𝔹𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 𝕓𝕪 𝔽𝕒𝕥𝕖 // 𝔾𝕀𝕐𝕌𝕌 𝕏 𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝕆𝔹𝕌 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕗𝕚𝕔

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 8

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of the estate, casting a soft glow over the quiet halls. Shinobu woke with a heavy heart, the events of the previous night replaying in her mind. She knew today would be difficult, but she was determined to face it with Giyu by her side.

She dressed quickly, her movements mechanical as she prepared for the day. The weight of Kanae's hurt and betrayal pressed down on her, making each step feel like a monumental effort. As she descended the grand staircase, she saw Giyu waiting for her at the bottom, his expression solemn but resolute.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Shinobu nodded, though she didn't feel ready at all. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Together, they made their way to the dining room, where Kanae usually had breakfast. As they entered, the tension in the room was palpable. Kanae sat at the head of the table, her back straight and her eyes fixed on her plate. She didn't look up as they approached, her demeanor cold and distant.

"Good morning, Ne-san," Shinobu said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

Kanae didn't respond, her silence a stark contrast to her usual cheerful morning greetings. She continued to eat her breakfast in silence, the clinking of her spoon the only sound in the room.

Giyu cleared his throat, trying to bridge the gap. "Kanae, we need to talk. About last night."

Kanae's eyes flicked up to meet his, her gaze icy. "There's nothing to talk about, I think everything was made quite clear."

Shinobu felt a pang of hurt at her sister's words, but she tried to keep her voice steady. "Ne-san, please. We need to explain. We never wanted to hurt you."

Kanae set down her spoon with a sharp clink, her eyes flashing with anger. "Explain? What is there to explain, Shinobu? You and Giyu betrayed me. There's no explanation that can change that and stop calling me that."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of Kanae's words hanging heavily in the air. Shinobu looked at Giyu, seeking support, but he seemed just as lost for words.

"Kanae, we know we've hurt you," Giyu began, his voice earnest. "But we want to make things right. Please, give us a chance to explain."

Kanae stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. "I don't want to hear it. I can't... I can't deal with this right now."

She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Shinobu and Giyu standing in stunned silence. The door closed behind her with a decisive thud, a physical manifestation of the emotional wall she had erected between them.

Shinobu sank into a chair, her hands trembling. "What are we going to do, Giyu? She won't even listen to us."

Giyu sat down beside her, his expression troubled. "We give her time, Shinobu. She needs to process this on her own terms. But we can't give up. We have to keep trying to reach her."

Shinobu nodded, though despair gnawed at her heart. "I just don't know if she'll ever forgive us."

The next few days were filled with an unbearable tension. Kanae maintained her cold distance, avoiding Shinobu and Giyu whenever possible. Meals were eaten in silence, and any attempts at conversation were met with one-word replies. The lively atmosphere of the estate had been replaced by a stifling silence, the joy that once filled the rooms now a distant memory.

Shinobu continued her work, finding solace in it. Yet, even then, Kanae's coldness followed her, a constant reminder of the rift between them.

Giyu tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, but the strain was evident in his every action. He spent long hours in his study, his mind occupied with business matters as a way to escape the emotional turmoil at home.