It's been a month since the Hashira meeting. Giyuu is on his way towards the Butterfly Mansion for one last checkup before departure.
It's been a relaxing month for Giyuu. Aside from the usual mission of slaying a demon, he's been spending most of his time in his house.
When the war ended, Giyuu found himself with nothing to do in a empty house. So after much nagging from Tanjiro, Giyuu finally decided to put some furniture in the house. After going shopping with Tanjiro and Kanao, getting their input on what decor works best, he was able to transform the once empty house to a cozy and welcoming home.
Once they were transported in the past, all his decor disappeared. Due to the chaotic events him and Sanemi had to do, he didn't really have time to put his attention back to home decor. But once he was faced with a month on his hands, he decided he might as well refurbish his home to its latter glory.
He wasn't able to find most of the furniture he had, but it didn't bother him. As long as the furniture fit the theme of blue, he was okay with any variation of it.
While shopping, he wasn't able to meet much of the Hashiras after the meeting. The workload for the Hashiras increased, making them less likely to be found in the estates.
Since Giyuu and Sanemi would be gone for an extended period of time, it was up to the remaining Hashiras to pick up their slack. As such, Kaguya decided to gradually increase their workload as a way to accommodate the absence of two Hashiras. Giyuu felt bad, but there wasn't much he could do.
He even wasn't able to meet once with Sanemi, since he was always with Kanae (which he can't blame). Kaguya also made sure that any missions Kanae took would be joint missions with Sanemi.
However, that doesn't mean he wasn't able to meet any Hashiras. One day while moving furniture, he stumbled across Gyomei. Pretty soon, Gyomei was handled with moving the furniture. Giyuu ensured he didn't have to, but Gyomei insisted.
While moving, Giyuu explained that he was decorating his house, which Gyomei accepted. Gyomei also sent his prayers to him for his mission, which Giyuu accepted.
The conversation was by far the most he has ever talked with the Stone Hashira. Before, he would simply state greetings or departures to him. But now they were talking about other things. The furniture in Giyuu's and Gyomei's estate. The state of demons at the moment. The description of the scenery they were currently in (that was more of Giyuu talking).
It was still a far cry from a normal conversation. The conversation would typically go with Gyomei saying a detailed statement, and Giyuu just responding with a short one. Regardless, it was still a conversation and a major improvement from what Giyuu used to do.
When Gyomei pointed out the positive change in behavior, Giyuu just nodded in response. Then he remembered Gyomei was blind and followed up with a "yes..."
In the end, Giyuu managed to deck out his estate under a month. The one empty floors with nothing but a table was fully refurbished.
The cold wooden floors in Giyuu's living area was replaced with tatami mats. The crude table was replaced with a nicer looking one accompanied with matching cushions on the floor. The dull walls was covered with blue paint and many paintings. Inside the estate was many tables, plants, shelves, and western chairs.
In the middle of the estate, he transformed the area. Near the existing tree, he added maple, pine, and cherry blossom trees to accompany it. With Gyomei's help, he built a small pond and added water lilies and lotuses. He dug in some rocks and small boulders to make the once flat field more visually stunning.
He kept half of his backyard as it was and added training equipment. He used to utilize the empty field as a training ground, and even with the incorporation of biophilic design he still intended to continue that.
Finally he moved towards his bedroom. He still preferred to sleep on a futon, but now he he replaced the floor, added a table, incorporated some greenery, inserted some painting, and established a window. He thought about adding some western furniture, but decided against it. He also pondered on adding a katana stand like he once had in the future, but now that he was an active swordsmen he preferred to keep his katana close by.
And with that, the Water Estate was finally complete. And on time too, since it's time for Giyuu to head for his checkup at the Butterfly Mansion.
While walking, he stumbled across Shinjuro. Shinjuro seemed to be returning from a mission, as his arm carried some blood on it.
"Ah, Tomioka-san. It's a pleasure," said Shinjuro as he bowed.
