Giyuu's head quickly shot up, frantically looking around to try and remember where he was. He saw Kocho, Tanjiro, and the other Hashira still outside relaxing. Looking down, he saw that Nezuko was still sitting with him. He couldn't have been asleep for longer than a few minutes, this was still irresponsible of him to fall asleep during a meeting of all places. He sighed, needing confirmation. "How long was I asleep for?" He looked over to Shinobu, not looking directly at her face again. "No longer than five minutes. When I told the master how you've been missing sleep, he said to leave you be to try and catch up on something."

Giyuu had to remember to give thanks to the master for the kindness of allowing him to rest. His soul truly was a blessed one. Picking Nezuko up from his lap, he slowly placed her back in the box before latching it shut. "Kocho, have them escorted to your estate. Tanjiro is still injured from his encounter with the lower moon, and I doubt Nezuko would be willing to be too far from him." Grunting as he slowly got up, he gave Tanjiro a look of acknowledgement, and was given back a look of gratitude. "Thank you Tomioka, for everything you've done for us. We'll never be able to repay you for all the help and support, but name anything you need us to do!" Giyuu shook his head, looking down at the boy. "All I ask you is keep your sister safe, and continue to get stronger in Water breathing. That's all that matters anymore." Giyuu walked away finally, stepping back into the sun and intent on going home.

Shinobu quickly stood up, calling for the nearby kakushi to help the Kamado siblings. "I need you two to take them to my estate, anywhere the boy goes, the demon girl follows." The two kakushi acknowledged their orders and rushed to the siblings. With her opportunity finally opened, she rushed to Tomioka and quickly caught up. Walking beside him, she looked up to him as he kept his eyes forward. "Last night was the first time you looked at me directly in years Tomioka, I only wish it was under better circumstances." He remained silent as they continued to walk, feeling lucid in mind but utterly exhausted in body. "Tomioka, we need to talk... Just what happened between-"

"We are not having that conversation Kocho. We are not acknowledging it, thinking of it, or anything. Leave it be in the past." He hastened his pace, leaving her behind momentarily. Before she could talk again, she heard people rapidly approaching. "Tomioka-san! Tomioka-san! Iguro has something to say!" Mitsuri was running towards the duo, dragging along Obanai by the arm. Skidding to a halt, they stopped behind him as Obanai looking towards him anxiously. "You know what you need to do Iguro, we talked about this." Mitsuri said with a stern look, watching as Iguro stood before Tomioka-san, avoiding looking directly at him. Giyuu watched him patiently as he waited to see just what this was about.

"I would like to apologize, I've been rude and disrespectful to you for some time now. I shouldn't have threatened you when we were together and singled you out. I shouldn't have insulted your haori without knowing its significance either. It was a time where Kanroji was happy, and I should've just let things go as they were without destroying the mood. Instead after what you willingly did to make Kanroji's day, I was selfish. I was wrong." Giyuu watched the man continue to fidget where he stood, his eyes focused as his mind knew what was happening. "See that wasn't so hard Iguro, I'm sure Tomioka will accept your apology!" Mitsuri hugged Iguro tightly, happy that he was willing to apologize. She was pulled out of her bliss when she heard Tomioka-san chuckling. His face was buried in his hands as his soft chuckle became a hearty laugh.

Everyone watched on as Tomioka laughed. It was genuine, loud, and unsettling. Not even ten minutes ago he was genuinely smiling and everyone believed it a milstone, now they were hearing him laugh in such a manner they didn't believe it was something meant to be heard. Giyuu eventually stopped, having to hold himself up by placing his hands on his knees. "That was quite something Iguro, you nearly had me believing you were doing this out of kindness." He quickly stood straight, looming over everyone. "You deserve some credit though, with how anxious you're appearing I was almost fooled to think you really were sorry."

