The Shadow Hashira - Tengen X Reader X Sanemi

11

My back pressed against the cold, rough surface of the alley wall, but I barely felt it. The heat radiating from Tengen's body was overwhelming, drowning out everything else. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears, every beat a warning, screaming at me to move. But I couldn't. My body refused to listen, held captive by the dangerous pull between us.

His eyes were locked on mine, intense and unrelenting. He was so close—too close. I could feel his breath ghosting over my lips, could see the way his gaze flickered over me like he was trying to figure me out, to unravel something hidden. His lips—full and curved in that infuriating, cocky smirk—kept drawing my attention, no matter how hard I tried to resist. My gaze kept dropping to them, my stomach doing a stupid flip every time I did. I want to know what they feel like...I bit the inside of cheek to stop the urge.

Move. My mind screamed at me, but my body stayed frozen. His eyes dipped to my lips too, lingering for just a second before locking back onto mine, and it sent a jolt of something hot and electric through me. The tension in the air was suffocating, a thick haze of heat and something I didn't want to name. I couldn't let him win this—whatever this was. I couldn't let myself fall into his trap, his ridiculous charm, and that damn smirk.

He moved closer, inch by inch, his face lowering toward mine, and I could feel the space between us shrinking to nothing. His lips were almost—Stop!

With a sharp breath, I pushed off the wall, snapping out of whatever trance I'd been caught in. My body reacted before my mind, and I was airborne in a flash, landing on the rooftop above the alley before I even had time to think. I sucked in a breath, my heart still racing, pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to steady the frantic beating.

What the hell had I almost let happen?

I glanced down at him, still standing where I'd left him, his hand hanging in mid-air like he'd been about to reach for me. He looked... surprised. Just for a moment, I saw the shock on his face before he wiped it away, replaced by that damn cocky grin again. His eyes flicked up to meet mine, and I hated how my stomach did another stupid twist. Fuck, that stupid face and stupid smile. My whole body still felt tingly after all that closeness.

"I'm not going to play victim to your games, Tengen," I snapped, forcing my voice to stay steady, even though every nerve in my body felt like it was on fire. "I'm not one of those girls you can charm and leave behind. God knows you're probably a playboy, and I'm not interested in being one of your trophies."

The words felt sharp in my mouth, harsh. I needed him to know I wasn't falling for whatever game he was playing. He might be able to fool others with that smug confidence and smooth words, but I wasn't about to get caught up in it. I had a mission, a purpose, and getting distracted by him—by whatever this was—was the last thing I needed.

Tengen just scoffed, though, and that mocking sound made my blood boil. He finally dropped his hand, standing up straight with that easy grace that somehow made everything he did seem effortless. He looked up at me, his smirk widening like he knew something I didn't. "You think I'm just playing games?" His voice was low, almost teasing. "Funny, because from where I'm standing, your body's saying something very different."

My breath caught, and my face flared with heat. For a split second, I faltered, the memory of how close we'd been flashing through my mind. I felt my body tighten against the fabric of my uniform. Dammit, he's right. I had wanted it, for a stupid, fleeting moment. But I shoved that thought away, forcing myself to stay composed. I wasn't going to let him get the upper hand. Not again.

"Maybe," I shot back, my tone sharper than I intended, "but I'm not one to follow through on bad ideas. And you, Uzui, are a very bad idea."

He grinned wider, clearly enjoying the challenge, like we were sparring with words instead of blades. "You sure about that, Moonlight? Because it seems like you're getting pretty close to changing your mind."