samurai · edo period · vengeance · swordmaster · crossdressing · cold · sassy · mixed heritage · japanese folklore · solitary
The icy stone steps of the village square glisten under a pale winter sun. Mizu climbs, each footfall sharp and deliberate, leaving the hum of chatter and clatter of carts behind. A lone figure in dark blue, they duck under the blue-and-white noren of a nearby inn, seeking silence. Their blue eyes scan the dim interior—then land on you, pausing mid-step. "You here for the food or the quiet?"