It still wasn't much that she had explored every nook of the village and finding information about the valley did she still find any leads from her mission. She was feeling a bit hopeless at this rate as she stared down at the books that continuously pile at her table in the library.

She had completely lost her time there.

Sighing in hopelessly. Shinobu continued to flip a certain book with thick covers. skimming her eyes from the blotchy handwritings of ink as if the author had written it in heavy dread.

Everything smelled of old paper and polished wood. She wasn't even surprised to find the place devoid of people besides the worn out bookshelves and the oak colored desks. The only person occupying this building was the librarian, and the said person was sleeping with a book covering his face, sprawled around on his chair with a single foot perched atop of his table.

She hadn't paid much attention to him, but all she could say was that said person was a pretty tall guy.

As she walked through the tall lining of the bookshelves.She pondered.

When she found this library. She had noticed that the atmosphere had the same vibe as the outside of village.

Everything was dull, and gray in comparison. Saving up the earth tones that matched it. The curtains were blowing steadily, but not strong enough to cause wide movements, making the place a bit eerie and haunted. And the only remaining life that contrasted it were the vividness of the orange lamps that were hung in the old patterned green walls. It had felt like she was in an antique bookstore.

It had began to drizzle after an hour of her stay there.

And somewhat, the sky had turned into a darker shade as each time passed. it did not help appeal the village's appearance at all. It looked even more depressing when you look at it, as she peered at the window covered in droplets of rain. She wonders how people could find spunk in such a place. The streets were literally littered with street children. Battered and bruised. But when she gave them some candy and a few kind words. They had gleamed almost too quickly. Her heart ached.

But she can't help but smile. There was hope in their eyes. and they cling to their innocence.

Being innocent was such a luxury in this time of grief.

Clutching her jacket together for more warmth. She realized that looking at the colors of this place only reminded her of someone she had left at the butterfly estate. His brooding demeanor, and his dark blue piercing eyes when she gazed back, reflected a somewhat dimmed and guarded emotion. Something he truly kept in the recesses of his human heart despite functioning like a machine. His black spiky hair that was unruly but was as surprisingly soft to her touch matched the darkening skies, His eyes that were suprisingly blue when you looked hard enough matches the cold eerie atmosphere that embraces the whole town.

The stoic man. in comparison to this rain was steady, and silent. Working in the shadows, gloomy but somehow comforting. like the morning cup of tea after waking up in the rainy dawning skies.

Sighing, she lazily flipped a certain page. The paper browned from age, and what remaining crisp it might have had, from the feel of it had yet to soften. Like a decaying petal from a flower.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

When a memory flashed her mind, She remembered the very details of him. Could almost smell the lingering scent he had placed on her. It had already been Three weeks since the whole ordeal between them started.

And still, remembering it made her throat constrict, and the unfamiliar clenching in her stomach resurface. The hard contours of his body meshed with hers. Moving in frenzied and uncontrolled motions. His lips where thick and what deep baritone of his groan that came Through it, vibrated towards her mouth as he drank her in. This in turn, only made her squirm underneath him. And heat surge downward the part of her belly. His hands that roamed over her form constricted and melted her muscles when he trailed those callused hands and left fervent warm trails. It almost felt like her whole body would quickly melt into a puddle.

The feeling of being breathless against him, with their lips almost touching, their pants fanning across their faces and gazes of wanton desire presented on each of their features.

It almost ached thinking about it.

She pressed her thighs together to bleakly constrict the ever uncomfortable feeling that knotted bellow her stomach. And pressed a hand towards her neck where he had left a mark on her. Suppressing the urge to bite her lip she touched a particular book and made an action to open it

Her throat suddenly felt like a lump was somewhat stuck between it. Anxiety ran course through her. And left her questioning the situation.

When she comes back. How will she face him? What would starting over be like? Would he kiss her just like last week? Will he give her those same carnal gazes. How would she even react if it ever came a time she was alone with him again? Would she trust herself?

Her heart practically leapt from it's confines just by thinking of it

Closing her eyes and muttering something incoherent to contain her composure.

