Demon Slayer The Wind's bellow

Different from the Other Hashira

Kanae's POV

It was a quiet afternoon at the Butterfly Estate, one of those rare days when there wasn't an immediate crisis to deal with. The sunlight filtered through the sliding doors, casting a soft glow on the tatami mats as I organized the medicinal herbs Shinobu had prepared earlier in the day. The estate was calm, peaceful, exactly how I liked it.

That peace, however, was broken by the sound of the front door sliding open. I looked up to see Giyuu standing there, his usually composed expression slightly troubled, with a small but noticeable cut on his forehead. It wasn't serious, but there was dried blood around the wound, likely from a recent skirmish.

Shinobu, who had been working quietly in the corner, noticed him at the same time. Her eyes flickered with concern, but she kept her tone light as she approached. "Giyuu, you should be more careful. Even small injuries can get infected."

Giyuu, true to form, didn't react much. "It was nothing. Just a minor scrape from the last demon. I didn't think it needed treatment."

Shinobu gave him a small smile, though I could tell there was more warmth in it than she probably realized. "Even minor scrapes need to be taken care of. Come on, sit down. I'll clean it for you."

As Giyuu took a seat, Shinobu moved with practiced efficiency, gathering her supplies from the nearby shelf. I watched from my spot, noting the way her fingers lingered for just a second longer than necessary when she tilted his head to get a better view of the wound. The touch was gentle, almost... tender.

"Hmm," I mused softly to myself, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Shinobu wasn't the type to show affection openly, but when it came to Giyuu, there was something... different. Subtle, but different.

"You should be more careful, Giyuu," Shinobu continued as she wiped away the dried blood with a damp cloth. Her tone was firm, but not unkind. "Next time, don't wait so long to get treated. It might get infected, and then you'll have to spend even more time here."

Giyuu blinked, his stoic expression unwavering as he replied. "I'm fine. It wasn't a big deal."

Shinobu clicked her tongue softly. "That's what you always say."

I watched the exchange, noticing how Shinobu's attention never wavered from him, even as she worked quietly. It wasn't just her usual meticulous nature as a healer. There was something more there, something she likely hadn't even fully realized herself.

As Shinobu applied the ointment to Giyuu's cut, I caught the slightest flicker of a smile on her face. She enjoyed these moments, whether she knew it or not, taking care of him, tending to his wounds. And as for Giyuu, though he remained as unreadable as ever, I didn't miss how he leaned into her touch ever so slightly. It was subtle, but it was there.

It was almost sweet, really.

I couldn't help but tease, the opportunity too perfect to pass up.

"Shinobu, you seem awfully attentive to Giyuu today," I remarked with a teasing lilt in my voice. "I've never seen you fuss over someone like this for such a small injury."

Shinobu's hand paused for the briefest second before she continued her work, her eyes flicking up to meet mine. There was the tiniest hint of color rising in her cheeks, though she tried to brush it off with a huff.

"I fuss over all my patients," she said evenly, though her voice held a note of defensiveness.

"Do you?" I hummed, feigning innocence. "But I don't recall seeing you so gentle with the others. Maybe Giyuu's special?"

Giyuu, ever the oblivious one, simply blinked in confusion, his gaze shifting between us. "Special?"

Shinobu shot me a look that could wither a flower. "Kanae-nee-san..." she warned, though her voice lacked any real bite. She quickly turned back to Giyuu, dabbing a bit more ointment on the wound before bandaging it up.