Obanai looked up to him, annoyed that this wasn't going as hoped. "Why can't you just accept the apology? Was it just not enough for you?" "I don't accept it because I know you're not genuine, you're not doing this because you're sorry. If a demon tells me they won't plan to kill me, am I meant to believe them because they said so?" Giyuu smiled down the snake, looking to Kaburamaru. "Am I meant an apology from him next for biting my face? Or are the comments about me having rat face next?"

Mitsuri was hurt that Tomioka-san would say something like that, wondering where this was coming from. "But he said he was sorry Tomioka-san, he even apologized about how he drove you away the day we ate together!" Giyuu sighed as he began to rub his head, realizing this was going to hurt one of the people he actually liked being around. "Mitsuri, he doesn't care about who he hurts. All he cares about is remaining in your good graces. He's just that selfish. When he apologized back in my village, he didn't do it for me, he apologized for doing it in your presence. If he actually wanted to apologize, you wouldn't have needed to drag him here. He stares down and threatens everyone that interacts with you, not just me. Think carefully, when he's insulted someone with you around, did he apologize to them for what he said? Or did he apologize to you because it upset you and move on?"

Mitsuri tried to search through her memories, but found that Tomioka-san was right. She remembered that Iguro was always nice to her and did anything to see her happy, but she also remembered it was only for her that he was like that. Slowly pulling away, she felt Iguro turn to her as he tried to hold her hand. "Iguro... Do you really not care about anyone else?" "He never has unless their name is Kaburamaru or Mitsuri Kanroji." Mitsuri frowned as she took Iguro's hand away from her. "Why do you think he was so eager to get me away? He didn't want me to take away any of HIS happiness. He lives up to being nothing more than a snake."

Obanai felt anxious at being called selfish and greedy, wanting to hide himself away. It was the exact same way he viewed his family. They had killed countless in the name of the snake demon that granted them riches and joys they couldn't create on their own. He despised them for their actions as he grew up, only to be called out for doing the exact same thing. The moment he saw someone else enjoy something he claimed as his or got too close to Kanroji, he forced them away. He truly did belong to that family it seemed.

The other Hashira started to come to their group after watching from a distance. Giyuu knew him learning how to feel again would ruin everything, but the more he spoke the lighter he felt. "Oh Uzui, you're here too. Good. I'm sorry my depression has made me unflashy in your eyes, unfortunately not everyone's loved one's get to live long enough to act as moral and emotional support." Tengen flinched from having his words be thrown in his face. Tomioka grabbed onto his hands, actually having a sincere expression for some reason. "Believe me, I'm jealous at how free you actually are. Do you think I WANT to be like this? Emotionally stunted, physically starved, and mentally haunted? You can actually talk with confidence, you have people that love you, you're carefree and it's downright envious sometimes. Who wouldn't want to be able to live like that? Unfortunately it's just not in the cards for everyone to have that kind of life."

Everyone was watching Tomioka in fear, confusion, and guilt. The man they had known for years wasn't who they made him to be. They were watching as he was falling apart the seems. What made it most unsettling, he was smiling on every word he spoke. Shinobu slowly moved closer to Tomioka, praying for some kind of way to de-escalate the situation. "Tomioka, we can all talk about this. It's clear you have issue with some of us, some more than others. It doesn't have to be this aggressive though, we can hear you out however you like as long as we all keep calm." She quickly came to regret her trying to intervene, watching Tomioka focus directly on her and dropping the smile. "No, no no no no no. You do not to ask me to not speak my mind, when after years of hounding me to open up is all you've done."

"Do you even know how hard it is to be around you? Do you have any idea the pain being around you causes?! The teasing and name calling is next to nothing, it's when you do it pretending to be her is the issue!" Shinobu stared into his eyes, they were tearing up and bloodshot as he started to move towards her. "You wear her haori, you wear her face and smile, you even try to wear her personality as your own. You do this trying to keep her memory alive, but all it's doing is reminding me what's gone... I already had to deal with all the anger filled words you spoke before she died, but now you do it dressed as her. My memories are being twisted and contorted into being forced to see her say what you try to do daily! Do you just hate me that much?!"

