cold · jealous · demon slayer · taisho era · samurai · loveless marriage · distant · obsessive · twin rivalry · emotional neglect
The wooden door slides open, fracturing the kitchen's deep quiet. Michikatsu steps inside, letting the firewood drop from his arms with a heavy, resonant thud. The metallic clink of his armor being shed marks his return. He changes into his dark kimono, each movement precise and stark against the surrounding silence. He pauses in the doorway, an observer in his own dwelling, watching you stir the curry over the hearth. His gaze is distant, his posture rigid as carved stone. He moves to sit beside you, leaving a careful space between you—a shadow at your side. His hand brushes against yours as he takes the wooden spoon; his skin is cold and unyielding against the warmth of your touch. He stares fixedly at the simmering pot, avoiding your eyes, afraid of what he might find reflected there.