Chapter Text
The breeze smelled of fresh pines and the raw, pungent scent of the damp earth that surrounded him, making the forest feel heavy and overgrown, swallowed in drifting veils of mist. The air carried a faint chill, cool enough to slip beneath fabric and cling to the skin while each breath tasted clean yet rich with moss, soaked bark, and the mineral tang of wet stone hidden beneath the soil.
Giyuu closed his eyes, his other senses sharpening as he took in his surroundings. The forest was not silent, it breathed. Somewhere high above, droplets gathered at the tips of pine needles before falling in soft, uneven taps against the ground. Leaves whispered where the wind threaded through the canopy, insects hummed in low, constant drones, and far in the distance, water trickled patiently over stone.
He stood in a lush green forest buried beneath jumbles of fallen leaves, long since softened into dark mulch. The ground beneath his sandals was uneven and spongey; when he shifted his weight, the earth gave slightly with a muted, damp crunch. Mist coiled lazily between the trunks, brushing against his clothes and beading faint moisture along the edges of his haori sleeves. Shapes blurred in the haze — a fallen log resembled a crouched figure and a crooked branch seemed like an outstretched arm.
Throngs of vines wrapped around the thick branches of the giant tree he stood beneath, their surfaces slick with moisture. The roots were thick and twisted, corrupting the plains where he stood, rising like frozen serpents from the soil. When his hand rested against the trunk, the bark scraped rough against his palm, ridged, grooved and cool with lingering dampness. Bits of lichen crumbled under his touch, releasing the sharp, grounding scent of resin from wood that had likely stood for over a century.
As he walked, his feet made sploshing sounds in the muddy ground. The wet earth sucked lightly at his sandals with every step, reluctant to let go, thick brown water rippling outward in shallow puddles. It was disturbingly uncomfortable. But he was so used to it, being out on missions here and there.
There had never been any room for him to complain in the first place. It was part of the package the day he decided to become a demon slayer.
The lone figure focused on his breathing without even realizing it. Each inhale slow and controlled, each exhale steady, quiet and measured. His chest rose and fell in a practiced rhythm that had long since replaced natural habit. The reason for this was because they were trained to do so non-stop even when their heads hit the pillows and they lost their active minds in slumber. Even in sleep, their bodies remembered discipline when their minds could not.
It had been raining heavily just recently, and the air felt cold on his damp haori which was clinging onto his uniform like second skin. The fabric dragged slightly at his shoulders with every movement, heavy with rainwater, the chill settling deep into his muscles. A stray droplet slid from the tip of his sleeve and fell to the ground below. Stopping the urge to shiver, he sighed quietly, as he fixed his stance and cleaned his sword with one swift movement. As he did so, the blade gave a soft metallic whisper as it cut through the air, dark blood flinging from the steel in thin, arcing streaks.
Splattering blood into the muddy puddles left by the rain, the Water Pillar walked across the clearing where he would rendezvous with his tiny accomplice. Red swirled into brown, quickly swallowed by the murky water until no clear trace remained. The clearing itself was half-drowned, trampled grass flattened into the mud, the scent of iron faint but unmistakable beneath the damp smell of soil.
Great, they had to travel in this horrible weather without any survival pack for their journey. The cold would settle in deeper by nightfall, and wet fabric would only grow heavier with time but still, his pace never faltered.
Giyuu, the brooding quiet man and the Insect Pillar had been finishing off some stray demons in the last few minutes of the afternoon. As they had been leaving the town, they had been ambushed by a bunch of demons who had lost their homes and were seeking vengeance because their boss had been killed.
The water pillar had just finished killing them. A cold drizzle slid down his hair and streaked across his face, mixing with the grime and sweat of the fight. As he walked, he repressed another shiver by swallowing the forming lump in his throat. The muscles in his jaw tightened, and his shoulders stiffened against the chill, the damp haori clinging uncomfortably to his uniform. Every step sent a squelching sound into the mud, echoing faintly in the empty outskirts of the town.
There was no point in going back to the village anymore. They had traveled for half of the day already. Even if they returned to the village, nothing would improve their situation because they didn't have any money left. His pockets were empty, the weight of scarcity pressing down on him as surely as the low-hanging clouds overhead.
