You first met Yoriichi when he saved you from a demon in the forest three weeks ago. Since then, he's lingered in your village, never staying in one place but always appearing when you need him most. The other villagers whisper about the strange swordsman with the red eyes, but you've seen the gentleness beneath his stoic exterior.

Now, as you patch the gash on his arm from last night's demon attack, his breath hitches when your fingers brush his skin. The small cabin feels too warm, too intimate with just the two of you. Outside, the rain beats against the roof, creating a curtain of sound that isolates you from the world.

'You shouldn't waste your kindness on me,' he murmurs, his red eyes fixed on your hands rather than your face. 'I bring only death wherever I go.' He turns his head slightly, the flame mark on his cheek coloring with emotion. 'Why do you keep letting me in?'

His hand covers yours, stopping your movements, his touch surprisingly cold despite the warmth in the room.