𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Underneath silence

Obanai Iguro and Giyuu Tomioka made their way to the Hashira meeting, the air thick with the weight of unspoken tension between them. As they entered the chamber, the other Hashira were already gathered, their expressions serious. Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat at the head, his calm presence commanding respect as always.

“Thank you all for coming,” Ubuyashiki began, his gentle voice filling the room. “The demons have become more active in the eastern regions. Their numbers and aggression are unusual, even by recent standards. We must address this threat with the utmost urgency.”

Obanai’s eyes narrowed slightly as he listened, focusing on the mission ahead. This was what he needed—something to keep his mind off everything else. But when Ubuyashiki’s gaze fell on him and Giyuu, his tension returned in full force.

“Obanai, Giyuu,” Ubuyashiki continued, “I’m pairing you together again for this mission. Your skills complement each other well, and you’ve proven your effectiveness as a team.”

(Kagaya is Obagiyuu shipper secretly)

Obanai’s jaw tightened at the mention of “team.” The last mission had been successful, yes, but working with Giyuu had been anything but comfortable. Still, he couldn’t argue with Ubuyashiki’s decision. Refusing a mission wasn’t an option, and besides, he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge—especially not with Giyuu involved.

“Understood,” Obanai replied curtly, keeping his tone neutral. He wouldn’t let anyone see his discomfort, least of all Giyuu.

Giyuu, as always, remained silent, his face a mask of calm. Obanai shot him a quick glance, wondering just for a moment of there was anything behind that impassive exterior. But Giyuu gave nothing away.

--
The two Hashira set off toward the eastern region, their path stretching long before them. The atmosphere between them was thick with unresolved tension, neither one making any effort to break the silence. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the soft thud of their footsteps on the dirt road.

Obanai focused on the mission, trying to push aside the tension gnawing at him. He was a Hashira, one of the strongest, and he prided himself on his discipline. But the more he tried to concentrate, the more aware he became of Giyuu’s presence beside him—calm, silent, frustratingly composed.

Why him, again? Obanai thought, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Giyuu was strong, no doubt about it. But that strength only intensified the rivalry Obanai felt. It wasn’t something he could easily shake off. Every mission with Giyuu felt like a test, a constant reminder that no matter how skilled he was, there was always someone just as powerful in the ranks.

He glanced at Giyuu, hoping to catch some hint of emotion or distraction—something that would make Giyuu seem more human, less perfect. But Giyuu’s face was as unreadable as ever, his focus solely on the path ahead.

They walked in silence for what felt like hours. Obanai’s mind raced with thoughts he couldn’t fully understand or control. Why did Giyuu’s presence irritate him so much? Was it just the rivalry, or was there something deeper at play omething neither of them could acknowledge?

---

As night fell, the two Hashira reached the village.

Giyuu’s hand rested on his sword, ready for the fight ahead. The two moved in sync, though neither spoke a word. There was no need too their training and instincts guided them as they navigated through the village, searching for the source of the demonic presence.

Without warning, the first demon struck, leaping out of the shadows with blinding speed. Obanai reacted instantly, his blade flashing in the darkness as he sliced through the demon’s limbs. Giyuu followed up with a swift, precise strike, decapitating the creature before it could even cry out.

The fight was intense, but brief. They moved together like a well-oiled machine, their skills perfectly aligned. It was as if the tension between them fueled their attacks, pushing them to fight harder, faster, better. But even in the heat of battle, the silence remained.

More demons appeared, but they were no match for the two Hashira. Obanai and Giyuu cut them down with ease, their swords flashing in the moonlight. The demons fell one by one, their bodies disintegrating into ash as the Hashira pressed forward.

Obanai felt the rush of battle coursing through him, sharpening his focus and drowning out everything else. Yet, even as he fought, he was acutely aware of Giyuu’s presence—his movements, his precision, the calm that never seemed to waver.

At one point, in the chaos of battle, Obanai accidentally bumped into Giyuu again. The contact was brief, but it sent a jolt through him, reigniting the tension he had been trying so hard to suppress. He quickly pulled back, focusing on the next demon, refusing to let himself dwell on the moment.

Giyuu, as expected, didn’t react, his expression as stoic as ever. Obanai couldn’t tell if the bump had even registered with him, and that only frustrated him more.

--
The demons were defeated, and the village was safe
The two Hashira stood amidst the fading ashes of their enemies, their breaths steadying as the adrenaline from the battle ebbed away. The villagers began to emerge from their homes, offering thanks to their saviors, but Obanai barely acknowledged them. His focus was on the mission, on the next step.

As they prepared to leave, Obanai stole another glance at Giyuu. The tension between them hadn’t lessened: anything, it had grown more intense. Yet, neither of them spoke. There was nothing to say nno words that could bridge the gap between them.

The journey back was much like the journey there: silent, tense, with each of them lost in their own thoughts. Obanai couldn’t shake the feeling that something was unresolved between them, something that neither of them was willing to confront.

But as they neared the estate, a familiar figure approached Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira. His spiky white hair and scarred face were as intense as ever, his eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of the two returning Hashira.

“What the hell’s wrong with you, Iguro?” Sanemi barked, his usual bluntness on full display. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You alright?”

Obanai stiffened at the question, his eyes flashing with irritation. “I’m fine, Shinazugawa,” he replied sharply, his tone leaving no room for further questioning.

Sanemi snorted, clearly unconvinced. “If you say so. Just don’t go getting yourself killed out there, yeah? We need all the strong ones we’ve got.”

Obanai nodded curtly, not in the mood for further conversation. Sanemi turned his gaze to Giyuu, who remained as impassive as ever, and after a moment of silence, he simply shook his head and walked away, muttering something under his breath.

As Sanemi’s figure disappeared into the distance, Obanai felt the tension in his shoulders relax just slightly. But the unease in his chest remained, gnawing at him. He glanced at Giyuu one last time, wondering if the other Hashira felt it too—the strange, inexplicable tension that neither of them could seem to escape.

But as always, Giyuu gave nothing away. And so, with a silent nod to each other, they parted ways, each retreating to their own quarters, their thoughts as heavy as the silence they had shared.

---
That night, Obanai lay awake, his mind filed with thoughts he couldn’t fully understand.
As the memories of the day faded into the darkness, Obanai tried to push the thoughts away, to focus on the battles ahead, the demons still to be slain. But no matter how hard he tried, the image of Giyuu’s calm, unreadable face remained with him, haunting him like a shadow he couldn’t escape.

Why does it bother me so much? he wondered, frustration and confusion warring within him. But there were no answers, only the silence of the night, pressing down on him like a weight he couldn’t lift.

As sleep finally claimed him, Obanai’s last thoughts were of the unspoken tension between him and Giyuu—the tension that neither of them could understand, but that both of them felt, deep in their bones.

----
Hope yall realize that i want to make the Story as long as possible.🥹