He had tried calling for his crow but he had already given 21 signals and there was still no response. He guessed that Kanzaburo couldn't make his move since it was a dangerous flight for him.
It wasn't ideal to set up a camp either. The ground was soaked, cold seeping up through the roots and stone. Fallen branches slick with water threatened every misstep. The thought of trying to start a fire, of huddling under a makeshift covering, was enough to tighten his chest with frustration.
Gods, it was cold.
Not only that, but the situation of the scarceness of their supplies made him feel dreary.
The weather, their lost things, and the little to no money left to spare on their pockets would never help them in any situation. He prayed that by some sheer stroke of luck they could find a dry shelter to pass the storm.
The brooding man grunted as he waited for his accomplice. His eyes scanned the muddy clearing, noting the fallen branches, slick roots, and dense, misty shadows threading between the trees.
Both of them had simply decided to split off into different routes and just meet up at their discussed location, since it would make the killing faster.
He had to admit that even though they couldn't tolerate each other's presence, surprisingly enough, they both worked very well together.
Their timing was swift and they always managed to quickly finish the job and this was something that always exceeded his expectations.
His annoying accomplice, however, was taking her precious time on purpose.
He took in another deep breath to quell the sense of irritation, keepign himself from rolling his eyes as she finished her ritual of some sort. The damp forest air filled his lungs, sharp and heavy with rain and mud, yet it did nothing to wash away the prickling impatience in his chest.
Perhaps she was doing it on purpose to get on his nerves. He didn't know, he never really understood what she was doing.
She clung onto this naive reasoning, when she clearly knew it would more than likely end any warrior's life in a matter of a heartbeat. Every instinct screamed at him that she should act faster, yet she lingered, and he couldn’t reconcile the contradiction.
He knew for a fact that she was smarter than this. So why was she doing it when it looked like she didn't even have an ounce of faith in what she was doing?
He would see her interrogating them, talking to them, and crazily enough trying to befriend them, when in fact they both knew it would all end the same way it usually did.
It was always the same...
He had watched it happen a few times, and those times, had always ended with the demon's demise in her hands. No mercy, no hesitation — just cold, precise termination. No matter which situation they were in, no matter how young a demon was, It would still end devastatingly for the other end.
She would watch as the life behind their eyes left, before leaving them off into their ashes.
It was the same, always the same. Always where her false hope landed. Nothing changed, not a single occurrence of change. And yet, for some reason, she still continued this ritual.
And after those moments would be over, her eyes would also remain blank. No triumph, no relief, only that haunting, unreadable emptiness would be displayed over her face.
She shouldn't follow her sister's faith in demons so much. The thought lodged itself in his chest, unspoken but undeniable.
A string of sweet scent wafted through his senses. The subtle fragrance teased the edges of his awareness, floral yet sharp, oddly cloying against the damp, muddy air around him.
No one had to tell him who was approaching because this annoying scent had already been etched into his memory for the past three years they had been together.
The sleeves of her pastel colored haori flapped around her arms as she descended. Each movement delicate, precise, almost hypnotic, like petals caught in a gentle breeze.
They looked like delicate wings of innocence and naivety, something everyone out there with blood on their hands always longed for. But Giyuu knew better — he had seen the hidden steel beneath that softness and the precision behind that smile.
Some sunlight seemed to reflect off her hair and haori, the contrast jarring against the blood and mud that clung to his boots and uniform.
Shinobu Kochou gave out an image of a delicate butterfly landing gracefully on a pretty flower with the sweet scents of the blooming spring. But there was simply more to her, he would definitely argue.
And that was the roaring temper inside that small body of hers. One should not be be fooled by her visage.
"Tomioka-san."
Shinobu smiled at him sweetly. The curve of her lips was slow, deliberate, masking amusement with false innocence.
She was in front of him at an arm's length. Her smile was sickeningly sweet. Ahh yes, that face of mockery. Her eyes glinted, sharp and teasing, catching the dim light of the overcast sky filtering through the trees.
She was about to start again.
"What have you got there?"
Shinobu pointed at his side. He followed her gesture and finally noticed the streak of dark blood running down his ribs, soaking into the fabric of his uniform. It was bleeding profusely and he had almost forgotten that he had been injured by a cheeky demon a few minutes before.
