delicate ; o.iguro

𝟬𝟯 : 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

It was now the late hours of the afternoon and Y/N had just started to stir. She quietly groaned out in pain, struggling to sit up. Her whole body felt as if it were on fire and her mind was hazy.

After a couple of minutes, the female blinked open her sore eyes, allowing for them to adjust to the bright light in the room. Her eyes scanned the room, confused to see beds dotted everywhere. She could've sworn she was in the forest not too long ago...

Clutching her head, Y/N sat up against her pillows in her bed. The silk sheets felt cold and smooth against her burning hot body, relieving her of any minor pains. It was then she noticed that she was no longer in her kimono, yet was in a white laced medical gown. Now she was even more confused.

Just then, the door to the room opened. Y/N quickly glanced up only to see a female with black hair tied neatly into two pigtails walk in. She had deep blue eyes and had two blue butterfly hairclips placed onto her pigtails.

"You're finally awake." The lady sighed as she stepped closer towards the bed. She seemed relieved, yet tried her best to mask it.

"Here, I brought you some food and drink. It's important to take care of yourself." The rather small lady handed Y/N a tray filled with various different food and drinks. Y/N's eyes sparkled at the mere sight of it.

"All of this... Is for me?" She wondered breathlessly. She gratefully took the tray from the other and placed it onto her lap.

The black haired female nodded. "Of course. You need to eat, especially after what just happened to you."

Ah, right... Y/N picked up a rice ball and popped it into her mouth. I remember now. That demon in the forest poisoned me and I collapsed...

"Um, Miss..." Y/N looked up at the shorter female expectantly. She seemed to get the hint.

"Just call me Aoi." She informed firmly.

Y/N nodded, smiling warmly. "If you don't mind me asking, Miss Aoi, where exactly am I...?"

"You're at the Butterfly Mansion." Aoi announced proudly. She had a slight grin on her face as she spoke these words. "This Manor was run by the late Flower Hashira, yet is now run by the Insect Hashira. I'm assuming you have heard of her?"

Y/N hummed. The Insect Hashira... Why did that ring a bell?

"Shinobu...?" The female remembered reading a scroll not too long ago about all of the Hashira's. She made a mental note that the Insect Hashira's name was Shinobu Kocho.

"Mhm," Aoi nodded, "That is correct."

I've been meeting so many Hashira's lately... What's up with that? Y/N thought as she placed another rice ball into her mouth. The food was heavenly - it melted on her tongue.

"This Manor is usually used as a recovery base for injured Demon Slayers..." Aoi trailed off as she stared at Y/N. "Yet for some reason, he brought you here. You don't appear to be a Demon Slayer."

The other shook her head. "Goodness, no. I'm afraid that I don't have what it takes to become one..." She stared up at Aoi with a perplexed expression. "Who is this 'he' that you speak of?"

The small female grimaced at this. Nonetheless, she answered, reluctance evident in her tone, "The Serpent Hashira. He was the one who brought you here, explaining that you had been poisoned by a demon in the forest. Apparently he didn't know where else to go in order to seek treatment for you."

So... Obanai brought me here, huh? Thought Y/N as she gently placed the now-empty tray on the bedside table.

"Is he still around?" She wondered, "I would like to thank him."