Work Text:
_•_
“Gods, why are you even on our team again? You barely sing anything, and you're not even that good!” Shinubo scoffed, rolling her eyes at Giyuu, who had been sitting sipping her tea as she looked over something their boss, Kagaya, had sent her.
“She never gets a lead in a song, let alone a whole album. I don't get why Master Kagaya keeps her around!” Obanai said, his eyes narrowing at Giyuu, who stiffened but kept her cool, doing her best to ignore them.
"Honestly, I think he keeps her around for petty sake. No one else would want or take her, and she is kind of good-looking. Though I bet no one would date her.” Senami adds, looking Giyuu up and down, tracing her quiet, curvy figure and tiny waist.
Giyuu acts like she can't hear them even though they won't be that far from where she set them in their shared living room in HQ or the fact they won't really be that quiet. She looked through the email the master had sent and kept her face blank and stock as normal even if she wanted to nibble her lip. A bad habit she has had since childhood. She sipped her tea and noticed it was almost empty. She thought about refilling it and the offer Master Kagaya made her.
“Why do you always make comments on her body? Do you like her?” Shinubo asked, looking at Senami with narrowed eyes and a sickly sweet smile.
Senami scoffs with a shake of his head. “Gods no, I'd rather die than date her. Plus I love Kanae; Giyuu doesn't compare to her. Also, I wouldn't be dating Kanae if I had feelings for someone else.” Senami spoke matter-of-factly with an eye roll, though he grimed when Obanai and Shinubo looked away from him.
“Good, my elder sister deserves loyalty,” Shinobu said, and Senami nodded in agreement.
“Of course, the only reason I comment on Giyuu's body is because that's the only thing she got going for her.” Senami adds coldly with a shrug, and Obanai snorts.
“That's true.” Obanai agrees, and Shinubo giggles, her hand over her mouth.
Giyuu finishes her tea. She calmly, as if she didn't hear everything they said, closed her laptop and stood up. She carries her empty teacup up to the sink, and she puts it down for one of the maids to clean. Then with her laptop in hand, she makes her way out of the room. Senami, Shinubo, and Obanai, none the wiser that she heard them as they kept talking shit about her.
_•_
Giyuu nods on a door and hears a soft, gentle male voice respond with “come in." With a relieved sigh, Giyuu pushes open a door and enters the room.
“Master,” Giyuu breathes out as she closes the door behind her.
Kagaya tilted his head; he could tell by her voice that something was wrong. “Dear, why don't you lock the door and come here?" He spoke softly like he was speaking to a skittish animal.
Giyuu locks the door and makes her way over to Kagaya, looking into his blind eyes. Giyuu made her way over to where Kagaya sat behind his desk.
“Just… Senami… Shinubo… and Obanai… being themselves… and their hate for me.” Giyuu whispered as she sat down in the chair across from him.
“I can—” Kagaya starts lowly, not liking how the others treat her, but like always she cuts him off.
“That only makes them worse,” Giyuu whispered softly with a shake of her head. She placed her hands on the desk as she looked down at them.
Master Kagaya doesn't say anything for a long moment. He reaches across the desk and places one of his hands on top of hers. They've done this enough times that he knew where her hands would be.
“Fine, but if it gets worse for me. I won't stand for their behavior for much longer.” Kagaya said lowly, his thumb stocking the back of her hand.
“I know,” Giyuu said softly, her eyes closing slowly. “Can I stay in here for a bit?” She asked in a barely there whisper.
“Of course, you're always welcome here.” Kagaya responds by giving her hands a gentle squeeze. “For as long as you want.”
“Thank you, Master.” Giyuu said softly, her shoulders relaxing.
“Any time, and you don't need to thank me.” Kagaya spoke truthfully, squeezing her hands one last time before pulling them away.
Master Kagaya stood, grabbing his cane and making his way over to the couch to sit down. He places the cane down, leaning against the well next to him.
“Come here,” Kagaya gently pets the set next to him.
Giyuu opened her eyes and stood up, making her way over to him. She gently sat next to him and blinked when she felt his hand slide up her arm to come to cup the back of her neck. He gently pulled her so she was lying down on the couch, her head resting on his lap with his fingers in her hair. Giyuu felt her cheeks warm, and her heart fluttered a bit.
It was quiet for a long moment, and Giyuu let her eyes flutter closed with a soft sigh. His fingers moved gently through her hair, messaging her scalp.
“I… think you should agree to the idea I sent you earlier today.” Kagaya spoke softly, and Giyuu hummed softly.
“I'm… not sure,” Giyuu whispered quietly as one of her hands came up to hold onto his pant leg.
“I thank you for being wonderful as a solo singer and a duet singer with Mitsuri. Mitsuri doesn't have any issues with you and does actually like you. I thank you; it'll be good for you both.” Kagaya explained gently, his free hand moving to gently rest on her shoulder.
“I… I don't think I'm powerful enough, let alone good enough, to go solo or even duet.” Giyuu said, and she could hear Master Kagaya tusk.
“You're one of my Hashira, one of my elites. I wouldn't have made you one if I didn't think you could go solo. Sure, I rarely have my Hashiras go solo or duet, but that's because none of them normally have such issues with the rest as you do. Though it's not your fault, my dear. Plus, I think both you and Mitsuri could grow with this.” Kagaya explained quietly, and Giyuu swallowed.
“But the others—” Giyuu starts, but Master Kagaya shushes her, gently pulling a bit at her hair.
“But them nothing,” Kagaya says lowly, his voice almost a growl. “If someone's apinan must matter, make it mine.” He adds, and Giyuu practically melts.
Giyuu is quiet for a bit, and Master Kagaya wonders if she perhaps fell asleep.
“I'll try… for you,” Giyuu whispers, barely loud enough for him to hear.
“Good,” Kagaya responds with a hum.
They fall into a comfortable silence. Giyuu slowly drifted off into a light sleep. Master Kagaya hummed a lullaby, his hand going through her hair, and his thumb on the other hand rubbed gently on her shoulder.
_•_