A Hashira Love Story - Chapter 4
~ Three Months Later ~
It was past midnight at the butterfly mansion and Shinobu laid in bed, entangled in a flurry of blankets and pillows with her lover laying by her side. His arm was wrapped around her waist as she stared up at the ceiling while caressing her fingers gently against Giyuu's arm.
She was now about four months along into her pregnancy and her belly had grown, still small but round and perfect. She was now able to feel light kicks and little movements and it always excited both mother and father when their baby would move.
The baby was growing strong and at a healthy rate. He or she would arrive in just a few more months which were blissfully passing by ever so quickly.
Although it was all very exciting, Shinobu was highly emotional and still getting used to all the changes her body was going through and it was at times like these when it was late in the dead of night, Giyuu was sleeping by her side and she was left awake, staring up at the ceiling, anxiously overthinking as unwanted thoughts invaded her mind keeping her from finding sleep.
Being pregnant left her feeling useless and yearning for some physical action like she had been so used to. It was such a drastic change from being a fit and active Hashira who battled demons to a suddenly bed ridden one forced to keep away from any and all action. She wasn't allowed to go on missions and it was getting more difficult to move around the further she got into her pregnancy as her belly continued to swell.
The only thing that stopped Shinobu from feeling entirely useless during these high demand times was working with Lady Tamayo. Shinobu was still able to help in creating a cure but she often became quite tired and fatigued way too easily whilst being pregnant and Tamayo refused to work with her the minute she showed any signs of drowsiness as the demoness knew all about pregnancy and how working too hard wasn't good for mother or child. Tamayo was kind and very supportive and only wanted what was best for her and the baby, but Shinobu, who had always been such a hard worker, hated that it had to be like that.
"I can sense you thinking…" Giyuu said quietly. "What's on your mind?"
Shinobu sighed. As per usual, Giyuu was always highly intuitive and would always wake up to the loud silence in the room.
"It's just that I feel so useless. I feel like I can't do anything and I… I feel like I've let everyone down…" She quietly replied.
The rest of the Hashiras had eventually found out about her pregnancy and she could just sense that they judged her and Giyuu for having a baby at such a crucial time when they needed to prepare for war. Shinobu being out of action meant one less Hashira so she felt that they had every right to look down on them for being so careless even though her becoming pregnant was unplanned and not intentional. As for Giyuu, he couldn't care less about what the other Hashira's thought about them. To hell with them he thought. The only people who seemed to be understanding and supportive was of course Tanjirou, Lady Tamayo and the Ubuyashiki family who were pleasant and more than accepting when they heard the news.
Lady Amane had informed them that Oyakata-sama was thrilled to hear that finally during these hard and depressing times, some good news had come through… however… not everyone saw it that way… especially Iguro who basically looked down on Giyuu for practically disposing of another Hashira in the first place by getting her pregnant when they were so scarce at the greatest time of need. There were already two Hashira that were gone from the ranks and now thanks to Giyuu, there were three!
Ever so surprisingly, Sanemi, the Wind Hashira, showed no judgment to the pair and in fact, he professed to Shinobu that he would protect her and the child at all costs on finding out the news. This made Giyuu a little angry and jealous as he knew that Shinazugawa was only saying that because he thought that Giyuu wasn't strong enough to protect them himself. They had an ongoing feud and the two absolutely despised each other. Sanemi had always been somewhat protective of the Insect Hashira as her late older sister was the woman of whom he loved so he felt somewhat obligated to look after her and check in from time to time. Giyuu couldn't help but feel a little over possessive of Shinobu whenever he would see them talking together.
Shinobu felt her hormones raging again and she began to cry, questioning all of her decisions as she doubted herself.
'I've failed the demon slayer corps… I've let everyone down… I'm not worthy of holding the title of a Hashira.' she harshly thought to herself as she brought her small palms to her face and turned over to quietly cry to the side so that Giyuu wouldn't see her.
"Hey… don't cry… You haven't let anyone down." Giyuu said as he also turned on his side and pulled her back against his chest while he caressed her shoulder with a soothing hand. "We both knew that it wasn't going to be easy but we made the best decision we could have. Please do not feel bad about it. It's nobody's business but ours."