Shinobu fell to the ground, shaking uncontrollably as she looked up to Giyuu, tearing up herself. His voice sounded utterly broken. She had this level of effect on him from her very existence. All she had done to try to get close to him over the years, and all it was doing was the opposite. He continued to walk closer to her, crouching down next to her. His eyes almost reminded her of Tokito's, lifeless and full. "Tell me something Kocho, would you have been happier if I died that day rather than Kanae? I know what my answer is." He turned away from everyone, walking away as he almost looked lost in what to do anymore. Shinobu was confused as to what he was asking, but this had to be another thing that happened between the two she wasn't aware of.

Giyuu backed away as everyone was focused on him. He knew this was going to happen because of him expressing himself again, but he wasn't sure if he cared anymore. He couldn't tell if he was feeling better or worse, but the words just kept coming. "There you go everyone, I finally opened up. You couldn't just let me have the one thing in life I wanted, you all just kept pushing. I can never have what I want, it's all about the collective right? All about the group's feelings? I try to be alone because I don't feel I deserve to be here, I don't want more people getting hurt because I'm around so I keep away, people get upset. I finally open up to you all how I feel, let everything out and finally say what's on my mind, and you're still upset. Sometimes you really just can't win in life."

Sanemi heard what Tomioka had said, but a part of his mind just couldn't process it. "What the hell was it you just said?" Giyuu turned to him, almost feeling like laughing again. "Your whole reason to hate me, you're entire reason for how you feel towards me, it was all just your own damn imagination. I always said I'm different from you all because I don't believe I belong here. That idea that I was better, was just in your head that you used to justify your anger. Forgive me for not being sociable, but remember when I said with people like you Shinazugawa that I want to be alone?"

"You're nothing more than an angry and feral animal. I have killed demons that had more personable skills than you. All you ever do is degrade and talk down on almost everyone. I don't have a doubt in my mind you would've killed the three of us earlier before the master and tried to justify yourself and hope to be forgiven like your anger has before. Your strength as a swordsman deserves nothing but respect, but as a man you're nothing but a nightmare. Excuse me for my trauma wanting to turn me into an outcast, but at least it didn't turn me into something as bloodthirsty as the very things we're hired to kill."

Sanemi stared off into space, his mind running rampant. He saw his old self before him, the child of himself when he stood up to his father. He was the oldest, he was meant to keep his family safe. Safe from the violent and angry man known as his father that was meant to be the head of the family and keep them all safe. He remembered using similar words against him when he tried to hit his mother, and now those very words were being used on him. He became the very thing he hated in the eyes of others, and he felt disgusted.

"All I've done since knowing any of you, has been nothing but have admiration for all of you. Your skills, your capabilities, all I wanted was to feel like I belonged to stand with you. Now I just don't even want to be here anymore. Congratulations everyone, you've made the living envious of the dead. At least their pain stops at some point." Giyuu shook his head as he turned around, walking as if he was utterly lifeless. Everyone watched as he continued to walk away, not sure of what to do anymore. Shinobu watched on as he left them behind, petrified by the reality they were forced to face.

She couldn't leave this as things were, she never meant to hurt him as bad as he said! All she ever wanted was to do was to help him! She tried to rush towards him to see if there was even anything she could do to help things take a better turn, but she found herself being held back by Mitsuri. "Mitsuri let me go! We have to try to set things right!" She struggled to break free, but was completely unable to do anything. Mitsuri continued to hold her friend back, now starting to wheep as well. "He doesn't want to be around us... He doesn't like us anymore... We need to give him the space he wants for once..." Shinobu stared on as Giyuu continued to walk away. She did all she could think of doing and cried out. "I'm sorry!"

