Chapter 14
It was start of the new year, yet if the weather was any indication, it was not off to a promising start. The blue sky was covered with thick cloud with minimal sunlight breaking through. Despite this setback, it didn't hinder a group of people from fulfilling their tradition. The Insect pillar was the first to climb the stairs, followed by Kanao and Aoi, then the butterfly triplets, and finally with a dull eye boy behind them. Growing up in a region where western influence was spreading rapidly, Yuki always felt out of place whenever he and his family participated in traditional customs. He donned a tan kimono with blue pants, wanting to fit in as best as he could. His morning didn't start off on the right foot when he asked to walk behind everyone. He thought the idea was ludicrous since nobles are always the center of attention. Aoi managed to have calmed him down over the promise she'd try to make brownies.
"Feeling better, Subachi-kun?" Shinobu asked
"Yeah. Sorry for arguing with you. Old habits die hard." He admitted.
"I accept your apology. I know you've been in the limelight all your life. I just thought you wanted a break for once." The petite doctor explained calmly
"Thank you." He spoke softly and bowed politely.
"I will need your help making brownies since I've never made them, Tāke-kun" Aoi interjected.
"Sure thing" He nodded.
"We're going to try a new western sweet" Kiyo said.
"I'm getting tired of eating chocolate chip cookies" Sumi said.
"I wanna try sweets from all over the world." Naho said.
Kanao nodded, sticking close to Shinobu and Aoi. Yuki sighed and looked at the floor. As much as he wanted to keep complaining, he knew it would fall onto deaf ears. They continued walking up the stairs until they reached a shrine. The environment of their whereabouts was unknown yet tranquil and serene. The trail they followed wasn't completely surrounded by trees, but the trees around them lined up the same formation the Torri gates were. The feeling of intimidation would be valid due to the trees looming over them all, the group felt at ease for they were walking during the day and the chirping of the birds lifted their mood.
Upon arriving at the end of the trail, The butterfly group were greeted with an small flight of stairs where a smile red shrine resided on the top.
"You know, we could've just gone to the Tokyo. They have plenty of shrines in the city, Miss Shinobu." Yuki stated. Shinobu stopped walking just before the next stairway. She turned to face everyone.
"I know. Yet there are a plethora of shrines all over Japan, some that rarely get visitors at all. I like to pay my visit to all the shrines I can. Besides, we went to the city last year.
"Then why don't I remember going last year?" The lanky student whined.
"That's because you insisted on staying behind with Haruno-san. "Aoi expressed bluntly"
"That…does sound like me." He mumbled, averting his eyes away from the girls.
The triplets simply nodded, affirming last years event.
"Shall we get started?" Shinobu prompted. Yuki and the butterfly girls unanimously agreed and treaded the stairs carefully. As the women walked upstairs, Yuki decided to linger a moment longer. His dark brown eyes observed the nature around them, how spacious the area was. A stark contrast to the restless city within the Chiba region, where the city was the forefront of welcoming foreigners and their business into Japan, alongside Yokohama of the Kanagawa region. The future looked bright for the humble yet ever growing city of Tokyo. Without the busy streets or the loud cargo ships coming into the bay, he began to appreciate the serene serenade of the leaves rustling to the wind and the animals chirping or howling from the distance. A Brown-eared bulbul flew right past the dull eye boy, who managed to track it last second and witnessed it return to its nest, reunited with its babies as it feeds them its catch of the day. It brought him back to reality and hurried up the stairs to meet with the others on top.
"Everyone, place your hands together for our first prayer of the year" Shinobu instructed them all.
Everyone obeyed and closed their eyes in silence. After several minutes have passed, they opened their eyes and hugged one another, excited over what the new year had in store for them. Yuki took things a step further by leaning over and hugging all the butterfly girls in his arms.
"Thank you all for accepting me as one of your own, even though I'm a boy. I couldn't have asked for better friends." He said, smiling brightly around them.
"Don't mention it." Kanao said neutrally.
"You're too direct for your own good, you big dork." Aoi chuckled and shook her head.
"We love having you around, Tāke-kun." The butterfly triplets said synonymously.
"I'm proud of the progress we've made as members of the demon slayer corps. Whatever comes our way. we will be ready to do our part to look after everyone as medics or demon slayers." Shinobu replied calmly.
"Well said, Miss Shinobu. You're very special too, being a doctor and a hashira." Yuki nodded and spoke softly, mindful of not wanting to hurt the women's ears. He looked at them once more. "I hope we continue being together forever." He said before placing them all down carefully.
"Come along, everyone. We have a long day of prepping our home for patients and visitors alike for our New Year's day party. No better way to get peoples spirits lifted before fighting to protect humanity." Once the butterfly girls had walked down the stairs away from the shrine, Shinobu tugged onto Yuki's sleeve for a moment.
"How are you feeling, Yuki-kun? It's been a year since…you know." Shinobu spoke with a melancholic tone. The memory of the former heir's mother declaring of her own son as dead and manipulating the father into complying made her sick to her stomach. Before joining the demon slayer corps, she lived a comfortable life with her older sister Kanae and their parents. They came from a family of doctors yet despite their busy schedules, Shinobu remembered her parents always making time for her and her sister, giving them all the love and support they could ask for, pampering the daughters a bit too much, and being with them every step of the way. She couldn't have imagined how it felt to have the one person who is supposed to love their child left them for dead.
"Yeah, I dream about it every now and then. I hope…my mother is truly happier with just my sister and papa." He spoke somberly.
"Is that something you truly feel?" She spoke with a trace of irritation in her voice.
"She made her choice. All I can do is improve myself. I want to feel confident should I return home to meet my papa and sis. Prove to my mom she was wrong about me." He announced. Shinobu on her part was taken aback by his declaration, but admired his goal. She had no idea how his mother would respond to his declaration or if it would faze her, but if expressing his true feelings towards his mother would bring closure, she'd support him every step of the way.
