Chapter 9: The Distance Grows
Kai had always prided himself on his ability to maintain control over his emotions, to keep a distance between himself and the world around him. But lately, the tension in the mansion had been unbearable. His space, his comfort, was being slowly eroded by the heavy presence of the three men. It was suffocating, and despite his usual laziness, despite his disregard for most things in life, there was one thing he couldn't escape: their obsession.
He couldn't take it anymore.
It wasn't that he disliked them. Kai had come to care for them in his own way. They were useful, loyal, and—strangely—had brought him a kind of comfort he wasn't accustomed to. But their growing attachment, their unwavering need for his presence and attention, had reached a point where it was no longer tolerable. It was beginning to feel like a chain tightening around him, and no matter how much he tried to ignore it, it was starting to break him down.
It started one evening when the sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the sky in hues of gold and purple. Kai sat alone in his study, flipping idly through an old book, trying to distract himself from the pull of his thoughts. The silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of paper and the distant sounds of his three companions moving about the house.
He heard Edward's footsteps outside the door, and the faint sound of Charles's soft breathing just beyond the threshold. Noah's presence was more subtle, but no less pressing. They were always near, always watching, always waiting for him to acknowledge them. But tonight, Kai couldn't bear it.
Without even thinking, his hand reached for the bell beside him. It was a simple gesture, but it had always been enough to summon one of them when he needed something. Tonight, though, he didn't need anything. He just wanted them to leave him alone.
The bell rang, the soft chime echoing through the hallway. Within moments, Edward appeared in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space with an air of quiet authority.
"My Lord?" Edward asked, his tone respectful, but there was an edge of concern in his voice. Kai didn't look up. Instead, he kept his eyes on the pages of the book, pretending not to notice how Edward lingered there, waiting for him to say something.
"I'm fine," Kai replied shortly, his voice cold. He didn't have the energy for pleasantries today. He didn't have the energy for anything.
Edward didn't move, and Kai could feel his gaze boring into him. For a moment, there was silence between them, heavy and thick with unspoken words. But eventually, Edward's footsteps retreated, leaving Kai alone again.
It didn't take long for the others to find their way to him. Noah, with his soft steps and quiet presence, was always there when Kai wasn't looking. He stood by the door, waiting for an invitation that never came.
And Charles... Charles, who had once been so shy, so distant, now stood with his head bowed, his nine tails curled tightly around his waist, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Kai didn't acknowledge them. He couldn't. He was tired of it all—their constant need for him, their obsessive attentiveness. It was too much.
"Leave me alone," Kai muttered, more to himself than to them, though he knew they heard. His voice was colder than he intended, but it came out that way regardless. He felt the weight of their gazes on him, but he refused to meet their eyes.
Noah's usual warmth, the softness of his presence, seemed to melt away. Charles, who had always been so gentle with him, took a hesitant step back. Even Edward, who usually understood the unspoken, seemed to hesitate at the door.
But they didn't leave.
It was then that Kai realized just how deeply their obsession had taken root. They weren't going to leave him alone. Not now. Not ever.
His heart ached at the thought. The thought that they needed him, that they were so wrapped up in him, made him feel both guilty and suffocated. Kai was not the kind of person to need anyone, to depend on anyone. He never had been. But these three... they had become so entwined with him, so dependent on his presence, that it had started to feel like a weight on his shoulders. He couldn't carry it. Not anymore.
With a sigh, Kai stood up from his chair, slowly, deliberately, as though he were trying to distance himself from the suffocating presence of the three men.
"Go to your rooms," he said, his voice quieter now, but still edged with coldness. "I don't want to see any of you tonight."
The words were like a final command, and for a moment, the three stood frozen, uncertainty and hurt flashing across their faces. Kai didn't want to see it. He didn't want to feel it.
Edward was the first to break the silence, his voice low and steady. "My Lord, please..." But he was cut off when Kai turned his back on him, walking toward the door, his heart pounding painfully in his chest.
The last thing he heard as he left the room was Charles's soft voice, barely a whisper, "Kai...?"
But Kai didn't answer. He couldn't. He wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do, but in that moment, it was all he could manage.
As he made his way down the corridor, he felt their eyes on him, burning through his back, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. He had to put distance between himself and them before everything came crashing down.
That night, Kai stayed in his room, locking the door behind him. He didn't want to think about them, about the way they looked at him, about how deeply they had fallen for him. He didn't want to feel the weight of their obsession anymore.
For once, he just wanted to be alone.
And for the first time in a long while, the mansion was silent.