𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Breaking down walls

3rd Person:

The woods surrounding their current campsite were dense and  quiet, the only sounds the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustling of leaves. Giyuu sat near the fire, his back against a tree, trying to ignore the dull ache that permeated his body. The battle from earlier had left him bruised and exhausted, but it wasn't the physical pain that troubled him most. The mental strain was far heavier.

Obanai was across the fire, meticulously cleaning his sword, his face a mask of concentration. They had just finished a grueling fight against a particularly vicious demon, and the mood was heavy with unspoken tension. The exchange between them had been less than pleasant, but the necessity of their partnership had kept their interactions professional, if not exactly cordial.

Giyuu glanced over at Obanai, noting the tense set of his shoulders and the focused way he cleaned his blade. The sight stirred something in him-an urge to break the silence, to reach out despite their strained relationship. But every time he tried to find the right words, he was met with the familiar weight of hesitation.

The quiet was interrupted by a sudden, sharp intake of breath from Obanai. Giyuu looked up, seeing Obanai wince as he tried to shift his position. It was clear that the battle had taken its toll on him as well. The stoic façade was cracking, revealing the fatigue and pain beneath.

"Are you alright?" Giyuu asked, surprising even himself with the concern in his voice. His tone was softer than usual, almost hesitant.

Obanai glanced at him, a mixture of surprise and annoyance crossing his face. "I'm fine. Just a bit sore."

Giyuu nodded, not entirely convinced but unwilling to push further. Instead, he focused on his own injuries, inspecting a particularly cut on his arm. As he worked to clean and bandage it, he winced slightly, the pain sharp and unrelenting.

It wasn't long before Obanai stood up and walked over to him, his expression unreadable. "Let me help with that," he said gruffly, though his tone was tinged with something like reluctance. He began to tend to Giyuu's wound with a practiced hand, the silence between them now heavy with unspoken words.

Giyuu felt the sting of antiseptic and the careful pressure of Obanai's hands. Despite his usual reserve, he found himself unusually comforted by the presence of the other Hashira.

A frantic crow's call. The bird flapped down into the clearing, carrying a small scroll tied to its leg. Obanai retrieved the message with a sigh, unrolling it to read the brief, yet important instructions.

"We're to return to the headquarters," Obanai said, his voice now steady and resolute. "Oyakata-sama needs to be informed of our progress. It's important."

Giyuu nodded, standing up slowly and testing his weight on his sore legs. The thought of reporting back to their master was a sobering reminder of their responsibilities, and it gave him a renewed sense of purpose. Despite the physical exhaustion and the emotional strain of the day, there was a sense of duty that he couldn't ignore.

Obanai quickly packed up their supplies, and Giyuu did the same, their earlier conversation now cast aside as they prepared for their journey back. The tension between them was still present, but there was an unspoken understanding-a fragile bond that had begun to form amidst the shared silence.

As they made their way through the darkened forest, the path illuminated only by the faint light of the moon, Giyuu couldn't help but glance over at Obanai. The night had grown colder, and the chill in the air seemed to deepen the silence between them.

Obanai, for his part, walked with a determined stride, his gaze fixed straight ahead. The physical distance between them was a stark contrast to the emotional closeness that had begun to form. They had spent so much time at odds, but now there was an unspoken agreement to focus on their mission and the tasks that lay ahead.

They reached the headquarters by early morning, the sky beginning to lighten as they approached the main building. The familiar sight of the compound brought a sense of relief, though their journey was far from over. The task of reporting to Oyakata-sama and debriefing on their mission loomed ahead.

Inside, they were greeted by the ever-efficient Kakushi, who led them to Oyakata-sama's chamber. The master was seated at his desk, his demeanor as calm and composed as ever. As the two Hashira entered, he looked up, his gaze sharp and discerning.

"Giyuu, Obanai," Oyakata-sama said, his voice steady. "I trust your mission was successful?"

Obanai stepped forward, his tone formal as he reported, "Yes, Oyakata-sama. We have successfully completed our mission. The demons have been dealt with."

Oyakata-sama nodded, his expression thoughtful. "And your injuries?"

"Minor," Obanai said, glancing briefly at Giyuu. "We'll recover quickly."

Giyuu, standing beside Obanai, felt a pang of discomfort at the lie. The truth was that they were both injured more than they let on, but the mission's success overshadowed their personal discomfort. He kept his gaze down, feeling the weight of the master's scrutiny.

Oyakata-sama's gaze softened slightly as he regarded Giyuu. "You both have done well. I commend your efforts and your perseverance. Rest and recuperate. Your next task will be assigned in due time."

With that, Oyakata-sama dismissed them, and the two Hashira exited the chamber, their duties temporarily fulfilled. As they walked through the headquarters, the air between them felt lighter, though the tension still lingered.

Obanai glanced at Giyuu, his expression betraying a hint of curiosity. "You didn't get a letter from Kanroji today?"

Giyuu shook his head. "No, not today."

Obanai's lips twitched into a subtle frown. The mention of Mitsuri Kanroji, the subject of Obanai's own conflicted feelings, seemed to weigh on him more than usual. "I see."
"Good" he whispered.

They continued their walk in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The day had been long and filled with challenges, but as they moved through the familiar corridors of the headquarters, there was a sense of relief and quiet camaraderie that neither of them had fully acknowledged.

The journey back to their quarters was marked by an uneasy truce. The walls they had begun to lower with each shared experience were now reinforced by their unspoken agreements. Both men were exhausted, but the brief moments of connection they had shared seemed to promise that there was more to their relationship than mere animosity.

As night fell again and the headquarters settled into its usual quiet, Giyuu lay on his futon, staring at the ceiling. The day's events replayed in his mind, the flicker of Obanai's uncharacteristic vulnerability a haunting yet hopeful presence. He wondered about the possibilities of what could come next-whether their strained partnership would continue to evolve into something deeper or remain as fractured as it had always been.

In the stillness of the night, Giyuu allowed himself to contemplate the unexpected bonds forming between them, the tentative trust that had begun to replace hostility. For now, he was content to let these thoughts simmer, knowing that their journey together was far from over and that each step forward, however small, was a step towards something uncertain yet undeniably profound.

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Currently watching demon slayer with my mom while writing ,lol