"In that case, let's resume your training first thing tomorrow." She spoke admiringly.
"Sure thing, master." The dull eye boy said as they walked side by side down the stairs. Once they rejoined their group. Yuki offered to carry them home. He crouched and had them all perched onto his arms.
"I'm going to regret this, arent I?" The lanky teen grunted.
"Yes, you will. Nonetheless, thank you for your generous offer, my little bumblebee." The wisteria doctor giggles. Yuki held them as close as he could and followed the trail out of the forest.
The following day, Yuki and Shinobu went out patrolling her territory in the middle of the night. They traveled by tree, the insect hashira landing on each branch graciously and delicately, resembling a butterfly. The former heir was the opposite, where he had to take long strides and planted his footsteps heavily. There were instances where some of the branches nearly broke to his weight. Despite his concerns, he pushed on in order to keep up with his mentor. Once she sensed the demons nearby, she leaped from the trees first, followed by her student. They were surrounded by demons, but Yuki had full confidence with his master and followed her lead. One look from the wisteria doctor prompted him to put his hands together, providing a footstep for her to leap upwards. Once in position, Shinobu readied her sword and announced her attack mid-air: Insect breathing: Butterfly Dance- Caprice! Thanks to her speed and agility, Shinobu was able to strike down four of the eight demons with her poison gracefully.
Yuki decided to provide support by unsheathing his swords and taking a deep breath. "Insect breathing: second form. Bee Dance- True Flutter!" He shouted as he used his legs to push his body at great speed. He was able to stab three demons at the center of their chest, injecting them each wisteria poison with one sword. Once the demons no longer struggled to break free, Yuki flung the bodies onto the ground and met up with his mentor.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. We agreed to use my breathing techniques in order." She scolded lightly.
"My bad. It just felt right at the moment." He said
"You're lucky I find you adorable when you get all flustered, my little bumblebee." She said
"I'm no bee, I'm a hornet!" He pouts lightly and then folded his arms as he heard shinobu trying to surpress a giggle. The former heir whispers to the wisteria doctor while using his peripherals. "Enemy spotted, 11 o' clock."
Shinobu nodded and launched herself at said direction, drawing her sword again: Insect Breathing: Bee Dance- True Flutter. She sliced the tree halfway, revealing the last demon.
This demon possessed traits of a chameleon such as its curled tail and its ever-wandering eyes. Its human form bearing resemblance of a anorexic man with a hunched back.
"How did you spot me? You're too tiny!" He hissed.
"Goodness, that's a unique ability you camouflage with your surroundings. I noticed you're quivering your cheeks hastily. Perhaps you're planning to a last-minute attack? How about slit your mouth to find out. Add some toxins into your respiratory system while we're at it?" She spoke softly with a smile. With the moonlight angled at a certain position, it casted a shadow over her, revealing a sadistic side reserved only to the demons.
"Unless, you want the easy way out." She replied sweetly, maintaining her eerie smile.
She didn't give the demon time to answer as she released a multitude of kicks, sending it towards a tree with its back slammed against the trunk. Yuki jumped into action by wedging the demon's head the tree and his left sword. He then lifted his right arm and jabbed the body several times: "Insect Breathing: first form. Butterfly Dance- Caprice!" The demon shrieked for the wisteria poison was taking effect.
"Great team work, Miss Shinobu. I know your first two breathing techniques by memory now." He smiled brightly.
I'm more impressed you spotted that demon cloaking itself in darkness." Shinobu looked up, offering a small smile in return.
"Thank you, but without you, we couldn't have pinned it." He deflected.
"Stubborn boy, just accept a compliment. You deserve it." Shinobu replied. She and Yuki chuckled in unison.
With the demon slayers not on high alert, the demon used the last of its strength to coil its tongue like a spring and mustered all its remaining strength to smack Yuki's face. It snickered wickedly before accepting its fate. The dull eyed teen screamed in agony, dropped his swords then curled onto the ground.
"Subachi-kun, what's wrong?!" The wisteria doctor exclaimed.
"My eyes!" He screamed in agony. She immediately leaned him against the nearest tree in order to get a better look. The former heir however, resisted her help in any shape or form.
"This is for your own good." Shinobu declared as she strikes the nape of her student's neck, rendering him unconscious.
The lanky teen adjusted himself ever so slowly yet could feel a constant throbbing on his head. Once he opened his eyes, he noticed they were covered in bandages, he reached for it only to be stopped by Shinobu's hands on his arm.
"You're awake, I'm relieved. I know you're scared and you want answers but please, remain calm. I promise to tell you the events from last night." She spoke warmly as she placed her hand on top of his.
He could imagine the size difference between them. However, he focused more on the smoothness of her skin, her thumb grazing his skin carefully and tenderly. He knew she was doing her job as a doctor, but he couldn't help but blush a bit, enjoying the sensation. Yuki hadn't held her hand since their outing from the beach. He wanted to interlock his fingers with hers. But after his talk with Kanao, he didn't want to push his luck and sat still. He trembled over the possibility his senior standing next to them and he'd have no way of knowing. He took several deep breathes before speaking: I…thank you for looking out for me. As my doctor and friend." The former heir articulated his words carefully.
"It's my pleasure. We've gotten close as master and student this past year. Granted this incident was unexpected, I'm thankful you're still alive. Too many people have died within the demon slayer corps, including my dear sister Kanae. I couldn't bear to lose you too." Shinobu looked up at her student, trying to visualize her student's expression under the bandages.
"I promise not to go die so easily." He replied innocently.
"I accept your promise, Yuki-kun. Besides, who else can reach for the tallest shelves if not you?" Shinobu's attempt to lighten the mood seemed to win over.
"I see. You just don't want to call Tengen-sama or Himejima-sama every time, huh?" He replied lightheartedly.
"Silly boy, one giant around the mansion is enough." She tightened her grip around her student's hand.
"Okay, okay, I get it." He winced.
