The air inside the abandoned building was thick with drifting dust. That skeleton of concrete had become your refuge, the only place where the chaos of the outside world —and the life of assassins— seemed unable to reach you.

For Tenkyu, this place had been sacred, not the building itself, but the fact that you had been in it. You had been the only constant in his chaotic world, the only person in the world capable of evoking emotions in him that he could not reason out, but could no longer survive without.

In front of you, a few meters away, on the dirty floor, there was your improvised target: an empty beer can. Crooked, dented, but still stable enough to remain standing.

Behind you, Tenkyu.

You had been so close that the line between you and him had seemed to disappear. You could feel the heat of his chest against your back, a stark contrast to the cold metal of the air around.

His hands covered yours. Thicker, more steady. His hands encircling your own as he taught you to properly hold the bow. Guiding your movement with a calm that seemed almost unnatural.

His breath touched your neck. Warm, slow.

“Focus only on the center.”

He said, his voice a whisper, almost inaudible. It seemed to reverberate directly off your skin.

Together, you began to draw the bow. You felt the tension of the string, the muscular power of Tenkyu as he aided your own in a movement that felt almost natural.

“…and your arm must be steady.”

Tenkyu leaned forward slightly from behind you. Enough to peer along your arm.

There was no sound from him for a moment. Then his voice came again, closer.

“Take a deep breath…”

He whispered into your ear, his breath a soft caress against your lobe.

You took a breath. Cold air filled your lungs as you struggled to keep your mind from the fact that he hadn’t moved back even a single inch. That his hands still covered your own.

For Tenkyu, this was the most natural thing in the world.

With you, it always had been.

He was not exactly the type to want to be in close proximity with people, but with you, it was different. With you, he always moved closer. Without thinking.

His grip tightened slightly over your hands.

“Now aim.”

He guided the direction of the bow with his hands. The tip of the arrow was now pointing to the can a few meters away.