Chapter [106]

Awakening of Kaito

A Week After the Battle

Kaito opened his eyes, his vision blurry as he tried to adjust to his surroundings. He found himself in an unfamiliar room with cold stone walls and dim light filtering through a small window in the corner. His head throbbed, as if an enormous weight was pressing down on his skull.

'What an infernal pain... Where am I?' Kaito thought, raising one hand to his forehead in an attempt to ease the throbbing. He struggled to get up, but his body was still weak, his muscles heavy after a long period of inactivity. Looking around, he realized he was completely alone; the place seemed deserted and mysterious.

The pain in his head began to subside as he slowly sat up in bed. His memory was foggy, flashes of the battle against Zeus crossing his mind, bringing back intense memories of the effort he made to defeat him.

'Zeus... Did I do it?' he thought, his thoughts still scrambled.

Kaito tried to stand up again, this time with more success, his feet touching the cold floor as he leaned against the wall to stay upright. He needed to know where he was; he needed to find Thalia, Kuroka, and Xenovia. They were important, and he had no idea what had happened after the collapse of the coliseum dimension.

Slowly walking toward the door of the room, Kaito turned the handle and opened it carefully.

CLICK!

As soon as he opened the door, Kaito heard voices coming from somewhere further away, probably from a floor below. He immediately recognized the voices of Thalia and Xenovia. They were close, and it brought a momentary relief to his heart.

Kaito took a few steps down the hallway, trying to support himself against the walls as he walked. The voices grew clearer as he approached a staircase.

Suddenly, Thalia looked up and saw Kaito. Her eyes widened, and without hesitation, she started running towards him.

"KAITO!"

Thalia shouted, climbing the stairs quickly, almost tripping in her haste.

Xenovia also started running behind Thalia, though more quietly, an evident look of relief on her face.

Thalia was the first to reach Kaito, wrapping him in a tight hug. Her breathing was fast, and she seemed to hold back tears.

"I'm fine," said Kaito, trying to reassure her, despite still feeling weak.

Right behind her, Xenovia arrived and, without saying anything, placed her hand on Kaito's shoulder, showing her silent support.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed down the hallway.

"Nya, you took your time waking up," said Kuroka, appearing at the bottom of the stairs with a mischievous smile.

Kaito gave a tired but content smile, happy to see that everyone was okay.

They helped Kaito back to the room. Thalia and Xenovia supported him as he moved slowly until they reached the bed, where they helped him sit down. Thalia and Xenovia settled next to him, while Kuroka remained by the door, watching.

"How long was I unconscious? And what happened to Zeus?" Kaito asked, looking at the three of them.

Thalia sighed before answering. "You were out for a week, Kaito. After you defeated Zeus, you absorbed his divine power."

Xenovia added, with a slight smile. "It was crazy, but we made it."

Kuroka nodded, still leaning against the door. "You made quite a mess, nya. But what's important is that you came back to us."

"And what about the repercussions of Zeus' death? How is the world reacting?"

Kuroka smiled mischievously before answering. "I spread some information around. Most people believe that Ophis killed Zeus and the other Olympian gods. And since Ophis is living in Olympus, it wasn't hard to make everyone believe that."

Kaito remained silent for a moment, processing what Kuroka had said. He then nodded, a subtle smile appearing on his face. "That's convenient. With everyone thinking Ophis is behind it, we can avoid unnecessary problems."

Thalia frowned but soon agreed.

"It's better this way. At least, for now, no one will come after you for revenge."

Kaito looked directly at Thalia, pausing before speaking.

"You're right, but tell me, Thalia... Didn't you feel anything about killing him? After all, he was your father, and now he's dead."

Thalia was silent for a moment, reflecting on Kaito's question. Finally, she looked up, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

"No sadness. He was never a father to me. I just felt that I did what had to be done."

Kaito nodded, understanding her words. "I understand. For me, it was a sense of satisfaction. A mission accomplished. It was revenge for my biological parents, for my race that he massacred."

Kuroka smiled, satisfied with Kaito's response, her gaze showing approval. "That's right, Kaito. Vengeance for those who can no longer fight."

Kuroka then looked at Thalia and Xenovia, her expression changing to one of impatience. "Now, you two, out of here. He needs rest."

Thalia and Xenovia exchanged glances but didn't argue. They got up and began to leave the room.

