The garden was quiet, serene, its beauty mocking me as I arrived.
The moonlight bathed everything in silver, a surreal glow that felt both soft and suffocating.
The air was sweet, laced with the intoxicating scent of exotic blooms, but all I could taste was bitterness.
Bitterness, because I knew—oh, I knew—this was where he was.
My Ryuk.
My everything.
My chest heaved with anticipation as I pressed forward, my fingers tightening around the fabric of my skirt.
The artifact's hum still echoed faintly in my ears, promising me the connection was perfect, flawless.
I was here.
With him.
I would see him, touch him, feel him.
But then I heard it.
"HNNGHH~! Ahn! R-Rui Ke… i-it's tearing... me!"
Her voice.
The sound hit me like a dagger to the chest, sharp and cold and unforgiving.
My breath caught, my heart stumbling as if it had been struck.
