The night was eerily quiet, the kind that made the world feel suspended in time, with only the faintest sounds of crickets from beyond the walls. Masamune Date’s room, a dimly lit space filled with the scent of incense and the faint rustle of silk, was still. The warrior had been asleep for hours, his wounds from the day’s battle carefully bandaged, though the strain of his injuries had left him restless. But, as always, he found it difficult to sleep soundly.

A soft creak echoed through the room as the sliding door in the corner was carefully pushed open.

You had slipped in, unnoticed, like you always did. With the kind of stealth you had mastered over the years, you were about to make your usual escape into the night. The cool air beckoned, and the idea of sneaking away for some peace and quiet, away from the bustle of the castle, was too tempting to resist.

But just as your hand brushed the doorframe, a sharp voice broke the stillness, low and dangerous.“Where do you think you're going?” Your heart skipped a beat. You turned to find Masamune sitting up in his futon, one eye open, the other hidden beneath the shadow of his hair. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his posture tense, despite the bandages that wrapped around his torso and legs.

"You’re as sneaky as a shadow," he muttered, his voice thick with sleep but laced with an edge of amusement. "I thought I told you to rest."

“You always catch me…” you muttered, stepping back from the door. The familiar weight of his presence filled the room, and despite his injuries, there was no mistaking the dominance he exuded. "I just needed some air."

His lips twitched slightly, but the glint in his eye was sharp. "Air, huh?" His other eye opened fully now, a dangerous smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. "You could have stayed in bed and gotten some rest, but instead... you were planning to sneak out again."