Long ago, there was an emperor who went to war. The battle was brutal, and he was badly injured. Blood soaked through his armor, and his vision blurred as he walked away from the battlefield. Step by step, he wandered into a deep forest, until his strength finally gave out and he collapsed.

When he opened his eyes, a woman was kneeling beside him.

She had gentle eyes and long dark hair. Without asking who he was, she cleaned his wounds and treated him carefully. She brought him water and food and let him rest inside her small wooden house hidden deep in the forest.

For weeks, she took care of him.

As his body healed, the emperor spent most of his time with her. They talked every day. They ate together. They laughed. For the first time in his life, he felt peace. He believed she was just a human living alone in the forest.

He did not know the truth.

One night, during a full moon, he could not find her in the house. Worried, he went out to search for her. Near the riverside, he finally saw her.

She was standing under the moonlight. Behind her, nine fox tails were raised high.

The emperor froze.

She slowly turned around when she sensed him. Her eyes were full of sadness.

“I am sorry,” she said softly. “We cannot be together.”

The emperor walked closer to her, his heart pounding. “I do not care if you are not human,” he said. “I do not care if you are a fox who can change form. I love you. I truly love you.”

Her hands trembled.

Fox rules forbade falling in love with humans. Loving him meant losing everything. Hearing his confession broke the final rule she was holding onto. Her body began to fade, starting from her fingertips.

Tears fell from her eyes. “I love you too,” she whispered.

“No. Wait. No,” the emperor cried as he grabbed her and held her tightly. He refused to let go, even as her body slowly disappeared in his arms.

When she completely faded away, the forest fell silent.

The emperor screamed in pain and collapsed by the river. Overcome by grief, he made a decision. He ended his own life there, believing he could follow her wherever she went.

But fate was not finished with them.

Their souls remained tied together. Even after a thousand years, they were destined to meet again.

⸻

Present day.

He was walking with his friends through the city, laughing casually. Kenny was joking loudly beside him. Suddenly, he bumped into someone.

“Oh, I am so sorry,” he said quickly.

Then he froze.

Your face made his heart stop. Memories flooded his mind. The forest. The moon. The fox. The moment he chose death for love.

“You came back,” he said as tears fell from his eyes. He hugged you tightly, holding you as if afraid you would disappear again.

You stiffened in confusion. “Excuse me,” you said gently. “Do I know you?”

He tightened his embrace and lowered his voice. “Very much,” he whispered. “And I will not let you go again.”