Prologue
The breeze smelt of fresh pines and the raw pungent scent of the damp earth surrounded him, made it seem like the forest was gloomy covered in misty fogs.
Giyuu closed his eyes, other senses sharpening as he took in his surroundings
Forest of greens, a jumble of leaves and vines wrapped the thick tree branches of a giant tree he was standing below of.
The roots were thick and corrupted the plains where he stood. The tree's texture was rough, having probably aged a century already.
As he walked, his feet made sploshing sounds in the muddy ground. It was disturbingly uncomfortable. But he was so used to it. Being out on a mission here and there.
There was never a given room for him to complain in the first place. It was part of the package the day he decided becoming a demon slayer.
The lone figure focused on his breathing without even realizing it. Reasons of this was because, they were trained to do so, non-stop even when their heads hit the pillows as they loose their active minds in slumber.
It had been raining heavily just recently, and the air felt cold from his damp Haori, clinging onto his uniform like second skin. Stopping the urge to shiver, he sighed quietly, as he fixed his stance and cleaned his sword with one swift movement.
Splattering blood on the muddy puddles from the rain, The water Pillar walked across the clearing where he'd rendezvous with his tiny accomplice.
Great, they had to travel in this horrible weather without any survival pack from their journey.
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 were leaving out of town, they were ambushed by a bunch of demons who lost their homes and were finding justice for them killing their boss.
The water pillar had just finished cleaning them up.
As he walked, He repressed another shiver by swallowing the forming lump on his throat.
There was no point in coming back to the village anymore. They had traveled half of the day already. Having to do so would only cause them to land in the same sitiuation as they were in right now.
Besides, they didn't have any money left. He'd tried calling for his crow, But he's been giving the 21st signal already. He guesses the crow couldn't make his move since it was a dangerous flight for him.
It wasn't ideal to set up a camp either.
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 amount of money left to spare on their pockets will never help them in any situation. Unless given by some shear drop of luck that they'd find a dry shelter to pass the storm.
The brooding man grunted as he waited for his accomplice.
They simply both decided to split off into different routes and just meet up in their discussed rendezvous. Since cleaning up wasn't an arduous task and would most likely not take them longer
He had to admit, Even though they can't tolerate each others presence, Surprisingly enough, they both work so well together.
They're timing was swift and how fast they could manage to finish the job always exceeds the expectation of their head.
His annoying accomplice however, was taking her precious time on purpose.
he took in another deep breath to quell in the sense of irritation, to keep himself from rolling his eyes, As she finished for her somewhat ritual of the sorts.
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 clings onto this naive reasoning, when she clearly knows it would more than likely end any warriors life in a matter of a heartbeat.
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 fall in the same place in the end.
It was always the same...
He had watched it happen a few times, and those times, had always led with the demon's demise in her hands. No matter which situation they were in, no matter how young a demon may be. 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 lands. Nothing changed, not a single change of occurrence.
And after those moments were over her eyes would stay blank.
She shouldn't follow her sister's faith in demons so much.
A string of sweet scent wafted through his senses.
And no one had to tell him who was approaching. Because this annoying scent had already been etched on his memory for the past three years they've been together.
The sleeves of her pastel colored Haori flapped around her arms as she descended.
It looked Like delicate wings of innocence and naivety. Something everyone out there with bloods on their hands could ever long for.
Shinobu Kouchou gave out out an image of a delicate butterfly landing gracefully on a pretty flower from the sweet scents of the blooming spring. But there was simply more to her, he'll 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.
She was in front of him at an arm's length. Her smile was sickeningly sweet. Ahh yes that face of mockery.
She was about to start again.
"What have you got there?" Shinobu pointed out on his side. It was bleeding profusely. And he all the more forgot that he had been injured by a cheeky demon a few minutes before.
It was so out of character for him to loose his focus while battling. He may have been distracted about their situation too much.
Knowing her implications as a healer he cut her off. "Leave it." He said shortly. And he just realized that his voice sounded hoarse.
He muttered incoherent curses mentally. Great, he was also poisoned.
And she knew. 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."
She stepped a foot closer to him, pointed her index finger at his chest, and continued.
"Unfortunately enough, Remember what happened when I did? I don't want to have to drag your body heavy body again. And it's cold you know?" She said with her usual gentle tone.
'Giyuu sighed.
"I'm not in the mood Kochou." Giyuu grunted, as he walked pass her.
Shinobu skipped beside him immediately and clutched the back of his wet haori. Stopping him from his movements, Deep blue eyes met dark Ivy ones. Giyu was met by an impending fist going for his head.
This is what usually happens when he cancela her out.
And it was routinely when this happened.
Luckily enough, he caught her before she could land a hit. If his reflexes weren't quick enough, he would have had a nasty lump on his head already.
