Between the pages

Chapter 18 A breath of fresh air

As the nurse entered to do your daily check-up, you found yourself gathering the courage to ask if it would be possible to visit your house for a short while. At first, she shook her head, her firm stance on the matter leaving little room for negotiation. But after much pleading, softening your tone with every word, she finally relented—under one condition. You needed to have a companion with you.

You turned to Giyu, meeting his eyes for a moment. Without needing to say much, he nodded, the flicker of something unreadable passing through his gaze before he glanced back down at his phone.

"I'll get her back to the hospital by 6," he confirmed, voice steady.

With that, the nurse and doctor gave their approval, and you hurriedly changed into a soft, flowing dress. You attached Lucine's leash to his collar and scooped him up into your arms, cradling him as you stepped out of the hospital room. Giyu fell into step beside you, the low hum of the hallway lights casting a gentle glow over the two of you.

As you reached the bus stop, he draped his jacket over your shoulders, the fabric warm against your skin, and slipped his hands into his pockets. The air outside had a crispness to it, a fleeting taste of the changing season.

"You could've worn something else, you know... like pants," Giyu remarked, glancing at your dress with a slight frown.

You considered his words for a moment, but the thought only amused you, bubbling up into a soft, melodic chuckle. It was light, almost playful, like a brief spark of joy escaping you. You spun in place, the fabric of your dress swirling around your legs, and shot him a playful grin. "Well, I like this dress, so... yeah," you replied, giving him a little shrug for emphasis.

Giyu sighed, a soft sound that carried a hint of resignation. But there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he nodded, clearly not bothering to argue further.

Soon enough, the bus arrived, its brakes hissing softly as it came to a halt. Giyu helped you aboard, steadying you with a gentle hand on your back. You both found a seat near the window, the hum of the bus adding a comforting rhythm to the quiet between you. The gentle sway of the vehicle made the world outside pass by in a blur as the two of you sat in companionable silence, the only sounds being the occasional rattle of the bus and the soft breathing of Lucine, nestled comfortably in your lap.

When the bus stopped, you hurried off, keys already in hand. The familiar creak of the door as you opened it greeted you like an old friend. The house, just as you left it, felt like a small piece of peace amidst the chaos.

You set Lucine down, and with a burst of uncontainable energy, he darted off, his paws skittering across the floor as he zipped from room to room, his little tail wagging so hard it almost knocked him over. You and Giyu exchanged a surprised glance, Before long, you found yourselves laughing, the sound of it filling the quiet house.

After a while, Giyu settled onto the couch, pulling his phone from his pocket to check the time. You, on the other hand, made your way upstairs to your bedroom, your feet light on the stairs as you ascended. The room was exactly as you'd left it: the book resting open on the bed, the sheets rumpled from your hasty departure, and the curtains pulled back just enough to let in the soft afternoon light.

A smile tugged at your lips as you crossed the threshold, the familiar scent of your space wrapping around you. It was comforting—soft, lived-in, like a piece of yourself had been left behind in the room. You opened the drawer at your desk, pulling out a sheet of paper and a small box. Sitting down in your chair, you grabbed the pen from its holder, the smooth metal cool against your fingers as you began to write.

The quiet hum of the house, the scent of old pages and worn wood, made the atmosphere feel safe, almost like a cocoon for your scattered thoughts. You hadn't realized how much you missed it until now.

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Time slipped by unnoticed, the minutes blending into one another until, what felt like two hours later, Giyu's soft knock on your door pulled you back to the present. Lucine, hearing the sound, immediately sprang to his feet and dashed toward the door, tail wagging excitedly as he bounded into the room, eager to join you. His small paws tapped lightly against the floor as he skidded to a stop, looking at you with a playful glint in his eyes.

"Hey—time to head back, Y/N," Giyu's voice called softly from the hallway.

Lucine gave a little bark, as if to echo Giyu's words, before plopping down near your desk, waiting for your cue.

"Give me a few more minutes... I'll follow," you replied, your voice muffled by the sound of your pen scratching across the paper. The moment felt suspended in time, as if the room was holding its breath with you.

You heard Giyu's footsteps retreating downstairs, the soft thud of his shoes fading as he made his way out, leaving you alone with your thoughts again. Lucine, now lay contentedly on the floor beside your desk. He watched you with those big, eager eyes, his tail brushing against the side of the chair as he waited patiently, his small body curled in a relaxed ball of warmth.

When you were finally done with your writing, Lucine jumped up eagerly, his tail wagging, taking one last look at the room that had always felt like your sanctuary. You could hear the soft sounds of Giyu moving downstairs, waiting for you.

As you left your room with a final smile, you made your way downstairs, Lucine trailing behind you. A few coughs escaped you as you reached the bottom, but the handkerchief Giyu had given you earlier was still within reach. You dabbed at your mouth, the momentary discomfort fading just as quickly as it arrived.

Giyu was waiting outside, his figure illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlight, hands still in his pockets, his gaze turned down.

"Done?" he asked, his eyes lifting just slightly to meet yours.

"Thanks for taking me here"

"No problem," he replied, his voice low and soft, a hint of concern in his eyes as they flicked over to you. "You needed fresh air anyway."

The two of you started walking toward the bus stop, the distance between you shrinking with every step, but the quiet between you two returned, neither of you needing words to fill the space.

Before returning to the hospital, Giyu led you to a small shop for an early dinner. He didn't let up on the fact that you weren't eating much, his concern for you evident in every quiet glance.

"You aren't eating much," he observed as you pushed your food around on your plate.

You smiled weakly, feeling the weight of his concern more than you'd like. "Sorry... I don't really have my usual appetite."

Giyu nodded but didn't press, continuing to eat, though his eyes flicked up to check on you from time to time.

After the meal, the two of you resumed your walk back to the hospital.

"You alright?" Giyu asked, noticing that you hadn't said anything for a while.

You hadn't even realized you were staring at the ground, caught up in your thoughts, until his voice pulled you from them. "Yeah... just thinking."

He nodded, his gaze shifting upward to the moon that had just begun to rise, casting her soft glow over the evening sky.

"The moon's beautiful... right, Giyu?" you asked softly, your voice almost lost to the evening, as if you were speaking more to the night itself than to him.

"Huh? Oh—yeah... it is," he answered, his voice distant and empty, as though his mind were elsewhere, occupied with thoughts you couldn't reach. The words came out almost instinctively, an automatic reply rather than something truly engaged. He glanced at the moon for a moment, but his eyes seemed unfocused, the light of the sky barely registering against the quiet swirl of his thoughts...