"While you were unconscious last night, my girls and I treated you the second we could. The blunt of the damage came from the demon's tongue. Thanks to its left-over blood demon art, I was able to conjure up an antitode and applied them in your eyes. You won't transform, but there wasn't much I could diagnose without you being awake. I'll let you see now. Please tell me what you're experiencing, okay?" The wisteria doctor spoke kindly, carefully unraveling the bandages.
Yuki was blinded by the light, but his shock was due to what laid before him. The room may have had white walls covering the bulk of the area, but the blankets that were once green now aligned with a dark grey. His spotted his yellow haori, until he covered his face because of how bright it come off. Turning his direction to the right, the former heir noticed the door and wood frame lost their brown. The only other the color he could make out aside from white and grey was black, as alluded to from his uniform. He looked outside and the view wasn't much better for the world was now in monochrome.
"I…I can't see anything. It's all black and white." He explained, sobbing uncontrollably, covering his eyes from the cruel reality.
"I can only imagine what you're going through. I know it'll be tough to…adjust to this predicament. But, you are lucky only a part of you was damaged. I've seen many promising demon slayers who don't make it back. We are going to get through this. You, me, and everyone in the butterfly mansion. Can you look at me, Subachi-kun?" Shinobu pleaded. She felt her heart strings pulled from the sound of her student weeping. She's delivered grim news to patients every so often. As the head doctor, the weight of her words meant a lot to her patients. Shinobu was well aware of the balance she needed to tread between remaining professional and showing compassion. Yet, this is first time since Kanae's death she felt uncomfortable delivering the news. Seeing someone as sweet and kind as her student, potentially never being able to see properly again.
"Miss Shinobu, I…I…" He gasped
"What's wrong?" Shinobu moved back the moment he leaned towards her face, feeling uneasy with her students' actions.
"I see purple." He exclaimed.
"Come again?" The Insect hashira sounded puzzled
"Your hair. Your eyes. They're purple!" He started crying again, this time with tears of joy.
"That's remarkable. What else can you see?" She smiled widely, offering him a tissue.
"Nothing else so far." He takes a moment to calm down, wiping his face carefully.
"It's okay. These results are extraordinary, truly. For now, it would be best if you take it easy the rest of this week. We'll touch basis on this matter, sound good?" She suggested
"Yes, master. I'll just stick with basic exercises and sword training. As long as I can see your color, I'll continue doing my best for you and protect the girls." He replied merrily. Shinobu was embarrassed yet let his remark slide because this is the first time he smiled since this ordeal. Yuki stood from his bed and followed Shinobu to the dining room, the lanky student was so caught up with his current predicament he failed to duck his head from the head of the door. He rubbed his head but chuckled, relieved the world had resumed in an orderly fashion.
"For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo. He chuckles as he closed the book. "Ah, this is a classic, yet I'd never imagine Shakespeare here of all places, Haruno-san. Miss Shinobu doesn't really keep up with western culture, unless I keep her in the loop of current events".
"I see the equipment Miss Shinobu got you is working nicely. She caught wind of Americans who created machines called a ventilator and a heart monitor. She told me they were prototypes and in exchange for us buying them, we needed to record the machines' functionality. That being said, I'm sorry for not spending time with you lately. A lot has been going on. Between me training with the Stone hashira, nice guy by the way. Then I went to the beach with Shinobu and her sister Kanao. We even got to use my outboard motor and found dolphins by the end of that day. Since then, I allowed more people to check up on you. I'm thankful for the girls because training has gotten so intense I knock out almost instantly most days. That being said, it doesn't excuse my actions. I'm scared. I'm scared you might not ever wake up. That I'll lost one of my closest friends. How I'll never be able to see colors again." He stopped once he heard his voice cracked. Tears had fallen onto his uniform. "I'm sorry. I love Miss Shinobu and all. I just... I just want the support from someone I grew up with." His tears flowed freely from his face. He stood up and walked to the bathroom to wash his face. He shook his head over a question Shinobu had brought to his attention. One that he dreaded even contemplating. After drying his face, he pushed aside his thoughts and rejoined his head servant.
"I promise to spend quality time with you. You'll wake up and we'll throw the biggest party just for you. Please, hang in there." The dull eye boy concluded.
The former heir concluded as he leaned over to hug his head servant carefully. Once he sat up, he spotted a person with a white snake entering the training room. He tilts his head in confusion and decides to follow this person and find out the purpose of their visit.
'I could've sworn I locked the door last night. Forgive me, Miss Shinobu' The dull eye boy hurried towards the dojo. In pursuit of chasing some snake charmer, he flinched from the blinding light from outside. Due to his limited vision, the brightness amplified within the monochrome world, stunning him much longer than the average person. Once his vision adjusted to the outside, Yuki continued his pursuit. Once he arrived at the entrance of the dojo, he took a peek inside. To his relief, he spotted Shinobu, standing in the middle of the room.
Her smile, emitting a warmth filled with calmness and hope. He had a feeling this was the impression everyone had towards the insect hashira, her kindness inspiring those around her to push themselves to recover faster or serves as a reminder as to what people are fighting for. An era of peace—free from the demons. Her skin, white as snow, distinguished itself within the monochrome world. He flustered even more towards her color. In his line of sight, the only color he could see was purple. Thus, making the tips of her neck length hair and the shade of her eyes all the more alluring. The purple tint of her uniform stood out in his sights, causing him to stare at her chest.
'How did I not notice her uniform's color until now'. Yuki questioned internally before looking at the insect hashira's face once more. It was then he noticed the stranger next to her. Assured with them conversing, he knocked on the wooden frame, reveling himself.
"Hi Kocho-sama." He announced for all to hear.
"Good afternoon, Subachi-kun. Are you bored already?" She remarked politely, gesturing him to come inside.
"No, I was more worried because the dojo was open. I promise I locked the doors last night." He said frantically.