"Likewise, Rengoku-san," replied Giyuu as he bowed back. "You seem to be injured..."
"Oh, this?" Shinjuro then proceeded to raise the bloodied hand and spin it. "Just a scratch. The demon got me by surprised, but I slayed it quickly. Regardless I'll still have the doctors check it out."
Shinjuro then looked at Tomioka. His face was calm, but his eyes carried passion and kindness within them. It's the same eyes that Kyojuro used to carry...
"By any chance, are you also heading to the Butterfly Mansion?"
"Yes... I have to complete a checkup before my mission..."
"I see. You mind if I tag along?"
Giyuu shook his head, and soon the Fire and Water Hashiras were walking side by side together. While walking, Shinjuro took it upon himself to strike some small talk.
"So this joint mission with Shinazugawa-san... you'll roughly be gone for more than a year?"
"Yes..."
"Wow. I suppose it makes sense then that our workload has been more as of lately."
"I apologize for any trouble I may have caused..."
"What?! Don't apologize, it's not your fault!" said Shinjuro as he waved his hand. "Besides, Ubuyashiki-sama mentioned that we may have more Hashiras join the ranks!"
"Yes, he did..."
"I gotta say Tomioka-san, you are a lot more talkative than before! It suits you!"
"Thank you..."
Finally, Shinjuro decided to walk in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence. More like a content one.
Kaguya was right about more Hashira joining, but the amount is subject to change. Giyuu knows for sure that Obanai and Muichiro will definitely join the ranks. Sadly, their is nothing Giyuu can do to change their upbringings. The other three are a different situation.
Shinobu became a Hashira due to the drive she felt after Kanae's death. Now that Kanae is alive, it's uncertain whether Shinobu would still aim towards Hashira. As for Mitsuri, she had the opportunity to become a Hashira after heavy recomendation from Kyojuro.
And that leaves Kyojuro. Kyojuro became a Hashira after his mother died, causing Shinjuro to spiral to depression and neglect his duties. Kyojuro had to act as a messenger during the Hashira meetings for his father, and then replaced him as Hashira once he killed Lowermoon 2.
As they approach the Butterfly Mansion, Giyuu glances at Shinjuro. He has a slight smile, and his eyes are shining bright. Giyuu didn't bother to know about Shinjuro's state after he retired, but from what he heard of Tanjiro, it was bad. Delving into alcohol, Shinjuro lost all respect from his comrades, his youngest son, and most importantly himself.
Shinjuro could not bear to live with himself... and that was something Giyuu could relate to.
"Very well Tomioka-san. I believe this is where we part ways."
Giyuu is snapped back to reality from Shinjuro's statement as he sees him bow and then turn around to leave. Giyuu knows he has to say something, anything! If he doesn't say anything he's going to regret it. He came to the past to change things, so he has to do it right now.
One step. Then two. Then five. Shinjuro is gradually walks away from Giyuu. Giyuu wants to say something, but he can't. He doesn't know what to say, and his lips are glue shut. Shinjuro is about to turn the corner. It's now or never. Giyuu hesitates, before finally shouting,
"You asked me why I'm more talkative than before!"
Shinjuro pauses in shock before turning around. He's never heard Giyuu speak louder than a gentle river. The idea of his voice being loud is so alien, that his instincts immediately flared when he heard him. As he looks at Giyuu, he sees his face still contains his natural stoic expression. But his eyes has a hint of unease in them.
'A hint of... anxiety?'
"When you asked me why I was more talkative, I just thanked you. But really there is a reason as to why."
Shinjuro doesn't know why Giyuu is bringing this up. But the simple fact that Giyuu isn't speaking the way he normally does makes Shinjuro believe this might be one of the most important conversations he will have.
Giyuu took a deep breath to calm himself and steel his nerves before finally responding.
"I lost... a lot of close people in my life..."
Shinjuro inhaled sharply. He doesn't know anything about Giyuu, and now he's sharing something personal?
