〘♂✩♥ 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐮 ♥✩♂〙

~ Second Chapter ~

~ Mixed POV ~

Giyuu just stared at Obanai, silently.. Before finally realizing what the man had requested... Or, offered.. yeah, offered would be a better word.  His face was still as blank as ever, although, he felt happy.. Kind of pressured, but happy. 

"Oh, um.. Okay, yeah... Sure," Giyuu finally responded, "I suppose that.. I'd like that." He sounded almost just as he always does, however he had a slight sound of happiness in his voice. 

Obanai didn't realize, as he was lost in his own thoughts. However, whenever Giyuu agreed after that long wait, he had a smile resting under his bandages..

"Oh, wonderful..! I'm happy you accepted, I was kind of worried that you wouldn't," Obanai said casually, with a chuckle.

For Giyuu, it was hard to tell if Obanai was being genuine or not. I mean, Obanai wasn't exactly easy for Giyuu to read, not with his low self-esteem. He always tends to second guess what people say to him, especially whenever it's 'nice'.. So, he was silent for a moment, before nodding. He didn't want to come off as rude, or disrespectful.. He just.. Wasn't sure if Obanai was being genuine or not.

Giyuu replied in a quiet voice, "Ah.. Yeah, no- don't worry about that.. It just didn't process immediately-.. Just a little brain screw up, haha..."

Giyuu tried to come off as nice, and positive.. Although it seemed much more nervous, especially with those fake laughs, that were clearly just there to distract from his true emotions.                     Obanai picked up the nervousness, though.. He just thought his past opinion on Giyuu was affecting him.  After all, he- and all the other hashiras- misunderstood him so brutally in the past.. He thought it could just be his own lends clouding up again.

"Oh, I see.. Well, I'm glad you weren't severely judging me or anything, aha," Obanai joked, letting out a little chuckle. 

  Giyuu, though.. He didn't know Obanai was joking. I mean, how could he, whenever he thought so bad of himself?? Whenever those around him thought bad of himself as well?? How was he supposed to know Obanai didn't still think of him as ignorant??  However, regardless, the comment made Giyuu feel really guilty.. Like he did something wrong. So, after a quite quick amount of time, Giyuu spoke quickly.

"W-what!? No, I'd never do that!" Giyuu exclaimed, not with anger, but with urgency, and worry. "You know I'm not like that, right??" He was genuinely concerned..

Because of Giyuu's response, Obanai.. He ended up feeling really bad. He didn't mean to make Giyuu react like this, he just wanted to make a little joke- butttt.... I think it's safe to say that joking with someone with Giyuu's mentality like that isn't the best idea. Not like Obanai knew this, though.. He always thought that Giyuu was just some cocky, self-centered guy before now.            

Not to mention, Obanai wasn't exactly social. Not in Giyuu's way, of course.. He just isn't very good with people, not people in general, not Giyuu. Obanai was always around Sanemi, really. Well- I mean- he's around Mitsuri a lot too, but that's 'different'... Being around Shinobu isn't hard, and really, when he's around the others, they're quite easy to be around as well.. It doesn't take much social experience to be around people who just carry the whole conversation effortlessly afterall. People who were confident. People who would stand being told that kind of stuff.. People who knew it was all a joke. 

"Huh-? I know," Obanai tried to respond as quickly as he could, but still occasionally stuttered as he tried to find the words.. He continued, "I was just joking, you know..? I'm- sorry.. I didn't intend to cause you to feel.. like that."

Obanai.. He didn't know what to say. He felt really nervous, but mostly, he felt bad for what he said.. He didn't understand why Giyuu felt so bad by it, but either way.. He felt bad for making Giyuu feel bad. 

Giyuu, though.. What Obanai said, it made Giyuu feel better. I mean, of course.. There was still that voice in the back of his head, telling him that Obanai just apologized to not seem mean.. or that he was just going to make fun of him.. And that Obanai only stayed around him because he felt bad for how Giyuu was always alone.. or.. That it was because Giyuu helped him and he wanted to pay him back.. Though, it still did make him feel better.. So, he..

"It's.. It's okay, Obanai," he spoke quietly, "I should be able to take a joke- it's my problem."

     That good feeling Giyuu got, went away the moment he spoke. He felt.. He felt like he should be able to take a joke.. That's just how he thought though. Giyuu, he blamed himself for everything. For his sister, for his best friend, for Tanjiro's family.. and soon.. For another person. 

"No- no! It was my fault for making such an insensitive joke. Truly, please.. Forgive me," Obanai responded, quickly, a tone of certainty. 

Giyuu was taken aback from this certainty that Obanai had.. He seemed so sure that what he did was.. Wrong. Though, Giyuu, he blamed himself... And, he still did. Though, he knew that arguing wouldn't solve anything. It never did, ever. So, he just accepted it, for the time being..

"Well.. It's okay, truly.. You mustn't worry about it," Giyuu answered, in a soft voice.. To try and reassure Obanai. He even tried smiling, though, nothing came of it, other than a facial expression that made him look constipated. 

Obanai knew what he was trying to do, though. He didn't understand Giyuu well, that's true.. However, he had a gut feeling.. And, he trusted it, too. I mean, with the circumstances, it wasn't impossible, right?? And by that, he would be correct. 

"Ah, well.. Alright, if you're sure," Obanai whispered quietly, before speaking more confidently, "I'll try to not say things like that in the future."  He smiled (although it was unnoticeable), and gave a reassuring wink.

         Giyuu felt much better with the wink, it really made him feel much.. better.. Actually, this time. He.. Was starting to trust Obanai.. Which, was crazy. He didn't really trust anyone., other than Tanjiro. Not since his best friend.. The voice, the doubt.. It didn't leave, however.. He, for some reason.. Still felt like he could talk to Obanai.. About... a lot.. Well- not a lot, but more than he'd tell most people.

Giyuu spoke in his usual tone, "Of course, Iguro -san.. Thank you."

"Mhm, anytime."

They just stood there, looking at each other. Not like, romantically... No.. not.. not romantically. As they did this, the wind blew gently against their haoris, and it gently blew on their hair too. The sun shined through the trees beautifully lighting up the area, just at the right temperature. The only sounds were that of the rustling leaves. It was just... Super calm, like it was straight out of a movie, or.. a book. 

This silence lasted a while, before  somebody spoke up..

WC: 1174

( And that's it! I won't try to make any excuses for why this was so damn late, haha. I Forgot to write more in this, soooo... Yeah!.. My writing style changed, sorry about that, aha. Oh, and.. I'm sorry if this changed to be 'worse' for you. Honestly, I really dislike my old work. It was just.. Really- cringe, to be honest. I hope you enjoyed this though, have a nice day~!)