At the tender age of 29, (Y/N) Rengoku found herself grappling with a reality she never envisioned. The tragic demise of her beloved husband aboard the Mugen Train, plunged her into a profound and shattering sorrow. The very fire that had once kindl...
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Chapter Twenty:
A few days later, as (Y/N) walked down the hallways of the Butterfly Mansion, she suddenly found herself passing by Shinobu's office.
The sight of the door triggered a flood of memories, and her cheeks reddened instantly.
She tried to shake off the thoughts, telling herself to cut it out, but she couldn't help it. The moment replayed vividly in her mind.
She remembered Giyu's earnest expression as he had spoken, his words clear and sincere.
"Yes. If I wasn't obvious before, then here I am now telling you that I... I gravitate towards you." Giyu had said, his voice steady despite the nervous tension in the room.
(Y/N) had stood there, her mouth agape and eyes wide, unable to form an answer. She felt a rush of emotions—surprise, confusion, and a hint of something she couldn't quite identify.
Now, standing in the hallway, she sighed and rubbed her temples. "Get a grip, girl." she muttered to herself, but the memory refused to fade.
She replayed Giyu's confession over and over, chastising herself for not responding. "Why couldn't I just say something?" she whispered, feeling the heat in her cheeks intensify.
Her heart ached with a mixture of regret and longing. She wondered if she would ever get another chance to tell him how she felt.
Lost in thought, (Y/N) didn't notice when Shinobu herself stepped out of the office, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Talking to yourself, (Y/N)?" she teased lightly, startling her.
(Y/N) jumped slightly and turned to face Shinobu, her cheeks still flushed. "Oh, Shinobu! I was just... thinking," she stammered, feeling embarrassed.
Shinobu chuckled softly. "It's alright. Just make sure to tell him next time," she said with a wink, before walking away, leaving (Y/N) to grapple with her emotions once more.
Shinobu excused herself, leaving (Y/N) with her thoughts again. As (Y/N) walked along the hallways, she recounted Shinobu's words, wondering if it would have been better if she had answered as honestly as Giyu did. The what-ifs swirled in her mind, and she sighed, lost in contemplation.
Suddenly, the sound of clashing swords and laughter caught her attention.
She turned a corner and stumbled upon Kijuro, her son, sparring with Tanjiro and his group of friends. The sight brought a smile to her face, momentarily lifting her spirits.
"Mom!" Kijuro called out excitedly when he saw her. He paused in his sparring and ran over to her, his face flushed from exertion. "Did you see that? I'm getting better, aren't I?"