Giyuu takes Shinjuro's silence as permission to continue. "When they died... I had no one... I couldn't live with myself... and I spiraled into a deep depression..."
'Tomioka-san was depressed?! I... never knew.'
"I was convinced I was unfit to be a Hashira... I couldn't bear anymore pain within me... so I distanced myself from others..."
'Why would Tomioka-san believe he was unfit for Hashira? Was this why he never talked to us?'
"I believed I should have died instead of them..."
Silence. That was all that followed that statement. No wind. No people in the hallway. No clock to count the seconds that pass. Only silence, and not the content or awkward kind. The silence that pressures the heart and covers your ears, so you can't hear how loud you're breathing.
That's what Shinjuro was experiencing. What he just heard... he couldn't even think about it. It was cruel. It was tragic. It was horrifying. But of all, it was painful. Painful that Shinjuro, who prides himself for helping others. Who prides himself for inspiring hope to his children. Who prides himself to always put a smile on others... never knew Giyuu was suicidal. He knew from what Giyuu said, he might as well have said "I want to die right now".
Shinjuro was silent. He didn't know how to respond. He hesitated. Until finally he mustered up all his courage to say something.
"T-To...Tomiok-"
"However that all changed when I met someone..."
Shinjuro shut his mouth at the sudden response. It seems that Giyuu still wanted to add more with the statement he said before.
"He was truly kind... and he made me realize something... made me realize all of those that I lost... they still live on with me..."
Shinjuro's eyes widened as Giyuu continued to speak.
"Their wills still lived on... and they didn't want me to live like that anymore... live in sadness... and hate..."
Shinjuro stayed silent as Giyuu spoke. His mouth long became dry, but he was just noticing it right now.
"They wouldn't want me like that... so that's why I changed... why I'm content... why I talk now..."
The hallway was once again filled with silence. But this time it wasn't the crushing silence a few moments ago.
"Why... why tell me all of this?" said Shinjuro in a quiet tone. It's ironic, that the two Hashiras seemed to switch speech patterns for the moment.
However Giyuu didn't say anything. He just stared at Shinjuro. His blue eyes reflecting Shinjuro's red ones. Finally he gave an answer. Just four words...
"Because you asked me..."
Then Giyuu bowed and walked away in the opposite direction, this time leaving Shinjuro behind...
As Giyuu walks in the halls of the hospital, he reflects on his conversation with the man.
'In the end, I couldn't say anything I wanted to.'
Giyuu wanted to tell him about his future self, but knew he couldn't. There was no possibility that he could inform about his wife's death, his son's promotion, or his self depression. There was nothing he could do to save his wife, as she dies from an illness with no cure developed until eight years later.
The most he could do for the man was share his own experiences, and hope Shinjuro would take it into consideration when he's in a bad place. Best case scenario: he is able to live a happy life and remain a Hashira.
Still he has never shared that much of personal detail in a long time. The last person he could remember telling was Uzui when they were drunk and trauma bonding as retired soldiers.
Despite the heavy content, Giyuu didn't feel remorseful when remembering those memories. With only a year after the final battle, Giyuu has made tremendous progress in healing. He's able to smile, laugh, and socialize with people. Yes, he still preferred to be alone, but now it came from being a natural introvert.
He was only able to heal because of those around him. Spending time with Tanjiro and his friends. Meeting up with Sanemi and Uzui. It's because of them that he was able to achieve peace within himself. And now that he's back in the past, he wants to establish more relationships. Relationships he was previously scared to establish.
When he was a Hashira, he didn't bother to have friendships with anyone. Because of that, everyone would obviously not reach out to him. Friendships work both ways, and if you don't put effort into it, they won't put effort back. Giyuu knows this.
The only people that put more effort to talk to him was Kaguya, Tanjiro, and Shinobu...
"OUCH!"
Giyuu looks down at the person he bumped into. He wasn't paying attention, so when he turned the corner he ran into someone. As he glances down he sees a girl with strands of purple in her hair and a butterfly clip.
