Chapter 20

20

The leader's victory was palpable, his confidence now a dark, suffocating presence. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling blend of anticipation and malice as he prepared his next move.

In the center of the room, my ex, who had been a mere spectator these past few moments, was now being dragged forward by the Yakuza members. His expression was a mix of confusion and fear as he was forced to stand before his father. The room's atmosphere shifted, the air thickening with an ominous energy.

The Yakuza leader raised his hands, the dark, binding chains around Noboru glowing ominously, catching my attention. What was this? Dark magic? He began to chant in a language that seemed to twist reality itself. The words echoed with an unholy resonance, each syllable dripping with arcane power. The incantation wove through the air, casting an eerie blue glow that enveloped the room .

Noboru groaned and my heart ached.

As the chant reached a fever pitch, the Yakuza leader's focus intensified. His eyes locked onto his son, who was now trembling uncontrollably. What was he doing? Concern laced me for both men. The Yakuza members surrounding him held him firm, their faces masks grim.

Suddenly, the leader's voice rose in a final, resonant cry, the magic building to a crescendo. The room seemed to vibrate with the force of the spell, and a malevolent wind whipped through, sending debris scattering in circles like a tornado. The energy coalesced around my ex, his body writhing in agonizing contortions.

The transformation began with a horrific, inhuman screech. Kaito's screams of pain filled the room, a primal sound that seemed to pierce through the fabric of reality. His body twisted and elongated, muscles shifting and stretching in ways that defied natural form. The air was filled with the crackling of dark magic and the smell of burning ozone.

I thought I had seen everything. I was wrong. Before my very eyes, his human form was being reshaped into something both magnificent and terrifying. Scales sprouted from his skin, ripping his flesh apart, shimmering with an iridescent sheen beneath the splattering of blood. His limbs elongated and transformed, claws emerging where fingers once were. His face distorted into a fierce, dragon-like visage, the transformation complete with a pair of colossal, bat-like wings unfurling from his back as the remnants of his human flesh stretched and snapped.

The creature that stood before us was no longer recognizable as the man I once knew. The black dragon's eyes, glowing with a malevolent intelligence, surveyed the room with a mixture of rage and bewilderment right before he shook the rest of his eviscerated human flesh onto the ground. Its roar was a deafening sound that reverberated through the building, quaking the very walls.

His father's laughter rang out, filled with dark triumph at the macabre sight before him. "Behold," he declared, his voice echoing with the authority of a god. "This is the true reach of my power and everything I've learned. The Yakuza bends even the most formidable beings to our will. One of our very own is now an instrument of our dominance!"

The dragon's roar reverberated through the air, a bone-chilling proclamation of the leader's unholy power, its scales glimmering with a spectral, unsettling light. Before me stood my ex—now a grotesque beast of myth, a living nightmare. The sight was surreal, a horrifying spectacle that clawed at my sanity. The transformation was complete, and with it came an insatiable dread that coiled in my gut like a viper, whispering that this creature was no longer the person I once knew, but a harbinger of destruction and despair.

I could only watch in trepidation as the dragon paced around the room, its eyes occasionally turning to me with a sense of forlorn recognition. The room was now a place of unimaginable power and dark magic, the Yakuza leader's spell having transformed the balance of the conflict in a way I could scarcely comprehend.

As the dragon's eyes met mine, I felt a pang of both sympathy and recoil. If he thought I would screw him in this form, he had another thing coming.

Noboru's grip on the glowing chains tightened, and I could feel an unfamiliar energy pulsing through him, resonating in my chest. It was as if the very air around us had shifted, crackling with an ancient power that surged from deep within. I watched in awe as he began to break free from the chains that bound him, the metallic links snapping like twigs under the pressure of his newfound strength as his size grew to massive proportions.

"Dragon!" he called, his voice resonating with an intensity that seemed to shake the room. "You and the terror of your clansman will end here."

The dragon's massive head jerked in his direction, its gaze narrowing as it sensed the shift in power. "What is this?" it snarled, its voice rumbling like distant thunder. "You think you can stand against me? You're nothing but a pawn in my way!"

But Noboru stood tall, his aura radiating confidence and defiance. "No more games, Asato Kenzan," he declared, his voice booming with authority. "You've hidden behind your darkness for too long. It's time to face the consequences of your actions."

The old man threw his head back and let out a raw laugh. "So you do remember me. Good. It will be the last name you remember. Kaito, be a good boy, and don't disappoint me."

Noboru shattered the last of the chains, wasting no time, launching himself at the beast with a supernatural speed.

The two collided in a clash of titans, the impact reverberating through the area like an earthquake. Noboru's movements were fluid and powerful, his body moving with the grace of a warrior awakened. Each strike he delivered was infused with the strength of his heritage, a raw power that seemed to draw from the very essence of the world around us.