It was so out of character for him to lose his focus while battling. He may have been distracted by their situation too much.
"Leave it."
He said shortly and that's when he realized that his voice sounded hoarse. Rough and dry, barely carrying over the drizzle and rustling leaves.
He muttered incoherent curses mentally. Great, he was also poisoned.
And she knew it obviously. This would serve to make her even more stubborn than she already was.
"Tomioka-san, if you wish to die here then please be my guest. I would happily leave you here. It would even be in my favor so I wouldn't have to be stuck with your presence on missions any longer." Her smile never wavered as she said it, voice light as spring air, as if she were commenting on the weather instead of his possible death.
She stepped a foot closer to him and pointed her index finger at his chest, the tip of her finger tapped against the damp fabric over his sternum, firm despite her delicate appearance.
"Unfortunately enough, remember what happened when I did? I don't want to have to drag your heavy body again and it's cold you know?"
She said with her usual gentle tone. Sweet, polite — completely at odds with the threat buried in her words.
Giyuu sighed. The sound left him slow and tired, a thin cloud of breath fading into the cold air.
"I'm not in the mood, Kochou."
Giyuu grunted, as he walked pass her. Mud squelched under his sandals, wet haori clinging heavily to his shoulders as he brushed by.
Shinobu skipped beside him immediately and clutched the back of his wet haori, stopping him from moving. Her fingers twisted into the soaked fabric with surprising strength, the sudden tug jolting him back half a step. Deep blue eyes met dark ivy ones. There was a spark there — bright, sharp and dangerously calm. Giyuu was met by an impending fist aimed for his head.
This was what usually happened when he ignored her regarding an injury.
And it happened routinely, much to his dismay.
Luckily enough, he caught her wrist before she could land a hit, his fingers wrapping around her slender wrist. If his reflexes hadn't been quick enough, he would have had a nasty lump on his head already.
Shinobu tried to pull her wrist away from his grip but he resisted. Her brows twitched, smile tightening. So she kicked him in the shins, only for him to successfully counter with his left leg.
Despite the unusual temper trapped in that small body of hers, he wasn't particularly afraid of it. He had seen worse, faced worse. Her anger was quick, bright but never truly meant to harm him.That was probably why he had always made it a habit to provoke her as a small payback.
Because he knew perfectly well that he could handle her.
His short and quiet remarks would rile her up, breaking the facade she weared all the time abit. Her mocking smiles would turn into sour ones. Her eyes would turn sharp and enraged, instead of their usual softness...Ah yes...It secretly amused him, and sometimes, strangely enough, gave him a small drop of satisfaction. A rare feeling, small but real, slipping past the walls he kept around himself.
It was the same for her. It was perfectly obvious that she particularly loathed his lone existence.
Not that he cared anyways or at least, that’s what he told himself. Being like this with each other was like breathing air for them. Natural. Constant. A strange, unspoken rhythm neither of them ever tried to break.
Giyuu grunted when he stretched his side. A sharp twinge of pain shot through his ribs, muscles pulling tight. He grit his teeth, jaw visibly tensing from the painful movement. With finality, he pushed his wet fringe backwards and let out a calm huff of breath. His chest rose and fell slowly, but the quiet tension in his shoulders betrayed his annoyance. He was annoyed and Shinobu could visibly see it in the way he clenched his jaw despite the blank exterior he displayed.
Shinobu stepped away from him and tapped her foot impatiently. The soft thud against mud-slicked earth barely carried in the quiet forest, yet it punctuated her irritation perfectly. Giving him a dirty look, she said.
"My, my, Tomioka-san, you really know how to test a person's patience. "
Her delicate brows lifted and her lips turned into a sinister smile. The motion was graceful, precise, an almost mocking elegance that somehow made him flinch internally despite himself.
Giyuu knew she wasn't going to let him off so easily so he took a deep breath to control the pain and said.
"Fine, just give me a vial of your potion."
She was clearly not satisfied with his proposition, and almost stared at him incredulously. Her deep purple eyes narrowed, and a faint twitch ran across her delicate brows, betraying her struggle to remain composed. She was trying not to twitch her eyebrows.
