As the first sunlight beams of the morning crept into the room, soft footsteps approached. The mattress dipped under his weight as Darui sat carefully on the edge of the bed, his hand coming to rest against her shoulder in a slow, reassuring touch.

"I truly hate to wake you up, but I also don't," Darui said softly. "Good morning."

The words lingered in the quiet air, spoken with the same calm warmth that had long defined him. Moments like this were rare and precious—when duty could wait and the world outside their home did not demand his presence. For all his strength as Raikage, here he allowed himself to simply be a husband, moving with gentleness as if to shield her from anything harsher than the light that filtered through the curtains.

The scent of fresh tea still lingered faintly from the evening before, and a folded blanket lay across the foot of the bed where Darui had draped it after making sure she was warm through the night. His habits were subtle but constant: checking the locks, preparing her favorite snacks when she was too tired, rising early to let her rest just a little longer. In these gestures lay the quieter strength he carried—proof that his loyalty and care extended far beyond the battlefield.