Page 208 of Celestial Combat

We ate in comfortable silence, curled together on top of the duvet while continuing a drama show we’d started watching together maybe a month prior.

Outside, Tokyo’s skyline glittered – lit windows, blinking aircraft lights, neon signs, along with the Tokyo Tower. Below, traffic wound its way like veins beneath our sanctuary.

An hour later, I rested my head on the pillow. Kali tucked herself beneath my arm, her body warm against mine, hand tracing idle patterns over my ribs.

“Can’t wait for you to show me around tomorrow,” she murmured, already slipping under.

“Me too,” I said, voice low. “We’re gonna have a great time.”

She sighed, relaxing even more into me. “Good night.”

“Sweet dreams.” Rolling over onto my side, I wrapped my other arm around her too and pulled her closer. “Love you.”

Leaning down I caught her bottom lip between mine, slipping my tongue in and kissing her soft, slow but passionately.

“Love you,” She murmured against my lips.

Pulling back, I rested my head above hers on the pillow, her face in my chest.

With her beside me, I could breathe again.

Chapter 54

Present

Tokyo, Japan

TOKYO PULSED AROUND US – CHAOTIC, bright, and bizarre in all the best ways. Kali led the charge like she’d grown up on these streets, dragging me from ramen stalls to hidden arcades, stopping every few blocks to take a photo of something strange or beautiful – sometimes both.

“Seriously?” I asked, staring at the chalkboard sign with glittery kanji and a crude doodle of a winking tabby. “A cat café?”

Kali grinned and bumped her shoulder against mine. “Come on,Python. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a few felines.”

“I’m not afraid,” I muttered, narrowing my eyes at a paw-print covered window. “Just… Skeptical.”

But she was already inside, holding the door open for me like I was the one dragging my feet into battle. I sighed, shoved my hands in my pockets, and followed her into the pastel chaos.

It smelled like matcha and catnip. The walls were painted a soft cream, and there were wooden platforms, hammocks, and ladders zig-zagging across the room like some tiny feline kingdom. Dozens of cats lounged everywhere – on shelves, in teacups, sprawled across velvet cushions like royalty.

“This place is ridiculous,” I muttered.

Kali was glowing. “It’s perfect.”

She ordered us two matcha lattes and I let her pick the seats – low cushions on the tatami floor near the window. The sun poured in through rice-paper blinds, softening the edges of the world.

“You want me to pet a cat wearing a bowtie?” I asked, watching as one strolled past with a tiny gingham tie around its neck like it had stock in a start-up.

“Yes,” Kali said with zero hesitation. “And you’re going to love it.”

I scoffed – seconds before the chunky cat climbed into my lap like I’d been chosen.

Kali gasped, delighted. “Oh my god. Look at you.”

“Don’t,” I warned, but she was already lifting her phone, snapping a picture while I glared down at the cat now curled into my lap, purring like a damn engine.

“You look like a Disney prince,” she teased.

I tried not to smile. But the kitten stretched its tiny paws, kneaded at my thigh, and let out a sleepy sigh. Something in my chest cracked open.

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