𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝑰 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑯𝒂𝒗𝒆 [𝕘𝕚𝕪𝕦𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕠] (KNY)

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟥𝟢: 𝐵𝑒𝓁𝒾𝑒𝒻𝓈

Author POV:

"But Tsutako, what do you think?" Giyu asked his sister. "What should I do?"

"It doesn't matter what I think." Tsutako smiled. "But... if you really want to know.."

"I do."

"I think you're a good person." Tsutako said. "And what's done is done. If you can forgive her... I think you should. She's apologised, and she was drunk. She can't be charged with murder because it wasn't her. Remember, the real villian here is Ayumu. I think you should focus your anger on him instead of Shinobu. She's not a bad person."

"You're right." Giyu sighed. "But now... whenever I see her face... I can see Makomo. And that hurts."

"Of course." Tsutako handed him a cup of tea. "You're allowed to grieve her, Giyu. I don't blame you. But when the time comes to move on, you will."

"Yeah. But... what do I tell her?" Giyu asked. "She said she loves me... and I've always liked her... but she rejected me before. I don't know what's changed. Is she just trying to make up for what she's done to Makomo?"

"I think she's always liked you. But she was afraid before." Tsutako said. "Maybe after seeing you with Makomo, she got jealous and realised she wants to be with you. I don't know."

"Oh." Giyu frowned. "This is so complicated. I wish she'd just told me from the start. And Makomo..."

"Hey. Giyu." Tsutako put an arm around him. "You don't have to worry about Shinobu right now. Don't do anything you're not okay with, especially with Makomo's death. You're allowed to have time, you know. Take your time. You don't owe Shinobu anything."

"Yeah." He leaned against her shoulder. "Can I stay here for a few nights?"

"Of course." 

Shinobu POV:

I came home at 2 am, having spent the entire night out searching for Ayumu. I hadn't had lunch or dinner, but I was prepared to go to bed without food, my whole body feeling as heavy as lead, but Aoi suprised me by coming out of her room just as I was about to go to bed. 

"Shinobu?" she whispered blearily. "You're finally home. Have you had dinner?"

"It's okay. Don't worry about me. Go back to bed." I whispered back, trying to conceal my face in the shadows so she couldn't see the dark circles under my eyes. "I'm fine."

But without another word, Aoi went to the kitchen and heated up a bowl of ramen. I sat and ate, as she told me to. I was too tired to protest, and my stomach was grateful as I ate the hot, flavourful noodles. Just before I finished, my eyes started slipping shut. 

"Sleepy..." I murmured, before the world went dark. 

Aoi POV:

I sighed, taking Shinobu's empty bowl and putting it in the dishwasher. She always wore herself out. 

I helped her up, and then led her into her room. Gently, I laid Shinobu on the bed, and put a blanket on top of her. 

Just before closing the bedroom door, I smiled and said, even though she couldn't hear, "Goodnight."

I hoped she could sleep, properly sleep, the kind of sleep where you forgot about everything and lived in a dream. 

If only we could all do that. 

A/N: please vote and leave a comment!!