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Giyuu sat up, rather quickly, from the bed.
He had felt.. colder, than he should've.
Normally, he had a certain Insect Pillar beside him, keeping him from leaving any form of sanity.
Right now, that sanity was leaving him in quite a hurry.
What if it was all just a dream?
Perhaps, none of it was real.
He had lost Sabito, and he was dreaming for comfort.
Then again, as he looked up at the coat that was most definitely not his, and looked at scars that were definitely not supposed to be there if he was still younger, it wasn't a dream.
So, he was sent off into a panic, even if his facial features stayed cold.
Maybe, the Insect Pillar was on a mission.
He finally stood, a bit wobbly from the lack of air he was currently taking in.
When he soothed his mind with a, 'She's outside', he put on his regular clothing, walking around the house to check for the Insect Pillar.
The Water Pillar hadn't found her anywhere.
That's when he started to worry a bit more.
He snatched his sword from it's hanger, which so happened had been next to a certain Insect Pillar's, and walked out.
Although his walking was quick, different, his eyes still remained cold and distant. As did his facial expression.
All the Water Pillar could do was pray.
Something he hadn't done since life had found it's way to release Hell on the planet they called home.
Something he hadn't done since he lost his best friend, his rock, Sabito.
But now, it was something he was doing in order to pray that Shinobu didn't do anything stupid.
That woman was the definition of stupid, yet also the definition of calm, peace.
She was the storm in his mind, and the one in his heart.
Forever, in his heart.
Even if one were to die, he'd love her into the next life, to the next, knowing that nothing could stop him from doing as such.
At one moment, his life was bland, until he had finally found his color.
His meaning was to protect people, and slay Demons, as the Water Pillar.
To be peace, calm, justified; just like the water.
Yet, he had found his new meaning.
A new purpose.
Something only Shinobu had been able to give to him.
Love.
To love, to share his heart, his smile, his being, with another person.
His thoughts were broken once he had climbed into a cherry blossom tree that he and Shinobu had found a couple of months back.
She had practically begged for him to allow her to put their names on the tree.
Fed up with the begging, he had said yes.
Now, their names lay deep within the tree's bark.
Giyuu had carved Shinobu's in with his blade, and she had done his name with her own blade.
After a while of them meeting and talking there, the cherry blossoms had a purple tint at the end of their petals.
He swore to himself that her smile, when she had noticed, was the most beautiful thing ever known to man.
Rather quickly, he had gotten himself up there, and searched.
What caught his eye was a little note, with a butterfly on top of it.
As soon as the said butterfly had noticed him, it had lifted into the air.
Fluttering it's way over to him, it had gently booped him on the nose, before flying off.
Now, he was confused.
The Water Pillar walked over to the note, gently lifting it from the branch.
"While you're reading this, I am most definitely done with what I've planned. The directions to where I am are rather simple! A straight shot! I believe that you can do this, watashi no ai!" (Watashi no ai, Japanese, "my love.")
His heart jumped at that last part.
"Come to where we had last trained."
He lifted a brow, a training session?
"Oh, I know what you're thinking. No, we won't be training. ~Love, your dearest butterfly"
The Water Pillar chuckled softly.
He had worried for nothing.
Besides that, she was correct. It really was a straight shot from where he was standing.
After shaking his head with a small smile placed on his lips, he ran off into the adventure she had waiting for him.
The Insect Pillar had finished putting everything together, smiling brightly.
She was currently wearing a white dress, fading into a purple at the ends.
Her hair was tied up into a, slightly messy, pony tail, butterfly pins keeping it up.
Makeup had lightly been put on, due to the fact Giyuu would scold her for putting too much on.
She never knew why, but she had always went along with it. (A/N: Because all of you look so pretty without it! <3)
When she had heard some branches creaking at a bit of weight being put on, she knew he was there.
Well, at least she had gotten everything ready.
A soft thud behind her, and a gruff voice came from what made said thud.
"Aisuru?" (Aisuru, Japanese, means "Love.")
When he had made it there, he only had seen her back.
Which was bare, by the way.
The dress had been cut, fashion?, in the back, dipping toward her lower back, then ending with everything concealed.
The Water Pillar had struggled to speak for a moment, before heading in with, "Aisuru?"
The woman he was referring to had turned with a soft smile.
"Hello." God, he had been dying to hear her voice.
"Should I feel underdressed?" The Water Pillar lifted a brow, with a small smirk on his face.
"Of course you should. You could've at least worn your relaxing clothing." She stated, with a glint of humor on her face, as she walked forward to him.
He deadpanned, "Well, if you go missing suddenly, I'm going to be looking for a fight."
"Awe, the mighty Water Pillar would fight for me?" She teased.
"Die for you." He corrected, staring right into her purple eyes.
Which had widened.
She reached up, when she was close enough, to pull him down and put their foreheads together.
He, easily, had complied with this movement.
The Insect Pillar was the only one who could cause him such vulnerability.
Such weakness.
And this time, he was fine with that.
"Don't go dying anytime soon, though.." She told him, in a soft tone. "Life wouldn't be the same without you."
After a minute or so of standing there, Shinobu had backed away.
He lifted a brow to her, and she smirked.
"Anyways, to why we're here.."
Suddenly, loud shouts filled the air, including Shinobu's.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
The Hashira's.
He stared at them with shock, before Shinobu sang in a 'I'm always right tone,' "See? He did forget it was his birthday."
After the party had ended, and was cleaned up, Shinobu and Giyuu had laid in the tree.
"I never told you my birthday, you know." He murmured, holding the Insect Pillar close.
Shinobu let out a little giggle, "I found out on my own." She cuddled closer to the Water Pillar, allowing him to lean his head on her chest to listen to the soft thrum of her heart.
Even if it was a little faster than normal.
It had always been his favorite melody, a reminder that someone he loved was alive.
Still going.
And as strong as ever.
"How so?"
"..I have my ways, aisuru."
He chuckled, lifting his head and loosening his hold for a moment to set a kiss underneath her jaw, before laying back in his spot again.
Shinobu threaded her fingers through his hair, "Goodnight, watashi no ai.." She whispered, as her voice lead him into sleep.
The last thing the Insect Pillar had whispered, before sleep surrounded her as-well, was a gentle, "Happy birthday."