The Shadow Hashira - Tengen X Reader X Sanemi

63

The morning air was crisp, sunlight filtering through the trees as Tengen and I walked slowly along the garden path, his arm looped in mine to steady my steps. Every so often, he'd shoot me an amused look as I exaggerated my exhaustion, dragging my feet playfully.

"You're really putting on an act today, huh?" he chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"What can I say?" I replied with a smirk. "I'm a woman recovering from a life-threatening wound. I'm entitled to act like a lazy bum."

He scoffed, rolling his eyes with a grin, before abruptly stopping in his tracks. Before I could protest, he bent down, sweeping me up in his arms with an ease that sent a thrill racing through me.

"Tengen!" I gasped, clutching his shoulder. "You're supposed to help me walk, not carry me like a damsel in distress."

His grin was smug as he held me close, his eyes glinting with mischief. "If you're going to keep acting like a lazy bum, then you've lost your walking privileges, princess."

Heat crept into my cheeks, but I managed to play it off with a scoff, even though the steady warmth of his arms around me stirred something in my chest. "Fine. But I'm keeping score for every time you let me down."

He chuckled, finally setting me down with exaggerated care, but he kept his arm linked through mine, his hand resting over mine in a way that felt natural. We continued walking like that, our steps falling into an easy rhythm as we took in the garden's beauty, my mind easing with every step, my smile growing wider with each playful remark he threw my way.

Eventually, we came to a spot that looked familiar—a grove of cherry blossoms hanging over a small pond, their reflection rippling softly across the water. It was eerily similar to the spot where we'd sparred when I was first assigned to work with him. I paused, a mischievous smile spreading across my face.

"You know, this reminds me of when I totally beat your ass the first time we sparred," I said, tilting my head with a mock-innocent expression.

Tengen's mouth fell open, a look of exaggerated offense flashing across his face. "Beat my ass? Is that how you remember it?" he retorted, shaking his head in disbelief. "I was being merciful, moonlight. I let you win."

I laughed, nudging him with my shoulder. "Merciful, huh? That's funny because I seem to remember you sulking after I knocked you."

"Hey, that was strategy," he protested, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I needed you to feel good about yourself, you know, for morale and all that."

"Sure, Mr Flashy Hashira," I drawled, grinning as we both laughed, the memory of that day feeling like a distant, warm echo.

His laughter softened, and when I looked over at him, he was watching me with a look I couldn't quite place, something tender and thoughtful.

"That's when I knew I had to know you," he said quietly, his gaze steady, the usual lightness in his eyes replaced by something deeper. "You were this... this moonlight in the middle of a dark night. And I thought, 'There's no way I'm letting this one slip away.'"

The sincerity in his voice sent a shiver through me, and for a moment, I was speechless, the weight of his words settling around us like a warm embrace. The playfulness between us faded, replaced by a quiet, shared understanding. The only sound was the gentle rustling of cherry blossoms in the breeze, their petals drifting softly around us.

"I think you've done a good job so far," I whispered, my hand tightening around his arm as I looked at him, a soft smile tugging at my lips. "Because somehow... I feel the same way."

His grin returned, softer but no less radiant, and he gently rested his hand over mine, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a comforting rhythm.

"Then I guess I'll just have to keep trying," he replied, his voice a quiet promise.

The weight of Tengen's words lingered in the air, filling the space between us with something unspoken yet undeniable. His thumb traced gentle circles over my knuckles, and for a moment, I felt as if everything around us—the garden, the trees, the blossoms drifting in the breeze—had stilled, leaving only the two of us, cocooned in a quiet intimacy.

Before I realized what I was doing, I leaned in, brushing my lips softly against his cheek, a quick, instinctual peck that surprised even me. The warmth of his skin lingered on my lips as I pulled back, feeling the flush of my cheeks as reality caught up to me.

Tengen blinked, caught off guard, his mouth curving into a grin as he looked at me, a hint of delighted surprise lighting up his eyes.

"Oh, really?" he said, laughter lacing his voice, his amusement evident as he watched me start to step back. "I knew I was charming, but I didn't think I'd have you swooning while you're still recovering!"

I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my own smile as I took another step back. "Don't flatter yourself, Tengen," I shot back, though my heart was still racing from the moment. "I'm just thanking you for the morale boost. Don't get used to it."

He laughed, a rich, warm sound that seemed to chase away any lingering tension. "Right, right. Just a 'thank you' kiss," he teased, taking a playful step forward as if to close the distance again. "Guess I'll just have to work harder for the next one, then."

I felt my face flush, a nervous laugh slipping out as I took another step back. "Dream on, flashy guy," I replied, throwing him a wink before turning to walk away, hoping he didn't notice the way my own smile betrayed me.

Behind me, I could hear his chuckle, his voice following me down the path. "Hey, you're still recovering! No running off just because you've had a burst of courage!"

I glanced back, grinning as I watched him watching me, his grin wide and his eyes bright. And with a laugh, I continued down the path, my heart light, feeling like for the first time in a long while, things between us had only just begun.