The Crystal's Whisper and The Wind's Embrace

Chapter 36: The Love Hashira's Advice

The next morning, Tsukiyo found Mitsuri in the garden, her surroundings vibrant with blooming flowers. Mitsuri looked up, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she saw Tsukiyo.

"Tsukiyo-chan! What brings you here?" Mitsuri asked, her voice warm and inviting.

Tsukiyo hesitated briefly before sitting beside her. "Mitsuri, I need your advice on something... personal."

Mitsuri's expression softened with understanding, and she leaned in closer. "Of course, Tsukiyo. What's on your mind?"

Taking a deep breath, Tsukiyo began. "It's about Sanemi. Lately, I've been feeling... strange when I'm around him."

"My heart races, and I can't stop thinking about him. I don't know if it's just admiration or something more." Tsukiyo blushed slightly as she continued.

Mitsuri's smile widened with delight. "Oh, Tsukiyo-chan, this is interesting! Let's figure this out together." She clasped her hands in excitement. "Tell me, how do you feel when you see him?"

Tsukiyo pondered the question, memories of Sanemi flashing through her mind. "Whenever he's near, I feel this warm, fluttering sensation in my chest. Like the time he saved me from a demon – I couldn't look away from his eyes."

Mitsuri nodded enthusiastically. "And when you're not with him, do you miss him? Do you find yourself thinking about him often?"

"Yes," Tsukiyo admitted, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "I don't know why but he is always in my mind. I think about him all the time, wondering what he's doing, or if he's safe."

Mitsuri clapped her hands together, her joy palpable. "Those are definitely signs of love! Congratulations, Tsukiyo, you're in love! But let's be sure. When you're with him, do you feel like you can be yourself? Does he make you feel special?"

Tsukiyo's thoughts drifted back to their training sessions, recalling the moments when Sanemi's rough exterior softened just for her. "He makes me feel... accepted. I can be myself around him. But lately, I feel different, almost nervous, whenever I'm near him. I don't know what's happening to me."

Mitsuri's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Then it sounds like you're truly in love, Tsukiyo-chan!"

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a voice from behind a nearby tree. "Don't get too carried away," Obanai interjected, stepping out with a solemn expression. "If you're in love with Sanemi, you should tread carefully. You might end up getting hurt."

Both Tsukiyo and Mitsuri turned in shock, eyes widening at the sight of Obanai emerging from the shadows.

"Obanai!" Mitsuri exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

Tsukiyo felt a flush of embarrassment. "How long have you been there?"

Obanai shrugged, his gaze steady and unyielding. "Long enough to hear your conversation."

Tsukiyo's confusion deepened, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean, I might get hurt?"

Obanai sighed, his expression serious and eyes softening slightly. "Sanemi's been through a lot. He's built walls around himself to keep others out. If you get too close, those walls might hurt you."

Mitsuri frowned, glancing between Tsukiyo and Obanai. "But love can break down those walls, can't it? Sanemi seems different around Tsukiyo. Shouldn't she try?"

Obanai shook his head slightly, his voice gentle as he explained. "I'm not saying she shouldn't try. I'm saying she should be prepared for the possibility that it won't be easy. Sanemi has a lot of pain buried deep inside. It won't be a simple path."

Taking a deep breath, Obanai continued, with his gaze distant as he recalled the past. "I am sure you know Sanemi has went through a lot. But there was a time when he was... finally different. When he first joined as a Hashira, he was close to Kanae, Shinobu's sister. Kanae had a way of reaching into Sanemi's heart, breaking through his tough exterior, and helping him move on from his sad past, little by little. They shared something special, a bond that went beyond friendship."

Tsukiyo and Mitsuri listened attentively, their eyes following Obanai as he shared stories about the Wind Hashira and the former Flower Hashira.

Obanai's gaze softened, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Kanae managed to change Sanemi. He wasn't as brash or harsh as he is now. But then, Kanae was killed by a powerful demon during a mission. Sanemi was going to officially confess to Kanae that day, but he never got the chance. Her death scarred him deeply, and he's never been the same since. He built those walls to protect himself from feeling that kind of pain again."

Tsukiyo felt a pang of hurt in her heart, understanding now the depth of Sanemi's scars. "I had no idea... that Sanemi went through this." Tears welled up in her eyes and fell as she listened to Obanai's words.

Obanai nodded. "It's left him wary of getting close to anyone. He thinks distance is the only way to protect himself and those he cares about."

"Thank you for telling me, Iguro-san. I understand now. But I care about Sanemi, and I'm willing to try." Tsukiyo's voice quivered slightly with emotion as she spoke.

Mitsuri beamed, wrapping Tsukiyo in a warm hug. "That's the spirit, Tsukiyo! Love is worth fighting for. And I am here to support you every step of the way."

Obanai's expression softened ever so slightly. "Just be careful, and take it one step at a time. Sanemi isn't easy to get close to, but maybe... maybe you can be the one to help him heal. I do see Sanemi being kind of different when he's with you."

As the sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow over the garden, Tsukiyo felt a renewed sense of purpose. With Mitsuri's encouragement and Obanai's cautious support, she was ready to follow her heart. She couldn't ignore her feelings for Sanemi, and she was willing to take the risk, hoping that her love could break through the barriers he had built around himself.