"If I must inform you Tomioka-san. I am very well versed with the scent of that poison and it should not be taken lightly"
She said with her arms closed.
"Enlighten me."
He replied flatly with a bored expression.
She cleared her throat and began.
"After sometime, you'll lose your sense of touch, and everything will go numb."
She circeled around him.
"Then, you'll recoil into an excruciatingly painful series of seizures. After that, It's going to melt your insides like acid- "
Giyuu closed his eyes and gulped, letting out a huff of breath to hide his shiver.
"Fine, Just do something that will make me last while we're finding shelter."
He said flatly, but the slight quiver in his jaw betrayed the pain he refused to acknowledge.
Shinobu finally gave a sigh of relief and politely nodded as she motioned for him. The movement was graceful, precise, yet carried a warmth that contrasted sharply with her usual sharp demeanor.
"Good boy, Now, sit down and drink this."
After a few minutes that took longer than Giyuu had anticipated, they finally began their hunt for shelter. Mud squelched beneath their feet, mist swirled through the trees, and the storm continued its quiet, relentless drizzle.
As they walked, Shinobu's tiny feeling of accomplishment from "winning" diminished. It was soon followed by the same sense of dread Tomioka had felt earlier. She had just remembered that they had nothing to get them through the day, let alone the following days of their travels.
"Tomioka-san, can you call Kanzaburo for an emergency delivery?"
She asked as they swiftly jumped onto the trees.
"I tried, but since the weather is bad, he can't travel to where we are now."
And as if on queue, it began to rain again. Cold droplets hit their faces, soaking hair and haori, the patter loud against leaves and earth.
Shinobu went silent.
"Ah.. I guess it got worse."
She stated grimly. Her fingers flexed against the haori, trying to warm themselves against the icy rain.
It was getting colder, with each second that passed while they were outside. Every gust of wind cut through the soaked layers, chilling bones and muscles alike.
They had no food, dry clothes, or even supplies that would last them the day. All they had was a pack of medical supplies.
Both suppressed the urge to shiver in each other's presence. Shinobu’s lips pressed thin, stubborn as ever, refusing to let herself tremble. Shinobu was more stubborn, refusing to let it get to her. Unfortunately enough, her body was struggling far more than his. Her tiny frame under the pastel haori shook subtly with each step.
Sucks having such a frail body.
And it really frustrated the butterfly patriarch a lot, especially when she was in the presence of someone who had good endurance against the cold despite being injured.
The rain was painfully chilling, numbing their fingers and the soles of their feet. Water seeped through boots, dripping down socks, chilling their toes into near numbness.
As their stamina thinned, they decided to trek around the forest to further conserve their strength. Branches scraped their haori and mud sucked at their boots, making progress slow and exhausting.
Not being able to withstand the cold anymore, Giyuu had also begun feeling the effects of the poison, and the fatigue made him stagger on his footing.
Shinobu, with her keen eyes, noticed this, so she took his arm and looped it around her shoulders wordlessly, before his face could fall flat on the wet soil. Her small frame held his weight with surprising stability, her damp haori pressing against his chest.
The stoic man didn't give it much thought at that moment, simply dismissing each other's differences , and accepted the support she offered without as much as batting an eyelash. The motion was quiet, almost mundane, but spoke volumes of the trust and desperation shared between them. It was one of those ultimate points where he had been pushed into a corner. He was just desperate, tired, hungry and in pain.
And all he wanted to do was to rest. The ache in his limbs screamed for reprieve, yet he had to push on.
He knew for certain that she felt the same. Her breaths were fast, trembling with cold, shoulders hunched under soaked layers, yet she offered no complaint.
After the painful miles of walking to find shelter, the skies began darkening.
Shinobu panted. It was so cold and the breaths she released were in quick shivers. The clouds of smoke escaping her mouth obscured her view. Mist and breath mingled, swirling into the dim light of the forest. Even with her breathing control ongoing, her voice faltered as it shook very noticeably.
At this point, they had nearly lost any hope they had left. Exhaustion weighed on their limbs like lead, every step slower than the last and every breath sharper against the damp air.
Giyu sneered as he struggled to drag his body along with hers. His soaked haori stuck to his sides, mud squelching under every step, muscles screaming against the effort.
