Gifts and roses..-*

Chapter 18 - care.

Sanemi had managed to catch up to Giyuu after putting out the fire, though it didn't come short of his own feelings of insecurity, every step feeling like an uphill battle as he tried to focus on the mission at hand.

His feet clipped against unearthed rocks, stumbling here and there as if the weight of his guilt had seeped into the earth itself- whilst Giyuu moved forward, completely unfazed. Sanemi watched as he strode ahead, betraying no signs of the earlier hurt or weariness he saw in him. He was in the zone, entirely composed.

Why was he so unfazed by all this? Did he really not care about him anymore?

Sanemi didn't like the way that thought made his legs wobble. He stumbled over a particularly large root, managing to catch himself before he fell fast first into the man in front of him. Giyuu didn't seem to notice, or perhaps he just chose not to care.

Before the Wind Hashira could make a fool of himself much longer, they exited the forest, the building coming back into view. As they approached the large structure, he noticed that the once-closed doors were now standing wide open, swinging in the cold breeze.

Sanemi glanced at Giyuu, observing his heightened alertness. The Water Hashira's eyes were sharp and focused, scanning the darkened interior of the building with an intensity that made Sanemi's arm hairs stand up.

He, on the other hand, was feeling momentously shut down. Giyuu hadn't heard him out in the slightest- granted his apology wasn't very good- but he had hoped for at least some semblance of understanding, even if he knew he didn't deserve it. He felt like he had been smeared across the dirt and left to rot, and he would be lying if he said he was tuned in to the mission right now.

Giyuu's hand hovered near the hilt of his sword, sensing something inside. He stepped closer, drawing it elegantly. Sanemi, mirroring Giyuu's readiness, drew his sword with a sluggish, clumsy motion. The blade gleamed in the dim light as he fell into step behind Giyuu, his own eyes scanning the surroundings, despite the war battling it out in his mind. They moved cautiously toward the entrance. the creaking hinges echoing in the night. Giyuu led the way, his steps purposeful and silent. Sanemi followed closely, every muscle in his body taut with anticipation.

As they stepped into the building, the silence was abruptly shattered. With a sudden whoosh, something heavy fell from the ceiling. Both swordsmen darted aside, narrowly avoiding the thudding crash of a demon hitting the floor. The creature, grotesque and snarling, skittered on all fours, its eyes gleaming with a malevolent hunger. It panted heavily, its gaze locking onto the two Hashira.

"So my meals get delivered to my door, do they now?" the demon taunted.

"Shut your fucking mouth," Sanemi spat, finding it more than cathartic to have something to take his frustrations out on.

Giyuu wasted no time chatting. In an instant, he launched himself at the demon. The creature, quick and cunning, dodged, skirting out of the way with a feral snarl. Giyuu stumbled slightly as his strike missed its target, but his concentration remained razor-sharp. "It's not an upper rank," he noted, his voice detached. "Another false alarm."

The demon's eyes glinted with insulted rage. "So you think I'm not worth the fight, huh?" It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its fist colliding with Giyuu's ribs with a sickening crack. Giyuu staggered back, grimacing in pain as the blow landed.

Sanemi's heart clenched. That was right where he had... No, he couldn't let that thought distract him. He gripped his sword with renewed intensity, the adrenaline surging through him like wildfire. Without hesitation, he rushed at the demon, hacking at it with brutal ferocity before it could strike again. The creature twisted its body at the last moment, evading a fatal blow to the neck, but Sanemi's blade cleaved through its arm with a sickening squelch, severing it cleanly.