Chapter Text
The soft flutter of leaves cuts through the chilly autumn air.
The Ubuyashiki estate had been quiet after Rengoku’s death. It had rattled the corps and left behind a feeling of numbness across every one of its members. Along with his passing, the last bits of sunlight had left the season and with every breath that Shinobu takes, a certain harshness seems to reverberate through her lungs.
Shinobu watches as her master's lips moved to form words. They're directed toward the various Hashiras present at the meeting, and especially, towards her. She knows that she should be paying more attention; yet, the more she tries to crane her ears towards his voice, the world around her only grows more distorted.
Tanjiro and Nezuko are certainly catalysts of a kind. The corps has gone so long without any major news, and now stories of demons are just swarming the offices of the corps.
Despite the noise, she hears his master address rumours of high-ranking demons. One in the entertainment district, and one seated deep in the mountains. Their information was given by an old couple who had been living in a remote village in the mountains. What stuck out to her was not the surprising coherence of Tengen's report on his mission nor was it the Hashira's general lack of desire to take action on this issue, it was the old couple's description of the demon.
It bears long locks of silver hair and possesses kaleidoscope eyes that resemble the finest of jewels. It has heavy bottom lashes to frame its eyes and is said to wield a fan.
Its was a description that perfectly matched Kanae's murderer.
Shinobu clenches the fabric of her sister's haori harshly.
A garment that was supposed to bring her comfort and remind her of the many wonderful embraces that her sister would give her is now a testament to Shinobu’s continuous failure. Those demons had taken so much from Shinobu and from countless other people. How could she call herself a Hashira when the wretched demons who killed the people she cares about roam the land without any repercussions for their actions?
She remembers the sensations all too well.
She remembers how the cold had seeped through her bones as her sister's blood flowed endlessly from her wounds, the way her sister’s body limped and stiffened under her touch in between her pleas. Her sister had begged her to turn back and to live a life ignorant to demons but Shinobu denied her of that wish. She remembers the suffocating feeling that swallowed her conciousness whole the moment her sister's body went slack.
At that moment, her sister was not the only one who had lost the light in their eyes. Shinobu had expected the grief and rage that came with her sister's death, yet nobody told her how her body would wrench and revolt at the sight of trivial nothings.
The sky hadn't fallen when her sister died and the sun continues to rise as if nothing had ever happened. The blood that tattered the alleyway seeped deep into the soil and washed away in the rain. The ground at which Kanae was killed began to be treated as another pathway and Shinobu's heart aches. She condemns herself whenever she mindlessly calls out to her sister only to be once again reminded that her sister is now nothing more than a pile of bones seated deep in the earth, or when she sees her sister's butterfly clip collect dust.
The world had moved on but Shinobu's world had been desecrated, ravaged, and heartlessly murdered in that dimly lit alleyway.
Shinobu sucks in a ragged breath.
Her master is speaking, she should pay attention. Shinobu grits her teeth. The smile her sister loved so much must stay perfectly embellished on her face.
As her master goes on endlessly about the demons, her heart continues to pound deafeningly in her ears. With every beat of her heart, she feels her veins boil with the desire to move, to take action, and to appease the long-borne fury in her heart.
But right now, she must wait.
With great hesitation, Shinobu lets her eyes wander.
She sees a trail of ants in the corner of her eye and turns to look at it. How odd, ants are rarely seen in such big groups this late into fall. Her gaze slowly follows the sight of the ant’s trail. They were rabidly bunching and crawling over each other with disturbing efficiency in the grass and it didn't take long for Shinobu to understand why.
The ants have struck gold. In the middle of the crown of ants lay a dead butterfly.
Shinobu feels her breath hitch. It’s life of beauty has been reduced to nothing more than a source of food. Normally, these purple butterflies only fly until the last bits of summer. They were supposed to fulfil their duty and procreate before their colors turn dull and they prepare for cold. They rarely make it into this late into the fall with their vibrant colours intact.
Her sight begins to dim.
How cruel are those ants? Some of the rarest butterflies in the world are purple. It has survived far longer than its peers whilst retaining its beauty, only to fall into the hands of those grimy ants.
Shinobu shakes her head. No, she minds herself, ants are rarely ever the cause of an airborne insect’s death. The butterfly’s death was likely brought on by its own exhaustion or by unforeseen circumstances. Ants are simply bottom-feeders. They only exist to pick up the spoiled pieces.
Someone calls out to her, yet she can’t make out the words. Was her master calling out to her?
“Shinobu?” It calls out again.
It's unsettlingly calm. Far too calm to appease her riddled mind.
She looks up to see her master’s kind eyes. Despite losing his sight, he never lost his sharp and witty look. Shinobu respects him for that and for all that he’s done for the corps.
“Yes, master?” she asks, narrowing her eyes and pulling her lips to a smile. She clenches her jaw a bit tighter. She's not sure why she bothers pulling her face into a mask in front of him; it’s not like he could see it.
He smiles softly at her.
“Shinobu,” he starts. “I asked if the ants are bothering you.”
… What?
