The Scarlet Cherry Blossom (Giyu Tomioka Love Story)

Chapter 6

Mika's P. O. V:

Giyu says to the Insect Hashira, who is kneeling beside Yae and gripping her arms, "Kocho, take care of her."

"Wait..." Says Yae. "Can you handle this, Tomioka, Mika?" Shinobu gets to her feet while starting to unsheathe her sword.

"Perhaps I should help," The black and purple haired woman muses, a dark look glimmering in her eyes. "My poison will swiftly dispatch him to the Netherworld."

"W... Wait!" Yae calls.

"Yes?" I say, without looking back at her. "Surely you understand that... he's no longer a human. He's a monster. A demon."

Giyu warns her, "Prepare yourself, Yae." With both dash forwards, swords at the ready.

I say, "That thing is no longer your father."

Yae's father growls as he straightens up. He throws his severed arm at Giyu and I. I deflect the limb with ease, neither of us missing a step. The man then brings a dagger towards us as his left arm regenerates.

Giyu deflects it first before the demon swings it for me. I deflect the dagger with a swift swing of my sword.

I dash towards the demon with my fastest speed. Alongside Shinobu, I'm known as one of the fastest Hashira, as well as the strongest.

"Water Breathing," Giyu says lowly, lunging for the demon, "Fourth Form: Striking Tide!" He twists his body while heading towards the demon, and with a swift stroke of his sword, Giyu beheads the demon in an instant. Giyu lands before me as the demon collapses into the snow.

Then his body begins to disintegrate.

"It's over," Murmurs Giyu.

I agree, "Yes. It's finally over."

As we look back at Yae, our eyes jerk wide to see her boots off as she points her gun underneath her chin. Yae says to herself, "Now I can... be at peace."

"Kocho! Mika-chan!" Giyu yells fearfully.

Shinobu and I whirl around and race towards the Matagi hunter.

"Dammit!" I think with gritted teeth as I hear the click of the gun. "We'll never make it in time!"

I put on my full speed but I was still too slow. Upon nearing her, I throw myself towards Yae just as Shinobu does. I throw myself atop Yae and we tumble into the snow just as the gun goes off. I straddle her as I hold Yae down with my immense strength, Shinobu stopping beside us, panting.

"Hehe... why? Why now...? Why did it jam? I cleaned it like I'm supposed to... just let me die..." Yae starts sobbing uncontrollably.

I gaze down at her sympathetically. "Yae..." I think sadly as I climb off her.

"M-My father became a man eating demon! I lost Taro! I lost everyone! My house! Everything! You wouldn't understand!" She turns on her hands and knees and cries into her arms. "Leave me alone! Forget about me!"

Giyu was approaching us then. Stopping before Yae, he says to her, "I think... his dying words for you... he said "Live on." Or maybe it was demon nonsense. What do I care. Let's go, Mika-chan."

I look up as Giyu turns to walk back into town. "Err, right," I say as I get up and follow him, quickly falling into step beside him.

"Tomioka, Mika-chan," Shinobu calls after us.

"Don't forget, Kocho," Giyu begins.

"We are Hashira," I finish seriously.

I walk between Giyu and Shinobu back to town to grab something to eat.

🗡🗡🗡

"You've changed, Tomioka, Mika-chan," Shinobu says as she eats some ramen and I contentedly eat my gyoza.

Goyu and I stare at her as we question in perfect sync, a mouthful of gyoza in my mouth, "How so?"

"I don't know how to put it, but..." The black/purple haired girl mutters, a thoughtful expression on her features. "... you two have always been sort of cold."

""Cold"?" We mumble as we pout. Do we really appear that way? I guess I've never really noticed before due to all the missions I've been on with the Water Hashira.

"I think you said that to be considerate of her." Shinobu mumbles behind her hand at me, "Even though you lectured me. What caused your change of hearts?"

I think back to our encounter with the siblings in a snowy mountain like this one.

I gaze at Giyu after swallowing. He must be remembering too.

Giyu sets down his cup of tea as he says, "Whatever happens, our cores do not waver. We Hashira are stronger than everyone else. We are the pillars that support the Demon Slayers. That is why we must never forget... for whom we swing our swords... and whom we protect. We can only be Hashira, because we have someone to be strong for."

I gaze at him with awe.

Shinobu chuckles as she brushes back her bangs, "Hehe. That's laying it on a bit thick... and it sounds like a hard way to live."

Giyu doesn't say anything as he drinks his tea. I take a swig of my cherry ramune, a type of Japanese soft drink.

"Here's your Salmon 'n Radish!" The chef calls, and I notice the Tomioka perking up at that.

A steaming bowl of Salmon 'n Radish is placed before Giyu.

It looks so mouthwatering!

I gush, "Oooh! That looks delicious!" I send Giyu a knowing smile. "Don't you love this dish, Giyu-kun?" I still smile as I see a smile of Giyu's own face. It actually reaches his eyes and makes them shine with happiness.

Both Shinobu and the chef were shocked. The chef actually jaw drops at the smiling Tomioka as he drops the bowl he was holding.

"What's wrong?" Asks Giyu in puzzlement.

"I've never seen you smile before, Tomioka. Could you, um, not look at me while you eat? Thanks..."