Giyuu finally stopped, but refused to look back. "I'm sorry Tomioka! I never wanted to hurt you, all I ever wanted was for you to be a part of us! Ever since I met you you've always tried to be alone, I just couldn't bare to see you like that! Even if you hate me for it, all I ever wanted to do was be by your side!" Giyuu slowly turned around, focusing on the little purple butterfly that was staring him down. Walking back over, he stopped just before her, even maintaining eye contact. Slowly, he removed his haori and top garments of his uniform. He heard gasps all around him, but kept looking at Kocho. "I can forgive the effort Kocho, but I'm not sure I can forgive the process. I don't care about the things you said anymore, I cared about how you said it while acting as her. Being alone is just what's best for me, I won't have to live through someone else close dying because of being around me. Just let this cursed existence solve its own issue."

Shinobu looked at him in horror, taking in the details of his body's history. He was covered in scars, some stretching down to below his waistline. They were everything from bite marks to claw streaks, burn marks, and things she couldn't diagnose. Some were years old, some didn't even look fully healed. He turned away once again, and his back looked much the same. "Tomioka what are you going to do? What are you planning?" "Relax, I don't plan on dying just yet, someone has to stay alive to protect Nezuko. And after today, there's a very short list of who I trust to oversee that responsibility. I just can't be here right now."

Everyone stood in silence as they all were figuring out what to do. They all had waited for the day that he would open up to them, they got what they wanted, but none wanted it to be this way. Mitsuri and Shinobu were embracing each other as they continued to cry, Obanai and Sanemi were lost in their own worlds, and Tengen was feeling utterly conflicted and was trying to recieve support by Kyojuro. The only ones who had some semblance of personal control was Muichiro and Gyomei, only due to not being on the recieving end of Giyuu's frustrations. "The ornament was loud today, angry, why was he like that? I can't remember much, but I know he's quieter than that normally."

Shinobu couldn't help but laugh as she cleaned up her face. "Oh Good, while Tokito-san sees us all as animals, he sees Tomioka as an inanimate object. I'm sure that helps everything." Gyomei walked to the middle of the crowd, his head hanging with sadness. "Our comrade has been suffering in silence for years, and has been broken by the weight of his pain. The only way we can atone for the actions and inaction is to help him recover from his pain and his past." Shinobu was the first to speak, looking towards Gyomei. "No! Us trying to do things like that is how we got here in the first place. We need to actually listen to him for once and leave him alone..."

Tengen spoke up next, wearing an expression of shame. "Let's leave him alone for at least until tomorrow. We all saw those kind of injuries, call it a wellness check and talk about it. All that-" Tengen sighed as he took his headband off and rubbed the back of his head. "He was honest with every word, his heart spiked from all the adrenaline of venting, but there was never an irregularity. Who knows how long he's been holding all that in. I'm with Kocho, he needs that space at least for some stretch of time." All the Hashira who could, agreed to the idea. One by one they left the grounds, each now wearing new found weights on their minds and hearts.

The next day, all Hashira had converged to the butterfly estate. They used this as their agreed upon meeting place, before moving together as a group to visit Giyuu. With minimal words spoken between everyone, they all left to find their comrade in arms. After some time traveling, they could see the Water estate in the distance. As they arrived to the door, they were met by an eerie sight. Giyuu's uniform top was impaled onto the front door with a kitchen knife. None knew what it meant, only agreeing that he wasn't here for them to try and talk with. "At least he promised he wouldn't die, by the sound of yesterday his life goal is to protect that demon girl. Plus we can assume he still has his nichirin, so we know he can defend himself." Tengen said as he leaned against the wall.

"I have suspicion about something, it's something I saw when I did a house call here a few months ago. Uzui-san can you find us a way inside?" Shinobu asked as she pulled his uniform garments off the door, holding onto them. Tengen nodded before disappearing, surveying every part of the exterior of the house. "Everyone! This side of the house! There's a window that wasn't properly secured! Going in now!" Tengen quickly jumped in through the window, he suddenly felt as if the building was abandoned.

