Quietude

6

| Quietude - Chapter 6 - Fallen Knight's Weeping

One week.

A whole week had passed since the demon attack that had sent [Name] into a coma.

The remainder of the Demon Slaying corps had been unshaken by the events, if not slightly surprised to learn the Flame Pillar singularly affected by the incident. They were all the more astounded to hear that the swordsman had put himself into isolation in the Butterfly Estate. The Butterfly Estate, where rested the bedridden [Name].

It was being told that Rengoku had not been in contact with any of his peers for the past week, under the pretext of wanting some time to center himself. Despite uncharacteristically avoiding his comrades, he had not neglected his duties as a Demon Slayer, and still took upon every task he was given with fervor.

Yet, Kyojuro felt different. He felt as if he'd been robbed of something that night. Something great, something important. He felt lighter, but not with relief; the weight of guilt still hung heavily on his shoulders. Laying demons low didn't feel as relieving, liberating, or significant as before. His sword seemed duller—his grip on its hilt felt alien almost.

His strength. That night, Kyojuro had been robbed of his strength.

The loss had him grieving, inevitably. Each time his fingers met the steel of his blade, he feared it would slice through his hands like a knife through butter. He feared that the one thing he trusted in battle, second to his strength, would turn against him, against his change.

He mourned the loss with great woe and an ever-growing feeling of dread.

The fires of torment had ravaged his spirits and left behind dwindling remains of determination. Even the soul's brightest lights sometimes died, it seemed.

***

Kyojuro's withdrawal had thrown the Pillars into slight disarray. The shift in the atmosphere had been flagrant enough to leave no one indifferent.

The remaining Pillars had allowed Rengoku's retreat—this once only—despite being left in the dark regarding the motives behind his disappearance.

Giyuu, of course, had an inkling of an idea, but preferred not to pin his guess upon a baseless assumption. He kept his thoughts to himself, knowing it wasn't his place to speak up about it.

Having a thought for the Flame Pillar, Giyuu decided to pay him a curt visit. Not that he was in the mood for chatter. Rather, he felt it would be somewhat considerate to check up on his grieving 'friend'—it was a simple impulse. And so he set off to the Butterfly Estate under the afternoon sun with a slight drag to his feet.

"Tomioka-san!"

Not long after the bluenette departed for the mansion, a familiar voice called out to him—one he wouldn't have expected to speak his name in a thousand years.

"Kanroji-san," he greeted dully, giving the girl a curt nod of greeting as she raced up to meet him. Mitsuri's emerald eyes gleamed with expectation and concern when she met gazes with Giyuu. She parted her lips to speak—they trembled with uncertainty—before shutting her mouth closed the next instant. She fixed her stare ahead wordlessly, reciprocating Giyuu's nod with a meek bob of her head.

From then on, the walk resumed in silence, and as it progressed, Kanroji took some time to admire the surrounding nature.

She observed the sky, its transient hues and fleeting clouds; she tuned in to the birds' songs; she tip-toed over the shadows cast by the foliage. In the frenzy of this demon-ridden world, no one really took time to appreciate the gifts of Mother Earth, she realized.