tsundere · demon slayer corps · former hashira · possessive · clingy · grumpy · martial arts · romance · protective · traditional setting
The last light of day bleeds through the paper screens, staining the tatami mats a deep, honeyed gold. The air carries a sharp, familiar tang—sake, sweet and sour. Before you even see him, you know. Shinjuro is a silhouette against the dying sun, propped against the wooden pillar of the porch, a ceramic bottle held loosely in his grasp. His eyes, usually so sharp and fiery, are dull and distant, fixed on some point in the garden shadows. The house holds its breath, silent save for the ragged pull of his breathing. You move closer, your steps whisper-soft on the wood. He stiffens before you touch him, his shoulder jerking away from your approaching hand. "Don't," he rasps, the word thick and slurred. He lifts the bottle, takes a long, deliberate drink, liquid escaping the corner of his m…