Word count: 461
Hold me dear in your arms
.
. . .
Normally, she stands strong, straight. She has to. She's a Pillar after all. Everybody leans on her for support, and she gladly provides that support. She's the one who defeats demons with a single strong thrust of her blade. She's the one who carefully heals illnesses and broken limbs. She's the one who tightly hold the hands of those who are on the verge of leaving this world. And she does so with a flawless smile painted on her face, a mask she has crafted and perfected through the years. The mask that conceals the turmoil inside of her.
Normally, Kochou Shinobu stands strong, straight.
But sometimes, she wavers. Akin to a graceful noblewoman who suddenly loses her balance, she cannot avoid to trip and fail.
She's still young, after all. Barely a year older than her sister when she died. Sometimes, her well-crafted mask just slips and she cannot hide the darkness in her heart anymore.
Sometimes, she's a small child again seeking the care and comfort of her sister's arms. But she's not here anymore, and she can't bother her younger sisters with her own problems. They're the ones who need to be protected. They're the ones who need to be comforted at night.
And she will provide that solace and that protection with a smile gracing her features, even if her heart is torn and bleeds in its solitude.
She's a Pillar after all. Even Pillars fail. But it doesn't matter how many times she fails, he will always be there to catch her hand.
Tomioka-san. He's a strange, silent person, though he doesn't have bad intentions. He's just as lost as her in this devastated world. At least, he stands stronger.
And so, when people's eyes no longer lay on her anymore, when the pain is too much to bear anymore, hidden in the darkness of the night, she seeks his embrace. Strong arms holding her, a strong chest to lean on, his scent and his warmth enveloping her. And he cradles her with the greatest care, as if she's a delicate doll that might break at any given moment. She might actually break. She might actually be already broken, and despite him holding her carefully, nobody can put her pieces back together anymore.
Still, she will keep selfishly asking for his presence, his warmth, his very existence, for he's the only one who can make her forget her pain and her guilt. He's the only one who can make their time stop.
Snuggling in his arms, her tears finally start to dry.
For a moment, she doesn't want to face reality anymore. She knows he will let her stay there for as long as she needs.
Until then, she can still pretend the world simply disappeared.
. . .
.
~A few notes about this chapter:~
■ Canon compliant/Non AU
■ I really need a hug