The Shadow Hashira - Tengen X Reader X Sanemi

10

I woke up feeling a bit sore from last nights rendezvous but looking over the dsitrict i can see a casting a golden hue over the buildings in town. I crouched on a rooftop, hidden beneath the cover of my cloak, my eyes focused on the streets below. Tengen moved through the morning crowd with ease, his presence toned down but still noticeable in the way he commanded attention, even when he wasn't trying to. Typical.

My task was simple—keep watch. Make sure nothing happens to him. Ensure that this mission doesn't go sideways. And above all, don't get distracted by anything else.

Like him.

I scowled beneath my attire, annoyed at myself for the way my thoughts kept drifting back to our conversation last night. The way he looked at me, the way his words—so damn smooth—made me feel something I couldn't afford to feel. My job was to protect him, not get tangled up in whatever game he thought he was playing. But still... the memory of his touch, his stupid grin, the softness in his eyes when he thought no one was watching—it all haunted me in the most irritating way.

I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the mission. We had uncovered a few more details about the demons hiding in Yoshiwara, and Tengen was now gathering more intel from the locals. He moved through the marketplace, stopping occasionally to speak with vendors, his posture relaxed but alert. I watched from my vantage point, making sure no threats were lurking in the shadows.

But as I watched him, I couldn't help but notice the subtle details. The way the light glinted off his earrings, the way his muscular frame moved with a grace that was both deadly and... annoyingly attractive. Ugh, get a fucking grip, Y/N.

I shifted my position, keeping him in my line of sight while cursing myself for letting my mind wander. This wasn't the time to get caught up in foolish emotions. I was the Shadow Hashira—my role was to remain detached, to stay in the background, unseen and unheard. Protecting the others, keeping them safe—that's all that mattered.

And yet, every time I looked at him, I felt this annoying pull. A mix of frustration and something deeper, something I wasn't ready to admit. Was it lust? Anger? Both? I wasn't sure, but whatever it was, it pissed me off.

As Tengen continued speaking with the locals, I noticed a group of suspicious figures in the distance, their eyes locked on him. My body tensed, instinctively ready for battle. But I held back, reminding myself that it wasn't the right moment to intervene. Not yet.

Tengen seemed oblivious to the danger, or perhaps he just didn't care. He moved with that infuriating confidence, as if he were untouchable. And maybe he was. He was the Sound Hashira, after all—flashy, strong, and always in control. But still... I couldn't help but feel the need to stay close, to be ready to jump in if things went south.

He made his way to a small, shaded corner of the market, where an older woman beckoned him over. Her eyes darted nervously around before she whispered something to him. I couldn't hear what she said, but I could see the change in Tengen's posture. His relaxed stance tightened ever so slightly, his hand inching toward his blades as he listened intently.

That's when I saw them. The figures I had been watching earlier—three of them, creeping closer, their hands hidden beneath their cloaks. My heart quickened, the adrenaline kicking in as I prepared to act. This was it. My job. Protect him.

And yet... a part of me wanted to hesitate, wanted to see how he would handle it. Could he take care of himself? Probably. But that wasn't the point. The point was that I had been assigned to watch him, and like it or not, I couldn't let my own frustrations get in the way of the mission.

I moved silently, slipping from the rooftop to the narrow alley beside the market. The shadows welcomed me, hiding me from view as I made my way closer to the potential threat. The figures were almost upon him now, their intent clear in the way they moved—too purposeful, too calculated. They were waiting for something.