Aiko's heart raced as Kaito's words sank in. "You're in danger." The air between them felt charged, and her grip on the scarf tightened.
"You can't just show up here and say something like that. Explain! Who are you?" she demanded, her voice trembling.
Kaito's gaze flickered to the window. "There's no time. They're probably already watching."
Before Aiko could respond, a loud crash shattered the tense silence. The window splintered as a black-clad figure leaped into the room. Kaito moved like lightning, drawing a concealed blade from his jacket. Aiko froze, clutching the scarf as the two clashed in a blur of movement.
The intruder hissed, "Hand over the thread!"
Kaito deflected the attack and kicked the figure toward the wall, sending them sprawling. "Run!" he yelled at Aiko, but she stood frozen, her mind racing.
In a split-second decision, she grabbed the spool of silver thread off the table, hurriedly wore the scarf and bolted out the door. The last thing she saw before fleeing was Kaito, locked in combat, his face a mix of determination and desperation.
As Aiko sprinted into the rain-soaked streets, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning a corner, she collided with another figure—a man with a lotus tattoo on his wrist.
"You're not going anywhere," he growled.
The man grabbed Aiko's arm, his grip iron-tight. She struggled, her panic mounting, but then her fingers brushed the scarf. The silver thread pulsed with warmth against her skin.
Desperate, Aiko swung the scarf, the embroidered lotus glowing faintly. To her shock, the man stumbled backward, his grip loosening.
"What the—" he muttered, staring at the scarf as if it were alive.
Aiko didn't wait for him to recover. She fled down the alley, ducking into a narrow passage. Her heart pounded as she clutched the scarf. What was this thread? How could it do… that?
Moments later, Kaito appeared, blood dripping from a cut on his cheek. "You used it, didn't you?" he said, his voice low.
Aiko nodded, still shaking. "What is this thread? Why does it—"
Kaito grabbed her wrist. "I'll explain later. Right now, we need to move. They won't stop until they have it."
"I can't go with you. I don't know who are you, I can't trust you." Aiko screamed with teary eyes.
Aiko grabbed her shoulders tightly yet she unexpectedly felt warm "You no choice because you need me to survive." He shouted, pulled her arm to run.
They ran through the maze of alleys until they reached a hidden entrance to an underground passage. Kaito led her inside, his breathing heavy.
"This thread," he began as they descended into the dark, "isn't just a tool. It's alive in a way. It reacts to intent, binding fates and amplifying willpower. But it's dangerous—people have killed for it."
"Then why are you helping me?" Aiko asked.
Kaito hesitated. "Because I was once like them. And I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of it...My name is Kaito by the way."
Before Aiko could press him further, the passage trembled. A deep rumble echoed through the walls. "They've found us," Kaito whispered.