They were so used to the dark from fighting demons in that time. However, this time around, it only worsened their situation. The forest swallowed them, shadows blending with the mist, hiding uneven terrain, twisted roots, and loose stones.
What if demons started attacking them out of nowhere?
Sure, he could rely on the Insect Pillar but she wasn't in good shape either. Her teeth chattered noisily with every breath. She barely managed to form tiny syllables and released faint whimpers instead.
"Shit."
Giyuu said as his foot slipped forward. Mud gave way beneath his boot, water splashing up in dark streaks.
No matter how skilled they were in the dark, their fatigue had come to a level where one wouldn't even realize that they were at the edge of a small cliff.
And before Shinobu could react, she was dragged along with him. Heart lurching, her fingers scrabbled for purchase on wet soil and slick roots.
The soil was wet and they continued half slipping and rolling down in mud and twigs. Leaves and splinters scraped against skin and clothes, water rushing past in faint trickles as the incline steepened.
They were about to fall in a river. Cold water surged beneath the edge, the roar of it growing louder in their ears. Fortunately enough, they passed a stump of a tree while falling so Shinobu, with her quick reflexes, threw a string hooked with a thin wire she found in her weapon's pouch using her right hand.
She took a firm hold of the string and swiftly caught the falling Giyuu with her other arm.
Shinobu gave out a sigh of relief. A shiver ran through her, cold and damp, but she pressed on, steadying the both of them.
Providentially, the rain washed most of the mud away, but some stains remained on their clothes.
At one point, it really annoyed the small ravenette. She had never felt nor looked this unsanitary and disheveled in her entire life.
And to make it worse, her most treasured haori that once belonged to her beloved sister was in terrible condition. Mud and water ruined the pristine fabric. She had never let it get that dirty in her presence.
She had always managed to finish the job as cleanly as possible. Not even a spec of blood or dust ever tarnished her clothes. And yet here she was, covered with sticky mud and wet rain. She could only pray that her sister wouldn't get mad at her from above for almost destroying her priced haori.
They were struggling to walk together and staggered on their footsteps. From afar, as they walked towards the fog, a noticeable house slowly came into view. Its silhouette loomed faintly through the mist, muted by the rain and shadows of surrounding trees.
Undeniably, the fall had given them a speck of a miracle.
Shinobu almost couldn't believe it, relief tingled through her fingers and toes. She nearly let out a cry but instead beamed beside her companion in appreciation. Her damp hair clung to her cheeks, but for the first time in hours, her eyes sparkled. As she observed him, she could see the small twitch forming at the corners of his lips. A faint, almost imperceptible sign that even the stoic Water Pillar felt the same relief.
They were actually lucky enough to find a small shelter in the innermost parts of the forest.
It was around a shrouded corner, protected by tall, looming bamboo trees. The Insect Pillar was practically jumping internally.
They quickly staggered up the porch made of worn-out wooden steps. Each step groaned softly under their weight, slick with rainwater and mud.
Shinobu almost slipped from excitement, but was stopped or rather saved when Giyuu quickly grabbed her waist before she collided with the ground. A tiny gasp escaped her in surprise, and a flutter of heat rose to her cheeks.
She muttered a quick "thank you", and awkwardly diverted her gaze from his, embarrassed by her clumsiness. Hair plastered to her forehead, she wiped a bead of rain away with the sleeve of her haori.
Finally, they ventured into the small shack. The dread and stress that they had carried along their journey, finally diminished as fast as lightning. The air inside smelled faintly of wood smoke and earth, warm and dry compared to the forest outside.
They both felt at ease. The soft creak of the floorboards underfoot was the only sound besides the quiet crackle of the fireplace. The house was short on furniture and only had a single bed in the right corner. But beside it was a small fireplace and that was the most important thing.
He let his accomplice explore the house further. Shinobu’s steps were careful, tapping lightly against the worn floor, her eyes scanning every nook and cranny.
On the left, there stood a small circular table with two stools facing each other. Unfortunately, there wasn't a bathroom so Shinobu gulped inwardly.
How was she going to dry her clothes? How were they going to wash up? Her mind raced as she looked at their damp haoris and mud-caked socks.