Speak of the devil, it was Shinobu herself. She seemed to be carrying a bunch of papers as she's sitting around a messy pile of them. As she turns to pick of the papers she starts talking in a angry tone.
"Seriously! Do you not know where you're goi-"
Shinobu finally looks up, only to see the Water Hashira towering above her. The Water Hashira, her sister's comrade and one of the strongest swordsmen in the entire corps. The Water Hashira, who has immense power over the corps and ties to the head of the corps. The Water Hashira, who she was yelling at...
As if possessed, she immediately shoots up before bowing multiple times to Giyuu.
"AH! Please forgive me Hashira-sama! I wasn't looking! I promise to look from now on! Please forgive me!!!"
Shinobu then bent down to pick up her papers, her face blushing in embarrassment.
'Seriously! Why did I have to bump into him out of all people!'
The last time she met with Giyuu, it was when Giyuu came to aid her sister. It was also when Shinobu impulsively decided to say that he had no friends. It was only after she arrived back home that she truly realized what she had done. She insulted a Hashira in front of their faces after he came to help her sister. It was then that Shinobu wanted to die from embarrassment and shame for what she done.
Even when she glances up at the Water Hashira, she only sees a cold face of contempt. Of course, it was only Giyuu's natural stoic face. But for Shinobu, it was the face that could unleash its full wrath on her.
Shinobu sped up her process of picking up the papers, while silently cursing herself for thinking she can bring so many files in one go. However just as she was about to grab the last file, someone else reached it.
See glances upward to see the Water Hashira also bent, mere inches away, holding onto the file. He then looks at Shinobu, his blue eyes peering onto hers.
For a second, she forgot about everything and just looked at those eyes. What she thought was harsh, cold eyes turned out to not be the case. When looking into his eyes, what she instead found was... odd.
She couldn't assign anything towards it. His eyes carried nothing, and yet also carried everything. There was an indescribable emotion deep within it. One she didn't recognize. It isn't anger. It isn't joy. It isn't sadness. What is it?
"Kocho-san... Are you alright?"
Shinobu suddenly became aware how close she was to him, and immediately shot up before bowing multiple times.
"AHH! Please forgive me Hashira-sama!! I didn't mean to invade your personal space!! Please forgive me!!!"
Shinobu stayed bowed once again in deep shame with what she's done. However before she could spout anymore apologizes, a paper was put in front of her.
When she finally looked up, she was greeted with the sight of Giyuu bowing with the file stretched out in his arms. Before she could say anything, he said,
"I apologize for bumping into you... I wasn't looking where I was going... Please forgive me..."
Shinobu stood there shocked before reluctantly talking the file.
"Uhh, please don't bow Hashira-sama. I should really be the one to apologize..." said Shinobu.
Giyuu then straightened up, looking down at Shinobu.
"Would you happen to know where your sister is?" asked Giyuu. "I need to go through a check-up before my mission..."
"Oh." Shinobu's face relaxed from hesitant to annoyed. "Nee-san? Yeah, she's somewhere here. I'm afraid she's busy doing a check-up for Shinazugawa-san."
'I see,' thought Giyuu. 'I suppose those two would want to spend as much time as they could.'
Giyuu wasn't annoyed by that fact. Instead, he just felt the slight hint of content. It was nice to see Sanemi become softer and spend time with Kanae. Before he would just yell at Giyuu, not that he minded. He didn't really care what Sanemi thought of him at that time.
"If you want," added Shinobu, interrupting Giyuu's chain of thought. "I can let Nee-san know."
"No, it's fine... I wouldn't want to be a bother..."
"But Hashira-sama? To my knowledge you will be embarking on a long mission tomorrow." After having to witness Kanae not leave Sanemi's side for a whole month, she was able to learn the circumstances as to why they're together so much (even though see was still annoyed by them).
"Yes, I will..." replied Giyuu in a monotone voice.