She shook her head feeling like an idiot. This mission was the perfect getaway from her feelings for him. Besides, their circumstances as Hashiras just wasnt possible. A lot of things are happening at the same time. The chaos, the grief And the deaths they have yet to face.

But her resolve and never really failed up until now. Not until it was all about him. She gave out a deep sigh. It sucked having emotions and accepting you have these feelings.

She'll figure out the rest when she's done with this mission. She can't afford getting distracted right now.

A cough from her back disrupted her from her thoughts.

"U- hmm... excuse me?" Shinobu took a quick glance at the direction of the voice. It was a boy no far from her age. He had on a scrutinizing look in his face as if he could'nt believe her existence. Like it was the first time he actually saw a human being. "Yes?" Curiously Shinobu said and observed him.

"Are you new here?" An ash blonde boy had asked. He had questioning brown eyes . A pout of uncertainty painting his lips, and The spike of his long blond hair styled his tall appearance in a low ponytail. His slender fingers were rested in his chin in scrutiny.

"Ohh... I'm not from around here." Shinobu said smiling at him gently with her usual mask plastered. Her reply was minimum and straight to the point never straying from the person's obvious upcoming questions.

The boy's eyes seemed to have dropped from dissapointment. But it quickly dissolved before it even became noticeable. "Ah... is that so?"

Shinobu took in the effort to fully face him. That brown vest. And crisp white shirt. It was a uniform. There was a golden plate that shone from the light on the right side of his chest. He must have been the librarian sleeping carelessly on the desk. This in turn made her question it. What did he want from her?

"Is there a problem?" She asked.

"Well... it just suprises me, because for the first time In a while, there's actually somebody here ...to read." He scratched his hair sheepishly giving her a grin that showed off his pearly teeth.

"Well, it's a library is it not?" Shinobu said while closing the thick book in front of her in graceful movements.

He gave out a laugh. This woman. She was interesting. "Aha, well it is. It's just that nobody comes in here anymore. Well, not technically to read that is. The Man remembered the brawl and the damages that was caused by those low life lackeys. He let out a shudder. But that expression completely chanfed when he gazed back at the female in front of him again.

He suddenly clasped his hand. And smiled broadly.

"But since you're here! I think your prescence is a miracle!."

"Oh...?" Shinobu stared back at him dumbly as he rounded her.

"Im really happy someone showed up! I was beggining to believe this library wasn't even made for its real purpose." He mumbled the last part but gave gave her a toothy grin nonetheless.

He moved his face closely towards her face completely disrupting her private space while eyeing her curiously.

"If I may ask where are you from?" the young man questionedbagain peering at her as if he was enchanted. She was about her age. And she looked really pretty! He gulped internally. Shinobu stepped her back regaining her much needed space. And inwardly shuddered.

This Boy was pretty enthusiastic. And flamboyant with the manner he brings himself. It was a bit too much. and internally she was resisting the urge to punch the guy.

When he was not bending his body towards her face, he'll be leaning against something or maybe even proping his arms on a desk, just so he could talk to her eye to eye, treating her like she was some puny little thing. A vein protruded on her head internally. She's getting mad for no reason.

However, This guy although a bit too much actually had a great manners in etiquette. And it made her somewhat relieved. Closing her eyes and forming a smile. She asked. Maybe she could get more information about the valley from this man in front of her. After all what else would she be doing here?

"I would tell you if I knew your name." She said indicating his manners. Shinobu was smiling demurely like him. Like a Darling that she was.

The mysterious young man gave out a breathy laugh. And put a hand towards his stomach almost graciously. His ears tinged pink in embarassment

"Oh! well of course, how rude of me."

he saw her smile taking it as the initiative to take her hand in his. A formal greeting for a beautiful lady.

Slowly, He lowered the half of his body in suave mivement to gently graze his lips on her knuckles, his gaze never leaving hers. Shinobu's eyes widened.

She hadn't even realizhe had let him take her hand.

he smiled at her with all of the happiness he could conjure. At last, there was finally somebody to kill his boredom.

