𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Love?

Iguro POV

"It can't possibly be love, right?"

The words came out as a low mutter, almost like he didn't want to admit them, even to himself. But the dream was making it harder to deny what had been growing inside him for some time now.

Giyuu Tomioka. He wasn't supposed to feel this way about him. They weren't even close. If anything, they had always been distant, barely speaking unless it was necessary. And yet, lately, Obanai had felt something shift. Every time he was around Giyuu, his chest felt tight, and he found himself drawn to the Water Hashira in ways he couldn't explain. At first, he tried to dismiss it as irritation, but now, after last night's dream, there was no escaping it.

Obanai knew what this feeling was. It wasn't just attraction it was more. It scared him, but he couldn't deny it anymore. He had feelings for Giyuu, real ones. And as much as it shocked him, he couldn't stop thinking about it. He didn't hate Giyuu, not in the way he used to convince himself he did. If anything, he admired him more than he cared to admit.

But love?

Could he really be falling in love with someone like Giyuu?

Obanai got out of bed, shaking his head as if the action would clear his thoughts. He quickly dressed and set about his morning routine, trying to focus on the upcoming mission instead of the confusing mess of emotions swirling inside him.

---

Later that morning, Obanai made his way to the headquarters where he and Giyuu had been assigned to patrol a nearby village. The mission was straightforward, and they'd worked together enough that communication wasn't really needed. Obanai was grateful for that he wasn't sure he could handle talking to Giyuu after last night's dream, especially now that he knew what these feelings were.

He arrived at the gates, spotting Giyuu waiting for him. As usual, the Water Hashira was quiet, standing still and composed, as if nothing could faze him. Giyuu nodded at Obanai as he approached, the barest acknowledgment between them. That was typical. Neither of them was much for words, and yet, there was an odd tension between them now, something that had been growing for a while.

They set off together, heading into the forest. The silence between them was familiar, comfortable even, but today, it felt heavier. Obanai couldn't stop thinking about the dream, about the way Giyuu's presence seemed to affect him more with each passing moment. He had always known Giyuu was strong, skilled, and reliable in battle, but now he was noticing other things that made his heart race for reasons that had nothing to do with combat.

He glanced at Giyuu out of the corner of his eye, catching the way the other man's eyes scanned the surroundings, always alert. There was something calming about Giyuu's presence, something that made Obanai feel safe in a way he hadn't expected. It was frustrating and comforting at the same time. He knew this was more than admiration; this was something much deeper.

But Obanai also knew his own limitations. He came from a family that had marked him as cursed, with "dirty blood," something he had carried with him his entire life. How could he ever allow himself to be with someone like Giyuu, someone so pure in comparison? His passt weighed on him like a shadow he coudnt shaek of, reminding him that he didn't deserve happiness, not the kind that he was beginning to realize he wanted with Giyuu.

Still, the feelings were there, no matter how much he tried to push them away.

---

The sun was high in the sky by the time they stopped for a rest. They hadn't encountered any demons yet, but the air was thick with tension not just from the mission, but from something unspoken between them.