"Its fine. I'm just showing Iguro-san around and letting him set up a training course. Since we're both fairly short, he wanted to create something that didn't rely on brute strength." The Insect hashira sighed in concession.
"Who?" The former heir asked aloud then turned his attention to the man with a snake wrapped around his neck. Although the stranger before him was of same height as Muichiro, the serpent hashira distinguished himself with his black and white stripped haori. A white mask covering his mouth added a sense of mystery to him. The most distinctive feature by far were the odd pair of eyes the stranger had: a yellow eye on the right and teal for the left.
'Wow, this is the first time I'm seeing a real person with heterochromia' Yuki thought to himself. A sense of pride filled him for his efforts of studying human anatomy was paying off.
"Who might you be?" The odd eyed hashira demanded. Yuki flinched at the sudden remark but composed himself before answering.
"My name is Yuki Subachi. I'm a student of Insect Hashira, Kocho Shinobu." The dull eyed boy looked down and bowed lightly.
"The name's Iguro Obanai, Serpent hashira. I must say, you're a big boy. As long as you know your place, I'll let bygones be bygones." The serpent hashira glared up.
"What do you mean?" The lanky student asked while forming an "o" on his lips.
"My snake Kaburamaru, informed me someone was following us to this dojo. I presume said person was you." Obanai continued
"In my defense, I was…looking after someone and I just so happened to spot your pet. But, if it means we'll be in good terms, I'm sorry, Iguro-sama. Sorry Kaburamaru." Yuki apologized
"Why are you apologizing to my snake?" The obisidian haired hashira demanded.
"Because he spotted me first. Without him, you wouldn't have noticed me." The dull eye boy replied reluctantly.
"I'll have you know even without Kaburamaru, I already sensed someone within the area. You dare question my perception, tsuguko?" The obsidian-haired hashira retorted.
"N-No. Just, I think its only fair to apologize to everyone." Yuki stated bluntly.
"Forgive my student's bluntness, Iguro-san." Shinobu giggles.
"I see. Since we're all getting to know each other, I do have a question for you, tsuguko. You said your surname is Subachi, correct?" Obanai questioned the former heir, who failed to notice the words laced with venom.
"Yes. I'm shocked you're familiar with my family name. Since outside of my home region, the only people we affiliated ourselves is with other Kazoku." Yuki wonders.
"I thought so. From what I read, the Subachi family possesses a rather unique trait. The ability to see into the future. It's how your parents accumulated their wealth and control of an entire region right?" The Serpent hashira sneered
"Y-Yes. My mother has always expressed interest in the future through modernization and integration. Her clairvoyance has helped my hometown for the better." Yuki answered, his voice filled with hesitation.
"A few predictions coming true, I can buy that. However, if your bloodline is truly blessed with supernatural abilities, that's where my suspiciousness arises." The serpent hashira stated bluntly.
"What are you getting at?" The lanky student raised his guard.
"Let me spell it out for you: Could it be you and your family are in cahoots with the demons?" Obanai confronted.
"How dare you claim my family works with demons?! I lost my way of life because of them." The dull eye boy yells.
"That's a very peculiar way of phrasing your situation. If I didn't know better, that means your family is still alive. Obanai retorted
"Yes they are. My mother assumed I died and persuaded my papa to give up searching for me." The dull eye boy's spoke, gritting his teeth with each word. His knuckles began to turn white due to how tightly he formed them.
"Last question: If it's true you were abandoned, then I presume your sister is more gifted than you, or… do the demons your family worship prefer women? The serpent hashira demanded.
"That does it. You can judge my mom all you want, I don't care. I won't let you accuse my family of befriending demons. Especially my sister!" Yuki scorned, raised his fists in the air while Obanai got into a defensive stance.
"Enough! Subachi-kun, apologize to Iguro-san. You should know better than to raise your hand against someone. Especially your allies." Shinobu looked up at Yuki. Her smile remained, yet her student felt uneasy because her face darkened and for a fleeting moment, he felt anger seeping out from her. It disappeared quickly as it came, but he knew at that moment, he messed up.
"I'm sorry, Iguro-san. I shouldn't have lashed out the way I did." The dull eye boy spoke softly and bowed lightly.
"Good to see you at least obey your teacher's instructions. If it were me, I would've disciplined you." He grunted and folded his arms.
"Iguro-san, please don't patronize my student. He is under my care. If this is matter of pride, why not challenge him to a spar?" Shinobu suggested.
"Very well. Follow me, Subachi-kun" Obanai gestures while walking onto the arena. Yuki enters shortly after and meets in the middle.
"While I wanted to test this out with Kocho-chan. I suppose you'll make do. All you need to do is rip a piece of my haori before I wear you out. Keep in mind, this is test about skill, not strength. Don't even these about breaking these poles." Obanai instructed.
"Right" Yuki nodded in response. Although he was sure Shinobu would be more than capable of cover the expenses for new equipment, the last thing Yuki wanted was for Shinobu to waste money because of him. Especially when the equipment was still in good condition.
"Prepare yourself." Obanai declared, taking refuge within the poles. They were arranged in a cell block pattern. Columns of pillars stood across their proximity and several more were lined across, leaving little to no room for error.
Even with Yuki's unique height, he faced his own struggles, starting with his inability to see colors. In the monochrome world, his opponent camouflaged perfectly. Along with his height and presumed speed, Yuki was in a uphill battle against someone who had just been accepted as a hashira. He made the first move but in the blink of an eye, the obsidian haired swordsman disappeared and landed the first hit against Shinobu's student. He winced over the stinging sensation on his waist. The former heir then found himself defecting a frenzy of strikes aimed his direction. The dull eyed boy was successful in deflecting every other attack, but he now felt fatigued from being on the defensive while keeping up with the serpent hashira. The remaining attacks whipped his arms and torso.
"Tired already, butterfly boy?" Obanai's remark, laced with venom.