Shinobu made the move to pull her wrist away from his grip. But he resisted. So she kicked him in the shins, but it was successfully countered by his left leg.
Despite the unusual temper trapped in that small body of hers, he wasn't particularly afraid of it. And that was why he'd always make his way to provoke her as a small payback.
Because he knew perfectly well that he could handle her.
With short and quiet remarks, He'd have her all riled up. Trying to break that facade she wears. Her smile would give out sourly ones instead of it's usual sweetness. Her eyes would go sharp and enraged, instead of it's usual soft and calm... Ah yes... It secretly amused him, and sometimes strangely enough gave him a small drop of satisfaction.
It was the same for her. It was perfectly obvious that she particularly loathed his lone existence.
Not that he cared anyways. Being like this with each other was like breathing air for them.
Giyuu grunted when he stretched his side. He grit his teeth, jaw visibly tensing from the painful movement. and with finality, he pushed his wet fringe backwards and let out a calm huff of breath. He was annoyed. And Shinobu could visibly see it with the way he clenched his jaw despite the blank exterior he displays.
Shinobu recoiled away from him and tapped her foot impatiently. 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 tight in a sinister smile.
With a deep breath to control the pain. "Fine, just give me a vial of your potion." She was clearly not satisfied by his proposition, and almost stared at him incredulously. And it shows clearly by how much she tried to stop herself by watching the suppressed twitching of her brows.
"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 a quarter, you'll loose your sense of touch, and everything will go numb." She rounded 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 giving 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.
Shinobu finally gave a sigh of relief and politely nodded as she motioned for him.
"Good boy, Now, sit down. And drink this."
After a few minutes that took longer than what Giyuu anticipated. They finally began their hunt for shelter.
as they walked, Shinobu's tiny feeling of accomplishment from winning Giyu's reluctance all but diminished. And that was soon followed by the same sense of dread Tomioka was feeling earlier. She had just remembered they had nothing to get them by the day. And the following days on their travels.
"Tomioka-San, can you call Kanzaburo for an emergency delivery?" She asked as they swiftly jump on the woods.
"I tried, but since the weather is bad, he wouldn't be able to travel where we are now "
And as if on queue. It had began to rain again.
Shinobu went silent.
"Ah.. I guess it got worse." She stated glumly.
It was getting colder, each minute that was passing while they were outside.
They had no food,dry clothes , or even supplies that would last them that day. All they've got are a pack of medical supplies. Which startlingly enough was the only thing saved from their previous fighting.
Both suppressed the urge to shiver in each others presence. Kochou was more stubborn not to let it get to her. Unfortunately enough, her body was struggling a lot more than him. Sucks having such a frail body.
And it really frustrated the butterfly patriarch a lot. Especially when she's in the presence of someone who has a good endurance towards it despite being injured.
The rain was painfully chilly, numbing their fingers and the soles of their feet.
As they're stamina thinned. They decided to trek around the forest to further conserve strength..
Not withstanding long enough, Giyuu had also begun feeling the effects of the poison, and the fatigue made him stagger on his footing.
Shinobu with keen eyes saw this, and took his arm to loop it around her shoulders wordlessly, before his face could fall flat on the wet soil.
The stoic man didn't give it much thought anymore, simply dismissing each other's differences , and took in the support she offered without as much as battering an eyelash. It was one of those ultimate points where he was pushed into a corner. And he was just desperate, in pain, tired, and hungry.
And all that he wanted to do was rest.
He knew for certain that she felt the same sentiment.
After the painful miles of their hut hunting, the skies have begun darkening.
Shinobu panted. It was so cold and the breath she released were in quick shivers. The cloud of smoke that escaped her breaths were obscuring her view. Even with her breathing control ongoing. Her voice was failing as it shook very noticeably.
At this point, they nearly lost their hope.
Giyu sneered as he struggled to drag his body along with hers.
They were so used to the dark, having to fight demons in that time. However, their situation never helped them at all.
What if demons started attacking them out of nowhere?
Sure, he could rely on Koucho. But she wasn't in a good shape either. Her teeth was noisily chattering as she breathes. She couldn't even barely manage to give out tiny syllables. And can only release tiny whimpers instead.
"Shit." Giyuu said , as his foot slipped forward.
it was dark, But no matter how skilled they were, their fatigues came into a level where one hadn't realized that they were at the edge of a small cliff.
And before Shinobu could react, she was dragged along with him.
The soil was wet and they continued half slipping and rolling down in mud and twigs.
They were about to fall off a river. Fortunately enough They passed a stump of tree while falling. And finally, with Shinobu's quick reflexes she threw the string and hooked a thin wire from her weapon's pouch around it using her right hand.
She took a hold of the string firmly. And swiftly caught the falling Giyuu with her other arm.
Shinobu gave out a sigh of relief.
