A Specific Butterfly | ShinoGiyuu 🦋🌊

Signals

Tomioka POV

It was pretty dark tonight. Me and kocho were on a mission tonight, as master requested. Shinobu was just as sneaky as everyday, i didnt even notice she was stood next to me. She was very close. She's been acting very odd lately, and she also looks very o-

"Tomioka-san! You should start answering more, you're getting on my nerves!" Shinobu blurted out, her smile twisting into more of a different expression i've never seen on her before.

I didn't know how to reply. If i said sorry, she would tease me, but if i said nothing, it would be worse. I sighed, "sorry." I huffed under my breath. She didnt tease me though, she just stared at me blankly as she began to walk ahead of me.

What was this? She's acting so odd lately, it's like shes sending me these signals, but i dont understand them at all.

She's usually making fun of me, but today she's oddly quieter and is more expressive more than an obviously-fake-smile. I dont know if thats my fault or not.

We soon arrived at a cabin. The door was knocked down and blood stained the wood stood there to protect the inside.

"Oh my!" Shinobu muttered under her breath as she unsheathed her sword from its chamber. She looked more serious, her smile was more faded today too. Maybe ill talk to her.

"Are you planning on going in?" I asked her. Theres no way she's going in without a plan, thats dangerous!

She turned towards me. "Well, im not that stupid, tomioka-san!" She said, in an offended manner. I cant even tell if shes teasing me anymore, she's completely unreadable today.

She slowly walked inside of the cabin as she crouched down and took out a syringe from her haori. Does she always carry that stuff?

She extracted the blood from the door into her syringe as she took out a napkin to rub the top of it before putting it back in her haori.

She got up and turned to me, "Well, can you explore the outside?" She asked me, i nodded before walking off.

Okay, she was acting very strange. She's acting more straightforward towards me. I dont know what any of this means. Why am i overthinking it anyways? I should be focusing on the mission!

I suddenly heard a growl behind me, i turned as i unsheathed my sword, but it was too late. I got hit on the arm, it was very painful.

I didnt have time to cure it though, i had to protect myself and shinobu. I turned again to see the demon sat on the roof of the cabin. It opened its mouth, "I saw a beautiful girl in here earlier, she wore the same clothes as you!" It spat, proudly. Huh? Does he mean shinobu? He met her? Does that mean she's already encountered him? Is she alright? Who does this demon think they are?

I dont have time for all this conversation. I need to behead it quickly and go and check on shinobu. I took out my sword as i held it infront of me. I took a breath as i began.

"Water breathing: second form, water wheel." I muttered. The demon stared, confused but soon a gasp was heard as both of its arms and legs were sliced off.

I pinned it to the floor with my sword to its heart as i stared down at the creature. This thing? This is the one who talks bad about shinobu? He should put respect on her name! Well, considering shes a hashira.

It struggled, "Get off me, puny human! How dare yo-" it was cut off by the slashing sound of my sword against its neck, its head sliced off, a few miles away from the demonic corpse below me.

A few seconds later it was pinned to the tree, its head below it. Disappointing, it must have been a normal demon. I dont usually particularly want to fight a demon, but this one made my blood slightly turn hotter. I dont know why.

I then heard a giggle. It was coming from behind. I flinched as i turned instantly, just to see a small woman stood there.

"Ara ara, tomioka-san! It seems you put up quite the fight, didnt you? Well isnt this new?!" She questioned, amused. It seems like she was back to normal, or was this an act? She's impossible to read anymore.

"Yeah. I did." I answered, staring at her shocked face, she also looked satisfied. For some reason, her reactions brought me joy, which was pretty new.

"Well then, how about we head back? Everyone is already saved and all fine, so you dont have to do any extra work!" She reassured me, pointing in a different direction to the people being carried by the kakushi.

Wow. Kocho's stealth and stamina never ceases to amaze me. I didnt even notice her behind me before at first, which is concerning for future events.

She stared at me, i didnt even notice but apparently i was staring at her face for too long. I noticed her features were different. Well, i do kind of stare at her a lot, so i would probably know.

"Tomioka-san? You've been staring at me for a while, and you're quite more talkative, are you ill?" She asked without hesitation, staring at me with a concerned look, rather than a teasing one which was pretty odd.

"Um. Yeah. Im fine." I said, gripping at the back of my neck till a sharp pain appeared. God, why was i so awkward?! I didnt even notice due to the weather, but my cheeks were kind of hot.

What is this feeling? What are these mixed feelings im getting? What is she doing?

"Well then, let's go!" She said, turning and walking away. I ran to catch up to her, walking by her side shortly.

"Are you sure you're well, though, tomioka-san?" She said, staring straight through my soul. Sometimes, her face sent shivers down my spine. It wasn't her features, no, they were too beautiful to even send any shivers down my spine. But, it was the expressions displayed on her face. Yes, that was it!

The way she misused her beautiful features, it disappointed me. Her smile, it was so beautiful, but the way it was forced wasn't. Was she doing this because she likes it? If she is, then i fully support her.

Thats the thing about her. Shinobu Kocho. Shes probably one of the hardest hashiras to possibly read. Her face is always the same, only ever different very rarely. Which this time was one of those times. I mean, i am honoured this was one of those times. Im honoured that she even considered changing her expression during my presence, knowing how much she hates me.

But, if she does hate me, why is she sending me such signals? Could this be a sign? This is different than usual. No. Perhaps im overthinking things. Yes. That's it.

"Well, tomioka-san, i think you should get going now!" She demanded, turning towards me as she lifted a finger close to my face. My face was boiling as i stared down at her beautiful figure. It's truly a blessing to be allowed to stare at such a beauty.

"Tomioka-san? May you leave, please? You're in-front of my estate, and i have things to do!" She said, masking obvious rage hidden behind her expression.

Oh. Oh no. I made her upset. I need to go before anything else happens. Yes, I'll go. I cant talk to her ever again, or face her ever again. I've completely misused my privilege of being able to be in the presence of such a beautiful lady. Yes. I'll go and i wont come back.

Why are you making me think these things, kocho? What are these mixed signals, and are they only happening to me?