The storm had washed the city clean, leaving behind a sky of brilliant, pale blue. As the first rays of the post-rain sunlight filtered through the glass doors, they danced across Akira's face, gently pulling her from the depths of a peaceful sleep. She blinked, her gaze immediately landing on Naea, who was still deep in slumber, her expression serene and untroubled.
Moving with the quiet precision of a shadow, Akira slipped out of the floor-bed. After a refreshing shower that washed away the fatigue of the previous day, she pulled on a crisp white T-shirt from the cupboard—her clothes already neatly arranged in this sanctuary.
The sharp chime of the doorbell broke the morning silence. Akira checked the monitor; it was Miss Zhi, the trusted caretaker who looked after the property. Realizing they were still in the living area's temporary setup, Akira moved quickly. She returned to Naea's side, lifting her with effortless care. Naea didn't even wake, only murmuring softly as she was carried into the master bedroom. Akira laid her down on the large, comfortable bed and quietly closed the door, ensuring her wife's rest wouldn't be disturbed.
Only then did she open the front door.
"Good morning, Miss Akira!" Miss Zhi greeted with a warm, familiar smile.
"Good morning, Zhi," Akira replied, her own smile genuine and relaxed—a look that was rare for the former agent.
Zhi stepped inside, her eyes scanning Akira's face. She had maintained this house for years and knew Akira's moods better than most. "You look... different today, Miss. Much happier."
Akira chuckled softly, a light blush touching her cheeks. "I suppose I am. Zhi, today, I'd like you to prepare a full Japanese cuisine for breakfast."
As Akira turned to head back toward the inner rooms, Zhi called out curiously, "Should I set the table for one... or?"
Akira didn't even turn around, but her voice held a note of pride and affection that Zhi had never heard before.
"For Naea."
Akira stepped back into the master bedroom, where the air was still cool and smelled of lavender. She leaned over the bed, the sunlight catching the silver of her wedding band as she brushed a stray lock of hair from Naea's forehead.
"Good morning, love," Akira whispered, her voice like velvet. She pressed a tender kiss to Naea's brow. "It's nearly eleven. Aunt Zhi is already here... I want you to wake up, take a shower, and have some breakfast. After that, you can sleep as much as you want—I won't disturb you, I promise."
Naea stirred, a soft "hmm" escaping her lips as she slowly blinked her eyes open. The warmth of the room and Akira's presence made her feel safe, but her mind was already thinking of the people who had helped them reach this day.
"Invite everyone over for lunch today," Naea murmured, her voice thick with sleep but determined.
Akira smiled, knowing exactly who she meant—their "found family," the friends who were more like brothers and sisters to them. She reached for Naea's hand, lifting it to her lips to press a lingering kiss on her knuckles.
"As you wish, Mrs. Akira," she replied softly. "Now, time to get up. I'll be outside with Aunt Zhi if you need me."
Akira was in the kitchen, helping Aunt Zhi arrange the exquisite Japanese dishes, when her phone vibrated. She saw the name on the screen and felt a familiar coldness settle in her chest. Stepping away into the quiet of the hallway, she answered the call.
"Hello, CYRA," a gravelly voice echoed from the other side.
"Mr. Kojito," Akira replied, her tone instantly shifting back into the professional steel of Agent CY. "Why are you calling?"
"Don't forget your duty, Agent CY. You have a job to finish. A job that will benefit the entire world," Kojito said, his voice dripping with authority.
Akira's grip on the phone tightened. "Benefit the world... by wiping out an entire bloodline?"
There was a heavy silence on the line before Kojito spoke again, his voice lower this time. "I won't discuss the ethics of the mission now. You took this task yourself. If you hadn't, we would have handed it over to Agent I... Isagi."
Akira took a long, steadying breath. She knew Isagi's methods—they were brutal and left no room for mercy. "Whatever task I take, I finish," she stated firmly.
"I know you do," Kojito replied. "So, when can we expect results?"
"I need time," Akira said. "A month. Maybe more."