'Just who is this guy?' Shinobu thought bewildered. It's like he took control of my mind.

"Good evening..."

" My name is Douma."

" Just Douma."

Slowly, as if keeping their gazes intact he continued. "And I would be very happy to accompany you in your stay here with a book." He slowly gave out a flirty wink with her hand still in his.


It was at the quiet night that Giyuu stumbled upon a bird flapping noisily towards the balcony of Kochou's laboratory.

Following his gaze with it's trail,

He wonders what a bird could be doing there of all places when she wasn't even there to begin with. Aren't those birds supposed to accompany their masters on the mission? He sighed and closed his eyes in mere thought.

His surroundings was eerie in the midnight. As the chill of the cold night air bit his skin. But it did not bother him one bit because, he was so used to the cold nights back at the small shack that he lived in.

All of the quarters have put their lamps out and decided to turn into their slumbering pillows. The wee hours of early budding winter resurfacing. The owls gave out their call echoing in the moon taking this time in the night in their possesion.

Mindlessly walking, He had just taken his midnight tea that had been delivered to his room. the one scheduled for his injuries. And not after a few more moments did he realize he'd found himself outside the estate for a stroll once again.

Giyuu was quite thankful for the quiet nights like these especially in this state of climate, the cold wind cleared his mind and calmed him better from his jumbled up thoughts.

He continued to stroll leisurely on the territory of the butterfly estate. Not quite leaving but somehow slightly straying away from the structure of the estate itself. His feet dragged towards the sandy ground relishing in the way his sandaled feet rubbed towards the tiny pebbles in his footsteps.

Curiously, He glanced up from Koucho's laboratory window from outside the estate. Unconsciously covering more of himself from the hinge of his yukata. He exhaled a soft breath and gazed at the smoke coming from his breath. Perhaps it was getting a little bit too cold already. He supposes he should resign for the night as well.

However, his tracks were abruptly stopped when he heard that familiar bird flying in haste. Leaving the balcony of Koucho's lab. And noticed that from before, it wasn't carrying anything. But now, It had on it along a small pouch. Giyuu scrutinized his eyes and focused on his breathing. Eyes scrunching up from the whips of the scent that he sensed from it. It was bitter yet left a sweet floral scent. Giyuu's brow furrowed He could almost taste it. There was no mistaking. What he found that small crow was carrying was poison.

What did Shinobu need more poison for when she could have just brought it along In her pack?

As he moved away from his position. Seeing that bird fly away from the distance of the cold night air. Gave his stomach an uncomfortable quench.

Something about this just didn't sit well with him. And he didn't know why. But He brushed it off as he continued to walk towards his room.

Maybe it was the cold getting to him.

Shinobu never forgot things from her pack. She had always been the one who was the most prepared between the two. An extra roll of bandages check, an extra pair of sleeping attire check. He thought it was just a woman's intuition. But he knew her too much when it comes to things like these. She never forgot even the smallest of objects. Like a lock to an earring. Or a cap to a small bottle of vial

.

He sighed and scoffed.

How stupid of him for being this delirious. Maybe she had her reasons. It's not like he was in a position to question her.

Not after everything that happened.

And with that he went to his room.


The next morning Giyuu woke up to the chilly morning air. The sun had yet to rise, and what remaining sounds of the chirping birds that sang in the early dews of the morning were interrupted by the harsh clanging, and thin high pitched scratches of metal. He guesses Tanjiro was outside again training with his sword in his usual pace from the training grounds.

He got up just as he heard Tanjiro gave out a loud battle cry, fading out as Giyuu started to move about his day.

Face scrunching up from a yawn, as if on instinct his body altogether stretched out together for a much needed flexing.

The white shirt he wore wrinkled upwards with his movements. Showing off a not of his porcelain skin.

A knock reverberated through his room.

"Good Morning Giyuu-san! I see, you didnt' oversleep today. That's good." Aoi said. There she was carrying a small tray that included his morning tea and medicine.

Her pigtails bobbed from her movements beaming at him.

"I was getting pretty tired of rolling you out of bed." She said placing the tray on the table behind him.

