Lifetime [STOPPED]

VIII. Ostracize

Shinobu's POV

Is he that annoyed?

We exited the room in silence, again, but this time it was awkward-- and, the atmosphere was dense and heavy. The air that was surrounding us was suffocating.

"Tomioka-san~" I walked next to him and tried to call on him, but he didn't even bother looking my way. I pulled the sleeve of his haori for him to notice me but he just continued to walk. I again tried to call him the third time, but it surprisingly did not work.

I stood in front of hime to stop him from walking, "Tomioka-san, what was that?", I asked in annoyance, referring to his request to Oyakata-sama awhile ago. Instead of answering me, he ignored my presence and walked around me.

What the hell was that about? He didn't even try to look at me. I felt my blood boil because of the rudeness he was now showing me.

I tried calling him again, but like the other past attempts, it did not work. I sighed and caught up to walk beside him again.

"Tomioka-san..." I sighed, "Will you please enlighten me on what is bothering you?" I said and softly tugged at the sleave of his haori.

'I don't want the same thing to happen again just like yesterday.' A small voice whispered inside of my head.

"Are you really bothered by me that you had asked Oyakata-sama to change partners?" I continued questioning him.

Finally, he stopped walking and he let out a long and heavy breath, then he faced me.

"Yes." He said with exhaustion evident in his voice. I let out a nervous chuckle, "Yes?" I repeated his answer carefully.

"What do you mean by your answer, Tomioka-san?" I looked down at my hands which, I did not notice, were already sweating and fumbling with the handle of my Nichirin Blade's.

"Yes, I am bothered by you Kochou. You annoy me. You irritate me." He squinted his eyes at me. Although his face remained calm and relaxed, his voice and words didn't. His voice resonated with frustration, while the words he just sent me dripped with acidic venom.

No you aren't. I wanted to tell him, but I knew that he meant what he said, he's truly annoyed by me.

"Concerning the missions, we clearly make an exemplary duo..." he nodded. "But I would rather be alone for awhile, than to be partnered with an annoying midget. Away from annoying and pesky insects." He sighed and offered me a glance.

"I am not a midget and I am not an annoying insect" My voice was shaking as I said these words. I was now bitting back the tears formed on my eyes that were attempting to escape. The words he said held truth to them.

"Then stop acting like one..." he started to walk away from me. "and stop acting like your sister, you're not her, you can't be her..." he whispered the last part, but I still managed to hear it.

"I suppose that is all. I shall take my leave and arrange the exchange with Iguro-san" he nodded at me and he said like he had not just insulted me a few seconds ago.

I stood there until he was out of my line of sight before I let the tears that were on my eyes roll down my cheeks. I crumbled down onto the dirth path thinking about everything, everything. I could still hear his hurtful words repeating inside of my head.

"stop acting like your sister, you're not her, you can't be her..."

It replayed a hundred of times and it stabbed my heart more than a thousand times. The way he said it, as if he didn't know how I felt about my sister.

Once again I had to face the reality that I can't be my sister. I can never be half the hashira that she was. I can never be as strong as her. All of my insecurities were eating me inside out.

I love my sister. I really do, but there are just instances when I wished that I was like her. The she carried herself when she wasn't fighting those monsters, full of grace and poise. Of course, the strength and bravery she had whilst in combat. I wished-- I am still wishing to be like her, but I can't. Unlike my sister, I was born weak and feeble.

Why couldn't I have been born with stronger and longer limbs?

Why did I have to be born like this?

Why can I not be like the other Hashiras?

Another wave of tears were trying to leave my eyes as questions flooded my mind.

I couldn't find any strength left in me to walk back to the Butterfly Estate. I sat in the dirt path, waiting... waiting for who or what exactly?

Even I didn't know anymore, I just wanted to rest.

Thankfully, a red-haired boy with a scar on his forehead, together with his group of friends was about to pass by, headed to the direction of the Butterfly Estate. Before he could see me, I hurriedly dried up the tears on my cheeks and wore a smile again.

A mask. The voice inside of my head chimes in.

"Kochou-san!!!" Tanjiro greeted with a bright smile that could compete with the sun. I greeted back with a smile and I nodded my head at his two companions.

The boy on his left, Zenitsu was whining about how sore his body was because of the mission they had just finished. Inosuke on the other hand was still wearing his boar mask so I couldn't see his face, but his body was full of scratches which I was guessing was from the mission.

Tanjiro looked at me puzzled. He could see the tear stains that were on my face but he didn't press further on.

Tanjiro approached me and helped me get up. I dusted my pants and removed some of the dirt that stuck on my pants.

"What are you doing there on the path Kochou-san?" Zenitsu asked as we were entering the Butterfly Estate's gate. "I got tired and wanted to take a quick break before returning home" I lied.

"You're weird" Inosuke finally spoke up after how many minutes that he was quiet.

Tanjiro accompanied me to the front of my room and gave me a tight smile. "I hope you're doing well Kochou-san. You take care of us, but who'll take care of you?".

I was caught of guard at what he said but I didn't show him. I just smiled at him and thanked him for the help.

I layed down at my futton and let sleep and exhaustion engulf me.

"You take care of us, but who'll take care of you?"

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Look who finally updated. Sorry for the late update just had a lot of problems right now. Hope y'all are safe and healthy.

*Thanks for the 1.3k reads. I hope you enjoy this chapter!!!