Rui stood frozen in the passage as her heart pounded against her ribs.
The figure before her barely resembled the Jin she knew.
Now, he looked… larger. His physique towered over Rui as his body expanded by the crimson energy coiling around him.
"Run." The word tore from his throat. His voice was raw and distorted like a hybrid of man and monster.
"RUN!" he shouted again, louder this time. The sound sent a shockwave through the air.
His hands curled into fists, and the veins of his arms bulged with a pulsing red glow that coursed beneath his skin.
The whites of his eyes were swallowed by molten crimson, glowing in the darkness.
The mark of Wrath pulsed beneath her skin, sending waves of heat up her arm.
Rui instantly flared her chaotic aura—pink-gold energy swirling around her like a protective cocoon.
"I'm not leaving," said Rui. Her voice was determined as she stood her ground.
Jin snarled as his body lurched forward before jerking back, as if two opposing forces battled to control his limbs.
The beast within him sensed her power, drawn to the chaos in her core like a moth to flame.
"I can't hold it..." Jin gasped, his voice breaking through the growl and briefly becoming his own.
Sweat streaked down his face, his entire body shaking as he fought to maintain his consciousness.
"Please, Rui... It's not safe... I'm not safe..." His glowing crimson eyes locked onto hers with dangerous hunger.
"You don't scare me, I've seen worse," she said, though her racing pulse betrayed her.
Jin lunged towards Rui at supernatural speeds.
Before Rui could react, his hand closed around her throat, pinning her back against the cold stone wall.
His other hand seized her left wrist, slamming it above her head and holding it there with terrifying strength.
Rui quickly realized this wasn't the cute monk who blushed at her slightest tease.
The creature holding her radiated pure, untamed power—primal, possessive, and dominant.
Heat radiated from his body, and his breath was ragged and heavy. His chest was rising with the kind of restraint that felt one heartbeat away from shattering.
"Jin, what are you doing?" she whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the weight of his grip.
Jin leaned in, his face hovering close to her neck.
He breathed in deeply, like a predator gathering her scent.
Then, without warning, his teeth sank into the curve where her neck met her shoulder.
The pain was sharp and possessive.
"Ahhh...!" Rui let out a small gasp.
Her free hand moved to his chest as she tried to push him away.
Jin's lips softened against the bite, soothing the sting with a gentle kiss as his grip remained unyielding.
Rui struggled but couldn't fight against him. Something deep within her responded to his touch.
Jin growled low in his throat, his movements were smooth but charged with intent as he lifted Rui by the waist.
He placed her on a stone table nearby, the impact scattering ancient scrolls across the floor with soft, echoing thuds.
"Ahhh...!" Rui gasped at the shock of cold stone against her thighs.
The coldness contrasted with the heat pouring off Jin's body as he stepped nearer, closing the space between them.
His fingers slid slowly up her arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps on Rui's skin.
Her cloak slipped from one shoulder, the loose fabric pooling at her elbow as if melting away beneath his touch.
Rui wasn't expecting this. But yet, beneath the flood of power and heat, she could still feel him. It was still Jin.
Her chaos core pulsed, not in warning but in recognition. Her body responded before her mind could make sense of it all.
Jin's tongue gently traced the shell of her ear.
"Jin..." Rui shivered, a soft sound escaping her lips before she could stop it.
His hands slid to her waist, fingers tightening against the fabric of her robes. He stepped between her legs, closing the remaining space between them.
"I've spent my entire life in control," he whispered, voice roughened by desire.
"Every breath. Every thought. Held back."
He pressed his forehead against hers.
"Then you crashed into my world." His crimson gaze locked onto her blue eyes.
"And for the first time...You made me want to sin."
Before she could respond, his mouth claimed hers.
The kiss was hungry and passionate, like a thousand moments of restraint broke instantly.
His lips fiercely pressed against hers, drawing her deeper into his embrace.
Rui's hands found their way to his shoulders, her fingers digging into his muscles.
Their auras intertwined as crimson and pink-gold lights swirled together.