Shinobu just couldn't connect with Giyuu's words. He was so sweet and comforting to her and always assured her that he had no regrets and neither should she… but it was just so hard. It wasn't as though Shinobu regretted her decision in keeping their baby, she loved her child; she just wished that she had become pregnant under different circumstances. Right now the Hashira were vital and she felt she had abandoned her friends and her duties… God forbid if anyone were to die while she was incapable of doing anything to help during this war. She didn't know if she could handle the huge amount of guilt she would feel.
"You're not useless, baby. You are helping Tamayo to find a cure for demons. That's the most important job of all. Stop being so hard on yourself. What you're doing is more useful than all the Hashira combined." Giyuu said to her.
Shinobu couldn't help but smirk at that final statement because it was such a lie. He was trying so hard to make her feel better but in truth, none of his words were getting through to her and if she heard anymore of this nonsense, she was sure to impulsively lash out at him so she needed to go before she would say things she would later regret.
Shinobu sat up and reached for her Haori as she carefully made to get out of the bed.
"I'm just going to get some fresh air. I'll be back soon." She said to Giyuu indicating that she was in need of some alone time.
Giyuu, though he hated when she left his side and was out of his sight, nodded. She had yelled at him the last time he had insisted on going with her and then cried accusing him of thinking she was incapable of taking care of herself and their baby. He knew she was hormonal due to being pregnant and he didn't want to provoke a reaction like that ever again… so he remained in bed and let her do whatever she needed to do.
Shinobu walked out of the butterfly mansion and walked along the verandahs until she reached the garden bathing under the moonlight. It was peaceful and serene to feel the fresh cool air brush against her face and to listen to the rustling of trees and crickets chirping a harmonious melody together with the symphonies of hooing from the night owls. She walked towards the cherry blossom tree that the first flower breather had planted. She gazed at it with sad eyes as it reminded her of her nee-san. She sighed in shame and defeat as she felt guilt ridden.
'I'm so sorry Kanae… I have failed to avenge you my beautiful sister…' Shinobu thought to herself as more tears fell from her eyes.
"Master…" a mellow voice quietly called out.
Shinobu turned around to see Kanao standing before her. It brought a smile to her face to see the youngest butterfly sister looking well and healthy. They had hardly spent any time together recently and they both missed each other dearly. Kanao was busy with Hashira training and Shinobu was constantly in the shadows working with Tamayo.
"Good evening Kanao. What are you doing up so late?" Shinobu asked her in a sweet tone as she attempted to disguise her sadness.
Kanao didn't reply. Shinobu was used to Kanao being silent, but the look on her face showed worry and concern… a rare sight that would alarm anyone who knew Kanao and her usual expressionless aura.
"What is it?" Shinobu said, suddenly concerned for her younger sister. It was very rare when she displayed emotion.
"Are you alright… I worry for you…" Kanao said softly, hesitating as she spoke as if she were thinking about every word before it left her lips.
Shinobu felt a little taken aback. Kanao was worried for her? She didn't want her to be worried at all… she quickly brought a smile to her face and with her best attempt and sounding confident, "No need to worry Kanao. I am fine." Shinobu assured her.
Kanao looked up at her master and noticed her freshly dried tears on her cheeks. Kanao was hesitant to ask but she quickly overcame her fear as she considered not just her master but her sister's condition as her eyes wandered to her belly.
"It must be really hard for you… being pregnant…" Kanao shyly stated.
Shinobu's smile faded. Kanao had sensed right through her facade. She was getting better at expressing what was in her heart which genuinely brought happiness to Shinobu but she seriously didn't want her to worry for her. At a time of war, people need only worry for themselves and focus on what is truly important, defeating Muzan.
The Insect Hashira walked over to the young girl and grabbed hold of her hand. She placed it atop of her bump. Kanao looked at Shinobu in somewhat shock and amazement. The baby was fluttering around like a butterfly and kicking against Kanao's hand. It was such a special moment between the sisters as Shinobu knew that Kanao was probably oblivious to the wonders and creation of life within a woman's body.
