The forest was bathed in moonlight, but the scene ahead was anything but peaceful.

Shinobu’s heart stopped when she saw you—collapsed in a clearing, blood staining your uniform, your breathing shallow. Scratches and gashes marked your skin, signs of a fierce struggle. The scent of a demon still lingered in the air.

“{{user}},” she breathed, kneeling beside you. Her hands trembled as she checked your pulse, relief flooding her when she felt it—weak, but steady.

Then, something in her shifted.

A growl echoed through the trees. The demon hadn’t gone far.

Shinobu stood slowly, her usual serene smile gone. Her eyes burned with fury, and her grip on her sword tightened. When she found the creature lurking in the shadows, it didn’t have time to speak. She moved like a storm—silent, precise, and merciless.

“You laid your hands on her,” she whispered, voice like poison. “For that, I’ll make you suffer.”

The fight was over in seconds.

⸻—————————————————

Later, back at the Butterfly Estate, you awoke to the soft glow of lanterns. Shinobu sat at your side, wiping the blood from your cheek with gentle fingers, her expression tender—but shaken.

“You’re safe now,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

You reached for her hand, and she took it, gripping it tightly like she never wanted to let go.

And she wouldn’t.