For a heartbeat, clarity flickered in Jin's eyes. The crimson glow faded, revealing the warm brown Rui had come to know.
His body trembled against hers, every muscle tight with effort as he fought to stay in control.
"Rui, please…" His voice cracked, raw with desperation.
"You need to run. I don't know how long I can hold this back."
But even as he spoke, his fingers tightened at her hips, dragging her closer instead of letting go.
"I want you," he whispered, "But if I lose control, I could hurt you."
Rui shook her head and kissed him softly. "I'm not leaving you to face this alone."
As if triggered by the kiss, the glow in his eyes flared again, crimson light flooding back as the beast pressed Rui to the ground.
With a deep, guttural growl, Jin's hands gripped the front of her robes. The delicate fabric ripped apart like paper, torn cleanly and swiftly.
Jin's gaze roamed over her with unfiltered thirst, his eyes molten with heat and possession.
Then, with equal force, he tore off his robes, the plain monk's cloth shredding beneath his hands like it was nothing more than smoke.
Rui's eyes widened as the weight of the moment crashed into her.
For all her teasing, playful touches, and bold words, she had never felt desire like this..
Her body ignited as Jin's finger traced the curve of her body. But beneath the heat, her instincts screamed a warning:
Too far. Too fast. Too much beast, not enough Jin.
This was not what she wanted.
She reached up, her fingers threading through his hair, holding him close to her face.
He growled low in his throat, leaning in, his breath searing against her lips, ready for another kiss.
In that heartbeat of hesitation, Rui slammed her forehead into his.
CRACK.
Jin stumbled backwards, hitting the edge of the stone table.
He blinked rapidly as the crimson glow drained from his eyes.
"What… just happened?" he muttered, dazed, one hand rubbing his forehead.
Rui was dazed herself, but she pushed herself upright. Covering herself with what's remaining of her robes.
"Congratulations," she said dryly.
"You're back. Also—" her eyes dropped pointedly.
"—You're very shirtless."
Jin looked down.
His eyes widened.
Panic bloomed across his face as he took in his bare chest and the torn fabric hanging from his arms.
The last flickers of demonic energy vanished, leaving only a horrified monk in a red shade that matched the beast's glow.
Suddenly, the stone door burst open with a thunderous crack, sending dust flying as Kee Kee launched himself through the passage.
"OKAY, WHAT in the flaming pits of the Underworld is going on he—"
He froze mid-air, and his beady eyes widened as he entered the scene.
"OH MY EYES!" Kee Kee shrieked.
Rui dissolved into laughter, hastily fixing her robes with a swirl of pink-gold energy. The fabric shimmered, reweaving itself into modesty.
"It's not what it looks like!" she managed between snorts, though her face was turning the same shade as her aura.
Already pale with panic, Jin scrambled to shield himself with the scraps of his robes.
"I wasn't—we didn't—"
"I've seen things that cannot be unseen!" Kee Kee wailed dramatically, still refusing to look directly at them.
"My innocent demon eyes! Corrupted by monk flesh!"
He covered his face with both paws, spinning in frantic circles.
"Alright, enough drama for one night," Rui said, straightening her shoulders.
"Let's get you decent before someone else walks in."
Rui stepped closer, her pink-gold energy already swirling around her fingertips.
"Hold still," she instructed.
"My cultivation levels might be low, but my fashion senses are not."
Jin still as Rui moved her hands gently over the torn fabric.
Threads of magic glowed to life, drawing frayed edges together. The robes began to mend themselves to their original state.
Kee Kee peeked through his paws. "Is it safe to look yet? Are all parts covered?"
"Yes, you dramatic little beast," Rui replied as she finished the spell.
Jin adjusted the newly repaired garment but was embarrassed to meet Rui's eyes.
"Thank you," he murmured.
An awkward silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken questions.
"We should..." Jin began.
"We need to..." Rui said simultaneously.
They both stopped, waiting for the other to continue.
"Your quarters," Rui finally said. "We need to talk."
Jin nodded, his expression solemn. "Yes....about what happened"