her. Then, she spoke, the words flowing from her lips with an odd sense of certainty. "You're right. I know who you are."

"Thanatos." She whispered, as her voice slightly shook.

The man's fingers moved to his mask, and with a swift movement, he removed it, unveiling his face. Yuki stared at him in sheer awe, her heart racing.

As he closed the gap between them, he pressed his lips to hers, and in that moment, Yuki felt a deep connection she had never experienced before. It was her first and last kiss, a kiss that transcended time and space.

A flash of recollections rushed through her, like a continuance of unfulfilled feelings and solicitations. She flashed back the day she had cut her hand and felt no pain, the loneliness she had endured throughout her life, and the bleakness that had consumed her as time went on. Yuki had never felt romantic love for anyone, but as she kissed the man, an ecstatic feeling filled every fibre of her being. 

She realised she was falling, but their lips remained locked in an intimate embrace. Tears welled up in her eyes, not tears of sorrow or despair, but tears of joy and happiness she had never felt. The hollowness that had consumed her for so long had finally disappeared.