"A month? Why the delay, CYRA?"
Akira looked toward the master bedroom, where the woman she loved was finally safe. "I got married yesterday. I want to spend some peaceful time with my partner before I return to the field."
To her surprise, Kojito let out a dry, short laugh. "Married? Well... congratulations on your wedding, Agent CY. Fine, you have your time. But don't make me wait a day longer."
Akira ended the call with a simple "Hmm." She stood there for a second, shaking off the "Agent CY" persona before heading back to the kitchen. Just then, Naea emerged from the shower, looking refreshed and radiant. She immediately began chatting with Aunt Zhi, her laughter filling the house with a warmth that made Akira realize exactly what she was fighting to protect.
Akira walked into the kitchen, a playful glint in her eyes as she looked at Aunt Zhi. "Zhi, I think you've worked enough for one morning. Why don't you take a seat at the dining table? Naea and I are taking over."
Naea, tying back her hair as she stepped into the kitchen, flashed a warm smile. "She's right, Miss Zhi. I have a special dish I've been wanting to make, and I really want you to be the first to try it."
Aunt Zhi tried to protest, but seeing the determined looks on both their faces, she finally chuckled and yielded, taking a seat in the dining area.
Suddenly, Naea paused, looking at Akira. "Did you tell Yumi yet?"
Akira's eyes widened. Between the intense night and the sudden, chilling call from Mr. Kojito, she had completely blanked. "The call... I forgot." She quickly pulled out her phone, dialing Yumi to invite the entire found family—Macau, Takshi, and Yamato—for the celebratory lunch.
Once the invitations were sent, the kitchen transformed into a dance of domestic bliss. This was their first time cooking together as a married couple. There was a natural rhythm to it: Akira, with her surgical precision, handled the chopping and prep, while Naea managed the flavors and the stovetop.
They moved around each other with a fluid grace, occasionally bumping shoulders or sharing a soft, lingering glance over the steam of the Miso soup. In that kitchen, the blood on Akira's hands and the weight of Naea's medical responsibilities felt worlds away. They weren't an agent and a doctor; they were just two people building a home.The dining area was filled with the soft clinking of chopsticks and the warm hum of conversation. As they ate, Aunt Zhi shared stories of Taiwan, her eyes twinkling as she revealed a secret. "You know, Naea, Akira bought this house over half a year ago. I've been looking after it ever since, waiting for the day she would finally bring you here."
Naea's heart skipped a beat. She looked at Akira, then back at Zhi, offering a smile of pure gratitude. The fact that Akira had planned this sanctuary so far in advance made her feel a depth of being loved that she couldn't put into words.
"Actually, Aunt Zhi," Akira interjected, leaning forward slightly. "If you know any students in the neighborhood who need tutoring, please bring them here. Naea wants to start home tuitions."
Zhi's face lit up with joy. "Of course! Akira knowledge is a gift. I will spread the word immediately."
Once the breakfast was finished and Zhi went back to her chores, Akira caught Naea's hand. "Come with me. There's one more place you haven't seen."
She led Naea down a hidden staircase into the basement. As Akira flicked the switch, the room hummed to life. It was a massive indoor game zone, complete with professional Table Tennis setups and Billiards tables—Naea's absolute favorite games.
Naea's eyes widened, a spark of excitement dancing in her pupils. She tried to maintain her calm, "Doctor" composure, but her racing heart gave her away. Akira, noticing the slight twitch of a smile on Naea's lips, just smirked. She knew she had won.
For the next few hours, the weight of the Agency and the stress of the medical world vanished. The basement was filled with the rhythmic ping-pong of the ball and the sharp clack of billiard balls. In that underground haven, they weren't survivors; they were just two people playing, laughing, and claiming their lost childhoods.The basement was quiet, save for the sharp clack of the billiard balls. Naea, usually a master of the game, found herself struggling. Every time she aimed, her focus slipped, her mind drifting back to the warmth of the morning. Akira, noticing Naea's confusion, set her own cue stick aside.