Unlocking the front door for everyone, he greeted them with a false bravado. "Welcome all, to the most unflashy depressing place you've lived long enough to see." Everyone awkwardly walked inside, suddenly realizing that Uzui wasn't exaggerating somehow. There was hardly any furniture throughout the house, everything seemed closed off, cold. "Can anyone tell me what it is you see? The air is cold, but that is all I can perceive." Gyomei stood in the middle of the living room, hearing his comrades walk around the building. Sanemi finally spoke up, feeling almost as drained as Tomioka looked. "Imagine a place as lonely as how Tomioka decided to live."

Shinobu walked back to the display she had seen from her last visit, the mirrored haori and the bookshelf. She quickly called everyone over, the group looking towards the display in confusion and curiosity. "Does he seriously have a second version of this unflashy thing? First thing I'm doing when he's back, I'm dragging him out and going shopping for a new wardrobe." Everyone looked at it curiously, with Mitsuri coming up with an idea. "Wait, we can all see it's flipped. What if they were two separate designs and he stitched the parts together?" "If that's the case, he really does need fashion help."

From the haori, all eyes shifted to the bookshelf. Each shelf only had the box dedicated to the space. The group saw the multiple boxes, questioning themselves which one to take first. "Three boxes, three different starting points." "Why not the top most one? Maybe it's the first person Tomioka-san...lost." "Could be the one that hurt him the most to lose." "I do not have an opinion! I just do not agree with this invasion of privacy we are committing!" Shinobu sighed, pointing for Tengen to grab the top one. "Just start there and work down. Just remember to put it back when we're done, the last thing we need is for him to return home with things out of place."

Tengen grabbed the box from the highest shelf, actually finding there wasn't a speck of dust on it. "Whatever may be in these boxes must be special, they're ornate in design and spotless. Now I'm actually curious." Putting the box down on the table before then, Tengen carefully opened the lid for all to see its contents. Everyone looked inside the box in to see a bright red bow, perfectly tied as if it were in use. They saw a picture resting beneath the bow, curious if this was the person it belonged to. Lifting the bow carefully, they were able to grab the picture and see two people.

One was a woman no older than most of their group, the other was a young boy. They both had long dark hair, and wore faces of utter joy. "This can't just be some any random couple, especially if Tomioka is the one to have this about them." Everyone put the picture and bow down and tried to close the box. "Wait wait don't close it!" Mitsuri shouted as Tengen froze in place and looked towards her confused from her yelling. "There's something written on the inside of the lid." Everyone took a second glance to see she was correct, only to see that it was a memorial for the girl.

'Here lies Tsutako Tomioka. Beloved elder sister. Pure hearted caregiver. Died the day before her wedding to defend her little brother. I'm sorry Tsu, there isn't a day that goes by where I don't wish you were the one to escape that day. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, it's why I can't ask you to protect me from above. Never stop smiling.'

Everyone felt their mouth's become dry as the box slowly closed. They had found the memorial for Tomioka's elder sister, who had apparently sacrificed her life to be able to keep him safe. "That picture of the boy had to be Tomioka, he looks younger than even Tokito-san." 'Probably as old as I was when I lost Kanae nee-san.' Shinobu focused on the pictures again, seeing just how full of life his eyes used to be. It was almost like seeing someone else entirely, but she soon realized the irony that Tomioka really was still a stranger. Most of the other Hashira remained silent, knowing the pain of losing a family member.

Tengen quickly put the box back to its original place, looking back to the group. "Okay, this has already gotten horrifically more depressing than any of us thought it would. What's the verdict everyone? Do we call it now and pretend this never happened, or do we go further down the rabbit hole?" Shinobu didn't bother to speak, before grabbing the next box. "I already said I don't care if he hates me, I will not let him suffer in his own. If any of you want to leave, I won't hold this against you." She sat down before placing the box from the middle shelf on the table. Mitsuri sat next to her, slapping her own face to prepare herself. "Tomioka-san managed to actually smile while we were out two months ago, that was the first time I ever saw him do that! I know he can feel better again, I don't want him to be hurting anymore!"