"I noticed." He hummed.

Aoi glanced at him and sighed exasperatedly. "Then stop stop being so stubborn" She glared at him. Her hands were on her waist as if proving a point.

She had already placed the tray that she held on the table and he didn't give his mind into it. Looking at it in disinterest. Giyuu started off his day by going to the cabinets that held his set of clothes.

He couldn't really blame the young girl about his unproductive sleeping schedule.When he very much lives alone most of his life. It was almost a routine really. After doing strenuous missions the night before. He had always chosen to sleep in when he had the time. With no one to bother him or even shake him awake. It was considered a luxury in his most primal time. There really wasn't anything that interested him, other than training, and eating. Sometimes he would secretly divulge in reading books that would be worthy of his interest. Also, There were certain times when he prefered to work in the night instead. Since he felt like the breeze of the forest in the night calmed him more. Helping him slay the demons at ease. Because In those moments he finds himself a little more at ease, his senses sharp, focused and his movement more coordinated. He realized this when he was still training under that old geezer's tutelage.

Just as Aoi left his room. He went to his borrowed dresser and took some change of clothes.

Giyuu almost thought about joiningTanjiro in his training in the afternoon. But quickly rejected against it. He didn't have a bloody reason for being too mushy around the guy even if he had pledged his life for him and his sister, along with the judgment of his former master. Not only that, he had no reason to join him either.

Maybe he'll do some light training when everyone's knocked up on their beds. The moon looked so bright these past few nights. It was simply a perfect opportunity not to miss it. He liked that It would illuminate his surrounding just enough for him to see the breeze carry the leaves of the trees.


The day had passed like a blur. But he still could not shake the feeling that something was bound to happen.

It was at the third night that Giyuu realized that in his nightly training did he kept seeing the familiar uncoordinated flapping of the bird flying inside Kochou's laboratory at the same time that night.

carrying the same pouch like last time.

He would let himself linger on the bird's movement a little longer. Seeming to read the things it did before it flew off.

He realized the. that it had been doing this routine for a long while now.

There was no hesitance in its movements. It's sense of direction known and perfeclty memorized like the palm of his hand.

The bird's wings are quite used too much to its own comfort, like it only ever got an hour of rest. He decides he's going to pay Koucho's laboratory a visit.


Douma, the name of that librarian had insisted on walking her home since the streets at night were really dangerous. But Shinobu had graciously declined his offer because the library was still in its working hours.

He said he could close early at anytime, because nobody even dared to visit that place.

But she took none of it and had bid her goodbye.

"Thanks so much for helping me.."

Shinobu said.

"Ahh... Shinobu-Chan. Already? Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you? You're already about to leave tomorrow." he scratched the back of his head.

It had already been three days since she kept coming back for more information with Douma's assistance. He had been pleasant enough. But he could go a bit overboard with his flirting. Yea, that part sucked the most during her stay there. But she also found his humor charming. So it was just enough bearable as it was. Even more so he had been so gentle. And suprisimgly at most times she finds him more calm than boisterous.

What was important is that he had actually been a lot of help when she told him about a certain book. And that's what really mattered. They took most of their time finding it in hidden storages. Dusting off books and scrolls that weren't displayed in the library. Soon enough, A scroll had caught Shinobu's attention. It went rolling in her direction when they were finished sorting out and cleaning the mess they'd made. She got a little curious about the scroll so she asked Douma if she could borrow it.

Doumma agreed as long as it was tabbed in the cashier. Because the manager might get his head if there weren't any sign of records.

" I'll try to find out more about the book that would be related to what you have." He said.

"It's alright Douma. I think I already just about have enough information with this scroll I have." Shinobu replied with her usual smile.

"Oh... well. I guess this is it huh?" Replied Douma looking all sullen for a moment. He said warily and his head dropped almost awkwardly.

"I guess it is." Shinobu said. She sighed and smiled sadly at him. He was pleasant enough company more than she thought he would be. She took a small step towards him to pat his head. Standing on her tippy toes as she did so. Douma had to slouch for her to reach the crown of his head. Eyeing her questioningly. Her demure smile was plastered on her pretty doll like face. She hummed in satisfaction in her gentle melodious voice.