"It is hard at times… but then I remember that this life inside of me is all very worth it… even though I wish…" Shinobu sighed and looked back towards the cherry blossom tree. "Things were different…"
"Kanae-san…" Kanao said sadly as she understood exactly what Shinobu was referring to. "You told me that the only way to kill Douma was by poisoning him so severely that he would weaken to a state that would allow me to deal the finishing blow…"
Shinobu sighed and sadly nodded.
"I didn't like that plan master… I will forever be thankful to Tomioka-San and this baby for intervening…"
Shinobu smiled and held onto Kanao's hand tighter. She did feel awful that she had to put Kanao in that position and to accept that she would have to be eaten in order for Douma to be killed.
"I promise to avenge our dear sister should the time come. I will kill him for the both of us… even if it kills-" before Kanao could say it, Shinobu all of a sudden wrapped her arms around the younger butterfly girl and pulled her into her protective embrace.
"No. You are not to face Douma alone and certainly not without first having a solid plan." Shinobu stated in a sudden and serious tone.
"But… we cannot allow him to live. He… he killed her…" Kanao spoke with a desperate and pleading voice as she brought her arms up to wrap around Shinobu. It brought tears to her eyes.
"I know… but… I can't risk losing you. I've already lost one sister… losing you too Kanao… I couldn't live with myself if anything were to happen. Please promise me that you will not fight him alone." Shinobu spoke, her voice shaken and afraid at the thought.
Kanao was silent. "I promise." She said to her master.
Shinobu returned to her bedroom and rejoined Giyuu in bed. She removed her Haori and laid down next to him who greeted her with a welcoming and warm embrace.
"I missed you." He said to her as he pulled her in to snuggle and get warm as he gave her a sweet kiss to her lips.
"I was just with Kanao…" Shinobu said. "She wants to kill Douma… I ordered her not to but she has defied me before even when she took the final selection exams…" Shinobu informed him feeling very vulnerable and overcome with worry and dread.
"Baby can you please promise me you won't let her fight him if she ever encounters him… I couldn't live with myself if something were to happen to her…" Shinobu asked as she cuddled up closer to him.
"Of course." He promised to her as he leaned his forehead to hers and assured her with a trusting smile.
"Thank you." She sweetly replied.
Shinobu closed her eyes and fell asleep peacefully knowing that her lover would always be there for her. She knew she could trust Giyuu with everything she had.
The next day, Aoi came down to the basement to let the Insect Hashira know that she had a visitor. She was in the middle of analyzing a test trial with Tamayo while Giyuu was out doing Hashira training so she was curious as to who it could be.
Shinobu was entirely surprised to see Shinazugawa in the doorway when she went to see who it was.
"Shinazugawa-san, what can I do for you?" Shinobu asked, placing a hand on her round belly as she went to greet him.
Sanemi's eyes drifted to her bump and then scanned her from head to toe. He was here to check her over. He had been doing so every so often since she had become pregnant and she knew that it was because he felt obliged to do so due to his feelings he still held for Kanae.
"You don't have to keep coming here Shinazugawa-san… you don't owe me or my sister anything." Shinobu said to him not unkindly but more for his own benefit.
"I loved her… I'll do what I can to make sure nothing happens to you." Sanemi replied in a sincere and honest tone that he rarely showed to anyone.
It made Shinobu smile to hear him say that but she also pitied him for still being in love with Kanae even after her death. She knew her sister would've wanted Sanemi to move on from her and find another woman who could love him in her stead.
"Ara ara. Giyuu is with me most of the time so there is no need to worry too much." Shinobu assured him. "I'm sure you have better things to do than watch out for me all the time so please don't bother yourself Shinazugawa-san."
Sanemi became tense when hearing Tomioka's name. In his eyes, Tomioka lacked guts and he had an uptight and selfish personality that lacked the ability to do what was necessary.
"Hmf… I'm afraid that bastard might not be strong enough to protect you." Sanemi groaned.
Shinobu's demeanor turned to worry as she suddenly saw the Water Hashira, her lover and the father of her child, looming over Sanemi in less than a split second. His face was dark and angry as he glared daggers at Shinazugawa from inches behind him.