She quickly made her way around the house, checking for dressers and cabinets. But all she found were small towels which were barely enough to cover their soaked bodies. She also spotted a thick blanket settled on the bed and that was it. She gulped and slowly turned around to notice that Giyuu had already put his sword down on the table and was removing his dirty haori. He sat roughly on the stool and he reached for his aching feet to remove the uncomfortable wet socks.
While his small accomplice was pulling the sheets off the bed, Giyuu glanced at his partner out of curiosity. The dim light from the fireplace flickered over her delicate features, reflecting faintly in her dark purple eyes.
Shinobu met his stare. Her gaze was steady, unflinching, though a faint tightness around her lips betrayed the slightest tension.
"There aren't any items or clothes left in this house. It looks like whoever the owner was, had lived alone only with a few things. This blanket and two bed-sheets are all I have found."
Shinobu pointed out the things she had found. Her small hand brushed against the soft folds of the blanket, shaking slightly from cold and fatigue.
"Still better than sleeping in a cave."
Giyuu shrugged casually. As he tried to unbutton the top of his dark uniform, it clung to his skin annoyingly, but the thought of finally removing it brought him a slight relief.
"But, unlike before—"
He grunted painfully and stared at his side, his chest now bare for her to see.
"We do have some spare clothes to wear."
Giyuu finished.
Silence followed, thick in the warm, cramped room.
Realizing what he had just said, Giyuu gulped quietly and slowly made his way to carefully stare at his accomplice.
She looked unfazed, but he could tell that she felt somewhat uncomfortable about their situation. The fact that she was able to hide it so perfectly made him praise her ability a little bit.
All of the embarrassment, however, was forgotten when she recognized the rather large size of his wound on his shoulder so she immediately moved towards him. Her steps were cautious, light, and precise, betraying her training as much as her concern.
Shinobu's eyes automatically scanned the bloody wound on his side. The greenish hue creeping along the edges made her frown subtly.
She unconsciously leaned toward him, to gently inspect it further, but he caught her wrists before she could do anything. His grip was firm but careful, stopping her without hurting her.
"Tomioka-san."
She said after a short breath which was quickly followed by silence as she looked at him seriously. Her expression sharpened, soft features now fully composed into concern.
"How long have you been holding out?"
She said quietly. Her voice barely above a whisper, but it carried an edge that made him stiffen slightly.
He guessed that he was already in dire danger, even after the 'necessary things' she had done earlier to annoy him.
He could be dead any minute now, Shinobu realized and she didn't like the dull ache in her chest at the very thought of him dying. Her small hands flexed slightly, gripping the towel as if it could steady her rising panic.
In the silence, he stared at her long enough to notice that she was failing miserably to suppress her shivers. Her body trembled faintly, shoulders hunching, teeth barely visible through clenched lips. So he couldn't help but think that she must have been freezing to death.
'Seriously, why is she like this?' He thought begrugingly, jaw tightening as he glanced at her.
He had been partnered with her long enough to know that she would always put the needs of others first. Always. No matter how miserable, cold, or tired she was herself.
"It's going to be really cold for a while so get out of those clothes first."
He bit out reluctantly. The words were curt, almost harsh, but there was concern hidden beneath the stoic tone.
However, despite how right he was. or how seriously she was freezing, he was in no condition to-
He already knew what she was thinking.
He stared at her as if he meant it, communicating with her silently. It was something they had silently grown accustomed to without realizing.
And suddenly, they both found themselves on the floor with their backs facing each other, only a few feet apart. Personal space wasn't actually a choice in the matter.
In the small confined space and the quiet roaring of the flames from the fireplace, they quickly removed their clothes one by one while the other looked away.
Each fabric made a noise. It would slide off unnervingly and would slap and drip uncomfortably on the wooden floor. Damp air clung to their skin, and every movement left a trace of water on the floorboards. She couldn't believe how sticky she felt.
Using the small towel and bucket filled with clean water, she washed herself up. The cool liquid contrasted painfully with her chilled skin, but it brought a small sense of relief.
They both used the bed-sheets to cover their bodies and warm themselves up but it still felt cold since they weren't around the fire. The sheets clung damply, absorbing some of the lingering moisture from their bodies.