"I'm not a butterfly. I'm a hornet!" Yuki snapped, annoyed of the serpent hashira by this point.
"If you won't respect your superiors, why should I acknowledge you? Next time you want to disrespect someone, back it up with your skills." The odd eyed hashira scoffed. At the rate the duel was heading, it wouldn't be long before the former heir conceded.
From what Yuki could gather, Obanai relied on his speed and agility instead of strength. His attacks were precise they could slip into the tiniest opening. The former heir decided to climb up the tallest pole in order to get the jump on the serpent hashira. The sun's light reflected on the yellow honeycombed themed haori, forcing Obanai to flinch. Yuki took advantage of this opening and leaped down, ready to plunge his opponent. Unfortunately, the odd eyed swordsman had all but regained composure and evaded with ease, he strikes the lanky student's legs.
"How?! I had you right where I wanted you!" Yuki exclaimed.
"If you must know, Kaburamaru serves as an extra pair of eyes. Even if i lose track, he will not." Obanai replied.
"That's not fair." The former heir whined.
"You've been away from your ivory tower long enough to know life doesn't have favorites. We must deal with what we're given, butterfly boy." The obsidian haired swordsman chides, raised his sword to deliver what hope to be the final blow.
Unbeknownst to the newest hashira, Yuki had an epiphany. While much of his view was locked behind black, white, and grey, the one color exempted from an otherwise monochrome world was purple. He got a good look at the serpent hashira's sword and noticed the purple engraved on the hilt and in the middle of the blade. A newfound surge of confidence filled him and he dodged Obanai's attack. As much as he enjoyed his opponent's look of surprise, his priority was to close the gap and gain the upper hand. No matter how much odd eyed swordsman out sped him, Yuki never lost track of Obanai's sword. In a matter of moments, the former heir squeezed himself between some pillars and unleashed several jabs at him. The duel had reached its conclusion once the dull eyed boy forced the obsidian haired hashira out of the pillars, pointing the left stick at his neck.
"It looks like you failed to meet my criteria, butterfly boy." Obanai shrugged.
"Guess again." Yuki retorted. To everyone's surprise, Yuki's right stick managed to slash through Obanai's haori.
"Impossible." Obanai scowled.
"While my eyesight is obscured from seeing most colors, the one color I can still visualize is purple. Once I noticed your hilt and blade were lavender, I was able to track your from then on. Thank you for your reminding me about the cards we have to deal with." Yuki bowed politely. His constant panting showcased how difficult keeping up with a hashira was, despite being mentored by another.
"Whatever, congrats for not dying on me, butterfly boy." Obanai huffed and walked outside the dojo.
Once the lanky student regrouped with Shinobu and the other women, she spoke up: thank you all so much for your efforts in setting up this course for Iguro-san. Based on Subachi-kun's performance, I'm kinda glad I spectated instead. With that said, I'd like everyone to disassemble the equipment and put them away nicely. You're all dismissed for the day." Shinobu declared, taking her leave to meet with Obanai. The former heir accompanied Aoi, Kanao, Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, and one other patient tidy the dojo for future sessions.
Yuki glanced at the calendar, which now read February 1st. As of now, both he and Shinobu were creating wisteria poison in her lab. With the lights switched on and the blinds closed, The insect hashira and her student were separated in their own world. Normally the blinds would be open wide enough to allow sunlight inside, but this was a compromise she settled with since his eyesight remained sensitive to natural light.
"So, this is what you do in your spare time, Miss Shinobu?" he asked.
"Yes. When I'm not out killing demons or tending patients, I keep myself busy with my research or train by myself, I also cleaning or cook with Aoi-chan when I can. I must thank you and Kanao for continuously honing my swordsmanship." Shinobu smiled.
"Remember when we went to the beach last summer? That was fun, I hope we can do that again." The former heir spoke nostalgically. Aside from Obanai's appearance, nothing out of the ordinary had happened in the butterfly mansion since.
"That does sound lovely. For now, let's focus on creating more wisteria poison." Shinobu stated.
They resumed the task at hand and poured the poison in vials. This was a rather tedious responsibility for users of the insect breathing. Grinding wisteria leaves into powder and applying droplets onto demon blood from the samples Shinobu collected throughout her tenure. Success or failure, they were required to write down their findings to report to Master Ubuyashiki or build off for next time. The lab was cluttered with books all over the floors, papers scattered across the tables, and several broken vials, the result of failed poisons.
"Miss Shinobu, if wisteria poison is quintessential for insect breathing, how come I've been able to kill demons up to this point?" He wondered for it was only now he began learning to create poison by himself.
"Oh my. The answer is rather simple. Until now, I've laced your swords with poison in advance. Since your swords are just my back up, filling them with poison is hardly an issue. I must say, I'm impressed you've yet to break my swords. For someone so big and strong, you sure know how to fight delicately.
"Well, I would feel bad because from what you're telling me, your sword isn't easy to make." Shinobu's student confessed. He glanced at her for a moment before focusing on the poison. The Insect hashira had been teaching him how to find equilibrium to the wisteria poison. From his understanding, if the poison appeared too bright, it would work, but the effects would take far longer to kick in. The desired effect Shinobu had in mind was instantaneous. Should the poison fall under a darker shade, it was treated more as an anti-venom, viable for medical purposes, but useless in combat. He stopped once he felt a hand rubbing his head.
"It is true my katana is one of the more difficult weapons to craft, not to mention only two people can create my blade with finesse. Even the hilt is…unique." The wisteria doctor held her tongue. She wasn't sure if she wanted to share this information just yet. "Regardless, it's okay if you break a sword or two. Weapons eventually falter and break. Its just how it goes. Once you pass the final selection, then we will look into a weapon that is handy as mine but also compliments your strength." Shinobu explained
"But I, want be just like you, master." The dull eyed boy pleaded. He heard his teacher chuckled and a tint of red covering her cheeks.
