Moonlight Embers

A New Beginning

The evening air was cool, carrying the faint scent of the blooming flowers around the Senju compound. Stars dotted the night sky, their soft light casting a gentle glow on the quiet surroundings. Tobirama guided Akari through the winding halls of the estate, his hand resting lightly on the small of her back. Despite the impropriety of bringing her to his quarters before their marriage, he couldn't bring himself to care. For once, the meticulous rules he followed seemed irrelevant.

As they entered his chambers, Akari took a moment to take in her surroundings. The room was as she expected—tidy, austere, and efficient, with little to suggest the man behind the Hokage title. Yet tonight, there was something softer about the space, as if his presence alone transformed it.

Tobirama turned to face her, his sharp features softened by an uncharacteristic vulnerability. "How have you been?" he asked, his voice quiet but earnest. "Have you forgiven me for what I did?"

Akari's gaze held his, steady and unwavering. "Yes," she said, pausing long enough to let the weight of her words settle. Then, her expression softened. "Even though you hurt me, I'm not mad at you anymore. It doesn't matter now. We're here, right?"

A shadow of regret crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a determined warmth. "Yes, we are," he said. "And it could have been sooner if I wasn't such an idiot."

She laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Well, seeing you admit a mistake is satisfying enough for me."

Tobirama's lips curved into a rare smile as he stepped closer to her. For so long, he had buried his emotions, locked them away behind walls of duty and discipline. Yet, here she was, dismantling them effortlessly, leaving him bare but not broken.

"I love you," he said, his voice steady and full of conviction.

"I love you too, idiot," she replied with a playful smile.

Without hesitation, he kissed her, pouring into that single moment everything he had held back—his regrets, his longing, his love. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a promise, silent yet profound. He would cherish her, protect her, and never allow his own pride or mistakes to come between them again.

.

When they finally parted, his hands lingered on her shoulders, his crimson eyes searching hers. "Stay the night," he murmured, almost a plea.

"And where else would I go?" she replied, her voice tinged with amusement and affection.

They settled onto the bed, their limbs entwined, her head resting on his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was a soothing lullaby, a quiet testament to the man who had finally let his walls come down. For the first time in years, Tobirama allowed himself to relax, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

There was no need for anything more that night. Simply having her close, feeling her warmth and the rise and fall of her breathing, was enough. It was a small taste of the life they would soon share, and he felt a happiness he hadn't known was possible.

As the night wore on, Tobirama couldn't help but smile in the darkness. He thought of his brother, often teasing him for his sentimentality, and for once, he understood. Love, it seemed, wasn't a weakness but a strength. And with Akari in his arms, he finally felt whole.