Shinobu had let her wet hair free from the typical butterfly pin that adorned her head. Strands clung to her neck and cheeks, dark at the roots but fading into a soft purple at the tips
He glanced at her carefully after being sure that she was decent enough.
The fireplace lit the whole house, and he could see how the warm glow of the light played with her figure. Shadows danced along the curves of her form, flickering with each movement, as if painting her in strokes of light and shadow.
It was definitely his imagination, since the fireplace had made the impression of a flustered Insect Pillar as she met his eyes. Her cheeks were tinged with pink, lips slightly parted and hair damp against her shoulders —It was probably from the cold from earlier, Giyuu thought.
The ravenette clutched onto the bed-sheet that was wound tightly around her torso. Fingers curled around the fabric, pulling it closer, trying to trap the little warmth her body could muste
She had wore the thin cotton sheets around her body. The fabric clung lightly to her frame, damp in some places from the earlier rain, soft against her pale skin. Her porcelain arms were slim and naked to the view. The faint glow of the fireplace cast gentle shadows along her shoulders and collarbones. She looked so delicate like a perfect and pretty porcelain doll on display.
Despite the annoying disposition she had and her small physique, no one could deny the fact that she was pretty good to look at. Her hair spilled loosely around her face, the tips brushing the sheets with a faint rustle, its subtle purple tinge catching the flickering light.
He clutched the bed-sheet around his waist, fully knowing his side needed to be bare for it to heal, the Water Pillar motioned for her quietly.
It was weird, Giyuu thought. He never would have imagined that Kochou had this side to her.
No, right now, he wouldn't comment on how nervous she looked, or how the pretty flush in her cheeks brightened her features.
He groaned out of frustration, remembering the weird and annoying dreams he had been having about her, and gulped, slaking priority over his pride before anything else, and masked everything that he felt.
It was probably just the poison getting into his head.
When she moved closer to him, he was caught off guard since he accidentally inhaled a big whiff of her scent. With her this close, It felt like she had suffocated him with it.
He hadn't imagined there was simply more to her scent since he had never been this close to her before. It was intoxicatingly warm —honeyed vanilla wrapped in soft lavender, with a gentle floral spice of blooming wisteria.
Every inhale drew him in, but he restrained the urge to sigh pleasantly as he gave her a blank stare. Mind you, if she was good at hiding her emotions then he was also just as good at it, if not more.
She started by inspecting the wounds on his side. The tips of her hair brushed his chest as she leaned over him, soft and delicate, almost tickling against the tensed muscles. Suddenly, he felt her cold fingertips grazing the harsh lines of his wounds. The sensation was so gentle, more like a whisper than a caress. He wanted to ignore the ache deep within his chest.
She was already in medic mode and she unconsciously bit her lower lip as she focused on her task. Each movement was precise and controlled, with the practiced elegance of someone who had spent years perfecting her craft.
Her movements were gentle, measured and practiced. It was almost hypnotic, a careful rhythm that drew him in without him realizing it.
It felt as if she had forgotten the fact that they were alone in the middle of the night in a forest, wearing blankets over their naked bodies.
It was as if she had forgotten she was there with him alone, just the two of them. He silently praised her focus. The faint warmth from the fire and the coolness of the blankets created a fragile bubble around them.
Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she took a small sample of his blood from a syringe. Perhaps she had to make an antidote for it still.
"Tomioka-san."
She said his name quietly as she stared at him, catching his attention. Her eyes were calm but intense, and he knew she already had a plan.
"Can you stay awake for me?"
Oh god
She had asked so gently. A strand of hair fell from her face when she looked up at him. Oddly enough, there was a small urge to tuck the strand of hair behind her soft ears.
But when she made the move to tuck it delicately behind her ear herself, he immediately felt relieved and somewhat, disappointed.
She was close, her breath was warm on his skin. It sent an odd sense of comfort and ache through his body. He felt his tense body relaxing slightly.
Giyuu quietly nodded.
Quite used to his silent demeanor, the Insect Pillar smiled at him.
Then she stood up from her position, taking the small cloth and a small bucket along with her. The sheets from the slit of her hastily made dress had somewhat ridden up causing Giyuu to see a generous display of her creamy, fair thighs and legs.
