His eyes followed the flowy cloak of a beautifully intricate patterned haori. Each movements the wearer made were painted in grace and utter delicacy.

Like a pastel colored butterfly flapping it's wings on a bright summer day. Except it wasn't a friendly environment. For it smelt like blood and death.

She pulled her weapon and sheath it inside her haori propelling herself from a tree, almost not seeming like she did so, because of how quick her reflexes are.

From his reverie, Her movements made it seem like she was flying.

The light was shining upon her as she descended and perched herself carefully on the ground right in front of him.

A beautiful movement indeed.

He watched her with hidden interest.

She was amongst the most eye catching thing in this forest, and really the only person that basically stood out from the rest of the pillars.

Perhaps it might have come from the smell of wisterias? or her mysterious purple eyes that held something akin to her true emotions?

He sometimes wondered, what were beneath those eye sockets of hers.

What were beneath those deceiving masks she puts on every waking day?

He had a hunch. But be might know.

In some ways, they seem to be alike.

Suppressing their deep emotions and shrugging them back as if it never mattered in this world.

He hates to admit it, but those actions never go far from what he feels. They were both tortured and

they were both angry with this world.

And that's an undistilling fact.

Because they have no choice but to muddle through and survive. Because Fighting was their only choice. Fighting was their only way of resurging hope.

He grunted in annoyance as his left side currently distracted him. The pain was searing but, it wasn't new. He had always expected wounds like this when he's partnered up with her on a mission.

"Hello Tomioka-San, how are you holding up today?" She greeted him with her usual delicate smile. He swears he might have seen her smile a little too sweetly because of his state.

He internally sighed. That woman... Always had fun when he was in such uncomfortable situations.

"oh my, my, still giving me the silent treatment are we?" Her delicate smile never left her face. She always liked poking fun of him.

Most people just neglect his existence even so, as becoming a pillar.

But her? She just didn't know when to quit.

"To-mi-o-ka-san. You do realize that you need to tell me how you are feeling. Or else I won' t be able to help you."

She made it sound like he desparatley needed her. Well, right now his wounds were getting worse, they both knew that.

He was also beginning to stumble and he already wanted to go home and rest. But she was being annoying right now.

Shinobu's smile never faltered but a vein was beginning to protrude on the side of her head.

"Tomioka-san. If you're going become this difficult again, Then I might just have to leave you here with your poisoned body in the middle of the forest. And carry on my way to report you dead from this mission."

She said in an underlying glint of, dangerous tone that could send shivers to any man's bones. But he was an exception. He could still deal with her even in her worst.

Giyuu grunted in response He was just too tired to complain, and he wanted to go home and be finally left alone. So he complied. Unbearingly...He closed his eyes shut.

He didn't ask for her help anyways. She offered and he just accepted.

Shinobu let out a small humm of delight and she could never believe her eyes. He was being nice today.

"ah! that's much better Tomioka-san, I might have been surprised at how easily you are compliant today. Before then, you used to pass out because of your stubbornness and refuse to accept help. Perhaps now you are working up on your social skills? " She almost giggled.

She touched a particular bruised spot that made him flinch and it made her purse her lips. An internal bleeding.

And another wound that needed some stitching. She was just suspecting his movement and she already knew what wound he had.

Shinobu went back to the days where they get almost similar missions like these.

He would usually just ignore her up from the start to the end of the mission.

And despite the fatal injuries he acquired in fighting off dangerous demons. It would still take her several tries just for him to accept her help.

But right now she was just in utter bliss.

her hard work at poking at him everyday might have finally worked its wonders.

Giyuu's back was rested against a thick tree trump. As Shinobu surfed through the amount of items in her bag. Preparing needles, some ointments and even stitching materials.

"Here, drink this. This one will last you longer when we get back." Giyuu took the bottle with no hesitation. He already knew the contents of this potion.

It was Wysteria, to neutralize the effect of the demon's poison inside his system.

It fascinates him at how much she could resiliently study such countereffects, and get accurate results. How was it even possible?

Shinobu took quick actions to unbutton the front of his shirt, and slighty pushed his mismatched haori off of his shoulders, along with his uniform. Just enough so that she could work on the damage on his Left side.

This routine often happened, and he was getting used to it.

So, he m didn't even try to flinch anymore, as soft and deft fingers and carefully touched his body. This time thoroughly inspecting he wounds he had.

She clicked her tongue in dissaproval.

"Tomioka-san, Your wounds are a lot more severe than I had expected." She pursed her lips and took out a vial.

She started. "hmm it's good that you already stopped the bleeding. This will be a lot more easier now."

She began stitching the ones that were deep and after that she began applying ointment to the minor ones that would further bother him on their travels.

She curled her lips and began to sing a tune as she did her duty.

Her quiet melodious voice filled up the uncomfortable silence.

"You are being uncharacteristically generous today... hmm perhaps I might even be super nice to you and treat you to some Salmon Daikon when we get back!" She perched happily.

