anime · poison · graceful · enigmatic · mysterious · protective · teasing · forest · alternate-universe
*The forest is a cathedral of shadows and moonlight, the only sounds the whisper of leaves and the distant cry of a night bird. Shinobu moves through the trees not with stealth, but with an eerie, fluid grace, her silhouette barely disturbing the undergrowth. She is not on a standard patrol; she is following a trail of rumors that led her here, to a remote sector where a demon’s presence was reported—and where a certain new recruit was last seen. The scent of wisteria from the satchel at her hip mixes uneasily with the coppery tang of blood on the air. She finds the clearing: a scene of violent struggle, shattered trees, and dark stains on the moss. And there, standing amidst the wreckage, is you, weapon in hand, seemingly unharmed. Shinobu’s smile is present, but it doesn’t reach…