影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi x reader |

29 - Returning

I crouched beneath the wooden floor, the dim light filtering through the cracks above creating shifting shadows on my skin. Soft creaks echoed as the demons moved, their weight causing a faint shower of dust to sprinkle down, powdering my nose. I froze, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring. I didn't breathe, didn't blink, didn't dare disturb the delicate silence. I became part of the shadows, blending into the void.

"We attack once the moon is high," the demon in charge growled, its voice low and guttural.

A murmur of agreement followed from its acolytes. That was all I needed. I stayed perfectly still, waiting as the hours crawled by, counting each agonizing second until the first light of dawn crept across the horizon. My lungs burned from the stillness, but I held my ground, becoming one with the darkness. When the sun finally broke through, thin rays pierced the gaps in the wooden planks above me.

The demons would be retreating now, hiding from the scorching light. My time had come.

Moving as silent as a whisper, I crawled from the hole I had entered. My steps were deliberate, calculated, as I slipped through the vents and emerged into the attic where the demons rested. Their forms were grotesque even in slumber, their twisted faces slack and unmoving. Demons didn't truly sleep, but they rested deeply enough not to notice my approach.

In one swift motion, I drew my scythe and swung. They didn't even have time to realize they were gone. Their heads fell to the floor, and I muttered a quiet prayer for the lives they had stolen before opening the attic hatch. With the swiftness of a shadow, I disappeared from the building and scanned the sky for my crow.

"Inform the headquarters. It was the wrong group," I whispered to Sen. The bird cawed sharply before taking flight, its wings cutting through the morning air.

By noon, I returned to the Wind Estate, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders. Even after becoming a personal scout for Kagaya-sama, I had chosen to remain here. It was familiar, though it felt emptier now. Two months had passed since I had taken up this new post, and just as long since Sanemi and I had shared a proper moment together.

Rounding the corner, I spotted him emerging from the dojo. His hair was a wild mess of white, his breathing steady from training. He looked up, and our eyes locked. Sanemi's lilac gaze wasn't just a glance, it was an assessment, sharp and searching. I could feel him scanning me from head to toe, searching for any sign of injury. When he found none, he gave a curt nod.

We passed each other silently, but as he brushed by, his knuckles grazed mine, the lightest touch of his fingertips sparking something deep in my chest. It became a greeting between him and I. Unspoken words of affection. I bit down a sigh, shaking my head as I headed to clean myself up before the meeting.

The headquarters were serene as always, the grounds bathed in the soft lavender of wisteria blossoms. Spring had gently nudged winter aside, and the air was filled with a calm that belied the tension within. The Hashira were gathered, their usual monthly meeting in progress.

Because I wasn't a Hashira, I crouched in my usual hiding spot, a precautionary measure for scouts stationed throughout the mansion. We were the Corps' unseen eyes, ready to act in case of a security breach. When the meeting concluded, I revealed myself to Kagaya-sama, bowing low before him.

"I received your message. But first and foremost, how are you?" His voice was a soothing balm, as gentle and kind as the blossoms swaying in the breeze.

A small smile softened my face. "I'm doing well, Kagaya-sama," I replied earnestly.

He nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "I received Sen's message. It seems the hideout was not the base."