CLICK!

Kuroka locked the door behind them, turning to Kaito with a mischievous smile.

"Now it's just you and me, nya."

She approached slowly, her playful gaze as she sat next to Kaito, watching him intently, as if trying to gauge his condition.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily, you know?"

Kaito looked into Kuroka's eyes, curious, assessing her intentions. A smile played on his lips.

"Naughty cat..." he murmured, his voice laden with a mix of exhaustion and teasing.

Kuroka laughed softly, leaning in a bit closer. Without hesitation, she gently pushed him back onto the bed, making him lie down. Then, she lay on top of his chest, her playful eyes meeting his.

"Sleep, you're going to need strength to add me to your Peerage, nya."

Kaito sighed, a mix of relief and disappointment washing over him. He was happy because, finally, Kuroka was going to join his Peerage, but at the same time, it wasn't exactly what he had imagined would happen. He expected something a bit more... intimate.

Kuroka noticed Kaito's expression and found his reaction amusing. She knew very well what he had imagined. With a mischievous smile, she gently caressed his face.

"After I join your Peerage, I will want to have many kittens, nya. So sleep happily."

Kaito couldn't help but laugh at Kuroka's teasing. She knew exactly how to toy with him. Even though he was tired, he felt at peace at that moment. Slowly, he closed his eyes, allowing the exhaustion to finally take over.

In a few minutes, Kaito fell asleep, the smile still present on his face, while Kuroka remained lying on him, a protective and satisfied look on her face.

....

Three Days Later in a Forest in Kuoh

Kaito, Thalia, Kuroka, and Xenovia stood in front of a giant tree that stood out in the middle of the forest. The leaves were dense and green, and the trunk had a deep brown color, which seemed to pulse with an ancient energy. The girls watched the scene with curiosity and anticipation, especially because they knew they were about to meet Kaito's adoptive parents.

Thalia and Xenovia were clearly anxious, while Kuroka, with a mischievous smile, seemed more interested in what was coming than worried. They watched Kaito silently, waiting for him to take the initiative.

Kaito removed a ring he was wearing on his finger. The ring, with a green stone at its center, seemed to have its own glow. He held the ring in front of the girls and, with a subtle movement of his hands, transformed it into a key. The green stone turned and rearranged, taking the shape of a complex metal key.

The girls exchanged glances, visibly impressed, as Kaito approached the tree trunk. He examined the surface for a moment until he found a specific spot, a small slit perfectly aligned for the key.

Kaito inserted the key into the slit and turned it firmly. A deep sound reverberated through the forest, as if the earth itself were responding to the movement. From the point where the key had been inserted, a magical outline began to glow, outlining a door that magically appeared in the tree trunk. The golden glow was almost hypnotic, and the wood opened slowly, revealing a hidden path.

"This is the door to the fairy world, where my parents and... my first girlfriend, if I can call her that, are." Kaito smiled slightly as he spoke. The hesitation in his voice was noticeable, as if he still wasn't sure how to define his relationship with Asia.

Thalia, Kuroka, and Xenovia didn't seem very interested in the part about the fairy world. Instead, they immediately focused on the mention of Asia as the first girlfriend. Kuroka smiled mischievously and didn't miss the opportunity to tease.

"Nya, first girlfriend, huh? But not the first to taste you, right?" Kuroka commented, her mischievous gaze turning to Kaito, who merely rolled his eyes, amused.

Thalia, on the other hand, frowned, clearly annoyed. She had always been competitive and jealous, and the mention of Asia as "the first" visibly bothered her.

Xenovia simply shrugged. "I don't care much, as long as she's trustworthy." Her tone was pragmatic, as always.

Kaito laughed at the girls' comments. Their reactions, each so characteristic of them, made him realize how much the group had become a sort of peculiar family, where even the teasing had a familiar and affectionate tone.

"You just need to remember to behave in front of my parents."

The girls looked at him with a mix of challenge and humor. It was clear that the meeting promised to be interesting, and despite the teasing and tensions, they all knew that this moment was important to Kaito.

They prepared and crossed the magical door, entering an environment where the freshness of nature mingled with a welcoming and magical feeling. Kaito led the way, feeling his heart warm as he saw the environment he loved so much. He knew he was finally home, and he was eager to introduce his friends to those who had raised him with so much care.