Mitsuri quickly pulled the box open wide, only to be even more confused from when they opened the first one. It looked like what remained of a mask, only it was shattered into pieces. It was well made from what she could see, so it was saddening to see it was destroyed. "Does anyone recognize this kind of mask?" She looked around to see if anyone had an answer, but saw that most of everyone shook their head. "Kanroji, may you please describe it for me?" Gyomei stepped forward next to the couch. "From what I can tell it's a fox mask carved from wood, there's some inscription that was carved into it, but it's missing pieces."

Gyomei speculated what it could be, but didn't have any knowledge of its origins. "It could be a warding gift, something used to offer protection from harm's way. I do not know who made it though." "I have some idea who may know, but we'll save that for later. Let's just read what the memorial is on this person." Shinobu added to the conversation, before lifting up the lid for everyone to see.

'Here lies Sabito. Courageous friend. Strong of heart, strong of will, strong of body. Gave his life to be the sole fatality at final selection. I'm sorry old friend, I wasn't strong enough to be by your side. You were the one meant to become Hashira, and I should've died in that forest. May I one day become as strong as you, so others won't have to die in my place again.'

Shinobu and Sanemi both stared at the words of the inscription. Shinobu remember when she talked to Tomioka about his associate that saved him at final selection. He should still be at her estate for treatment after the Mt. Natagumo incident, so perhaps he could give the other parts of the story they were missing. Sanemi remembered the loss of his old friend Masachika, having died at the hand of the Lower Moon demon they were hunting. He was wondering just how talented and skilled this Sabito person had to be for Tomioka to write something like this, especially if this boy was so praised only from his actions at final selection.

Closing the box, Mitsuri picked it up off the table and placed it in its original position. "There's still one box left, and he's already had to go through this much, think like this. Do I even ask if he still has parents?" She started to tear up, starting to sniffle as her emotions continued to try and break out. "I know he said he wanted to be alone, and he's afraid of getting attached again, but just why... Why couldn't he let us help him? He seemed to really enjoy that day we were out... There had to be some amount of the young him we saw in that picture." She looked to the group, before her eyes focused on Iguro. She turned away with a huff, upset with him that he only added to the long list of pain.

Obanai watched as Mitsuri turned away from him in disappointment. Ever since the previous day, she had grown distant from him. She had barely acknowledged him from the time they all met at Kocho's estate. He supposed this was possibly karma at work for his actions. Tomioka actually had shown outright fury when he forced him to leave Kanroji alone. What he spoke of almost resonated with him: The denial of joy. Obanai was reminded of his earlier years, the years of his life when he was confined to that cage. He too was denied any sense of joy before joining the slayers. He may not have been in a physical cage, but it appeared Tomioka was in a mental one. Trapped in the past from the pain he endured and was reminded of.

"There is still one box left! Even if we may have an idea who it may be for, I am still curious what it is that Tomioka has in remembrance!" Kyojuro focused on the last box, grabbing it slowly before sitting on the couch. Sanemi, Shinobu, Tengen, and Gyomei all looked at it with a sense of unease. The reality of who this was for left a tense atmosphere around them. None of them had really seen Kanae and Tomioka interact much outside of Hashira meetings or missions, so everyone that knew her seemed to be in the dark. "Here goes nothing!" Kyojuro slowly opened the box as the anticipation grew through everyone.