"My dear student, as much as I appreciate the sentiment, that ship has sailed. I'm but a dainty woman who can't behead demons. You are a giant who possesses unbelievable strength yet hesitates. Yet, we work through our differences and strengthens our bond as teacher and student. It means a lot having a student as patient as you, Tāke-kun." She smiled brightly.
"I could say the same for you. I've met with most of the hashira's and so far no one has been able to put with me the way you have. Yuki confessed.
"Rengoku-san would've been more than happy to have you as his tsuguko. She reminded him.
"Perhaps, but he comes off very intense." He spoke nervously.
"You're not wrong. From what I've heard, every student who's trained under him have all given up due to his training." Shinobu nodded
"Even though you can't slice off demons' heads, I still think you're the smartest and strongest woman I know. And the most beautiful." Yuki blushed.
"Thank you, Subachi-kun. Should you stay as sweet as you are, I have no doubt you could get any girl to swoon over you." The violet eye woman giggles.
"Thank you, but I highly doubt it. I've had arranged dates with noble girls. They never gave me a second chance." He sighed.
"Maybe so, but rejection is valuable in of itself. Find yourself a partner who accepts you at your best and worst. The one who'll stick by you regardless of your status." Shinobu words of encouragement warmed his heart.
He loved spending time with the Insect Hashira not just because he got to gaze at her beauty, but he enjoyed conversing with her. He admired how insightful she was of the world and those in need of help. To him, Shinobu may not appear a symbol of strength, but her intelligence and resourcefulness proved she was more than qualified to become the best among the demon slayer corps. The dull eyed boy was surprised once more as Shinobu placed her hand on top of his, retrieving the vial from his hold.
"You've done a good job replicating my wisteria poison. Once you have more experience, I'll give you permission to create your own poison. For now, meet me at the dojo, I'll bring your swords once I deem them in perfect condition." Shinobu replied, shifting her focus on the hilts of his sword. Her student nodded and stood up to take his leave.
The former heir entered the dojo where to his surprise, spotted Kanao training. Despite them being students of the Insect hashira, they were anything but close. The adopted sister of Shinobu Kocho was always reserved and stoic, save for a faint smile on her face. While he wasn't too thrilled over seeing her, he was impressed by her prowess. Even with his improved senses, he was only able to keep track of her when she tagged Aoi or any of the butterfly triples. He kept Kanao on his sights while he leaned against a wall, keeping his distance from the girls. His senior approached the training dummies then blitz through her targets. She had mastered total concentration breathing to the point it was second nature, her agility allowed her to strike multiple targets simultaneously. Her precision was seamless all the targets crumbled before her. While the girls gathering around Kanao, cheering for her, Yuki dropped his mouth in realizitation. Not once did she utter her breathing technique, perhaps she felt no need to waste her energy over something trivial. Even with their differences in personalities, he couldn't deny how incredible his senior was. It brought relief Kanao was a reliable ally to the Demon Slayer Corps. There was still time to catch up with his senior, but only time will tell if his efforts will pay off.
"Somebody caught your eye already, Subachi-kun?" Shinobu smirked.
"What no. It's not like that. Its just this is my first time seeing her in action. She's flexible and strong. Our power difference is night and day" He said begrudgingly, crossing his arms.
"Don't be like that. My sister had to undergo training. Granted it's nothing like yours, but we all face our own unique challenges." She spoke firmly
"One question, what is Kanao's breathing technique?" The dull eye boy wondered
"Since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you. Flower Breathing, the same as my late sister." She spoke wistfully. Kanae was sensitive topic around the Buttefly Mansion. Yuki, a boy slow on the head, had become aware of how much his teacher looked up to the Flower Hashira, her beloved teacher and sister. While his sister was still alive, he understood the pain of not having a loved one at arm's reach.
"You're doing a good job, given all the responsibilities you have on your plate." He replied cheerfully.
"Thank you. I hope you don't mind having an audience this time around, do you?" Shinobu suggested. She offered him his swords.
"It's fine." Yuki complied.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd have you do a trial first. But because of your eyes haven't full recovered, we'll postpone your trial and focus on the third breathing technique instead. Watch and learn. Aoi, Kanao, please bring out the training dummy," She instructed her girls who immediately scoouted and retrieved the dummy. The violet eye woman nodded and unleashed a series of strikes at the dummy for several seconds. "Insect breathing: Dragonfly Dance- Compound Eye Hexagon"
"Wow, that was fast. Good thing I didn't blink" He stared in amazement.
"Oh, then surely your keen eyes have spotted a crucial detail by now." Shinobu addressed. Yuki walks up to the dummy to study it. After a thorough inspection, he pointed out revealed his discovery. "Your stabs weren't random, they aimed at specific vital spots. The neck, heart, torso, to name a few."
"Excellent job. Your turn now." The Insect hashira declared, who in turn steps back to regroup with the butterfly girls.
Yuki jumped around to shake off remnants of nervousness. He drew his swords and yelled his attack: Insect Breathing: 3rd form. Dragonfly Dance- Compound Eyes Hexagon!
With his dual swords and strength, the speed and force from his attacks doubled that of the Wisteria doctor's technique. To distinguish his attack, he thrusted his swords on the top of the dummy's head, its lungs, and kidneys.
"Impressive, I wouldn't have guessed you'd aim for the kidneys, Tāke-kun" She expressed curiosity.
"I took aim there because they're so tiny, yet from what I read, people with one kidneys struggle. I can only imagine what happens if a demon has them punctured." The dull eye boy explained
"The Insect hashira chuckled over his reasonig. She didn't mind because as long as the results with her students' excelling at the expense of the demons, all was fair game.
"I'm proud of how fast you picked up my third breathing technique. Though you made one grave error." She paused for a moment. "Not once did you tinker with the buttons on your hilt. Without your poison, an insect breathing user is just as useless as an ordinary citizen. Even with your brute strength, my little bumblebee.
