Ch - 15 ° An Unfortunate Appointment

                                    

                                          

Time flies really fast.

Everyone was back to their daily routine. Giyuu often came to the Butterfly Manor to visit Tanjiro and check up on him. He was healed up and almost done with his rehabilitation training. 
Recently, there has been a clash between Uzui and the Butterfly sisters. After that, Shinobu had absolutely refused to heal his wounds. There had been rumors that Sound Hashira was kidnapping girls to put them into prostitution for some mission.
To save them, Tanjiro and some of his friends offered to take their place and went on their mission with Uzui, not sure if that was allowed within the corps. 
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Shinobu was back to her daily grind; testing poisons, completing her everyday training, doing her chores, taking care of patients, and carrying out her responsibilities as the insect Hashira. 
It was almost midnight, the normal time for the slayer corps to be awake. She was in her designated work cabin, reading a novel while having a little break, but her peaceful harmony was broken by a sudden knock on the door.
"Come in." Shinobu called out while closing the book and straightening her position.
"It's me." Slowly, a figure appeared, a familiar mismatched haori peeking out from the door. 
"Ah, Tomioka-san. What brings you here?" Shinobu gave him a little wave.
"I'm here for my revisit for my previous injuries." Giyuu answered, taking out a piece of paper containing information about his previous appointments.
"Very well. Let's get those wounds checked out." Shinobu led him to the check-up room.
While Shinobu was busy tending to his wounds, Giyuu found his eyes lingering over her delicate hands. He couldn't help but wonder how soft they were, even after years of handling swords and vigorous training. 
Shinobu slowly started humming a song, immersed in her concentration as she carefully removed the bandages. 
"All done." Shinobu spoke up, humming the left-over song in a high pitch as if it had ended.
She was pulled out of her peaceful reverie once her eyes met Giyuu's. He was already looking at her. She felt her heart skip a beat as her eyebrows jerked upwards as if she were startled.
"Do I look creepy? Why is she giving me such a shocked expression? I should probably stop gawking like that." Giyuu thought. Though his face remained neutral on the outside, his expression was somewhat confused and clueless in his mind.
"How's Tanjiro?" He asked, trying to clear up the tension surrounding them.
"He's good; he's gone with Uzui on a mission for about a week or so to the Entertainment District. I heard that they've tracked the demon. Anyways, I suggest you keep the boy away from that perv." Shinobu shrugged, masking her irritation towards the Sound Pillar.
"I heard what happened. I guess I'll keep an eye." Giyuu replied, not thinking much about it.
"Don't you think what he did was very wrong?! I swear all he thinks about is himself." She cursed, her anger being poured into her twitching eyes.
"I suppose so." He absent-mindedly spoke, busy with his own collection of thoughts.
"Suppose so? Suppose?! I thought you were my friend! Hey, are you even listening?!" Shinobu fumed, waving her hand in front of him.
"Did you trim your hair?" He completely cut her off, dissipating her anger, which slowly turned to confusion.
"How do you even notice that stuff?!" Shinobu's face scrunched, looking at his curious expression, which was waiting for an answer.
"I- uhm. Yes." Shinobu replied, not sure what reply would suit other than that.
"Why is she so creeped out? "Aren't compliments supposed to help in communication?" Giyuu inwardly clicked his tongue, not realizing that his compliments were actually really creepy to hear.
"I think I should leave." Giyuu slowly stood up, wanting to disappear immediately.
"I guess your injuries are fine. This is your month's bill. You can pay at the next appointment." Shinobu forcefully flashed a smile while handing over a bill.
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Giyuu sauntered his way back, not having any idea what to do next; he was already done with his missions for the day. His attention was suddenly shifted by Shinobu's crow, and another crow, which was covered in shiny jewels, flashed across him towards the Butterfly Manor.
"Is there something wrong, Kanzaburo?" Giyuu slowly called for his crow on the tree, communicating with another Kasugai crow.
"Caw! Sound Hashira; Uzui Tengen, along with Kamado Tanjiro, Agatsuma Zenitsu, Hashibira Inosuke, Makio Uzui, Hinasturu Uzui, and Suma Uzui, have sustained critical injuries in battle against Uppermoon 6!" 
"Are they being brought to the mansion?" Giyuu asked, his attention completely invested upon hearing the name of Tanjiro. The crow simply nodded in response.
An uppermoon was no joke. If Uzui had sustained critical injuries, what about Tanjiro? Giyuu felt his adrenaline rush up in anxiety. His legs moved on their own as he turned back, back to the Butterfly Mansion.
"Please be safe Tanjiro, I can't lose you."
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