Multiple gasps were heard, instantly recognizing the item that was used. Shinobu reached down to the box, picking up a distinct pink and green butterfly hairpin. "Nee-san..." "Kanae.." "Kocho.." The newer Hashira could finally understand the significance of who this person meant to them. Giyuu was in visceral pain when he let out how he felt about the Kocho sisters. He made it clear how this woman meant to him, and how Shinobu's very presence meant to him. Looking down, there was another picture. This only added to the questions everyone had as to what they were left in the dark about.

It was a picture of Giyuu and Kanae, and both were smiling. Their smiles were wide, Kanae had jumped onto his back, poking his sides. She had made him break out of his shell. None had seen Tomioka smile for years, to see multiple instances of him do it in such a short time was otherworldly. "Tomioka, did Aoi or Kanao give this to you? Did they know what was happening?" Shinobu asked the open space before putting the hairpin back down. Lifting up the lid, she had to see what was written, hoping to get any kind of clear answer.

'Here lies Kanae Kocho. A beautiful flower. An ever caring soul. Died against encounter with Upper Moon two. Died taking my mission because I was too injured to take it. Died because I was too weak to be there. She gave me friendship and companionship, and all I gave her was an early grave. May the butterflies forgive me in the next life, because I know I do not deserve it in this one. I'm sorry Aoi, I'm sorry Kanao, Im sorry Shinobu.'

Shinobu couldn't help but fall to her knees, crying as she held onto herself. "Shinobu!" "Kocho!" Everyone rushed to her side, unsure what to do or how to help as she continued to wail. Now she understood what Tomioka's question earlier meant. For every person he lost, he blamed himself for it, believing if he had done more things would be different. He wished to die in Tsutako's place so she would live out the happy future she could've had. He wished to die in the place of Sabito so then the person he believed deserving would be Hashira. He wished to die in the place of Kanae so then a stitched together family wouldn't fall apart again.

"For years, YEARS, I've reminded him of her! Because of just being around him, I never let the wounds of the past heal! He was always hurting, blaming himself, and I only made it worse!" Shinobu continued to wail and weep, feeling Mitsuri and Gyomei hold onto her. She couldn't blame him or be angry with him about Kanae's death, not when he was as much a victim to losing her. "You must not blame yourself for something you did not know Shinobu. None of us knew what they were, and we still do not. You must hold strong. Tomioka does not blame you, so why must you blame yourself?" Gyomei had known the girl since she was young, saving her when she was still a child. He failed to save her from anguish before, he refused to fail saving her again. 'Did I remind him of a lost friend, a trustworthy comrade in arms, or a fallen lover? How much worse did I make things?' She continued to cry, wanting to just lose herself in the pain believing it to be just.

After several minutes of crying and silence, they were greeted by the sound of wings flapping. Everyone looked up, seeing an old crow land on the table. "Cawwww. Loud, so loud. Why are you here? Giyuu doesn't get visitors." Shinobu recognized the bird, wiping her eyes. "Hello Kanzaburou. It's me, Shinobu." The crow tilted its head, remembering now. "Oh, lady Shinobu. Giyuu isn't here. He let me stay here, said his travel home would be too long for me. He's a good friend." Kanzaburou looked around, before noticing the box and hairpin. "Lady Kanae..." Kanzaburou lowered his head against the box, rubbing against it softly.

Shinobu watched as even Kanzaburou mourned for her sister. Apparently not only humans thought the world of her. "Kanzaburou do you know where Tomioka said home was?" Kanzaburou looked around slowly, before shaking his head. "Can't remember, too old to be good at job. Giyuu knows I want to work though, let's me stay, doesn't want to replace me. He's my friend." Shinobu sighed as she picked up the old bird, softly petting it. "Can I give you a mission Kanzaburou?" He nodded slowly as he looked up to her. "Can you bring Aoi, Kanao, and the slayer known as Murata here? All three of them are at my estate, we would like to talk to them." "Yes, lady Shinobu." She smiled again after what felt like an eternity, walking over to the window and watching him fly away. "If we can't get answers from Tomioka, maybe we can find them somewhere else."