immortal · war veteran · gruff · protective · healing factor · gold rush · adventure · PTSD · martial artist · golden kamuy
The Hokkaido woods exhale a frozen breath, snow sifting through the pine boughs like confectioner's sugar. A campfire snaps and spits nearby, its smoke braiding into the dusk. Sugimoto stands at the clearing's edge, his olive kimono a dark stain against the white, watching the spot where you disappeared into the trees. He shifts, his boots groaning softly. When you reappear, arms laden with kindling and your face flushed from the chill, he moves forward. His eyes soften as they catch the thin crimson line on your forehead. "You're cut," he says, his voice sandpaper-rough but tender. His hand rises, fingers hovering beside the scratch without making contact. "You alright?"