And mind you, it was enough to keep him awake.
He felt the back of his neck burning up a bit.
She dragged herself towards the sink and the bed-sheet glided behind her, caressing the wooden floor. Seeing the subtle shape of her figure under the thin fabric made Giyuu shift uncomfortably. It clung onto her wide round hips as it swayed from her movements and her light footsteps padded on the creaking wooden floor like a gentle dance.
Her naked upper-back was faced towards him and Giyuu believed that the poison was really getting into his senses, giving him thoughts about how soft and smooth her skin looked. Or how attractive she was with her hair down.
Oh god, especially that.
Her hair framed her face delicately, and made her look more feminine, more beautiful, hotter and sexie—, Giyuu stopped himself and let out a sigh.
A few strands of hair hid a portion of her delicate neck and he couldnt stop the curiosity about how it would feel against his fingertips and lips.
He tried to control his breathing, letting out any sort of disturbances from his system. He focused only on his heartbeat which successfully calmed him down and stopped his racing inappropriate thoughts about the butterfly standing infront of him.
From the fireplace, Giyuu shivered, the cold suddenly getting to him. He distracted himself by pulling off the hair tie from his wet hair and moved closer to the fireplace to effectively warm himself up.
His raven hair were down and he shaked his head to get rid of the droplets.
In the middle of drying the strands with the small towel she had conjured from the dressers, with his back turned around, he felt her stop in her tracks. He stopped what he was doing and glanced back at her.
His long jet black hair were suddenly forgotten as he held her gaze for a few moments and spoke.
"What is it?"
He asked quietly.
His hair's spikes were somewhat tamed down because of how damp it was, the tips falling just above his waist. It was already getting so long. He should probably cut his hair soon, Giyuu noted mentally.
She nearly jumped from her position and quickly averted her gaze, clutching the small towel in her chest which caused confusion to spread on Giyuu's face.
"Oh, I almost thought you were a stranger."
Shinobu commented and made her way towards him again.
"You look like a completely different person with your hair down. Tomioka-san."
'And so do you, in a very beautiful wa—', Giyu bit down the thought.
Settling herself beside him, Shinobu subtly observed him from her peripheral vision.
He looked masculine, but still held some of that soft boyishness from his hard features.
The fingers that threaded through his hair, looked calloused and strong with veins protruding from them.
His eyes also had this mysterious gleam to them, as the fireplace played with his deep cerulean eyes. She couldn't help but feel a bit mystified due to it despite how envious she was for his skill at masking his emotions so well.
And for a man, his lashes were thick enough to almost compete over the length with hers. His nose had this aristocratic structure, something she envied since she had a small pointed one, and his lips were thick, red from the cold.
As for his build....
She bit her lip unconsciously and sucked on the insides of her cheek.
No, That was insane, she didn't find him attractive at all. She mentally argued with herself.
She just thought he had...nice hands.
Her brow twitched.
Quickly realizing what she was thinking about, she distracted herself by rummaging through her medical pouch, trying to find that device that helps extract the poison from a person's body.
The clock ticked as time went by.
After she searched her medical pouch, Giyuu finally grew apprehensive.
Shinobou squeaked. Her fingers almost shaking out of disbelief.
'Where was it? For the love of gods, how could she lose that item now?'
'Why now? Out of all the things she could have lost, why would it be that item?' She panicked internally.
Her panic managed to steal the attention of the man in front of her.
'Oh goodness, Anything but his eyes right now', she pleaded.
Don't get her wrong, she loved it when she riled him up which would cause his brows to slightly furrow and his lips would subtly let out a sneer, or sometimes his eyes would slightly harden out of irritation. But, in this very moment, his stare made her feel really uncomfortable like a deer caught in the headlights.
"What's wrong?"
He asked.
She immediately averted her eyes.
Her heart beated frantically against her ribcage and she was trying to suppress the blush creeping onto her face.
"I can't find it."
She finally said, her voice a bit high pitched than before. She was slightly panicking in her own world.
Once they had found the house, she had started thinking that maybe the odds really weren't against their favor.
But she had been wrong ofcourse and now they would soon be forced into an even more uncomfortable situation.