Oh... he wished that he could hear more. But as usual, it was always short lived.

Just like the rest of e'm.

He chuckled inwardly and thought about how adorable and soft spoken she was underneath all of those silly masks she wore. She was quite an exquisite creature to say the least. Mysterious he thinks it was. And her smell. Oh dear. Don't even get started about her scent. If he could write all of it in sentences. He might have already published books that could fill an entire empty library. Indeed, he would live to taste the sweet nectar of her blood. maybe even just a drip of it could stimulate him for centuries.

And he wasn't lying

It's been quite a while since he's been this intrigued.

She had her convictions. But just like any other kind people. He wouldn't even be surprised if she thinks she had been indebted to him for helping her find those silly books for her.

"Thank you so much for your help." Shinobu said while patting his head.

"I promise I'll try to get you something when I come back." She stepped back.

Douma snickered inwardly, almost releasing a sinister smile. There it was.

How lovely.

"Oh? it's not necessary. However, Maybe a date could suffice?" He suggested daringly in his calm demeanor. This in turn made her giggle.

"In your dreams Douma. But yea. maybe dinner between two friends would be nice." Shinobu replied.

Douma let out a small whine as Shinobu only let out a giggle.

"Ah... You wound me Shinobu-Chan, And here I thought I had you fancy me. " Said Douma.

"Sorry. " Shinobu said. Turning her back on him. "Dating isn't something I can afford to do right now."

Just as she was a bout to take another step she was stopped by his words.

"So... who is it?" Douma asked. She almost flinched. and he didnt turn a blind eye to it. It was pretty obvious.

"Hmm? Whatever do you mean?" She said carefully. glancing her head towards his direction.

"Well... you know. The 'Lucky Guy'?" Douma said quoting his fingers.

"I don't have someone." She said

"I'll be keeping your words at heart!"


"Iguro-san, could you sense the direction we should take from here?" Shinobu asked. She was composed as usual with her light footsteps. But her appearance seems. bit rustled from all of the fighting they had encountered along the way.

"Give me a sec." The scarfed man replied quietly. He closed his eyes and let his snakes do its job by sensing the disturbances in the air with the use of its slithering tongues.

"There are a bunch of demons in the northwest. It would be too risky to travel along this route. There aren't any blind spots either. The only choice we have is to travel in hidden places."

Iguro replied indifferently.

"I guess the myths weren't kidding that this place is swarmed by demons, every nook and corner you take no?" Shinobu smiled and let out a sigh.

"Guess that's why we have to stay hidden at all cost. This place is like a village of demons." She continued and clicked her tongue.

They wandered along carefully by the shadows. Fortunately, being precautious and quick was not a problem between them.

While Shinobu was entirely light footed and fluid with her movements. Iguro was quite fast and good at sneaking while sensing danger at the same time. Together, they make a good team in ambush and assassination.

"I siggest you keep your guard up more likely, It seems the moment we have entered this island. Means there's little to no amount of rest for us." Iguro replied.

Shinobu could only sigh inwardly. This was going to be troublesome. The island does not receive sunlight. The view of the sun was blocked inside the thick fortress of trees. It compleatley caved thw island it natural light. It seems The demons found a way to intentionally block any form of sunlight out from the outside world. Leaving the daytime and nightime busy with lurking with demons.

They had to search for the guardian of this island. The strongest of demons lurking among this place. That meant they had a lot of enemies that would get in their way.

And not only that. Just as Iguro said, having no rest meant fatigue, and would most likely slow their movements and coordination.

She had to count how many energy repelants she had on her small pack before following Iguro's trail again. It seems they wouldn't have enough to last the week. Which irritated her. Hopefully, she could receive her owl from this forest. It seemed devoid of any living animal creature out there.

The means to the necessity of survival were scarce. Including food, which would they need to hunt.

They had to be careful. she was a getting a tad bit too worried for the first time in a while.