The Shadow Hashira - Tengen X Reader X Sanemi

12

The tension in the build had become almost unbearable over the past week. The weight of the mission, the pressure of my responsibilities, and the constant presence of him, Tengen, gnawed at my every thought. One particularly quiet night, I felt I would suffocate if I stayed a moment longer. I needed to get away, to release the frustration, but instead of finding a fight, I sought refuge near a waterfall I'd stumbled upon before. Its sound was calming, the rushing water almost identical to the one where I first met Tengen.

My heart skipped a beat as the memory of that encounter flickered in my mind—his sharp eyes, his arrogant grin, the teasing in his voice that always lingered too long. I pushed the thoughts away. I had come here to escape, not to be consumed by him again. The cool night air swept across my skin, but it wasn't enough to quiet my racing thoughts. Without hesitation, I stripped off my clothes, leaving them in a neat pile near the large rock where my spear lay. It gleamed faintly under the moonlight, always within arm's reach, even now.

The water was dark, reflecting the night sky, and as I stepped in, the chill of it was a welcome relief. I let myself submerge, the weight of the water pulling me down and silencing the noise in my mind. For the first time in what felt like ages, I let out a breath, unmasking myself from the role I was bound to. The cool liquid glided against my curves, and for a rare moment, I allowed myself to feel peace. The trees whispered softly in the wind, the creatures of the night rustled in the underbrush, but I kept a cautious eye on my belongings. My spear, solid and reliable, was still within arm's reach on the rock nearby.

I didn't want to leave. Half an hour passed, and I still found no desire to move from this spot. This was the only place where I could breathe. My mind wandered aloud, questions I dared not voice during the day spilling out under the cover of darkness. My duties. My fate. My future.

And then, I felt it—an aura so familiar that it sent a ripple through the water, a stirring in the air. My heart tightened. Tengen. He was close. I didn't need to turn to know he was there; his presence was unmistakable, always commanding the space around him. I adjusted myself, balancing on a small stone that jutted out of the water, using it as a ledge to support myself under the moonlight. My fingers gently gripped its smooth surface, steadying me, even though my pulse quickened.

"Tengen," I whispered, knowing full well he could hear me. My voice betrayed me—it was soft, almost longing, despite the sharp edge I tried to maintain.

I could sense his smirk before he even spoke. "Didn't expect to see you out here... and so defenseless, too." His voice was deep, playful, laced with that infuriating confidence that always unsettled me. "You always did say you wanted to kill me, and yet here you are, practically inviting me."

I scoffed, though my body reacted in ways I despised, betraying the desire that simmered beneath my skin whenever he was near. I wanted to hate him—I should hate him. But his voice, his presence, always stirred something I couldn't control. My role, the secret of why I was protecting him, was something he didn't fully understand. He had an idea, sure, but not the entire truth. And yet, that didn't stop the tension between us from building every time we crossed paths.

I turned my head slightly, just enough to catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye. The moonlight illuminated the sharp angles of his face, his broad shoulders relaxed yet poised for danger, always on the edge of battle even in moments like this. He watched me with those ruby eyes, always seeing more than I wanted him to. His gaze drifted over my wet skin, the way the water clung to me, and I felt a rush of heat, my breath catching despite the coolness around us.

"You talk big for someone who can't even stay out of trouble long enough to protect himself," I shot back, trying to regain some semblance of control. "If you weren't so reckless, I wouldn't have to be here."

He laughed, low and knowing. "And yet, here you are. Always close by. Always watching."

I clenched my fists under the water, torn between the urge to lash out and the desire that made my pulse race. He was infuriating. But there was something more. Something deeper. The memory of our first meeting flashed in my mind again—how I had wanted to strike him down, but instead, I found myself entangled in his orbit. He was more than the arrogance, the showman he presented to the world. Beneath it all, there was something raw, something that drew me in despite every reason to resist.

I could feel his presence drawing nearer, the air between us thickening with unspoken tension. My body ached with the memory of his touch, though we had never crossed that line. Not yet. But every moment we spent like this, balancing between anger and desire, it became harder to hold back. I could feel his breath now, closer than I expected, and when I turned to face him fully, our eyes met—two predators locked in a dangerous dance.

He reached out, fingers brushing the edge of the water where I rested, and despite myself, I leaned in ever so slightly, drawn to the heat of him. "You never stop surprising me," he murmured, his voice softer now, the playful edge fading into something darker, something more intimate.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "Tengen..."

But before I could say more, he was even closer, his lips hovering just above my skin, and all thoughts of duty, of revenge, of everything but him, faded away.