Gifts and roses..-*

Chapter 1 -Gift.

Sanemi found solace in the sturdy feel of the tatami matt beneath him, the familiar textures grounding him after the events of his latest battle. A deep exhale released some tension knotted in his muscles, the trials of numerous sleepless nights beginning to fade. The rhythmic chirping of cicadas filled the room, subtly reassuring him that he was now far removed from the chaos of combat, nestled instead in the serenity of the wind Hashira estate.

The cool evening breeze meandered through the open window, carrying with it the delicate scent of blooming jasmine. It ruffled his unruly hair and brushed gently against his skin. Outside, the gentle clinking of wind chimes played a soft, melodic symphony, further easing his usually tempestuous spirit into a rare state of tranquillity, something he didn't find himself feeling all too often.

However, his brief respite shattered with a sudden, soft knock at the door. His body instantly returned to it's tensed state, the tranquillity of moments before evaporating in a second. He groaned, a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead as he snapped, "Oi! What the fuck do you want?"

He listened intently, waiting for someone to speak- but instead, he sat still on the floor in silence for the next few seconds. Growing more impatient, he prompted again, "Are you deaf? Answer me!"

Still met with silence, he grew impatient and rose to answer the door, hearing someone scurry from the doorstep as he approached. He threw the door open, looking around but finding no one. His annoyance grew, assuming it was some sort of prank, until he took a step forward, almost standing on a small bundle placed upon his doorstep.

"What the fuck is this supposed to be?" he muttered; irritation evident in his voice as he eyed the bundle suspiciously. It was a small dark red cloth wrapped around something, neatly tied at the top.

Prodding it with suspicion, Sanemi wondered if it concealed some sort of poisonous animal- or some other amateur trick to get a reaction out of him. He picked it up with the ends of his fingers and held it at arm's length, giving it a cautious smell. To his surprise, it smelt... pleasant? Curiosity piqued, he brought it closer and unwrapped the cloth, revealing a wooden pot and a small bundle of wildflowers. He cocked an eyebrow, his irritation slowly giving way to puzzlement.

With a grunt of frustration, he opened the wooden pot. Inside was a neatly crafted herbal salve, its rich, earthy scent hinting at its healing properties. Sanemi's frown deepened as he recognized it for what it was. He wondered if a Kakushi had left it for him, knowing he had just returned from battle. The thoughtful gesture, however, did little to explain the presence of the wildflowers.

He glanced outside once more, taking a few steps out of the estate to look around, hoping for some sign of the mysterious benefactor, but the quiet evening air offered no clues. With a frustrated grumble at the lack of explanation, he tossed the anonymous gift onto the table. The flowers and the salve seemed to mock his irritation with their simplicity.

Shaking his head, Sanemi headed to bed, the day's exhaustion overtaking his curiosity. As he settled into the futon, the bundle remained forgotten on the table, lost in the shadow of his mounting fatigue.

-

A few days had passed since Sanemi had received his anonymous gift, and he had forgotten about the incident entirely. Truth be told, he had more important things on his mind.

He walked at a casual pace back toward his home, admiring the handiwork on his newly repaired sword. He almost didn't notice the small bundle on his doorstep, nearly tripping over it as he tried to make his way inside.

"What the fuck?" He cursed, glaring at the unsuspecting cloth on his doorstep. It was in that same dark red colour as before, neatly tied up and purposefully placed. Sanemi's frustration simmered as he stared at it. The sight of it rekindled his annoyance from days earlier. What now? he thought, a scowl darkening his expression. He had put the previous gift out of his mind, focusing on more pressing matters, but this was just absurd.