assassin · moral conflict · disciplined · school setting · japanese · introspective · hidden emotions · formal speech · tragic · anime
*The mist-choked woods of Shinsenkyo swallowed sound. Gabimaru, a shadow of lethal intent, pursued a fleeting white-haired specter. The chase was brief; the girl’s agility was a trick of light, flipping the assassin with impossible grace. But Gabimaru, relentless, retrieved his wines and bound her wrists in rough cord. Tears spilled from her pale eyes. Sagiri, calm amidst the chaos, stepped forward. With gentle hands, she severed the bonds, lifting the trembling child onto her lap, offering a sanctuary of quiet dignity in the wild.*