"Then wouldn't you need a check-up right now? It's already evening, and you should get a full night's rest before tomorrow."
"...yes"
"Then I'll get Nee-san. I'm sure she wouldn't mind spending an hour away to take your check-up"
"Could you just do it?"
Shinobu flinched in surprise as her eyes widened. "Huh! M-m-me?!"
"...yes" Giyuu really didn't want to interrupt any time Sanemi gets with Kanae. For five years he's lived without her. He's continued to walk on the path of a slayer by himself, with no one standing next to him. Now that he saved Kanae, he only gets a month with her before he must leave for years.
Giyuu knows the feeling of loneliness and realized too late that Sanemi was feeling the same thing. Only he had different responses than Giyuu. While Giyuu pushed himself away from others, Sanemi pushed others away from himself.
Now that both are back, they made silent promises to no longer live in loneliness. And so, Giyuu doesn't want to jeopardize Sanemi's mission. Otherwise, it'll be the same as jeopardizing himself.
"A-are you sure, Hashira-sama?" asked Shinobu reluctantly.
"Yes... I trust you..."
Shinobu hesitated before finally taking a deep breath and turning around.
"Alright," said Shinobu in a determined tone. "Please, follow me Hashira-sama."
Shinobu started walking to a empty patient room, and Giyuu followed suit. As Shinobu closed the door, her nervous eyes were replaced with purple eyes of determination.
'I've never had a patient say they trust me before...'
Naturally Shinobu was only sixteen, so it came without question that people would doubt her. However, for a Hashira to put trust in her... may have been the second greates-no! The third greatest compliment she could ever receive!
Of course, it was a no brainer for Giyuu to say he trusted her. To Giyuu, Shinobu was the smartest slayer in the corps, even more than her sister. As someone who served as the head medic for multiple years and developed her own way of killing demons, Shinobu was a Hashira that deserved nothing but the upmost respect from Giyuu.
As Shinobu continued to take tests and measurements, both her and Giyuu uttered no words. Shinobu was focused on her job. This was the first time she ever conducted a physical. On top of her patient being a Hashira, she couldn't afford to get distracted or mess up.
Giyuu on the other hand, was lost in a trance. It was silence like this where he enjoyed it the most. When both people are extremely focused, it creates a silence that isn't suffocating, but loud. Not loud in a negative way. Loud like the birds chirping. Loud like the river streaming. The noise becomes the background, and all that's left is yours and the other person's thoughts.
Occasionally his mind would go back to memories of getting checked by a doctor with a fake smile, but for most of the physical, his mind just remained blank.
Finally, Shinobu exhaled as she completed the final test. She picked up her notepad and began writing notes about the check-up. Giyuu also awoken from his trance and broke the silence between them by standing up.
"Well Hashira-sama, everything seems to look good. I just need to write some stuff and you'll be on your way" said Shinobu, eyes not leaving her notepad.
Giyuu just nodded in response and sat back down.
As Shinobu was jotting down some comments, she decided to strike some small talk.
"So, Hashira-sama. You and Shinazugawa-san will be gone for a while? At least a year or two?"
"yes..."
"Oh my~ That's certainly a long time. With a shortage of Hashiras there's definitely going to be more people here."
"I apologize..."
"Oh no! No need to apologize!" Shinobu looked away from her pad to shoot Giyuu a nervous smile. It was a genuine smile. "It's not your fault at all! I didn't mean to hurt your feelings at all! I was just pointing an observation that's all"
Giyuu stayed silent for a while, thinking about how he was going to approach this conversation. Finally he decides to just say,
"Ubuyashiki-sama says we will gain more Hashiras in the future..."
"Wait, really?! That's great news! With more Hashira we will be able to take down those demons!"
"You could become a Hashira..."
Shinobu stops writing. Her whole body stilled before relaxing and letting out a nervous laugh.
"Hahaha, I appreciate the compliment Hashira-sama. Unfortunately, I don't have a strong enough body to slay demons. I can't even cut the head of one."
