𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Peace

As the stars twinkled above them, Obanai and Giyuu remained close, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the night. The tenderness between them still lingered in the air, like a thread connecting their hearts, unbreakable yet delicate. For once, Obanai let his defenses down, basking in the warmth and certainty that Giyuu offered.

They didn’t need words at this moment; the silence was filled with more than enough unspoken emotions. Obanai leaned back against the tree, his fingers absentmindedly grazing Giyuu’s hand beside him. The touch, though light, grounded him reminded him that not all battles required swords and bloodshed. Some were quieter, fought internally, with trust as the weapon of choice.

As they sat there, absorbing the peace of the evening, the soft sound of footsteps approaching made Obanai’s senses sharpen,towards the source of the noise, and in the dim light of the night, he saw Mitsuri and Shinobu approaching.

Mitsuri’s pink hair glowed faintly under the moonlight, and her usual bright smile was visible even from a distance. Shinobu walked beside her, her expression calm but with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

“Oh! There you two are!” Mitsuri called out, her voice filled with her usual bubbly warmth as she approached them. “We were looking for you.”

Obanai stiffened slightly, his fingers tightening around the bandages on his arm. He hadn’t expected anyone to come looking for them, especially not Mitsuri and Shinobu.

Giyuu remained calm, his gaze shifting from the stars to the two women as they came closer. He didn’t seem bothered, but then again, Giyuu rarely seemed anything but composed.

“Mind if we join you?” Shinobu asked, her voice light, but there was a knowing look in her eyes that made Obanai feel like she had already read every thought in his mind.

Obanai glanced at Giyuu, who gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. With a sigh, Obanai gestured to the empty space beside them. “Sure.”

Mitsuri wasted no time and plopped down beside Obanai, her pink and green hair falling over her shoulders as she settled into the grass. She leaned back, her arms stretching behind her. “It’s such a beautiful night,” she said, looking up at the stars. “I’m glad we found you two.”

Shinobu sat down more gracefully, crossing her legs beneath her as she gave Obanai a quick glance. “We thought you’d want some company.”

Obanai didn’t respond, though his lips pressed into a thin line. Giyuu, always the more silent one, remained still, his gaze now fixed on the two women.

“So...” Mitsuri began, looking at the two of them with her usual bright-eyed curiosity. “You’ve been spending a lot of time together lately.”

Obanai froze, his heart skipping a beat at the directness of her statement. He could feel Giyuu shift slightly beside him, though the water Hashira remained silent, waiting.

Shinobu’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned back on her hands, her gaze flicking between the two of them. “Yes, it’s quite noticeable,” she said, her tone teasing but gentle.

Obanai felt a knot form in his stomach. He wasn’t ready for this wasn’t ready to have this conversation, especially with Mitsuri and Shinobu. But as usual, Giyuu was the first to speak, his voice calm and measured.

“Is it that obvious?” Giyuu asked quietly, his eyes meeting Shinobu’s with a calm intensity.

Mitsuri giggled, leaning forward slightly. “Well... maybe not to everyone,” she said, her voice softening, “but we’ve noticed.”

Shinobu smiled softly, her expression kinder now. “You two have always been... well, reserved,” she said, her eyes resting on Obanai. “But lately, there’s been a change.”

Obanai swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. He wasn’t used to this kind of openness, this kind of attention. His fingers twitched, wanting to fidget with the bandages on his arm, but instead, he felt Giyuu’s hand lightly brush against his, grounding him.

“We weren’t trying to hide it,” Giyuu said, his voice still calm. “But we weren’t ready to explain it either.”

Mitsuri’s eyes softened, her smile growing warmer. “You don’t have to explain anything,” she said gently. “We just... we’re happy for you. That’s all.”

Obanai blinked, surprised by her sincerity. He had expected questions, maybe even judgment. But instead, there was nothing but warmth and acceptance in Mitsuri’s eyes, and even Shinobu’s usually sharp gaze was soft and understanding.

Shinobu tilted her head, her smile widening a fraction. “It’s not as if we’re strangers to caring about someone,” she said, her eyes flicking toward Mitsuri for a brief moment before returning to Obanai and Giyuu. “We’re just glad you two found something worth holding onto.”

Obanai felt a strange tightness in his chest, something he hadn’t been prepared for. He had spent so long hiding behind walls, pushing people away, that he had forgotten what it felt like to be accepted, to be understood without having to explain himself.

Giyuu’s hand remained close to his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Obanai allowed himself to relax just a little.

“Thank you,” Obanai said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, but it was sincere.

Mitsuri beamed at him, her joy radiating like the warmth of the sun. “You deserve it, Iguro-san! You both do.”

Shinobu nodded, her expression still calm but full of unspoken understanding. “We’re not going anywhere. We’ll be here when you’re ready to share more.”

The night continued, the quiet company of friends filling the air. Obanai, for once, didn’t feel like running. He didn’t feel like hiding. And as Giyuu sat beside him, their hands lightly brushing, Obanai allowed himself to feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time peace.