10 - storm

                                    

                                          
After their relaxing day at the beach, the group returned to the dojo. But even though the others had retreated to their rooms after the long day, Katana found herself unable to sleep. Kwon's words from the beach lingered in her mind. Why did he always seem to see right through her? And why did his presence always leave her feeling so off-balance?  
Deciding she needed some air, she slipped outside. The sky was dark and heavy with clouds, and a cool wind brushed against her skin. Katana pulled her jacket tighter and sat on a tree stump near the edge of the dojo grounds.  
"Can't sleep either?"  
The familiar voice startled her. She turned to see Kwon leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed. Of course he was there.  
"Are you following me?" she asked sharply.  
He shrugged and smirked. "Maybe. Or maybe I was just here before you sneaked out."  
Katana sighed and turned away. "What do you want, Kwon?"  
He stepped closer and sat beside her. "Maybe I want to know why you're always so moody. Even today, when everyone else was having fun, you pulled away. What's going on?"  
She hesitated. The question sounded genuine, and that surprised her. Finally, she spoke quietly. "Sometimes... I just think about everything. The training, the future. And sometimes I feel like I'm messing it all up."  
Kwon didn't respond immediately, which caught her off guard. After a moment, he said, "That's normal, you know. Everyone doubts themselves sometimes. But for what it's worth – you're pretty strong. You don't give up, no matter how hard it gets."  
Katana looked at him skeptically. "Are you trying to be nice to me?"  
He grinned. "A little. But if you want, I can go back to being annoying."  
"You're always annoying," she muttered, though a small smile crept onto her face.  
---
**A Sudden Storm**  
Before they could say anything more, rain began to pour down. Big, heavy drops fell from the sky, and the wind picked up.  
"Oh great," Katana groaned as they were both soaked within moments. "This is all your fault."  
"My fault? You're the one who decided to sit out here!" he shot back, though his grin didn't fade.  
"We need to get back!" Katana shouted as the rain intensified. But as she tried to stand, her foot slipped in the wet mud, and she fell flat on her back.  
Kwon burst into laughter. "That was amazing! Need a hand, princess?"  
"Don't call me princess!" she snapped, but she accepted his hand to pull herself up.  
As she stood, she realized she was even wetter and muddier than before. "I'm going to make you pay for this," she growled, giving him a light punch to the chest.  
"Only if you can catch me," he said, sprinting off into the rain.  
Katana chased after him, her frustration mixing with an unexpected sense of exhilaration. Despite the storm, despite the chaos – for a moment, she felt completely alive.
Katana ran through the rain, determined not to let Kwon escape. Mud splattered beneath her feet, and the wind whipped water into her face, but she didn't stop. Finally, with a daring leap, she grabbed his arm, pulling him to a halt.  
"Got you!" she gasped, out of breath but triumphant.  
Kwon turned to face her, his dark hair soaked from the rain, and grinned. "Alright, you caught me. What now? Gonna interrogate me in the middle of a storm?"  
But before she could respond, he noticed her shivering. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and her lips had a faint bluish tint from the cold.  
"Hey, you're freezing," he said, his tone suddenly serious.  
"I'm fine," she tried to wave him off, but another gust of wind made her flinch.  
Without a word, Kwon pulled off his sweater – a simple, dark piece that was still relatively warm despite the rain – and draped it over her shoulders. His hands lingered for a moment as he made sure it was snug.  
"Here. I can't just stand here and watch you freeze," he said, and for once, there was no teasing in his voice.  
Katana wanted to argue, but the warmth of the sweater was too comforting. Instead, she managed a quiet, "Thanks."  
---
**The Mood Changes**  
The rain began to lighten, but the two remained still, the world around them forgotten. Kwon's eyes locked onto Katana's, his usual mischievous grin gone, replaced by an expression she couldn't quite place.  
"You know," he began softly, "you're really hard to figure out."  
Katana frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"  
"You're so strong and stubborn," he said, a faint smile on his lips. "But then there are moments like this... where you're different. And it completely throws me off."  
Katana wanted to respond, but the words caught in her throat. His dark eyes held hers, and she felt her heart racing.  
"Kwon..." she started, but before she could finish, he stepped closer.  
His hand rose, hesitant, brushing a wet strand of hair from her face. Then, slowly, he leaned in. Katana knew she should stop him—or at least say something—but instead, she closed her eyes.  
The kiss was warm, soft, and entirely unexpected. For a moment, it felt as if the world around them had faded away, the rain a distant hum.  
Katana hesitated but eventually kissed him back. Her hands lightly gripped his arm, and she let herself sink into the moment.  
When they finally pulled apart, Kwon's face was just inches from hers. He was smiling faintly, an expression she'd never seen on him before.  
"That was... unexpected," she whispered, her voice barely audible.  
"Maybe," he replied. "But it felt right."  
Katana swallowed, her thoughts a whirlwind. But deep down, she knew he was right.