"So what... you can still be a Hashira..."
Shinobu stayed silent. She was still smiling. But now something has changed, and Giyuu noticed it immediately. He knew this aura all too well. The emotion Shinobu is right now trying her hardest not to show.
Anger...
"Well Hashira-sama~" Her voice was calm, and her words had no venom in them. And yet Giyuu knew that she was furious right now. "Congratulations! You are in good health and ready for your mission tomorrow."
Shinobu closed her notepad and headed to the door. "Please make sure to get a full night's rest. Take care~"
Shinobu exits and closes the door. There is no slam. No yelling. No running. Everything was perfectly normal. Except for that smile. That smile that he thought would never arise, came back.
Giyuu knew he did something wrong. She was incredibly pissed. He just didn't know what he did wrong. He didn't think what he said could raise such a reaction from her.
Giyuu stayed sitting on the bed, pondering what he should do. He stayed for one minute. Then two minutes. Then five minutes. Then ten minutes. Finally, after fifteen minutes he gets up and barges out of the room.
Giyuu walks around the mansion, trying to find Shinobu. However, he couldn't find her at all. No matter where he went or what rooms he entered, he couldn't find her.
Giyuu was about to give up until he saw a little girl with a blue butterfly clip. He goes up behind her and greets her.
"Excuse me..."
Aoi jumps up in shock before turning around and dropping her jaw.
"Hashira-sama?! W-w-w-what can I do f-f-for you?!"
"Would you happen to know where Shinobu Kocho is?"
Aoi hesitates as she feels her heartbeat heavily. She did see where Shinobu went, but she didn't seem like she wanted to be bothered. However she didn't seem to want to be bothered.
However, this was a Hashira asking her. And just by looking up at his face, she could see the cold intimidating face he carries.
'P-p-please forgive me, Shinobu Nee-san!'
"U-u-umm... I saw her go to the rooftop."
"Thank you..." said Giyuu quickly before disappearing in a flash, causing Aoi to flinch again.
When Giyuu arrived at the rooftop, he was greeted with the sight of the night sky. The sky was painted with with dots, and the rooftop was illuminated in natural white light. The warm breeze brought a natural ambience, and the symphony of insects buzzing only added towards it.
As Giyuu glanced around he quickly spots Shinobu on the roof. She's sitting down with her back facing Giyuu. Although very faintly, Giyuu is able to hear some sniffling from her.
Giyuu slowly walks towards her, making his presence well known. It's only when he's directly behind her does Shinobu register his footsteps and turn around. When Giyuu looks at her face, he notices the tears embedded in her eyes. Her face is scrunched up, and there were tear marks across her face.
It seemed Shinobu was ugly crying...
Shinobu inhales sharply from Giyuu, before turning her head back and wiping her tears with her palm.
"H-H-Hashira-sama... what are you doing here?" said Shinobu in a hoarse voice.
Giyuu stays silent, his face betraying no emotion, before responding.
"I wanted to check up on you..."
"Ah well..." says Shinobu while she sniffs. "I'm doing all right, thank you very much"
But she wasn't doing very well. He may be oblivious, but he knew that much. She was trying to put on a smile, but right now was failing horribly.
"Could you tell me... what's on your mind right now?"
"No. No no no I-I possibly couldn't. I don't want to dump my problems right now."
"I promise there'll be no consequences... you can speak freely..."
Shinobu stays silent, her heavy breathing the only indication she was still present. Giyuu went forward and sat to Shinobu's right.
It would make sense if Shinobu felt intimidated to speak right now. Giyuu is a Hashira after all, and they hold a lot of authority in the corps. Giyuu wanted her to know it was safe to open up, so he deliberately sat on level with her.
No one talked. Aside from the sounds emitted from nature, there was silence between them. This time, a silence that was building towards a confrontation.
"Hashira-sama," Shinobu finally said, her voice now soft and controlled. "With all due respect, are you trying to insult me?"
