The Sound Hashira's Apprentice // tengenuzui x reader

Chapter 14

I pursed my lips, trying to form some kind of composure within my expression as I stepped out of the restroom. 

The bar remained just as it was before, boisterous and consuming, seemingly indifferent to the bizarre encounter with Tengen moments ago. There was an unsettling sense of what had had happened, didn't even matter. That what had been done was drowned out from all the things that was occurring in this bar.

I carefully adjusted my hair, hoping the concealing tendrils would hide the marks on my neck as I approached a Tengen-free table.

And by the looks of what was happening such plan wasn't needed, as I stared at the very obviously intoxicated Rengoku, who was retelling an exaggerated tale to a group of captivated young slayers. Whilst on that very same table, the Love Hashira, had all but fallen asleep as an indifferent Tomioka sat cross-armed and adjacent towards her.

 I was briefly relieved that their attention would be too divided to focus on the desperation I was feeling to get out of here.

 "Hey guys, I'm gonna head back home." I said, mostly to Tomioka since one was passed out and the other was too enthralled in his story-telling. 

Glancing at Mitsuri, I considered, "Maybe I should take her with me..."

"Great, I'll help." 

Before I could register who had said it, the Water Hashira swiftly hoisted Mitsuri over his shoulder, eager to exit the bar. Obviously, more eager than I was to get out of this place since getting here. 

"I am right behind!"

I flinched as Rengoku jumped off the table behind me, drawing a few sounds of disappointment from the young-slayers as he bid his leave. 

I half-huffed in irritation, wishing that I would be have been alone with a knocked out Mitsuri on my way back to the mansion.

 The mansion that I was living with Tengen in. 

The same mansion where I would inevitably face him again in mere moments.

I felt a new wave of anxiety breach itself through me. Scenarios started running through my head. 

What would I even say to him? How will he react? How will I react? God I hoped the others wouldn't bump into him as I did. There was no way in hell I was allowing this to go unnoticed like every other little thing he's done to frustrate me with delusional thoughts. 

I appreciated not being centre of attention as we trailed back to the Sound Hashira's and I's home, much thanks to the intoxicated state of my two besties as well as Tomioka's abstinence of silence, collecting my thoughts as best I could in preparation for that moment.

Once we'd arrived by the entrance, save for a few intervals of Rengoku stopping some dwellers going on and on about miscellaneous things, I allowed the others to go into the mansion ahead of me unnoticed. 

Except for Tomioka. 

He wasted no time in addressing me once Rengoku shut the door, now focused on tending to Mitsuri.

"Something happened between you two,"

I wretched my head towards him. 

My cultivated anxieties prevented me from masking my surprise as I widened my eyes. "With who?!" 

"You and your Sensei." he clarified, and I blinked at him, finding it incredulous that he was confronting me about matters I hadn't even discussed with either Rengoku or Mitsuri.

"I'm not gonna ask you to tell me what happened. But what I want to ask is if you're okay?" 

I opened my mouth to say something, but I just couldn't find the words or an excuse that I was okay.