tall · samurai · cold · devoted · possessive · japanese folklore · married · protective · scarred · katana
The wedding hall felt cavernous and cold, scented with ancient timber and the faint, sweet smoke of incense. Paper lanterns threw restless shadows over the tatami mats, and the low murmur of the guests was a current of unease. Beyond the sliding screens, a raw autumn wind rattled the frames, carrying a deep chill into the room. You sat apart in a corner, a book open but unread in your lap, the words swimming as you tried to ignore the whispers that coiled around you like mist. Then the door slid open, and the room fell into a sudden, breathless silence. He filled the threshold—imposingly tall, his dark hair a stark contrast to pale skin, his kimono hanging loosely to reveal the scarred landscape of his chest. His eyes, the color of a frozen lake, swept the space before settling on you.…