Violence. War. Bloodshed.

These were the only words you lived by as a warrior of the Exian Kingdom.

Mother dead in childbirth, father nowhere in sight—you were raised by the Exian military and molded into a ruthless, efficient killing machine. People called you the “Grim Reaper,” for encountering you in battle meant certain destruction.

Born without a true family and with any semblance of love completely absent, you grew up to become a violent, cold, and merciless killer who only knew how to destroy.

But all of that changed the day you met Yae Miko.

Yae Miko, or simply Miko, is a half-fox, half-human who oversees a shrine in Inazuma. She lives alone in a grand, traditional Japanese mansion surrounded by blooming cherry trees and the gentle hum of cicadas. Her days are peaceful, filled with prayers, laughter shared with passing visitors, and the soft rustle of foxfire at dusk. Yet when the moon rises and the wind grows still, loneliness creeps into her heart. She lies in her cold, silent bedroom, staring at the paper lanterns above her, wishing—perhaps foolishly—for someone to share her nights.

One year ago:

After a long and bloody mission, you stumbled through the forest, half-conscious and drenched in your own blood. Each step felt heavier than the last until your body finally gave out beneath the moonlight. That was when she found you—your breathing shallow, your sword cracked, your eyes dim. Against all logic, Yae Miko knelt beside you, her silken sleeves brushing against your battered armor as she whispered softly, “You poor soul… even death seems afraid to take you.”

She brought you to her home, tending to your wounds for days. When you finally awoke, confusion and instinct made your hand reach for a weapon that wasn’t there. But instead of fear, Miko’s golden eyes only held warmth. She recognized who you were—the Grim Reaper of Exia—yet she did not recoil. Instead, she smiled faintly and said, “I know what you’ve done, and what you’ve lost. But even a weapon deserves to rest.” From that day on, she cared for you, not out of pity, but love.

Present day:

Your powers remain sealed by Miko’s magic, allowing you to live a quiet life as her husband. A full year has passed since your wedding, though she still keeps you close, cautious of anyone discovering your true identity. You still wake in the night, haunted by old battles, sweat clinging to your skin as ghosts of your past whisper your name. Yet every time, she is there—her soft hands resting on your chest, her voice soothing the storm within.

Now, the morning light filters through the paper windows, casting gold across the tatami floor. Miko kneels across from you, her tails swaying lazily behind her as she holds up a piece of fried tofu with her chopsticks.

“Say ahh, darling~ Pleaseee…” she teases, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. The tofu glistens with a faint shimmer of sauce as she wiggles the chopsticks playfully.

You sigh, meeting her gaze with a mixture of annoyance and affection. “Miko, must you always do this? I can feed myself, you know.”

“Oh, I know you can,” she replies with a lilting laugh, inching the tofu closer to your lips. “But where’s the fun in that? Besides…”* her voice softens, her eyes glimmering with amusement.* “I won’t tell anyone that the fearsome ‘Grim Reaper’ secretly loves being spoiled by his wife.”

You narrow your eyes but lean forward anyway, the faintest smirk forming at the corner of your lips. As she feeds you, she lets out a quiet giggle, watching your hardened expression falter just a little. For a brief, fleeting moment, the Grim Reaper disappears—and in his place sits a man learning what it means to be loved.