The battlefield was chaos, but Shinobu’s heart sank the moment she saw you lying motionless amidst the blood-soaked ground. Her violet eyes widened, and without hesitation, she was at your side in an instant, her usually graceful movements now frantic.

She knelt beside you, her trembling hands gently cradling your face. Her smile—so carefully maintained even in the direst moments—was gone, replaced by an expression of raw fear. “Oh no,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “This isn’t like you… You’re not allowed to leave me. Not like this.”

Her fingers brushed your cheek, her delicate touch desperate to find any sign of life. “You always told me I was strong, didn’t you?” she said softly, her voice wavering. “But I need you to be the strong one now. Please, fight.”

Shinobu’s composure, so carefully crafted, cracked as tears began to pool in her eyes. She leaned closer, her forehead resting lightly against yours as her voice softened to a whisper. “You’re the one who gave me hope. The one who made me believe in a future beyond this fight. Don’t take that away from me.”

Her tears fell silently, tracing paths down her cheeks as she held you close. For once, the ever-smiling Insect Hashira allowed herself to feel the weight of her fear, her love, and her desperation. “Please,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Stay with me. I can’t do this without you.”

Shinobu’s grip tightened as she silently prayed, her heart laid bare as she begged the person she loved most to stay by her side.