His eyes widened in a childlike's hopeful glee, but before he could revert it back.

Shinobu left a stifle of laughter. He's such a dork. But seeing that reaction from him she thought that he looked so cute!

"Oh Tomioka-san!" She laughed some more. Her voice more melodious. Perhaps it was because she was laughing genuinely.

She tried to stifle her laughter with a hand, while the other rested on his shoulder casually. Her form slightly shaking from laughter.

She was too close for his liking. It was getting harder to breathe.

"Salmon is probably the only thing you love in this world ne?"

Giyuu grumbled, ears tinged red, trying hide his embarrassment. Or maybe it's from the tingle of his stomach whenever he heard her laugh.

"Shut up, annoying woman, I don't." Giyuu mumbled.

"And so he speaks! This day is truly miraculous. But would you mind learning to be a bit more well-mannered hmmm? To-mi-oka-san?" She said the last part while jabbing her index finger on his chest.

He swatted her hand away clearly getting annoyed. He was just so drained of energy enough to put up with her antics. But her smile only widened.

"Oh my Tamioka-san you should be more grateful to me you know? This is why nobody likes you." She said feigning sadness.

Alright, this woman is really asking for it.

"That's not true" Giyuu said in his usual monotonous voice. Trying to state his fact. Her words truly struck him.

He looked at her straight in the eyes. Masking indifference on the annoyed expression he pulled.

"Oh really? then how can you prove to me that people can actually like a person such as you." She continued jabbing his finger on his chest.

"Tomioka-san's such an idiot." she said and smiled even more.

She clicked her tongue and an idea popped in. She decided to go ahead and tease him some more. Because it relieved her stress and she needed some entertainment.

"Okay, if there truly someone then name that person who actually likes you Tomioka-san." Shinobu challenged him sweetly.

He was about to answer but was cut off immediately.

"Oh! and Tanjiro is an exception he is jus at naturally sweet boy and he likes anyone he meets." She said.

"You probably would have guessed him right?" Shinobu snickered. But honestly He wasn't even thinking of that boy.

Thinking back. it doesn't really matter if no one liked him. Being too emotional over something this petty really wasted his time. And it shouldn't Eben bother Hi.

But since she's being too pushy today, He might have an answer he could give her.

Because the timing was perfect and she's hovering on his body right now. He rolled his eyes internally this is going to be stupid.

For the first time in so many years. He teased back. And answered an incredulous choice.

"You."Giyuu said in his monotonous baritone voice.

Shinobu's eyes widened at his one syllable answer. Shinobu clearly did not expect that to come out of his lips.

if this is the only thing that would stop her from teasing him then he would gladly do as much as this.

Shinobu almost choked on her smile. How could this asshole- a vein suddenly appeared on her mask of gentleness.

"tsk,tsk Tomioka-san how could you impose of me of liking you? You are obviously making up something hmm?? Perhaps you have ran out of options? or perhaps you have no options?" She smiled too sweetly. She almost laughed.

Giyuu smirked. And Shinobu's eyes widened in shock. This was the first time he ever pulled those lips upwards in her presence.

"hmm really?" His tongue rolled out those words daringly.

"I wonder... are you supposed to be done treating me? How come, you're still touching me so intimately?" He leaned his head sideways taking up an angle that made him look sultry.

Shinobu's eyes widened in shock. 'How can he just say that outloud so casually?'

and when did he become such a flirt?

She gasped and removed her hands from his chest like it burned her. Her face heated and blushed in embarrassment.

'How the hell-?'

"Seeing you react to my statement right now proves to me that my answer is correct. Except that it's entirely in a different way." Giyuu said looking amused outside of his muted expression.

He almost smiled at her reaction. She looked completely different as he caught her off guard.

And it intrigued him. This expression of hers was a new sight drink in.

"You like me." Giyuu said as he stared at her eyes, imploring for more mysterious reactions.

Shinobu's lips formed a shocked expression and released a hitched breath. and he could't help but grin again.

Her brows scrunched up incredulously. Her ears almost protruding steams.

He caught her off guard. Again...

"Tomioka-san, perhaps you are taking too much advantage of the situation? I clearly do not like you at all." She said impossibly almost choking on own her words.

She could not believe this. She was infuriated, And how was being fooled right now?

Shinobu stopped him from his distracting stares.

"Say that to yourself." Giyuu loosened his grin. And stood up from the tree trunk. His naked torso in display right in from her eyes.

It gleamed under the sunlight. And showed the contours of his body more prominently. The scars and bandaged wounds dressed some parts of his half naked form. As one pair of eyes continued to linger on it.

Shinobu was starting to fume.

She just wanted to pull that grin off of his face.

He completely turned the tables on her. She only wanted some entertainment. She never planned on becoming one.

"Hurry up. And stop oogling Kochou. You promised me that Salmon Daikon earlier."

How was he the one to steal her voice?