NIGHT CITY RAMEN

The rain stopped around Ren'ō before Izanara appeared.

Not everywhere. Only within a circle three meters wide. Droplets hung in the air like glass beads, each reflecting a silver-haired woman stepping through a blue celestial gate.

She emerged onto the rooftop with Astra Noctis in one hand and fury held beneath perfect posture.

Her white and midnight robes moved in the city wind. Gold chains threaded through her hair. The anchor crystal at her throat shone with the same rhythm as Ren'ō's.

He looked up from his bowl.

"You found me."

Izanara stared.

The city screamed beneath them. Holographic dragons crossed the clouds. A transport exploded in the distance.

"You restarted the multiverse," she said.

"I remember."

"You vanished before reconstruction stabilized."

"I was hungry."

"I searched through nine hundred and twelve realities."

Ren'ō glanced at her shoes. "You should sit."

The air around Izanara vibrated with restrained celestial force.

"You chose this world at random?"

"Mostly."

"Mostly?"

He lifted the noodles. "Good food density."

For several seconds, she appeared ready to strike him with the staff.

Then her gaze moved across his face.

Young body. Same golden eyes. Same impossible calm. No confusion. No absence.

"You remember," she whispered.

Ren'ō's humor softened.

"Everything."

"The Void?"

"Yes."

"La-Sol 7?"

"Yes."

"Me?"

He set the bowl beside him.

"Especially you."

Izanara closed the distance and struck his chest with both hands.

The impact would have broken a mortal rib. Ren'ō allowed himself to rock backward.

Then she pulled him into an embrace.

He froze.

Five thousand years of darkness rose instinctively. The old fear of being held, trapped, unable to move.

Izanara felt his body lock and began to release him.

Ren'ō wrapped his arms around her before she could step away.

The suspended rain fell around them.

Neither spoke for a long time.

When Izanara finally leaned back, her eyes were wet.

Ren'ō wiped one tear with his thumb.

"You took your time."

She stared at him in disbelief.

"I took my time?"

"Nine hundred realities is inefficient navigation."

Astra Noctis struck him lightly in the shin.

Ren'ō laughed.

The sound rolled across the rooftop, easy and unguarded.