I stood frozen. The dragon roared, unleashing a torrent of fire that illuminated the darkened room, sending the Yakuza scattering out of the building. Noboru countered with a shield of energy that shimmered like liquid light, absorbing the flames and redirecting them back toward the beast as he pulled his divine blade out.

"Mae!" Noboru shouted, his eyes fierce and focused. "Get away from here!"

He didn't have to tell me twice. I quickly left my hiding spot and darted toward one of the vehicles, hoping I could steal one. I took a deep breath and scanned the scattering of cars in the area, looking for a specific one. Kaito used to let me take his vehicle for joy rides. It was the one I was most familiar with.

As if my thoughts summoned him, the dragon hissed, fury in its eyes as it swung its massive tail, aiming for Noboru. But he was faster, dodging the blow with an agility that defied logic. As he engaged Kaito, I felt a surge of energy pulse through the air—a bond that transcended the physical, weaving us together in a shared purpose.

We were not just fighting for survival; we were fighting for our right to exist, to reclaim our destinies.

The Yakuza leader stood a distance away, his arms crossed and a twisted smile curling on his lips as he watched the calamity unfold. His eyes glimmered with a satisfaction that was unsettling, as if he were a proud father reveling in the destruction his offspring was capable of unleashing. "This is what I wanted to see," he murmured, the words dripping with dark glee. "A true battle of power—a son who finally embraces his heritage."

Talk about unattainable family expectations. In that moment, the arguments I'd had with my family felt trivial and inconsequential compared to Kaito's monumental struggle. Was this why he clung to me after our breakup? I knew his relationship with his father was rocky at best, most Asian families involved with gang life were like that.

But this? This is something else entirely.

Noboru danced around the dragon with fierce determination, his strikes echoing like thunder. Every blow he landed was a testament to his strength, but I could see the toll the injury on his wing was taking on him. The dragon retaliated with ferocity, each swing of its claws creating shockwaves that rattled the nearby trees. It was clear that this was more than just a fight; it was a clash of legacies, a culmination of all the pain and suffering that had led us to this moment.

Kaito's laughter boomed, mingling with the roars of the dragon. "You think you can win, warrior? She was never yours!" His voice dripped with contempt, but I could hear an undercurrent of fear. The more Noboru fought, the more that fear and jealousy crept into Kaito's words, revealing the cracks in his fa?ade.

Noboru's gaze flickered to me for a brief moment, a spark of connection igniting between us. "Do not let his darkness dictate your fate, dragon. It will only lead to your demise," he shouted, and with renewed vigor, he charged forward with an upswing of his blad, skidding across Kaito's scales, sending sparks flying.

Kaito lunged again, snapping its jaws with a feral growl, Noboru sidestepped with an elegance that was almost poetic. He countered with a surge of energy that sent a shockwave through the area, forcing Kaito to stagger back.

"You underestimate me, warrior," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. "I've had years of hatred pent up inside of me. The only downfall will be yours!"

Years of hatred? For who?

I looked at his father who said nothing besides carrying a smirk on his face. What an asshole. No wonder prior me didn't want him.

Kaito's face darkened, rage bubbling beneath the surface. "You were always meant to be mine, Mae. I'm going to get rid of this distraction once and for all." His words were laced with desperation, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes as he watched Noboru unleash his power.

Arrogant to the bitter end.

But was that truly what I wanted? A part of me wrestled with the notion. Yes, I loathed him in many ways—his selfishness, his manipulative tactics, the way he had tried to control every aspect of my life. Yet, beneath that hatred, there lingered a complicated mix of emotions. I never wished for his death. I didn't want the end of our conflict to come at such a devastating cost.

What I craved was liberation from the toxic ties that bound us, a chance to reclaim my life without his shadow looming over me. I wanted to break free and see where this new relationship with Noboru would take me. Yet, the reality of a life without his existence felt unsettling, like tearing out a piece of my identity that had been intertwined with his for so long.

You're confused beyond belief, girl!

Maybe. But I'm not a murderer and I feel like whatever happens tonight will have blood on my hands too.

I watched the chaos unfold, realizing that I was trapped in a moral dilemma. Was it possible to hold onto my principles while also wanting him to face the consequences of his actions? Could I reconcile my hatred with a flicker of empathy for the boy I once loved? The weight of it all pressed down on me, and I struggled to find a way to navigate this tumultuous emotional landscape just like I was struggling to get close enough to his damn car without being seen by one of the Yakuza or his father.

Trying to keep focus, I hid behind one car to the next, and behind a few trees until I finally made it to Kaito's car. I successfully snuck toward the driver's side, relief washing over me, and grabbed the car door handle only to be pulled from behind aggressively.

"Oh, no you don't," came an aggressive male voice.

Knowledge from the streets kicked in and I automatically turned on my self-defense moves. Despite being much larger than me, I was more agile.

With his grip still on the back of my shirt, I twisted until it slipped off me. I took the opportunity to sweep his legs from under him while he was still in shock that I would dare do anything in just a bra. The goon fell with a loud thump that alerted the other men.