Naea looked stunning in her white floral dress—the full sleeves and open hair giving her an ethereal glow under the basement lights. As she leaned over the table, Akira moved. She didn't say a word, but Naea could feel her presence approaching like a magnetic force.
Akira stepped behind her, closing the distance until there was no air left between them. She reached out, her hands covering Naea's on the cue stick. The sudden contact sent a jolt through Naea, her breath hitching. Akira leaned in closer, her warm breath fanning against Naea's ear as she adjusted their collective aim.
"Focus is the main key to win any game, Miss..." Akira whispered, her voice a low, teasing rasp.
With a swift, guided motion, they struck. The cue ball hit its mark with surgical precision, and the target ball disappeared into the pocket instantly. A triumphant smile broke across Naea's face. She set the stick down and turned around in Akira's arms, her eyes sparkling.
"Well, Akira... even with that, my points were higher. And now that you helped me, you've officially made me the winner," Naea teased, leaning back slightly.
Akira didn't miss a beat. She wrapped her arm around Naea's waist, pulling her flush against her body. The air in the room suddenly turned heavy with a different kind of intensity.
"Is that so?" Akira murmured, her eyes dark with mischief. "But if we're talking about performance... I'm pretty sure I was top-notch last night. You were the one who got tired, remember? I could have gone on much longer."
Naea's face turned a deep shade of crimson. She was a doctor, a woman of science, but Akira's bluntness always managed to shatter her composure. Before she could retort, Akira lifted her effortlessly, seating her on the edge of the billiard table.
"Besides," Akira continued, her hands gently threading through Naea's hair to tilt her head back. "I still haven't received my morning kiss."
Akira leaned in, her lips meeting Naea's in a short, ten-second passionate kiss that felt like a lightning strike. It was Naea who finally broke away, breathless and blushing, her heart drumming against her ribs like a trapped bird.Naea quickly scrambled down from the billiard table, her cheeks still burning with a deep, rosy flush. "We... we should go upstairs. They'll be here any minute," she stammered, not daring to look Akira in the eye as she hurried toward the staircase.
Akira watched her go, a triumphant and incredibly soft smirk playing on her lips. "You know, Naea," she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the basement, "you look even more beautiful when you're blushing."
By the time Akira reached the main floor, the house was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of the Japanese feast Aunt Zhi had prepared. The table was set perfectly—clean, elegant, and ready for the people who had become their world. The heavy tension of the morning's secret phone call had been pushed into the back of Akira's mind, replaced by the simple joy of waiting for her friends.
Aunt Zhi was giving the final touches to the spread, looking satisfied. The atmosphere in the Taipei sanctuary was finally complete. The storm had passed, the morning was shared, and now, the "Found Family" was about to bring the house to life.The moment Yumi and Macau stepped inside, Naea welcomed them with a warm, heartfelt hug. Soon, the house began to echo with the laughter and chatter of friends.
As the excitement settled, Naea noticed Aunt Zhi gathering her things, preparing to leave. She immediately went to her side and took her hand. "Aunt Zhi, where are you going? Please, stay and join us for lunch."
Zhi offered a soft, grateful smile. "Miss Naea, I must head home. My daughter will be back from school soon, and I need to be there for her."
"Oh, I understand," Naea said, nodding in sympathy. "But you aren't going empty-handed. Wait a moment—I'll pack some lunch for you and your daughter."
Without allowing any room for a refusal, Naea hurried to the kitchen and packed the finest portions of the dishes they had prepared. When she handed the lunch box to Zhi, the caretaker hesitated, her eyes shimmering. "Miss... all this..."
"Naea," she interrupted gently, her voice filled with a sense of belonging. "Please, call me by my name. And take this lunch with you. I'll see you tomorrow."
After Zhi departed, Naea returned to the dining area to find the atmosphere had shifted. Akira had already seated Yamato, Takshi, and the rest of their found family. Everyone was looking at the exquisite spread on the table with excitement, but their eyes were mostly fixed on the unmistakable "married glow" radiating from both Naea and Akira.