Buckle up, everyone. This one's gonna be pretty depressing.

To any of you who are dealing with depression, seek professional help. Or those close to you.

Recommendation, listen to Present by Lloyd Vaan while reading this.

Of Kunoichi and Dead Eyes

Asuka had long passed the exams and are now working full-time as a bodyguard of a master of whom she was chose to serve and protect. His bloodline derived from generals of the past, powerful and strong leaders who are known to be conquerors.

But peace soon caught up and what's left of the glory is a young man who can be described as miserable.

The Legendary Hanzo had told her that she would protect him with all of her life no matter the costs, it was a vow she had made when she undertook this mission. Yet what she protected seem...very lifeless, like a doll whose string is cut off.

His apartment was nearly empty, leaving only the essentials. She sat there on the tatami mat, staring outside the window where the orange hues of sunlight permeates through. As always, she watches his every movements throughout the day, trying to predict incoming threat and unlike the first day she met him, there was nothing to be worried about.

She had just arrived and it would only be a few minutes until he is too then.

Asuka was left there alone to ponder about her current master.

His smile when he was working was perfect, his expression calm and his voice gentle. Like a professional, he handles his job pretty well and the clients liked him very much. He looks average, but with his smile he can be considered attractive.

But she felt...something was wrong.

"I'm home..." His voice trails over the hallway.

Asuka walked with hurried footsteps to greet her master, "Satou-sama, welcome home." She greets back with a smile.

It was still on his face.

That smile.

It never widens upon seeing her.

"Asuka." Just then, his smile completely disappears and he collapses, causing her to act quick and caught him.

"Satou-sama, are you okay?" She asked, all she got in response was dead silence.

It wasn't he was unconscious, far from that. His eyes were wide and open, his heartbeat was fine and his body didn't suffer any injuries whatsoever. However, his eyes...they were dead, no semblances of light left as he just lay on her back like a dead person.

"Satou-sama?" Asuka called, and no response.

His body felt light, too light. Asuka knew the average body weight for men, but Satou lacks that. She quickly noticed how he didn't take any breaks when he was working, never eating nor drinking. Even today when his coworkers invited him for a drink, he rejected their offer and went home instead.

She bit her lip to try and hold in her tears, she didn't expect her master to be like this.

It was practically unheard of, her senior Ikaruga also had a master and he was lively, and perverted. Her juniors too, Hibari and Yagyuu's master is an otaku who goes to work just so he can pay for his entertainment.

Satou...was not like the others.

Asuka wanted to help.

But when the person himself never asked for, what could she do?

When Asuka first met him, it was...somewhat of a love in first sight. He was working diligently, his coworkers praising him and he often helped people. Not just from work, but also outside of it. He was helping this old lady to cross the road and even offered to help her in buying groceries.

A fight broke out in the midst, he quickly told the old lady to stay and he went in to stop. She could've put a stop to the fight, but she witness it. Instead of using force to stop the both of the drunkheads, he took two blows; one to the face and one to the stomach. It seemed hurt but that smile never left his face.

He talked them out of it, no anger laced in his tone, no frustrations, nothing.

He was unbelievably kind.

After doing all the good deeds, he went home. In that moment of darkness, Kunoichi sprouted forth in attempt to assassinate him. Asuka quickly jumps in to save him, fending them off and scaring them away. When you've dealt with things like Yoma and powerful Shinobi, the average Kunoichi is nothing.

But she noticed something.

When the Kunoichi attempts to kill him, he already saw them.

But he didn't move, not a single bit.

His eyes unwavering, no fear was in it. It wasn't like he was brave or courageous, no. He just...felt nothing, not even life flashing before his eyes. He just stares at them and awaited for his death.

As if he wanted it.

When she explained the situation to him, all his replies were "I see" and "Is that so?". Nothing mattered to him, not the secrets of the modern-day Shinobi nor the existence of them still hiding in the shadows amidst Japan. It was not disinterest, it was just empty.

It was baffling.

"Satou-sama." Asuka called gently, holding a piece of karaage with her chopsticks. "Here, eat."

With his dead eyes that gazes against her, he blinks and opens his mouth. He ate it and was still silent as ever. Her smile faltered a bit, Asuka knew to him, it was tasteless. She's not a bad cook, in fact she a very good one. It's just, whenever he ate the flavor that was in the food never brought any feelings to his tongue. But he still ate it, just to be kind to her.

"Satou-sama, I know you're workaholic but you have to take breaks and eat." Asuka scolded, gently. "It's not good for your body if you don't eat anything." Her words were met with silence as he continues on to chew. "And don't forget about water! Water is important!"

She fed him again, still silent. She could feel her eyes watering but she held it in.

After finishing their meals, Satou sat on the same place where she sat earlier, overlooking the balcony as gentle breeze brushes softly. The moon was bright, and she was enamored by his figure as he stares at the moon. That was before his head drops and she quickly sat next to him and pulled his shoulder against hers, his head landed safely.

Asuka hears his calm breathing as his eyes were closed, it was evident that he was really tired. The peaceful look on his face was unlike anything else, she knew she liked him romantically but when he's like this, she didn't know what to do to help him.

Asuka took a sharp inhale and breathe out.

She stares at the moon as a thought crossed over her mind.

It's not like she was oblivious to the existence of internet, she too use it. She had a phone therefore she had access to it. She had seen this everywhere on the internet, not just internet but also in real life. But Satou actively puts on a false front to hide it all. For what? She didn't know.

All she knows that somehow, the master she serve is suffering from depression...

I know this is quite heavy, and again if someone here suffers from the same mental illness, seek professional help immediately. Or just talk it out to your loved ones, you family, your lover, anyone.

That said, this is inspired by a manga "Somehow, I Started Living with a NEET Otaku Kunoichi" but the fanfic has a twist as evident with the title. This idea just crossed my mind when I was reading it, I don't know why. But alas, I hope you all enjoy it.

That's all from me and thanks for reading.

See y'all in the first chapter.