If Giyuu was shocked from that statement (which he was), he didn't show it. He instead opted to remain silent, allowing Shinobu to continue speaking.
"I'm well aware you are a smart individual. I'm also aware that you know of my shortcomings. I'm small. I'm weak. I'm not even strong enough to cut a demon's head. So tell me..."
Shinobu finally looked at Giyuu. Her tears were falling again, but her eyes carried resentment within them.
"Why! Why would you even say that I could be a Hashira?! I can't even be a proper slayer! I'm worthless as one! How could you insult me with something so out of reach for me!"
Yes, in the end that was what Shinobu resented. She resented herself. Growing up, she wanted to fight demons with her sister. But her body had different ideas. While Kanae rose to the rank of Hashira, Shinobu could only stay behind her. No matter how much Kanae encouraged her that she could become a Hashira, in the end there was a harsh truth in this world. Shinobu Kocho was simply not gifted...
"I couldn't even kill a demon during final selection! I did nothing! How could I become a slayer, a Hashira none the less, if I couldn't even pass final selection!!"
She still remembered that night, hiding behind Kanae as she slayed those demons. All she could offer was to heal other slayers that night. That was all she was meant to be in the end. A medic. Not someone in the battlefield.
Shinobu clutched onto her haori as she remembered their mission. The mission where Kanae almost died... and Shinobu wasn't able to do anything. Out of everything she hated in this world, she hated herself the most...
"There's... There's no way someone like you would understand! Unlike me, you're gifted" Shinobu spat, fury seeping into her words. "You are meant to be a Hashira. And me... I'm meant to be this..."
Silence enveloped the area after Shinobu finished talking. She was catching her breath after unleashing her pent up anger. Giyuu however just stayed quiet, his eyes facing the sky above of him. Finally he said something that made Shinobu freeze.
"I also didn't pass final selection..."
Shinobu's eyes widened at the statement. She momentarily stopped breathing as she listened to what Giyuu had to say.
"I'm sure you were able to help in your final selection... but me... I didn't do anything... I got injured from the first demon I saw and wasn't able to kill any other..."
Shinobu's hand clenched in response as she continued to hear what he said.
"My best friend...Sabito... he was the only one to slay all the demons that week... he saved everyone he came across with... and he was the only casualty..."
Shinobu inhaled sharply at that statement. She didn't know that the Water Hashira went through such an experience...
"Overtime I despised myself... convinced that I should have died instead of him... even when I became a Hashira... I could never see myself as one... because I knew if Sabito was here he would have been a greater Hashira then I ever could become... I still believe that..."
Giyuu takes a deep breath before continuing. "However a year ago I finally realized... the mindset I was living wasn't good... it was full of self hate, and I was living a life I knew Sabito would not be happy of..."
Giyuu then looks at Shinobu's eyes, his eyes finally showing a sliver of peace and hope.
"I too am not gifted like you... I'm not naturally strong... I'm not a prodigy in swordsmen ship... and I'm certainly not the best Hashira...however..."
Giyuu lets out a small smile, putting Shinobu in awe from the beauty of his face.
"Before I was comparing myself to Sabito's shadow... when really I should be focused on me... I stopped trying to be a Hashira like him... and started being a Hashira like myself..."
Shinobu's eyes widen as she felt her heart pause from that epiphany.
"I know you can be a Hashira... not because your sister is Kanae-san... but because you're Shinobu Kocho... I saw from that mission that you're talented in your own way... you just got to embrace it..."
Shinobu blinked as she tried not to cry again. This... was the thing she wanted-no... needed to hear. She gave up on her dream a long time ago. But deep down, there was still a hope. A hope that she could still stand next to Kanae and fight side by side.
Now after listening to Giyuu she finally understands. All this time she was really comparing herself to her sister. Hating on herself for not being like her. But now she needs to embrace herself. Learn to love her flaws and see them as gifts.
She could still become a slayer...
