Whispers of Water and Wind

Chapter 8 Little Jealousy

As they stepped out of the Wisteria House, the cool air greeted them, but Sanemi's mind was elsewhere. His heart still pounded in his chest, and he couldn't take it anymore. He stole a glance at Giyuu, watching the way her hair caught the light, the calm expression on her face. The feelings he had been burying for so long were bubbling to the surface, demanding to be acknowledged.

He knew he had to tell her. The weight of it was too much to bear now. "This feeling....."  he thought, clenching his fists at his sides. "I can't ignore it anymore."

But not today. Not now. For now, they were heading home, and whatever came next—he would face it when the time was right.

Giyuu also didn't need to say it aloud, but she knew—something had shifted. Something had changed. And though she might not fully understand it yet.

Time Skip.........

Sanemi was heading back to his estate, his hands shoved deep into his pants pockets, lost in thought. The cool breeze did little to calm the storm inside him. As he walked, he suddenly heard someone call out his name.

"Oi, Shinazugawa!"  He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Tengen and Iguro standing under a tree. Tengen, with his usual flashy grin, was waving enthusiastically in his direction, while Iguro stood beside him, arms crossed, watching silently. Sanemi sighed, his shoulders tensing slightly as he made his way over to them.

Tengen waved casually at Sanemi, his tone nonchalant. "How was your mission, Shinazugawa?"

Iguro chimed in, leaning back. "Yeah, how was that?"

Sanemi scowled. "It was fine. Everyone was dead when we got there."

Tengen narrowed his eyes, ignoring the dismissal. "I said, how was your mission, Shinazugawa?"

Sanemi shot him an irritated look. "You're a fucking Sound Hashira and yet you can't hear me? I said—"

Tengen cut him off with a smirk. "With Tomioka."

Sanemi blinked. "What?"

Tengen's grin grew wider. "What do you mean, what? I don't like her much, but even I can't deny she's beautiful. Actually, I've been thinking about her ever since Oyakata-sama mentioned her."

Sanemi crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"She barely speaks to any of us, but she never fails in her duties. That's something. She's got style, and she's responsible... and kind. Saving not just humans, but even demons."

Iguro rolled his eyes, scoffing. "That's pathetic. If she wanted to die so badly, she could've just committed suicide instead of saving demons. It's not kindness—it's stupidity."

Sanemi huffed in agreement. "True. I don't get why she saved that idiotic demon."

Tengen, ignoring them, sighed dramatically. "I couldn't stop thinking about her all night."

Sanemi's eyebrows shot up, his face a mix of surprise and disgust. "All night? Why the hell were you thinking about her all night? What happened to your three wives?"

Tengen raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Someone sounds jealous."

"Who?" Sanemi snapped.

"You, of course. Don't tell me something happened between you and Tomioka." Tengen's smirk widened, clearly enjoying this.

"What? No! Nothing happened!" Sanemi's face reddened slightly, his fists clenching.