Chapter Text
The Rengoku estate was quiet when Shinobu arrived.
Rather than taking the front path and announcing herself with her usual polite knock, she slipped over the perimeter wall like a shadow, her feet landing soundlessly on the courtyard ground.
This was technically tresspassing, but oh well.
As she drifted down the corridor, making no more sound than a falling leaf, a small figure rounded the corner holding a basket of folded laundry.
It was Senjuro.
The boy gasped softly, freezing in his tracks as he caught sight of the Insect Hashira appearing out of nowhere. He certainly did look healthier, and Shinobu gave a mental sigh of relief at that.
She pressed a her index finger to her lips, offering him a silent, radiant smile.
Senjuro stared at her for a second. He glanced toward his brother’s closed room down the hall, then looked back at Shinobu. With his eyes widening in understanding, the young boy just shrugged, and quietly turned around to walk in the opposite direction, sealing his brother's fate.
Good boy, Shinobu thought, her smile widening.
She walked down the hallway until she stood right outside the sliding door of Kyojiro’s personal quarters. She didn't open it. Instead, she leaned in slightly, tilting her head to listen to the voices drifting through the door.
“... I'm telling you, it was a flawless plan!”
“Flawless plan, my ass. If this is what you two normally do to get Iguro and Kanroji together, no wonder they're both still single.”
“Hey, it's not my fault that all the Hashira except me suck at romance! But alas, I have another plan!”
“God, please no.”
“LET'S HEAR IT, UZUI!”
A pause, as if he was building up the suspense, before yelling, “A hot spring! Me and my wives always–”
Shinobu decided she had heard quite enough.
She raised her hand, giving the wooden frame three polite, light, rhythmic knocks. Knock. Knock. Knock.
The room inside instantly went dead silent. You could have heard a pin drop on the tatami mats.
Without waiting for an invitation, Shinobu slid the door open, stepping into the threshold. The scene inside was a masterclass in chaos.
Kyojiro was sitting perfectly upright, his hands flat on his knees, his eyes wide and frozen. Tengen was mid-pose, leaning back on one arm with an apple halfway to his mouth. Sanemi was halfway to his feet, his jaw open, looking like he had just seen a ghost.
Shinobu stood in the doorway. She tilted her head, her eyes glowing dangerously. Her smile was blindingly bright.
"My, my," She said, her voice dropping into a sarcastic tone, "Such fascinating and important things you're all discussing! Mind if I join?"