Shinobu finally stopped holding her tears as she bends her head down. However, Giyuu is there and hugs her, allowing her to cry even harder on his shoulder.
They stayed like that for a while, just being in each other's company. For so long, a caterpillar was hiking in silence, thirsty for a dream but to weak to reach it. Until it came under the embrace of rain. And with rain, the caterpillar is able to quench it's thirst and continue on it's journey to metamorphosis, no longer in silence.
Finally, Shinobu breaks away, once again wiping her tears with her palm. She glances back at Giyuu to see him offering a handkerchief. Shinobu smiles as she accepts it and wipes her tears with it.
"Th-thank you, Hashira-sama," says Shinobu.
"Giyuu Tomioka..."
"What?"
"My name is Giyuu Tomioka..." responded Giyuu. Giyuu then stands up, his face back to his stoic nature. "You can call me by my name"
"Oh no! I can't do such a thing!"
"It's no problem..." says Giyuu as he starts walking away. "Get some rest..."
Then Giyuu vanishes, leaving Shinobu by herself once again, but no longer feeling alone. She looks at the handkerchief in her hand before a smile dawns on her face...
***
The next day, both Giyuu and Sanemi stood in front of the Butterfly Mansion. Kanae was in front of both of them, listing of all the checks needed for their mission.
"-and you guys will be going into remote locations throughout your mission, so be sure to keep your crows near you at all times. Especially you Tomioka-san. I know your crow is old so you got to take extra care of it"
"Yes, Kanae-san..."
"And don't forget: you may not be able to visit the Butterfly Mansion but that doesn't mean you can't visit any house with the wisteria crest. Make sure to visit any chance you get. I won't be here to check you guy's health. Especially you , Sanemi!
Sanemi sighs. "Yeah yeah we got it! We'll be extra careful."
Kanae sighs in defeat. Honestly she doesn't know why she even tries.
Giyuu looks at the position of the sun before looking back at the couple. "We should get going..."
Kanae looks solemnly at Sanemi, before walking up to him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Sanemi blushes as he puts his hands on the area, memorizing its warmth.
"Take care..." says Kanae with love in her words. She blushes slightly as pulls away from Sanemi. Sanemi just looks at her in awe, before letting out a smile.
"Yea. You too..."
Giyuu and Sanemi turn around to leave, but before they take four steps they hear someone shouting behind them.
"HASHIRA-SAMA! WAIT UP!"
All three Hashiras turn around to see Shinobu sprinting towards them. She stops right in front of Giyuu before putting her hands on her knees and bending down to catch her breath. Giyuu could only raise his eyebrow in response.
"*hah* Ha-*hah* Hashira *hah* -sama," said Shinobu between labored breathes. "You *hah* left this."
She stretches out the handkerchief back to Giyuu. Giyuu looks at it for a while before grabbing it and bowing in response.
"Thanks..."
"Of *hah* -course" replied Shinobu. She then stands up straight, looking up at Giyuu.
"Hashira-sama... You are my superior, so it'll be disrespectful of me to call you 'Tomioka-san'."
Shinobu took a deep breath before continuing, her eyes brimming with passion and determination.
"So wait until I become a Hashira! Then I'll be able to call you by your name as a comrade!" declared Shinobu as she shot a grin.
Giyuu's eyes widened in response. Sanemi just looked, a hint of amusement found in his face. Meanwhile Kanae just stood to the side, her jaw hanging in shock.
Tomioka finally regained his composure before he responded with a message coming from the depths of his heart. Seeing her smile like that always stirred something within him. Something that made him want to spill everything that's within him.
"Sure..."
With that, the Water and the Wind Hashira depart, waving their goodbyes to the Butterfly Sisters. As Shinobu waves goodbye, Kanae looks at her sister, a devious smile appearing on her lips.
"Well, Shinobu-chan~ What was that about?"
Shinobu felt a shiver crawl down her spine. Something told her that the following conversation was not going to go well...