影と風 | Kage to Kaze | Shinazugawa Sanemi

32 - Weird

Wincing, I woke up to the sharp ache in my muscles and joints, every inch of my body reminding me of the battle I had endured. At least the tea Sanemi had given me had done its job, I'd been out cold within minutes. Groggily, I glanced over my shoulder, only to find his futon empty. Rolling my stiff shoulders, I stretched carefully before folding the covers neatly and tidying up the bedding.

Sliding the shoji door open, I wandered down the hallway. My own room was just a short distance away, where I swapped my sleeping garments for my uniform, carefully fastening my pinwheel hairpin into place. As I tied it, the faint clatter of activity from the kitchen reached my ears. Curious, I made my way toward the sound, already thinking of breakfast.

"Morning," I greeted, a smile tugging at my lips as I entered.

"Mornin'," Sanemi mumbled back, his voice deep and gravelly with sleep. He stood at the stove, stirring something in a small pan.

The sight of him cooking was oddly endearing, and I found myself lingering for a moment. Being new to this whole relationship thing, I hesitated to lean in and kiss his cheek, it still felt too bold. Instead, I settled for something subtler, brushing my hand lightly against his as I passed him. It wasn't rare for us to touch like this, but it was enough to send a small thrill through me.

Sanemi served up plates of eggs and rice, and we ate in comfortable silence, still shaking off the morning haze. Afterward, we gathered our bags, each small enough to keep us light on our feet but packed with essentials: a first aid kit, some basic uniforms, and a few necessities.

"Oi, I can carry my own bag," I protested when he reached over and grabbed mine off my shoulder.

Holding it out of my reach with that infuriating smirk of his, he replied, "Don't care. Let's move."

And just like that, we were off. We managed to hitch a short ride on a passing carriage, which brought us to the nearest town. By midday, we reached a bustling village, alive with the hum of merchants calling out their wares and the clatter of carts rolling over uneven stones.

The market was vibrant and chaotic, filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked bread. I couldn't help but be drawn in by the colorful trinkets and displays of food, my attention flitting from one stall to the next. So much so that I didn't notice the tall man in front of me until I walked right into him.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, you wench!" he barked, glaring down at me.

I almost grabbed him by the collar to give him a piece of my mind, but Sanemi beat me to it.

"You should be the one watchin' where you're going, you piece of filth," Sanemi snapped, his voice low. His neck muscles strained slightly, and though he didn't raise a fist, the intensity in his eyes made it clear he was ready to if necessary.

The man blanched, muttered something unintelligible, and quickly retreated.

"Asshole," I muttered, sticking my tongue out at his back.

Sanemi let out a sigh, clearly unimpressed by my antics, before stepping closer and grabbing my hand. His fingers intertwined with mine in a firm but reassuring grip.

"Don't get too distracted," he murmured, his tone softer now. "We can't stay here too long."

"Yes, sir," I chirped, a playful grin tugging at my lips as I gave his hand a squeeze.

We continued through the market until we came across a neat little ramen shop tucked into a corner. It wasn't much, but the smell of rich broth and fresh noodles was enough to make my stomach growl. As we settled into a quiet corner of the shop, Sanemi leaned back against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning the room briefly before resting on me.