"What did you just say?" Giyuu asked him in a threatening tone.
Sanemi turned to face him without a care in the world. His eyes narrowed at seeing Tomioka staring him down… what he had said had brought out a side of the Water Hashira he had never seen before. A menacing and threatening side that brought about a kick to Sanemi to see that he had pushed a button and was able to provoke such a reaction.
"Nothing." Sanemi snarled and Giyuu caught a glimpse of a satisfied smirk from the Wind Hashira before he vanished.
Shinazugawa was gone in an instant and Giyuu glared after the direction in which he lept off. He turned back to Shinobu, however, his face didn't return to looking even just the slightest bit happy or pleased to see her. He was pissed and had possessed the most sour face. Shinobu didn't like him looking at her looking so grumpy at all.
"… What?" Shinobu asked him with a slightly lost expression.
Giyuu loudly groaned and suddenly disappeared without a word to go back to whatever he was doing during his Hashira training… Shinobu blinked a few times, pouting towards the direction he had left her without even a proper greeting or even a goodbye.
'Why is he mad at me?' Shinobu wondered to herself. 'I wasn't the one who called him weak. I know for a fact that he is one of the strongest pillars. I hope he knows that. I was hoping he would stay and have lunch with me… ara ara… guess we will eat by ourselves I guess.' Shinobu thought as she caressed her bump, a little concerned for her partner.
It was much much later in the evening… almost midnight… and Giyuu still hadn't returned to the Butterfly Mansion and training had finished hours ago.
Shinobu sat up in bed wondering where he was… she missed him so much and there was a sadness looming in the pit of her stomach that was calling out for his comforting arms.
This was the first time in a while where she had not seen him all day and she couldn't cope with this sudden separation at all. It gave her anxiety and it didn't help with her being extra hormonal. He had stormed off earlier… she hoped that he wasn't mad at her… she couldn't see any reason for him to be angry with her though because she didn't do anything wrong. Maybe he was mad because she had spoken to Sanemi… she hoped that wasn't the reason.
Aoi entered her room abruptly all of a sudden in a wild rush. Shinobu got out of bed instinctively with a Hashira reflex and she got up too fast forgetting that she was pregnant.
"What!? What's happened!?" She shouted and grunted in discomfort as she rubbed her now throbbing lower back and belly. She internally apologized to her baby who was now wide awake and kicking her for her abruptness.
"Shinobu-sama! It's Tomioka-san and Shinazugawa-san! They had a fight and both are in critical condition!" Aoi declared in a panicked tone.
Shinobu looked at Aoi in shock for a moment wondering if she had heard right before coming to her senses.
'FUCKING HELL!' Shinobu's thoughts screamed as she grabbed her haori and hastily walked to the infirmary with Aoi.
Shinobu arrived to see both Giyuu and Sanemi covered in blood as they each laid unconscious in an operation bed. Lady Tamayo was working on Giyuu and when she saw Shinobu she instructed her to get to work on Sanemi.
Shinobu caught a glimpse of Giyuu and the sight brought tears to her eyes. His shoulder was dislocated and his arm was broken. His face and chest had been slashed and his face was pale and stained with blood.
"Don't worry about him. He's stable. Just get to work on Shinazugawa. He's got five broken ribs and a punctured lung. His jaw and nose are broken too." Tamayo advised.
Shinobu tried to remain calm and steady her rapidly beating heart for Sanemi's sake. Thank god Tamayo was here to work on Giyuu as she would've been freaking out the entire time. Shinobu snapped out of it and immediately put gloves on in order to prepare Sanemi for emergency surgery with Aoi's assistance who fluttered around getting the equipment ready.
"What the hell happened…" Shinobu asked whilst trying not to cry and doing her best at keeping a professional composure.
"Apparently a dispute… Himejima-san had to break up the fight. It was bad." Tamayo calmly explained. "He carried them both here."
