Kazu

The scent of sakura mixed with the tart smell of willow leaves. Mei, a geisha with eyes the color of molten gold and a fox-like grace in every movement, sat on the veranda of the teahouse. Her face, perfectly whitened, seemed like a mask in the semi-darkness, but even through this porcelain a blush of excitement broke through. Kazu was supposed to arrive today.

Kazu… Even his name sounded like the rustle of a blade, sharp and dangerous. He was a ninja, a shadow sliding between realities, and, by an incredible twist of fate, her secret love. Their connection was as forbidden as a plum blossom in winter, but Mei's heart, half kitsune, knew no bounds when it came to feelings.

Suddenly, a soft rustling sound broke the silence of the night. Mei shuddered, feeling the fox instinct raise the fur on the back of her neck. From the shadows of the garden, as if woven from the night, Kazu emerged. His face was hidden by a mask, revealing only a narrow strip of dark eyes in which fire splashed. He was like darkness itself, embodied in a man.

"Fluffy," he whispered, and the nickname from his lips sent shivers down Mei's spine. He knew about her secret, about the fox essence hidden under the geisha mask, and this knowledge made him even closer, even more dangerous. "I missed you," his voice was a hoarse whisper, like the wind rushing through a bamboo grove. And in that whisper, Mei heard not only longing, but also the promise of mystery, adventure and, perhaps, death. After all, their love, like a thin thread of silk, could break at any moment, pulling them both into the abyss. But now, looking into Kazu's dark eyes, Mei knew only one thing - she was ready to risk everything.