Secret

Nyx and Konan stood side by side in the dimly lit chamber of the Akatsuki headquarters, a place where shadows and whispers seemed to converge. The walls bore the cold, unyielding stone that echoed their footsteps as they approached the central meeting hall. The events of their recent mission still weighed heavily in the air, yet a silent understanding passed between the two women. Only they knew the full extent of what had occurred—the awakening of Nyx's Kōritsurugan.

As they entered, the oppressive aura of the Akatsuki's inner circle greeted them. Pain stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding as ever. His Rinnegan eyes glanced over them with that same detached curiosity he reserved for all returning members.

"Report," Pain's voice reverberated through the chamber, cold and authoritative.

Konan stepped forward. "The mission was a success. We captured the Six-Tails Jinchūriki." Her voice was steady, betraying nothing of the battle's true intensity.

There was a moment of silence as Pain scanned their faces, seemingly probing for more details. His gaze lingered briefly on Nyx, but her expression remained calm and unflinching.

"Good," Pain finally said, his voice devoid of praise or reproach. "Ensure the sealing process begins immediately. The Six-Tails will be of great use to us."

Konan gave a curt nod, and Nyx followed her lead. There were no further questions, and the two women turned to leave the chamber. As they stepped into the dimly lit corridor, the tension between them eased slightly, and Nyx allowed herself a rare moment of vulnerability.

"Konan..." Nyx began, her voice quieter than usual. "We should keep this between us. No one else should know about what happened."

Konan slowed her pace, looking at Nyx with understanding. "The Kōritsurugan?"

Nyx nodded, her mind replaying the moments from their battle. The awakening of her dojutsu had been a deeply personal experience, a part of her she wasn't ready to share with the rest of the Akatsuki. The intense surge of power, the transformation in her eyes, and the bond she felt in that crucial moment—those were things she wanted only Konan to understand.

"You're sure?" Konan asked softly, her blue eyes studying Nyx carefully.

"Yes. Only you saw it, and I want it to stay that way for now." Nyx's gaze was steady, though her tone was firm. "If the others knew... I don't want it to change things."

"Okay...but can you explain what exactly is the difference between the Kōrimeigan and the Kōritsurugan? The two seem quite similar, except I can tell the difference in appearance between the two." Konan said. 

Nyx glanced at Konan, her icy blue eyes softening just slightly as they walked side by side. It was a question she had anticipated, and though Nyx was often reluctant to reveal too much about herself, Konan was the exception.

"The difference isn't just in appearance," Nyx began, her voice calm and measured. "The Kōrimeigan is about precision. It allows me to control the flow of chakra in others, to freeze moments and strike at the exact points where an enemy is vulnerable. Every move, every strike—it's calculated."

Konan listened closely, her gaze never leaving Nyx's face.

"With the Kōrimeigan, I can perceive the flow of chakra, disrupt it, crystallize it. I can reflect future attacks through my ice mirrors and strike at a person's mind and soul," Nyx continued, her tone growing a bit colder. "But it still has limitations. It's focused on control, on finesse. It's what allowed me to be so precise with my techniques all this time."

Nyx paused, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone corridor, the cold trailing behind her.

"The Kōritsurugan, though..." she exhaled, and the temperature around them seemed to drop slightly. "It's something far more dangerous. It doesn't just give me control over a battlefield—it bends reality. Absolute Stasis freezes not only my opponent's body, but their thoughts, their chakra, their entire existence. They are completely trapped in a moment of frozen time, at my mercy."

Konan's eyes widened slightly, absorbing the weight of that revelation.

"The Kōritsurugan takes everything further. With Eternal Frost, I can freeze the very fabric of a person's chakra, shattering even the strongest techniques. And Frozen Reflection... it's more than just reflecting their jutsu—it turns their own power against them, draining their strength." Nyx's voice was steady but tinged with the weight of knowing how terrifying that power truly was.

"And Ice-bound Fate..." Nyx hesitated for a fraction of a second, but pressed on. "With that, I can see the end of a person's chakra and life. It's like watching their energy unravel before my eyes, allowing me to mark their fate. Once they're marked, I can't miss. Every attack I make is a step toward their inevitable demise."

Konan took in the explanation, her lips parting slightly in awe and understanding. "So it's not just more power... It's as if the Kōritsurugan is an extension of your will over reality itself."

Nyx nodded. "It's not about control anymore—it's about dominance. With the Kōrimeigan, I can influence a fight. But with the Kōritsurugan, I decide how it ends."

Konan paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "But... what about the cost? I saw what it did to you back there. You were pushing yourself. That power... it's not without its risks, is it?"

Nyx's eyes darkened, and her gaze shifted downward. "No, it's not," she admitted. "The immense power of the Kōritsurugan comes with a heavy toll. Prolonged use can cause severe physical strain on me, especially with the manipulation of time and space, and the absolute cold... it drains my chakra reserves faster than anything else. I can't afford to overuse it."

Konan's concern deepened. "But there's more, isn't there?"

Nyx sighed softly, a wisp of cold air escaping her lips. "Yes. The freezing effect... it can start to affect me. If I push too hard, my own body begins to freeze. Frostbite. Worse. I could end up encased in my own ice." Her voice grew quieter, as if she were confessing a dangerous truth. "This power is both a gift and a curse. It's not something I can use recklessly. Every time I call upon it, I'm gambling with myself."

Konan's hand gently touched Nyx's shoulder, the gesture surprisingly warm. "That's why you wanted to keep it hidden."

Nyx nodded. "It's meant to be wielded with care. Precision. If anyone else knew... if Pain knew... they would want me to use it in every battle. But I can't. Not without risking everything."

