"An unexpected revelation"

As the last man fell, Izanami turned to face me. Her silver eyes, dark and calculating, softened slightly when they met mine. She wiped the blood from her blade with a casual flick of her wrist, her lips curling into a small smile.

"Ray." She said, her voice soft and almost affectionate.

"It's been a while." She added.

My eyes remained cold, my expression detached.

"Izanami." I replied, my tone in my voice even.

"I didn't expect to see you here." I added.

Izanami stepped closer, her gaze never leaving from my eyes.

"You were going to kill them, weren't you?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Yes, but you beat me to it." I simply said.

A silence fell between us, the air thick with unspoken words. I could feel the tension, the unyielding connection that we had always existed between us. She was the last person I had expected to see tonight, yet somehow, it didn't surprise me. The sudden visit of Hera,Valkyrie, and Rakshesha and she had a way of appearing at the most unexpected moments, always with an agenda of her own.

"You're still the same after two years." Izanami said after a moment, her smile fading into something more solemn.

"Cold, detached, distant, expressionless...but with a hint of warmth hidden beneath that icy and devilish exterior." She added.

My gaze then flickered to Akane, who was still trembling on the ground, her wide eyes filled with terror and confusion. Seeing her like that stirred something inside me, a flicker of emotion that I buried long time ago.

"I saved your friend." Izanami continued.

"But I didn't do it for her. I did it for you." She added. There was a slight jealousy in the tone of her voice.

My jaw tightened, but I didn't respond.

I then stepped past Izanami and knelt beside Akane, my movements gentle as I helped her to her feet. Her body was trembling, her breaths shallow as she clung to me, seeking comfort and comfort.

"Se-senpai...." Akane whispered, her voice shaky.

"I tho-thought.....I thought I was going to die." She added.

My damned heart twisted at the sound of my childhood friend's fear, but I forced myself to remain composed.

"You're safe now." I said softly.

"I won't let anything happen to you like this again." I added, giving her assurance.

Akane's grips tightened, and for a moment, I allowed myself to feel something other than this...facade of mine that had become my shield ever since my mother left me. I cared about Akane, more than I was willing to admit. But I think that should be enough.....for now.

"I knew you always had a soft spot to the ones you care about." Izanami said quietly, almost to herself.

"I don't even know if you care about me." She added but quieter.

I stood, my arm still around Akane as I faced Izanami.

"Just what the hell are you doing here, Izanami?" I asked, my tone more serious now.

Izanami tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"I could ask you the same thing, Ray. But I already know the answer. You're always where the trouble is, aren't you?" Izanami said.

"You know you're trying to blow your cover, right?" She added.

"Bullshit, don't reverse this. This wasn't about my cover, this was about the goddamn hotel and the stunt you four pulled." I slightly raised my voice.

Izanami sighed a deep one.

"Now, tell me what's going on and what the hell happened inside the hotel?" I asked again, my voice strict and authoritative.

"I'm here because there's something bigger at play, something you need to know and need to be aware of." She answered, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

My eyes narrowed, my instincts telling me this revelation will suprise me.

"What do you mean?" I hurriedly asked.

Unexpectedly, her gaze flickered to the dead men lying at their feet.

"Your mother is here, Ray." She uttered, her voice calm.

Hearing those words, my eyes suddenly widened.

"And Rakshesha betrayed us. It turned out she wasn't serving the Majesty, but instead, it was your mother whom she was serving all this time." She added, a slight anger on her voice.

"My....my mother?" I barely uttered. My mind suddenly thought of the memories of my mother. The memories where it was buried inside the deepest part of my mind.