How did he know? Had she been too obvious? She looks up to find that most of her colleagues are getting ready to leave. How did she not notice that the meeting had ended?
“I..” She tries to say.
There’s no use lying; a half-truth will have to suffice. “I am simply bewildered at the abundance of ants this late into fall.”
There was a lengthy pause before her master hummed in acknowledgement. “That is true,” he nods, as his eyes trail to the gate of his estate. “This year's winter seems like it will be fairly harsh. Perhaps, the ants are taking extra precautions.”
She looks up to meet her master’s eyes and bows her head. A stray ant marched unsettlingly close to her foot and Shinobu averts her eyes. “I apologize for my lack of attention. I believe I’ve gotten all the information I need.” She raises herself to a stand and turns to leave.
“Shinobu,” he calls out to her for the third time today.
She looks back to face him. “Yes, master?”
His gaze has not left the spot where she had been sitting just a moment ago.
“You have grown well.” Her master begins. “I am aware that you are more than capable of carrying out the tasks given to you and have achieved things in your field that had not even been thought to be possible.”
Shinobu staggers. She would be lying if her heart didn’t flutter slightly at the compliments from her master.
“Although your desire for justice is commendable,” he says as he meets her gaze once again. “You mustn’t let it overcome your thoughts. The most permanent damage is often the result of short-sighted judgment.”
She racks her brain to find the right words for a moment. She bets he has lots of experience with short-sighted judgment.
“But this is an opportunity, master,” she says, “The demon I have long been searching for is within reach. To deny taking action would be an injustice.”
“The rumours are not confirmed yet, Shinobu,” he says sternly. “I will send Tsugoko to shadow the village and gather intel—”
“I will go.” Shinobu cuts in. If this were any normal circumstance, she would never have dared to interrupt her master when he was speaking but she can't help it. “I can shadow the village. Sending low-ranking Tsugokos may simply result in useless deaths. Why not send someone more qualified for the job? Someone like me?
Her master sighed softly. “I understand that the information today must have shaken you.” He tilts his head and folds his hands. “But don’t let your emotions get the better of you. You must take extra precautions and take necessary preparations first,” he pauses and glances at the gate. He lifts an eyebrow before an amused smile settles on his face.
“or at the very least," he continues, "bring a companion.”
Shinobu whips her head behind her and sees Giyuu’s figure near the gate. He shuffles into her view and bows. “I apologize." He says sheepishly. “I did not mean to intrude.”
How dare he eavesdrop on her conversation!
Shinobu's attention drifts back to her master and she watches him admire the grey clouds adorning the sky. “The task at which you have assigned yourself is a big one. It is one that will strain you both mentally and physically. So I ask of you, please, rethink your decision.” her master says. “And if you have made your decision, you must remain resolute until the very end.”
Shinobu looks at her master. She feels rather sympathetic towards the man. The esteemed master of the demon slayer corps is one who has helped save many lives, and yet, is unable to save his own dwindling body. The least he could save is his own sanity.
“The thought of you following Rengoku so shortly after his passing burdens my heart.” He says.
Her eyes widened, and she staggers back. Unable to meet his gaze any longer, she bows hastily. “Yes, master,” she says. She mutters a quick farewell and wishes good health upon him. With her hasty departure, Shinobu fails to notice how her master’s gaze lingers on the bits of butterfly carcass in the grass. She throws one final glance at her master before closing the gate.
Only he could say those words with such serenity.
As if on cue, she catches a glance of Giyuu’s figure in the corner of her eye. She grits her teeth before fixing a smile on her face. When her eyes have successfully curved into pleasant crescents, she whips her head to meet him. “My, my!” she chirps, “I didn't know you would be so audacious to eavesdrop on a private conversation!”
Giyuu froze in place, rather too stunned to speak. He sighs.
“I wasn’t trying to. I couldn’t help but—” he tries to say.
Her left eye twitches. It seems like he’s chatty today. “Yes, yes,” she cuts in. “I’ll let bygones be bygones this one time, but this is something that you should not make a habit of—”
“I want to help.” Giyuu butts in. He pauses for a bit, evidently surprised at his newfound courage. “I’ll go with you,” he decides. “I’ll go with you to prove whether the rumours are true or false in the village. If we truly do find the Uppermoon there, we will inform the corps of it and take the necessary precautions before deciding on an action.”
If Shinobu were less of a lady, she would have snorted at his supposed display of chivalry.
She can’t deal with this right now. With a sway of her kimono, she turns to the forest. Her crow lands gracefully at her shoulder, and she doesn’t spare him a glance before saying her piece.
“Whose to say that I’ll go to the village in the mountains?” she asks, “and whose to say that I'd want to go with you?”
Giyuu blinked before donning a deadpan expression. Shinobu begins to walk away when Giyuu speaks again. “At least let me help with the preparations. In the case that you do want to bring someone else, I would like to have made myself useful.”
Shinobu allows herself to let out a small scoff before opening her mouth to speak.
“And only if you would allow me,” he added quickly, “I would also like to pay the Kamado siblings a visit.”
She turns her back on him to hide her annoyed expression.
“Do what you must.” She says.