Konan met her gaze, a silent understanding passing between them. "I won't tell anyone," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of her promise. "This stays between us."

Nyx allowed herself a rare, small smile. "Thank you," she whispered. The cold edge in her eyes softened for just a moment as they continued walking side by side.

Nyx glanced at Konan, her usually composed and distant expression softening ever so slightly. The truth about the Kōritsurugan weighed heavily on her, but the burden was made a little lighter knowing she didn't have to carry it alone—at least not with Konan. As they walked in silence for a few more steps, Konan suddenly stopped and turned to face her.

"I don't know how you do it, Nyx," Konan said, her voice barely above a whisper. "All of this power... the things you've been through... You carry so much on your shoulders, and you always keep moving forward. But you don't have to do it alone."

Nyx blinked, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in Konan's tone. She was so used to seeing the other woman as composed and strong, but now, standing here together after everything, Nyx realized that Konan's strength came from something deeper—something more connected.

"You say that like it's easy," Nyx replied, her voice quieter than usual, the ever-present cold that followed her seeming to dull. "I've been alone for so long. It's... easier that way. Safer."

Konan stepped closer, her eyes searching Nyx's face, her gaze steady. "Maybe. But it's lonelier too, isn't it?" She reached out, gently resting her hand on Nyx's arm. "You don't have to keep it all locked away. Not from me."

Nyx stood there for a moment, staring at Konan's hand on her arm. It was rare for anyone to touch her—rare for her to let them. She had long kept her distance from the world, her heart encased in the same ice she used in battle. But Konan... she was different. Her presence wasn't just something Nyx tolerated; it was something she had grown to rely on, even if she didn't say it out loud.

"I gave up being close to people a long time ago," Nyx murmured, her voice betraying a rare vulnerability. "It's better for them. Better for me."

Konan's hand tightened slightly, not letting go. "But you're not that same person anymore. You've changed. You let me in. You trusted me with your secret, with your life out there. That means something."

Nyx looked away, her icy blue eyes flickering with uncertainty. The walls she had built over the years were hard to break, even for someone like Konan. "I... don't know if I can be that person. The one who lets others in."

Konan's lips curved into a soft, reassuring smile. "You already have," she whispered, her voice gentle, yet firm. "You let me in. That's enough."

For a moment, the frost in the air seemed to lift, and the space between them felt warmer. Nyx felt a strange knot form in her chest, something she hadn't felt in a long time—if ever. It was strange to feel this... close to someone. But Konan wasn't like everyone else. She never had been.

Without thinking, Nyx reached up, her gloved hand hesitantly brushing against Konan's. "I gave my scarf to Rina," Nyx whispered, her voice quieter than ever. "But... if there was anyone else I'd have given it to, it would've been you."

Konan smiled, her eyes softening as she nodded. "You don't need to give me anything, Nyx. Just... stay here with me. That's all I need."

Nyx exhaled softly, her breath visible in the cold air. "I will," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but the weight of her words made it clear that she meant it.

Konan stepped closer, her fingers trailing from Nyx's arm to her shoulders, then brushing against the side of her neck before resting gently on her cheeks. Surprisingly, Nyx didn't flinch at the touch; instead, she felt an unexpected warmth radiating from Konan's fingers—a warmth that was so different from the cold that always clung to her.

Konan's light blue eyes shimmered with something deeper as she looked at Nyx. There was a glint there, not just of understanding, but of something more—a tenderness Nyx hadn't seen before, except perhaps in the gaze of one other person. She wasn't used to feeling this way, this sense of... closeness.

Nyx could feel the weight of Konan's touch, the softness in her hands lingering against her skin. It was an odd sensation—one that left her slightly off-balance, though not in an uncomfortable way. She had felt warmth before in battle, in moments of fleeting camaraderie, but this was different. It was intentional, lingering. She saw the same spark in Konan's eyes that she sometimes caught in Rina's, a mixture of admiration, care, and something even more difficult to place.

Affection, Nyx thought, trying to piece together the unfamiliar feeling, Fondness.

"Konan...?" Nyx whispered, her voice softer than usual, her head tilting ever so slightly to the side, a gesture that seemed strangely innocent—almost... cute.

Without warning, Konan's lips curled into a playful smirk, and she reached out, pinching Nyx's cheeks gently between her fingers.

"Hey!" Nyx swatted Konan's hand away immediately, her brows furrowed as a light sting spread across her skin. "What are you doing? That hurt," she said, her tone indignant, though her reaction lacked any real bite.

Konan chuckled softly, the sound light and almost melodic. "Sorry," she said, though the playful glint in her eyes remained. "You were just too cute."

Nyx blinked, momentarily stunned. Cute? That was... unexpected. No one had ever referred to her as "cute." Fearsome, dangerous, distant—those were the words she was used to. But cute? That was new.

For a moment, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of Nyx's lips, but she quickly composed herself, brushing it off as they started walking back. The silence that followed wasn't awkward or heavy. Instead, it felt... comfortable.

As they moved, Konan glanced down at her hand, the one that had touched Nyx's cheek. She opened and closed it slowly, feeling the warmth that still lingered from their brief moment of contact. Her heart quickened in her chest, and for the first time, Konan felt something unusual—something that took her by surprise. Her eyes widened slightly as she pieced it together, a sudden realization blooming in her mind, sending a subtle wave of warmth through her.

"I see..." she murmured quietly to herself, her gaze still lingering on Nyx, who walked a few steps ahead, oblivious to the inner turmoil Konan had just uncovered within herself.