Bound by Fate - SaneGiyuu

Twelve - Giyuu's Divine Gift

Giyuu sat at the dining table, his gaze drifting to the untouched cup of tea in front of him. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, filled with an unspoken tension that hung over them like a dark cloud. Kyojuro sat across from him, his normally bright eyes dimmed with worry, while Shinobu leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as if trying to ward off an impending headache. The three of them were lost in their own thoughts, each grappling with the weight of the master's impending summons.

They all knew what it meant. Being called back to heaven wasn't a simple check-in—it was a summons to account for their actions, and given how much time they'd spent on Earth, Giyuu had no doubt that the master was far from pleased. The thought made his stomach churn with unease, the quiet anxiety gnawing at the edges of his mind.

Kyojuro was the first to break the silence, his voice uncharacteristically subdued. "I'm worried," he admitted, his hands resting on the table, fingers idly tracing patterns in the wood grain. "The minute I step back into heaven, I might be forced to stay behind, to face whatever punishment the master deems necessary." He paused, his eyes flickering with something that looked like fear. "It's not the punishment I'm afraid of... It's leaving Tengen behind without an explanation. He'll never know where I've gone, and that thought... it terrifies me."

Giyuu glanced at Kyojuro, seeing the rare vulnerability in his friend's expression. Kyojuro was usually so strong, so steadfast, that it was easy to forget he had fears and doubts like the rest of them. The thought of him being torn away from Tengen, of being punished for following his heart, made Giyuu's chest tighten with a familiar ache. He understood that fear all too well—after all, wasn't he facing something similar with Sanemi?

Shinobu let out a heavy sigh, her frustration evident as she rubbed her face with the palms of her hands. "This is just terrific... We're no closer to completing our mission, and we've all fallen for mortals. Just brilliant."

Giyuu's gaze snapped to Shinobu, a frown tugging at his lips. "What are you trying to say? Are you implying that I have feelings for Sanemi?"

Shinobu rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed by his attempt at deflection. "No crap, Captain Obvious. You're head over heels for the guy." Her tone was blunt, almost harsh, but there was an underlying concern that softened her words.

Giyuu's frown deepened, a flicker of defensiveness rising in his chest. "You're the one who told me to spend more time with him and to say yes if he asked me out."

"Yeah, I did," Shinobu shot back, her voice tinged with exasperation. "And look where that got us. You came home from your date last night absolutely smitten. You couldn't wipe the blush off your face, and now the master will be disappointed in us all for failing the mission." She slumped back in her chair, looking more defeated than Giyuu had ever seen her.

Giyuu's thoughts spun in a whirlwind of emotions—guilt, frustration, and a touch of resentment all mingling together in a confusing mess. Shinobu wasn't wrong. He had developed feelings for Sanemi, feelings that were growing stronger with each passing day. It was something he couldn't deny, no matter how much he tried to push it away. But was it really such a crime? Was it so wrong to care about someone, to want to protect them, even if it complicated their mission?

"We'll be okay," Kyojuro interjected, his voice gentle but tinged with uncertainty. He offered them a soft smile, trying to project the optimism he was known for, but even Giyuu could see the worry lurking behind his eyes. "The master... he's understanding. He knows we're trying our best."

But Giyuu wasn't so sure. The master had given them a task, one that they had yet to fulfill, and instead of focusing on it, they had allowed themselves to become entangled with the mortals they were meant to protect. They had allowed emotions to cloud their judgment, and now they were facing the consequences.