Covered in mud. The rain helped washed it away, but the remaining stains stayed 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.
Adding up, her most treasured haori that once belonged to her sister was in no good condition either. She had never let it go that dirty in her presence.
She always managed to finish the job clean as much as possible. Not even a spec of blood or dust could tarnish it. And yet here it was covered in sticky mud and wet rain. She could just pray that her sister wouldn't get mad at her from above for almost destroying her priced haori.
Struggling to walk together and staggering on their footsteps. From afar, as they walked towards the fog. A noticeable house was slowly coming into view.
Undeniably enough, the fall did give them a spec of miracle.
Shinobu almost couldn't believe it. She almost let out a cry. But she beamed beside her companion as an appreciation instead. As she observed him. she could see he the small twitch forming around the corners of his lips
They were actually lucky enough to find a small lumber shelter in the inner most parts of the forests.
It was around a shrouded corner, protected by tall looming bamboo trees. The insect pillar was jumping internally.
They quickly staggered through the porch of the worn out steps, carefully hauling her partner from it.
She almost slipped from excitement, But was stopped short when Giyu made to grab her waist before she collided on the ground.
Muttering a quick thank you, and awkwardly diverting his gaze from her embarrassing clumsiness. Finally, they ascended inside the small shack. And the dread and stress that they had carried along their journey, finally diminished like a passing wind.
They both fell at ease. The house was short on furniture. Only left with a single bed on the right corner. But, beside it sat a small fireplace and that was the most important thing.
He let his accomplice explore the house further.
On the left stood a small circular table with two stools facing each other. Unfortunately enough, There wasn't a bathroom. And Shinobu gulped inwardly. How was she going to dry her clothes? How were they going to wash up?
She quickly made her way to check around the house for dressers, and cabinets. But all she could find were small towels. She found a thick blanket settled on the bed and that was it. She gulped. She slowly turned around to notice that Giyuu was already making the movement of removing his dirty haori. And setting his sword down the table. He sat roughly on the stool as he made his way to remove the uncomfortable wet socks in his achibg feet.
While his small accomplice was pulling the sheets off the bed. Giyuu glanced at his partner out of curiosity.
Shinobu met his stare.
"There aren't any items for clothes left in this house. It looks like whoever the owner is, had lived alone only with a few things. This blanket and two bed-sheets are all I have found." Shinobu made to point out the things they got.
"Still better than sleeping in a cave." Giyuu shrugged casually. As he made to unbutton the top of his dark uniform. It clung to his skin annoyingly, but the thought of finally removing it made him earn a slight relief.
"But, unlike before-" He grunted painfully and stared at his side. His chest now bared for her to see.
"We did have some spare clothes to wear." Giyu finished.
There was silence.
Realizing what he had just said, Giyu 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. But the indication of her hiding it so well made him praise her ability for it a little bit.
All of the embarrassment however, was forgotten when she recognized the angry size of his wound from his open stomach, as she made to move for him.
Shinobu's eyes automatically scanned at the bloody wound on his side. His skin where the wound settled was already turning into a greenish hue.
She unconsciously leaned before him, gently to inspect it further, but he caught her wrists before she could do anything.
"Tomioka-san." she said after a short breath. Quickly followed by silence. As she looked at him seriously.
"How long have you been holding out?" She said quietly.
He guesses, he was already in dire danger, even after the 'necessary things' she did earlier.
Shinobu thinks,He could be dead any minute now.
But in the silence that was his response, when he stared at her long enough to notice that she was suppressing her shiver and was failing miserably. He can't help but think that she must have been freezing to death.
'tch, this idiot.'
He was partnered with her long enough to know that she doesn't take priority over herself first.
"For a while now. It's cold. Get out of those clothes first." He bit out.
However, Despite how right he was. or how deathly freezing she was, he was in no condition to-
Already knowing what she was thinking.
He stared at her as if he meant it, communicating with her silently. It was something they silently grew accustomed to without realizing they could do it..
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 from each other's presence that night.
Each fabric made a noise. It Would slide off unnervingly and would slap and drip uncomfortably on the wooden floor. She can't believe how sticky she felt.
Using the small towel and bucket filled with clean water. She washed herself up.
They both used the bed-sheets to cover their bodies and warm themselves up. But it still felt cold when you're not around the fire.
Shinobu had let her wet hair free from its confines from the typical butterfly pin thay adorned her head. The tips of her maine left a purple tinge in color.
He made to glance at her carefully, fully knowing 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. The shadows dancing on her form.
It may also be his imagination, since the fireplace have made the impression of her flushed as she met his eyes. It was probably from the cold from earlier.
The ravenette clutched onto the bed-sheet wound tightly around her torso.
She wore the thin cotton sheets around her body. Her porcelain arms, slim and naked to the view. She looked so delicate. Like a perfect and pretty porcelain doll in display.