"That was my favorite shirt too," I growled, resigned to having to search through the internet to find another one of those custom-made designs with vintage band shirts.

I shot to my feet and slammed my heel down on his nuts, making him contort in pain, turning away from the car while trying to scramble over his body to get to the driver's side door. But he was too big, his body blocking me from opening the door wide enough for me to get inside.

Another set of arms grabbed me and I bit down, hard, making him roar in pain.

The moment my feet hit the ground, I attempted to sprint, only to be met with a fist to the face, stunning me for a moment.

The next goon locked my arms behind me and dragged me toward Kaito's father who was still leaning against one of the vehicles with a glint in his eye.

"I do like this new version of you, Mae. It makes my cock stir to see such fight in you."

Disgusting.

"Be careful what you ask for, you might find said cock cut off and thrown off the freeway. After all, women have learned a thing or two throughout the centuries too… and we like to teach each other new skills," I smirked back with false bravado. I was at a disadvantage, and I knew it.

"If Kaito dies, you're welcome to another Takehide," he winked. "Sons are a dime a dozen, especially with a young womb like yours."

I curled my lip as he cackled.

Desperation surged through me while I surveyed the wreckage. My heart raced, realizing that the situation was slipping further out of control. The Yakuza leader's back was turned, focused entirely on the battle that continued to rage before us as if there was a purpose to his stare. Was he still imbuing magic somehow?

A thought struck me. It was a slim chance, but it was the only one I had.

I scanned the immediate area for anything that might help, and my gaze landed on a nearby metal rod, half-buried under debris. It wasn't much, but in the chaos of battle, it was something.

I needed to find a way to make this goon loosen his hold on me.

"Aren't you afraid I'll figure a way out of your grasp?" I taunted him.

He scoffed, quirking an eyebrow with doubt. "Not likely with you standing here in your bra. You're not going to do me like you did Enatsu, over there."

"Pfft. I can choke you with my bra and you wouldn't even see it coming," I challenged.

Come on. Take the bait. I'm sure you're just as dirty as?—

His nostrils flared, weighing whether my bluff was a real threat or not.

I looked over my shoulder and raised an eyebrow, pretending to assess his threat.

Just like a male, he took the bait and slipped his hand along the skin of my back toward the clasp of my bra. And just like a male, he struggled with it enough for me to whip around and distract him with my bare breasts. His jaw dropped, attention stolen by my flesh, right as I threw all my weight into the punch to his temple.

I had to do a little leap to reach but I smiled with satisfaction as he went down like a tree, with my bra still in his grasp.

I moved quickly, my heart pounding in a deafening staccato while I grabbed the rod and approached the Yakuza leader.

He chanted in a guttural language, his power crackling as he maintained his control over the spell. His arrogance was a glaring weakness, just like his son. With the rod gripped tightly in my hands, I rolled my shoulders and hid behind one of the nearby cars .

"What the hell happened to Tatsuno?"

"Why does he have a bra in his hand?"

"Fuck! Where's the girl?"

I drew nearer and I could see the dark energy swirling around the leader, his concentration unbroken. I raised the metal rod and, with all the force I could muster, swung it at the asshole's head. The rod connected with a resounding clang, sending him staggering to the side. The spell's energy wavered, and for a moment, Kaito's dragon form flickered.

The old creep roared in fury, turning to face me with a look of disbelief and rage. "You dare!" he bellowed, his voice thick with anger. "You think you can stop me?"

Ignoring his threats, I pressed forward, swinging the rod again at his nose, spraying speckles of warm blood onto my naked chest. The leader tried to defend himself, but the impact of the blows was disrupting his concentration. The dark magic that had transformed my ex was beginning to falter, and the energy around them starting to destabilize.

"Grab her weapon!" one of the guys yelled.

"The cars are in the way!"

Noboru, seizing the opportunity, unleashed a surge of divine power. His light flared brightly, pushing back against the scattered Yakuza members right before his blade of flames cut through Kaito's soft flesh on his chest. The sudden surge of energy was a decisive turn in the battle, forcing the Yakuza to retreat.

Kaito's transformation began to reverse as the dark magic holding it together unraveled when I swung the bar into his father's head again, spraying blood from his nose.

I didn't wake up today choosing violence. You made me do it! This was why I left the hood behind. This was why I couldn't be around this influence!

The monstrous form of the dragon shrank and reformed, the scales fading as the human shape of my ex was restored. The dragon's roars turned into pained cries as the spell lost its grip.

The Yakuza leader, bleeding and weakened, struggled to maintain control over the remaining magic. His efforts were futile, and his once-mighty power was now a flickering ember. As the area settled, the Yakuza leader finally lost consciousness, his dark magic dissipating into the air.

Maybe I was paranoid as Kaito would say. Because I was tempted to beat his skull in until I was sure he wouldn't wake back up. But that wasn't me. I didn't need that kind of blood on my hands to come back to my family.