𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Facing The Hashira

The tension in the air felt different as Obanai and Giyuu neared the Ubuyashiki estate. Even though their bodies ached from the recent battle, it wasn’t the physical exhaustion that weighed on them it was the uncertainty of what was to come.

As they walked, the forest began to thin, and the estate’s familiar outline came into view. Obanai, usually calm and composed, felt his nerves fraying at the edges. Giyuu noticed but didn’t say anything, knowing that some battles were fought internally.

Obanai stopped walking, his fingers lightly gripping the bandages on his arm. “Giyuu,” he said quietly, “what if the others...?”

Giyuu, walking a step ahead, paused and turned to face him. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. “What if what?”

Obanai sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “What if they don’t accept this? Us?”

Giyuu stepped closer, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Obanai’s internal turmoil. “I told you already,” he said, his voice steady. “I don’t care what they think. We’ve been through worse.”

Obanai chuckled, though there was little humor in it. “It’s not that simple.”

“I know it’s not.” Giyuu’s voice softened, and he reached out, his hand brushing Obanai’s. “But we’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

They resumed walking, the estate growing larger in the distance. Despite Giyuu’s reassuring words, Obanai couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that gnawed at him. It wasn’t just about the other Hashira he respected Kagaya Ubuyashiki more than anyone. What if their leader disapproved?

---

The courtyard was unusually quiet when they arrived. The other Hashira were gathered, their eyes immediately locking onto Giyuu and Obanai as they approached. Mitsuri Kanroji, standing closest to them, smiled brightly, but Obanai could see the curiosity in her gaze. She knew something had changed.

Sanemi Shinazugawa was the first to speak. “Took you long enough,” he grumbled, though there was no malice in his tone. “Did you get the job done?”

“Yeah,” Giyuu replied simply, his gaze sweeping over the group. “The demon is dead.”

“Good.” Sanemi crossed his arms, eyeing them suspiciously. “You two look like hell.”

Obanai shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Giyuu. The quiet understanding between them was still there, but standing in front of the others made everything feel more exposed.

Before anyone else could say anything, Kagaya Ubuyashiki appeared at the entrance to the estate, his serene presence immediately silencing the courtyard. His soft smile greeted them, but as always, there was a deep wisdom behind his gentle expression.

“Obanai. Giyuu,” Kagaya said, his voice as soothing as ever. “You’ve returned safely.”

They both bowed slightly. “We have, Oyakata-sama,” Obanai said.

Kagaya’s gaze lingered on them for a moment longer than usual. Obanai felt his heart skip a beat, wondering if their leader could sense the shift between them. But Kagaya simply nodded.

“You both did well,” he said. “The mission was a success, and I am proud of your efforts.”

Obanai felt a wave of relief wash over him. For now, at least, they had Kagaya’s approval. But as they straightened up, Mitsuri stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern.

“iguro-san, you’re hurt!” she exclaimed, pointing to his bandaged arm.

“It’s nothing serious,” Obanai replied quickly, brushing off her concern. “Just a scratch.”

Mitsuri frowned, clearly not convinced, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she gave them both a knowing smile, one that made Obanai’s stomach twist with nervousness. He wasn’t ready for this conversation not yet.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Later that evening, after the others had dispersed and the estate had quieted, Obanai and Giyuu found themselves alone in the garden behind the estate. The air was cool, the night peaceful, with stars twinkling brightly overhead.

Obanai leaned back against a tree, his mind still swirling with thoughts from the day. He stared up at the sky, the gentle rustling of leaves filling the silence between them.

“Do you think… they know?” Obanai asked softly, not looking at Giyuu.

Giyuu, sitting beside him on the grass, glanced up at the stars. “Maybe.”

Obanai sighed, closing his eyes for a moment as the weight of everything settled on his shoulders. “I just… I don’t know how to handle this.”

Giyuu didn’t respond right away. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm, as always. “You’ve handled it fine so far.”

Obanai scoffed lightly. “You think so?”

“I do,” Giyuu said simply.

The quiet settled around them again, the soft rustling of the breeze the only sound. Obanai could feel Giyuu’s steady presence beside him, grounding him, but it didn’t fully chase away the lingering anxiety. He had spent so much of his life building walls, protecting himself from others. Now, with Giyuu, those walls were slowly crumbling, and it scared him.

“What if I mess this up?” Obanai whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

Giyuu turned to look at him, his gaze softening. “You won’t.”

Obanai’s heart ached at the certainty in Giyuu’s voice. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I know you,” Giyuu said, his voice calm and sure. “And I trust you.”

Obanai’s breath caught in his throat. The warmth in Giyuu’s words, the unwavering trust it sent a strange, comforting feeling through him. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at Giyuu, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt. But there was none.

“I trust you too,” Obanai murmured, the words feeling unfamiliar but right.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Obanai allowed himself to relax. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he let out a soft breath. Whatever challenges lay ahead whether it was the other Hashira, their mission, or the uncertainty of their relationship he knew they would face them together.

Giyuu shifted beside him, his gaze returning to the stars above. After a moment, he spoke, his voice softer now. “Look. The stars… they kind of look like the shape of a snake.”

Obanai blinked, following Giyuu’s gaze to the sky. “A snake?”

Giyuu nodded slightly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. It reminds me of you… Obi.”

Obanai’s eyes widened at the nickname, his heart skipping a beat. He turned to Giyuu, surprise flickering across his face. Giyuu, noticing the reaction, suddenly looked nervous, as if he had overstepped.

“I—Sorry, I didn’t mean—” Giyuu started, his usual calm cracking slightly.

But before he could finish, Obanai leaned closer, his hand gently cupping Giyuu’s chin. “I liked it,” he whispered, his lips curving into a rare, soft smile. “When you called me that.”

Giyuu’s eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Obanai leaned in, closing the distance between them and pressing a soft, tender kiss to Giyuu’s lips. It was slow, gentle, full of all the unspoken feelings that had been building between them for so long.

As they pulled away, Obanai rested his forehead against Giyuu’s, his breath warm against his skin. “I loved it… Obi,” he whispered, the nickname now feeling like a secret just between them.

And in that moment, beneath the stars and the quiet of the night, everything felt right.

The end

Jk