Shinobu internally cursed both Giyuu and Sanemi. There was a war coming and the last thing anyone needed was for two of the strongest pillars to be injured. She kept her eyes away from Tamayo and Giyuu. She was violently shaking and she just had to trust that the father of her child was in good and capable hands. He would be okay.
Hours later after successfully completing the surgery and confirming that Sanemi was in a safe enough state, she immediately left the infirmary to check on Giyuu who had been moved to a private recovery room.
He was awake when she entered the room where Tamayo was finishing up and dabbing a cotton ball drenched with disinfectant to the wounds and cuts on his face. Shinobu stared at him in disbelief and shock as she breathed heavily, feeling all sorts of emotions. His face had been cleaned up and it wasn't as bad as Sanemi's but it still had its fair share of fresh cuts and bruises. She couldn't believe he had had a brawl with another Hashira. Her sympathy for him was quickly simmering to anger and disappointment as she grasped her fists.
"Shinobu…" Giyuu grunted with a hoarse voice as he caught sight of her observing from the doorway.
"You're an idiot." Shinobu angrily said to him and then marched off without another word.
Giyuu sighed in defeat as he looked down at his lap. He didn't blame Shinobu one bit for being upset with him. He felt like an idiot and he regretted everything. He had started the fight. He attacked Sanemi after overhearing what he had said about him not being able to protect her and their child so they battled each other for hours until Gyomei rushed in to stop them before they could deal any fatal blows. Had he not been there they probably would have fought until the death.
Sanemi smirked at the feel of his injured body as he lay in a separate private recovery room that was on the opposite side of the butterfly mansion. The pain hurt like a bitch but what a fun scuffle they had and finally, he got to square up one on one with Tomioka, something he had wanted to do since he met the guy. Sure it got a little out of hand but at last he got to wipe that smug look off of the vain Water Hashira's face. He had underestimated Tomioka though. Perhaps he wasn't so weak after all.
Shinobu didn't bother with seeing Giyuu for the next two weeks while he recovered. Tamayo had informed her that he had asked for her every day but she was still furious with him and refused to see him. He had really scared her that night and the fight was completely unnecessary and overall stupid. It was an immature move to start a fight with the Wind Hashira over a petty comment. Only the immature couldn't control their emotions and she definitely put Giyuu and Sanemi at the top of that list so she felt no sympathy for the both of them.
On the day Giyuu was cleared to return to his regular duties, he found Shinobu sitting inside a lab room by herself, her haori draping over the back of her chair as she was jotting down some notes and focusing on figuring out a biological formula to do with demon blood. She looked beautiful and angelic as the light from the window behind her beamed, delivering to her an outline that glowed. He gently knocked on the door to get her attention. When she glanced up and saw that it was him, she ignored him and continued with her work.
Giyuu looked at her and saw that her belly had grown a bit during the last two weeks. It perfectly protruded out against her corps uniform. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her and feel how much their baby had grown… but its mother was not too happy with him right now. He decided that he would give her a taste of her own medicine.
He walked over to her side and reached his hand out to poke her shoulder. He kept poking her until he eventually saw a vein begin to pop in her forehead.
"Can I help you Tomioka-san?" Shinobu asked him in an ever so formal tone whilst still refusing to look at him as she continued to write. She was being super hostile right now and she was still mad at him.
Giyuu stopped with the poking and decided to approach from a different angle. He leaned down so that his chin rested against her shoulder and his cheek brushed the side of her face as he observed her notes. Shinobu glared at him out of the corner of her eyes and when he noticed, he frowned back, teasing her by copying her facial expression.
"I'm Shinobu and I'm grumpy with Giyuu because he's an idiot for kicking Shinazugawa's ass." Giyuu said in a playful tone.
He was hoping that she would find it funny but she just gave him the side eye and then went back to finishing her notes. Giyuu gave her a soft smile and pressed a light kiss to her cheek. He then stood up and gently caressed her head and placed his hand on her shoulder to give it a loving squeeze.
"Ok baby, you come to me when you're ready." Giyuu told her in an understanding tone. "I'm sorry for everything."
He then respected her space and left her to it. He knew that he would be in the doghouse for a while but he also could tell that it wouldn't be forever and that she still loved him.