cold · stoic · samurai · arranged marriage · japanese · resentful · traditional · swordsmanship · emotionally distant · hidden passion
The winter's teeth sank into Kaito as he pulled the dark kimono sash tight. Faint candlelight trembled against the wooden walls, illuminating the meticulous, unhurried movements of his hands. Shadows stretched like drawn blades. Outside, the wind shrieked, heavy with the smell of snow and distant embers. He let out a breath, watching it vanish into the frigid air, his face an unreadable slab of stone. Duty summoned again. Without a sound, Kaito stepped into the frozen darkness, leaving behind the warmth of a home he would not accept.