2nd Chances

Part 15

His eyes slowly crept open, the dark room being illuminated by a singular candlelight.

Giyuu remained motionless as he stared at the ceiling of whatever room he was in. His memory was a bit hazy but it all eventually came back to him, his fight with the upper moon, the mission, what had happened to him.

As he tried to sit up a sharp pain pierced through his body like a jolt of electricity.

He pushed through the pain and sat upright against the headrest of the bed, his body feeling heavy while he did so.

Although he didn't think about it too hard at the time, what he had just done was unprecedented. Akaza, upper moon 3, was dead nearly 3 whole years early. He wasn't sure how that would effect things going forward but he spared it little mind for now.

He eyed his dimly lit surroundings, from what he could gather, he was definitely in the butterfly mansion. He looked around noticing a certain butterfly resting her head on the foot of his bed.

"Shinobu." His voice cracked.

Her head instantly popped up and turned left and right frantically.

"Giyuu?" She asked in disbelief, her eyes wide at the sight of him clearly awake.

"Can I get some water?"

Shinobu got up from her chair and quickly left the room before coming back rather fast. She had returned with a glass of water in hand.

"You might need help with this, don't move." She said doing her best to help him drink the glass.

After he finished he took a second to breath.

"How.... How long have I been out?" He asked nervously.

"3 days." She said looking down.

He eyed her face, especially her eyes.

"You were crying." He said sounding a little saddened.

Shinobu looked up at him, her eyes clearly red, the bags under her eyes barely visible in the dark.

"I was worried sick, I-I heard what happened and... and-" she tried to continue speaking before stopping herself, she was doing her best not to choke up or cry. She didn't want to burden a barely awake Giyuu.

"Shinobu, look at me."

She hesitated for a second before doing her best to maintain eye contact.

"I'm alright. You have me worried, please tell me whats going on."

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"Uzui-San, he's ok, but he'll be out for another 3 weeks. You passed out after your battle and were carried here by one of Uzui's wives." She explained.

"I requested time off from the master to take care of both of you. You'll be here another 3 weeks as well."

He smiled knowing Tengen was alright before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Can you come here."

Shinobu scooted her chair over closer to him.

"I'll be in your care."

A clearly tired expression visible on her face.

"Shinobu, please, go get some rest." He said while getting a closer look at her.

She placed one of her hands over his.

"I will, don't worry about me, you're the one who's hurt silly."

He smiled before a sudden wave of tiredness washed over him. He quickly laid himself back down with some effort as he watched her exit the room.

His eyes closing once more before his fatigue completely caught up to him.