Despite the annoying disposition she had and her small physique. No one could really not notice how good she was to look at.
Clutching the bed-sheet around his waist, fully knowing his side needs to be bare for it to be repaired. The water pillar motioned for her quietly.
It was weird. Giyuu thought. She would have never imagined Koucho had this side to her.
No, he wouldn't comment on how nervous she looked, or how pretty the flush in her cheeks brightened her features.
He groaned out of frustration, Remembering his dreams about 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 when he accidentally inhaled a big whip of her scent. With her this close, It would seem like she had suffocated him with it.
He didn't imagine there was simply more to her scent since he'd never been this close to her before. Warm Honey-vanilla, Lavenders, slightly spiced by the floral scent of wisterias.
He restrained the urge from sighing pleasantly, as he kept holding her a blank stare.
She made to start by inspecting the wounds on his side, The tips of her hair tickling his chest as she moved. Suddenly, He felt her cold fingertips grazing the harsh lines of his wounds. It was so gentle, More like a whisper than a caress.
Already in medic mode, she unconsciously bit her lower lip as she focused on her task. It must have been one of those complex tasks.
Her movements were gentle, measured and practiced. Even forgetting her state of undress.
It was as if she forgot she was there, alone with him.
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 seemed to look the same. He guessed she knows what to do already.
"Can you stay awake for me?" She asked gently. A strand of hair fell from her face like a curtain when she looked up from him. Oddly enough, there was a small urge for him to move it back for her.
But when she made the move to tuck it delicately behind her ear. He felt immediately relieved. and somewhat, disappointed.
She was close, her breath was warm on his skin. It sent him an odd sense of comfort and relief. He felt his tense self relaxing slightly.
Giyuu quietly nodded.
Quite used to his silent demeanor, The insect pillar smiled at him. Then began standing up.
When she stood up from her position, taking the small cloth and a small bucket along with her. The sheets from the slit of her thrifty made dress somewhat rid up causing Giyuu to see a generous display of her creamy fair thighs and legs.
And it was enough to keep him awake.
He felt the back of his neck burning up a bit.
She made to drag herself towards the sink. the bed-sheet glided behind her, caressing the wooden floor. Seeing the subtle shape of her figure under the thin fabric, It clung onto her wide hips as it swayed from her movements, 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 it looked. Or how attractive she was with her hair down.
It framed her face delicately, and made her look more feminine.
A few strands of hair hid a portion of her delicate neck. And he can't stop the curiosity about how it would feel against his fingertips.
He focused on his breathing, letting out any sort of disturbances from his system. Focusing on only one thing. And that was to calm himself from the mysterious thoughts flooding his mind.
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 up his self..
Raven hair down and shaking his head to rid of the droplets.
In the middle of drying the strands with the small towel she 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 was suddenly forgotten.
He held her gaze for a few moments and spoke. "What is it?" He asked quietly.
His hair's spike was somewhat tamed down because of how damp it was. The tips falling just above his waist. It was already getting so long.
She nearly jumped from her position and quickly averted his gaze, clutching the small towel in her chest.
"Oh, I almost thought you were a stranger." Shinobu commented and she made her way towards him again.
"You look like a completely different person with your hair down. Tomioka-san." She said in a smile, and continued to set the things she needed to cure him.
Settling herself beside him. Shinobu subtly observed him from her periphery.
He looked masculine, but still held off some of that soft boyishness from his hard features.
The fingers that thread through his hair, looked calloused and strong. Veins could be seen protruding from it.
His eyes also had this mysterious gleam on it, as the fireplace played with his deep cerulean eyes. She cant help but feel a bit mystified about it despite how envious she was for his skill at masking his emotions so well.
And for a man, his lashes were thick enough and was almost competing over the length of it over hers. His nose, had this aristocratic structure, something she envied with her small pointed ones, 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 about what she was thinking, She distracted herself by rummaging through her medical pouch, trying to find that device that helps extract the poison from a person's
Minutes after minutes, the clocks ticked as the time went by.
After a few shuffling from that medical pouch of hers, Giyuu finally grew apprehensive.
Shinobou squeaked. Her fingers almost shaking 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 we could have lost. Why would it be that item?' She panicked internally.
It stole 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 the way how she would rile him up. How his brows would slightly furrow, his lips would subtly let out a sneer, or how his eyes would slightly harden out of irritation. But, in this given circumstance, his stare made her feel really uncomfortable, Like a deer caught in the headlights.
"What's wrong?" He asked. She immediately averted her eyes.
Heart beating frantically, and trying to suppress the breaking barriers of a resurfacing blush she said.
" I can't find it." she said, her voice a bit high pitched than before. She was slightly panicking in her own world.
And just as she thought the odds werent against their favor.
They will soon be forced into an uncomfortable situation.