"Oohh, that's how you make up for your lack of strength. You rely on mechanics. It all makes sense now."Yuki said aloud. Everyone in the room had a dead panned expression written on their face, except Kanao.
"To think it took you over a year to realize this. You're hopeless, Subachi-kun." Aoi expressed her disbelief.
"Sumimasen" He bowed lightly.
"Let's move on and resume your training." Shinobu replied, fighting the urge to exasperate.
"We got a good haul today, miss Shinobu." Yuki expressed joyfully. They had gone out to do their weekly shopping routine along with the kakushi. With them on board, Yuki sat at the back of the wagon with his eyes covered in a blindfold.
"Miss Shinobu, how come I need my eyes covered? It's not like I can see colors." He complained.
"I wouldn't want my little honey bee flying off to a field of purple flowers." Shionbu teased
"That's just silly, I wouldn't dream of getting lost again. Considering the last two times I almost got eaten." The former heir stated bluntly.
"That's very assuring to hear. So, what did you buy from our outing." She wondered
"I found this lantern to help us see better at night. I got a feeling this'll come in handy. I also bought this." He presented a box for anyone to see.
"Any particular reason why this stood out to you?" Her curiosity was piqued
"I remember a photo where my papa wore something similar to this when he traveled to America. I'd like to give it a try." Yuki confessed.
"Just as long as you don't wear it during training. It'd be a shame since it must've cost a pretty penny." She giggled.
"I know, thank you. I'm always hesitant to buy western products since you don't really keep up with the culture." He lowered his head.
"Perhaps not, but I know you grew up with it. There's nothing wrong with embracing you who are, my little bee." Shinobu said. The former heir huffed and then smiled softly. As much as he tried, he couldn't stay mad at her for long.
"The pleasure is mine. Get some rest, once we arrive home and unload the wagon, we will put your skills to the test." Shinobu smiled contently. He obeyed her and dozed off, anticipating what's to come.
Once the sun had set, The Insect Hashira and her lanky student went out for night patrol. The only sounds to be heard were the woodland creatures who call the area home.
"This is the longest we've scouted without finding demons. I guess its someone else's problem." He said aloud.
"I am grateful my territory is demon free at the moment, but I don't appreciate your remark just now. We can't hunt every demon at once, we must volunteer when we can. "She replied.
"I'm sorry." The dull eye teen apologized. His attention was brought back when the petite woman nudged his shoulder. It was then they spotted several demons making their way towards the butterfly mansion. At a moment's notice, both Shinobu and Yuki got the jump on them. They were surprised to see more demons joining in the fray. Despite the demon's attempt of getting the upper hand, The insect hashira and her student pressed their back against one another then with affirmed their counter attack with one glance.
"Insect Breathing: Dragonfly Dance- Compound Eyes Hexagon!" Yuki and Shinobu shouted in unison. Together they unleashed a flurry of swift and powerful thrusts with traces of poison mixed with blood in the air. They continued their attack until one full rotation, ensuring every demon was injected with poison in some capacity. Once all the demons laid lifeless on the floor, Shinobu looked up Yuki.
"It looks like you've mastered my third breathing technique." She responded cheerfully.
"Thank you. This one was the easiest one by far." The former heir proclaimed.
"Settle down, you still have one more technique to learn." The petite woman raised her eyebrow.
" I can't wait to learn the last one, Miss Shinobu" He said with excitement.
"Just a reminder, you still need to complete the third trial. We're in April now. Let's see if your eyes begin recovering no later than June." Shinobu explained.
"At least I can see your eyes, no one looks better in purple than you" Yuki smiled as he took off. Had he turned around he would've noticed his teacher blushing. Compliments were thrown at her all the time, but something about the way he said it caused the Insect Hashira to have reacted instantly.
A few days later, The former heir finished his Saturday routine of running up the mountain under supervision from Aoi and the kakushi. Feeling refreshed from bathing, he decided to spend this time walking around the butterfly mansion by himself. The first people he spotted where the butterfly triplets who passed their time drawing color books or folding origami in the library. He noted Sumi folded an origami crane perfectly. Kiyo doodled several sketches of household pets such as cats, dogs and hamsters. It still puzzled him as to why Shinobu was adamant against having furry creatures around the house. As for Naho, she found herself reading a book on Japanese folktales.
Moving on the next area, He peeked into the kitchen window and encountered Aoi and Kanao prepping today's dinner. The head nurse was chopping onions and beef while his senior assigned to peeling potatoes and carrots. They then lifted a giant bag of curry powder to measure the amount they needed to account for everyone within the mansion and seconds. He stomach grumbled and just before the girls could spot the culprit, Yuki walked away in embarrassment. No matter, he found his way to the butterfly garden and looked around the field. It saddened him the majority of the flowers have lost their color in his monochrome world. Even the insects vibrant colors left room to be desired in a world of black and white. He smelled the flowers and picked out several purple flowers while making his way to the dojo. He approached the dojo steadily and entered quietly when he noticed the Insect Hashira, demonstrating her first breathing technique to several girls. The dull eyed boy was all too familiar with her rehabilitating patients to top condition, but he noticed all the girls wore a butterfly pin on their heads. He pondered why this being the case when Shinobu told him from the start she had no interest in teaching anymore. Even so, he couldn't help but admire the petite doctor's graceful movement. She was quick and precise, he wondered if these girls struggled to catch on the same way he did.
"Alright girls, today's lesson is over. Please get plenty of rest and prepare for your drills tomorrow." Shinobu said. She walked up to the lanky student. "Everything okay, Subachi-kun?
"Yeah. I just needed a moment to myself, given how hectic life has been around here." He spoke softly
"I understand. We all need to step back every once in a while. Glad you saw an opportunity and took it." She nodded approvingly.
"So, those girls. They're your students?" Yuki asked out of curiosity.
"They are indeed. You're not jealous are you?" She asked smugly.
"I mean, a little bit. But I'm surprised since you told me you didn't teach anymore." He tilts his head.
