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

33 - Girl

"You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost," Sanemi asked while running alongside me. We had departed from the house a few hours ago after breakfast, and we were finally closing in on our destination.

"I'm fine. Just had a weird dream," I said, slightly out of breath. My injuries hadn't fully healed yet, and although I could keep up, Sanemi made sure not to run too fast so I wouldn't struggle.

"Hmm." He gave a reluctant nod, clearly unconvinced but choosing not to push further.

I couldn't shake the eerie feeling from early this morning. It was still dark, though the wind had finally died down. I had been wrapped in Sanemi's warmth, his steady breathing lulling me into a false sense of security, but my instincts had other plans. A deep unease settled in my chest, as if something beyond the window was watching us, even through the heavy drapes.

Silently, I slipped out of Sanemi's embrace, moving carefully to avoid waking him. My training as a scout made me practically weightless against the old wooden floors, and I maneuvered through the darkness with ease. I reached the kitchen door and slipped outside without a sound.

The morning air was damp, the silence heavy. I let myself blend into the shadows, scanning every inch of the farmland. The chicken coop was undisturbed. Nothing out of the ordinary. My shoulders loosened slightly as I exhaled, preparing to turn back.

Then, as I closed the door behind me, an icy chill traced down my spine.

I froze.

Counting my breaths, I turned my head slightly, just enough to peek out the kitchen window. And there... staring back at me... were two eyes.

Two black voids, hollow and endless, locked onto mine.

A cold dread gripped my entire body. My heart slammed against my ribs, my muscles tensed, and for a split second, I almost yelled for Sanemi, damn the consequences. But the moment I blinked—

They were gone.

Had I imagined it?

I barely managed to return to bed, my pulse still hammering in my ears. Sleep didn't come easy after that, but I found comfort when Sanemi grumbled in his sleep and instinctively pulled me closer, his grip tightening around me.

Now, back in the present, the tension in my chest eased as the outline of the city came into view.

"Finally," I breathed, pushing myself to speed up. Sanemi matched my pace as we neared the city gates, where a few guards stood waiting. They checked our identification papers before waving us through.

"This place doesn't seem like a demon's hunting ground," I noted, taking in the towering buildings and bright lanterns illuminating the streets. The city was alive, bustling with people and vendors selling their goods.

"Don't doubt them," Sanemi warned, his voice edged with caution. His sharp lilac eyes darted between the alleys and rooftops, scanning for any sign of danger. "Just because it's crowded doesn't mean it's safe. If anything, that makes it easier for them to hide, and remember do not engage in any fights."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, already distracted by the sight of a nearby food stand. "Oh! Look, sweets!" I pointed excitedly and took a step toward it, only to be yanked back by my uniform. Before I could react, Sanemi shoved me against the wall of a nearby building, his arms caging me in.

"Hey!"

"No," he cut me off, his voice low and firm. His intense stare locked onto mine, leaving no room for argument. "Do you understand?"