The rain hadn't let up, drumming against the rooftop of the old warehouse Renji and Kaede had taken refuge in. The air was thick with the smell of rust and damp concrete. Renji sat on an overturned crate, arms resting on his knees, his dark hair dripping water onto the floor. Kaede stood by a broken window, her amber eyes scanning the rain-soaked streets outside.
"He's gone for now," she said softly, her voice barely above the sound of the rain.
"Good," Renji replied, though his body remained tense. "But that doesn't mean we're safe. Kuroda doesn't seem like the type to give up easily."
Kaede turned to face him, her hand clutching the edge of her red scarf. She hesitated, the weight of her thoughts visible in the way her shoulders slumped.
"Renji," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "I need to tell you the truth. About why he's after me."
Renji's dark eyes locked onto hers. "I'm listening."
Kaede took a deep breath, her hands shaking. "Kuroda isn't just after me because of who I am. He's after something I have—something I took."
Renji straightened. "Took? What do you mean?"
Kaede glanced toward the window again, as if expecting Kuroda to materialize out of the rain. "It's a data drive," she admitted. "It holds information about an organization called Shinkuro—a network of powerful people who control more than anyone knows. They deal in illegal weapons, cyber espionage, and… worse things."
Renji frowned. "And you have their secrets on this drive?"
She nodded. "I didn't steal it for myself. I was working for someone. They promised to help me if I got the drive, but… I don't think they were being honest. Now everyone's after it—and me."
Renji's jaw tightened. "Kaede, what were you thinking? You can't just go up against people like that alone!"
"I wasn't alone!" she shot back, her voice breaking. "At least… I didn't think I was."
Her words hung in the air like a confession. Renji stood, crossing the room to her. "What do you mean?"
Kaede looked away, her hands clutching the scarf tighter. "The person who hired me—they said they'd protect me. That this was bigger than us. But when things went wrong, they disappeared. I've been running ever since."
Renji exhaled, running a hand through his damp hair. "So now Kuroda and his people are after you because of what you know. And this mysterious employer of yours… they just left you to deal with it."
Kaede nodded, her voice barely audible. "I didn't know who else to turn to, Renji. You're the only person I could trust."
For a moment, silence filled the warehouse, broken only by the rhythmic patter of rain. Renji closed his eyes, processing everything she'd said. He wanted to be angry—at her recklessness, at the danger she'd brought into his life—but he couldn't. Not when she looked at him like that, her usually confident demeanor cracked and vulnerable.
Finally, he spoke. "Where's the drive now?"
Kaede hesitated before pulling a small, waterproof case from the pocket of her coat. "Here," she said, handing it to him.
Renji took it, feeling the weight of its importance in his palm. "You kept it on you? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"I didn't have a choice," she replied, her tone defensive. "If I tried to hide it somewhere, they would've found it. At least this way, I knew where it was."
Renji stared at the case for a moment before slipping it into his jacket pocket. "Fine. But if we're going to get out of this alive, we need a plan."
Kaede looked at him, hope flickering in her eyes. "You have an idea?"
"Not yet," he admitted. "But I know someone who might. An old friend of mine—Riku. He's good with tech, and he has connections. If anyone can figure out how to use this against them, it's him."
Kaede frowned. "Can we trust him?"
Renji nodded. "If there's one thing I know about Riku, it's that he hates people like Shinkuro. If we explain the situation, he'll help."
Before Kaede could respond, a loud crash echoed through the warehouse. Both of them froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise.
Renji pulled her behind a stack of crates, his heart pounding. "Stay quiet," he whispered.
Footsteps echoed across the concrete floor, slow and deliberate. A shadow moved in the dim light, and Renji felt his stomach drop.
"Kuroda," Kaede mouthed, her eyes wide with fear.
Renji clenched his fists, his mind racing. They couldn't fight him—not here, not like this. But running wasn't an option either.
As the footsteps drew closer, Renji spotted a metal rod lying on the ground nearby. He grabbed it, holding it tightly as he whispered to Kaede. "When I give the signal, run. Don't look back."
"No," she hissed, her voice trembling. "I'm not leaving you."
"Kaede," he said, his tone firm. "You have to. If he gets the drive, this is all over. Go find Riku. I'll hold him off."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded reluctantly. "Be careful," she whispered.
Renji gave her a small, reassuring smile before stepping out from behind the crates. The metal rod felt heavy in his hand, but he gripped it tightly, his determination outweighing his fear.
"Hey!" he called, his voice echoing through the warehouse. "Looking for me?"
Kuroda stopped, his dark eyes locking onto Renji. A slow, menacing smile spread across his face. "Ah, the hero returns," he said, his tone mocking.
Renji raised the rod, his stance firm. "Let's finish this."