"Don't be ridiculous, teaching you has become a full-time job." She commented
"Hey!" He huffed.
"You're too easy to tease. In all seriousness, after a series of students giving up on me the same rate as Rengoku-san, I owe you my thanks. The confidence I've built as a teacher inspired me to accept students once more.
"Well, I'm happy to have helped." He scratched the back of his head
"I may ask you to substitute for me in the event of a mission or dire situation. You know how it goes." She explained.
"I'll do my best, Miss Shinobu. Oh, these are for you." He offers her the violet flowers, who happily accepted them.
"Thank you. Now, rest up because after my bath, your third trial awaits." Shinobu concluded. She and her student walked out the dojo together and then went their separate ways.
It was past 6pm, the sun was setting the only sign of life on the trail were the Insect hashira, her student, and two kakushi. Aside from a few houses and shop along the way, their journey had been mundane yet tranquil since they passed Okutama town. They were far from the butterfly mansion, yet given her intelligence and her student's brute strength, she was more than confident they could confront any danger with ease.
"Hey, Goto-kun. Have you been here before?" The former heir asked
"No, I can't say I've traveled this far. Without a Wisteria House around here, can't say I've been inclined to coming here before now." The male kakushi said.
"That's fair. I never had a reason be out here too when I lived back home. How about you?" Yuki turned his attention to the female kakushi.
"Hmm, I've been to the town we past, it's very peaceful, but I prefer living closer to the city." She admitted.
"I'm with you there" Goto agreed.
At last, they had reached a Limestone cave in Nippara. The sun's remaining light shined onto the entrance of the cave. The kakushi parked the wagon and leaped down first to help Shinobu and her student. Once everyone stepped out and stretched their limbs, Shinobu gathered everyone around: "Thank you for your time and patience. This is the third trial for Tāke-kun. The objective is to run a lap inside the cave and back. In exchange for a free pass, we must create an updated version of the cavern's map. Stay alert for any demons in the area. Subachi-kun, we will stay together and follow the trail my contact recommended. Is everyone ready?"
Everyone agreed and walked inside the cave, following a series of stairs. Entering the cave was surprisingly tight because of its narrow passage at the start. Once the area grew around them, They followed a series of stairs illuminated by several torches. Walking down, they realized the cave was far colder than anyone anticipated at 11 C, just above 50 F. Yuki led the way with his newly bought lantern, guiding everyone until they reached the bottom, The Wisteria doctor looked at the map in the middle of the trail
The insect hashira took a moment to analyze the map, which was easier said than done because it had since faded and held outdated info such as its publication made during the Edo era. Once she memorized the layout of the map, everyone followed her lead and took another right. As they jogged around a loop, they noticed the cave was devoid of sound, save for their damp footsteps and breathing. Every step the demon slayers and kakushi took filled the room with their feet damp with water, causing them sluggish and heavier steps.
"Apart from the cold and silence, I must say the scenery here is unlike anything I seen before." Shinobu spoke.
"I agree, maybe I'll consider exploring more caves once I retire." Goto said.
Imagine being lost in this cave. I couldn't live in a world of darkness." The female kakushi said nervously.
"At least you're not me. Ever since I got hit on the face by demon, I can only see in black and white. Yuki expressed his frustration
"Oh, sorry." She apologized.
"It's okay, I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I'm dealing with." Yuki said.
After descending the last set of stairs. The Wisteria group took a moment to catch their breath before ascending up to cavern's exit. The stair way going up was much steeper and without a rail, they needed to tread carefully to avoid any accidents. Yuki's pocket watch read 8 o' clock once they made it outside. Upon reaching their wagon, Shinobu sensed demons approaching them. The former heir was exhausted but he knew better than to oppose his teacher. Once the kakushi retreated in the wagon, Yuki and his teacher drew their swords and lunged towards the enemy.
Hi everyone. Welcome back to Taisho era secrets. Today's guest is...Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro." Yuki announced.
Let's get this over with: I don't trust Subachi-kun. Hailing from a privileged background, he doesn't know the first thing about everyday struggles. On top of that, he's obnoxious and I truly pity Kocho-chan for taking in such a pathetic student. "Obanai huffed.
Wow. Um, next time on chapter 15, We'll be reaching the end of the year. Got to plan for a new summer activity, master the last trial and breathing technique, and meet the next hashira?! Wait, that means we'll have all nine positions filled up. I can't wait wait to meet the final member. What about you, Iguro-sama?" The former heir asked politely.
"We're done here, butterfly boy" The Obsidian haired hashira said dismissively.
So. Damn. Tired.
This is by far the biggest chapter I have written to date. I'll make this brief. Condensing six months into one chapter was far more difficult than I had imagined. There were so many idea that had to be cut from this chapter, such as getting another glimpse of Yuki's family and a proper introduction of Shinobu's other students. But yeah, hopefully the next chapter will be much easier to write out. I think what happened is I had a burnout. Don't worry, I took a pause from writing and ready to push forward for next month. What makes the most sad was I focused so much on this chapter, I didn't really make time to draw. I must change that.
I think this is the first time Shinobu has scolded the MC in a while. Which is fine because she won't always coddle him. I also wanted a chapter where my mc took damage from his fights. Everyone suffers a loss so this was tough pill for him to swallow. As much as I'm not a fan of Obanai, he was a lot of fun to write because he straights up hates Yuki.
I hope next chapter will be easier to write up.
One more chapter until the time skip arc is complete. We just need Mitsuri's inclusion, and master the fourth trial and breathing technique. I have more to say next month.
Shoutout to Papito567, ToxicTy, 2006sdmm, DragonsoftheEnd, and SamaxR13 for following this story.
I also want to give a shoutout to the author TokitoTwins. I took a glimpse of their story and loved the way they distinguished the characters speaking english vs Japanese. I will probably do the same when I go back for edits.
Until then, have a nice day.
