"Inosuke is nice to me, you know. It's been four years."
Aoi was sitting next Shinobu in the cold night out at the large porch, cheeks pink from the cold and puffs of warm air leaving her mouth. Shuffling closer to the now taller girl, Shinobu leaned against her and the burden in her chest somewhat was lifted. She lost her little girl, Kanao, but Aoi was still here, letting the demon selfishly seeking some comfort.
"He gets mad sometimes, like he used to before but somehow the moment he see me he calms down." Aoi smiled. "I'm not sure why."
That's because he loves you, Kochou thought, but Aoi knows already, so the demon just swing her legs that were dangling over the edge and stayed silent.
"I know alot of things is happening to you, but you've got to stay strong." Aoi's long black hair looked so soft, Shinobu wondered how that Inosuke, the loud and bold wild boar was the one that captured her heart. They have trust and love, unlike Shinobu and Tomioka themselves.
"I'm sick, y'know, but I don't want to worry him. He's so tall and strong and wild, but if I tore down his walls and let him be worried, Inosuke's going to be vulnerable." Aoi smiled into the cold air.
"But it doesn't matter. I love him enough to accept his worries, and he loves me enough to worry for me." Aoi silently whispered, her cheeks spreading out from the way she smiled.
"Shinobu-san, Tomioka-san missed you alot, y'know?"
The taller girl took the demon's hands in her own ones.
"That's why you should let him worry for you and accept his worries and stop pushing them aside, because how else will he care for you when you're sick?" Aoi smiled and cock her head to the side.
Shinobu smiled greatly at Aoi. Shinobu was sick, but not like Aoi. She's a demon, but Tomioka didn't care.
That night Shinobu went to sleep with the warmth from Aoi's hug still lingering on her skin. She felt more comfortable knowing that she found Tomioka, but now that she reached her goal, Shinobu didn't really know what to do. She knew something wasn't right, because the demon passed out after exhausting herself that day four years ago when she entered that forest, but she didn't die. Waking up with badly injured body, she managed to somewhat luckily crawled into town, but who saved her?
She didn't pay attention or even notice it at all because back then everything was about Tomioka, but now that the Hashira was safe and solid infront of her eyes, Shinobu can see all the gaps that she didn't fill, didn't pay attention to. It's such a mystery how she survived.
Shinobu recalled passing out after screaming the Water Hashira's name, falling hard on to the ground with demon's coming at her. What she didn't recall, however, was the fact that somehow she made out of that forest all alone, alive but not without the injuries prior to her escape. There was only one thing that could've happened.
Someone had saved her.
Everything was wrong and off, but nothing would be wrong and off if Shinobu was dead. Maybe she was hallucinating, maybe she had problems, maybe Shinobu was wrong, but maybe, just maybe it wasn't all her effort to keep herself alive. It maybe was someone else's.
Shinobu went to sleep without knowing, but she could be all surprised tomorrow. Maybe someone saved her?
She might just imagined things.
Shinobu didn't imagine things.
The demon woke up the next morning feeling better, but still have this annoying feeling like something was missing. Something was off and she just couldn't put her finger on it. Shinobu had just stepped out she finished cleaning up her futon and get ready in the morning when the demon noticed Aoi running up to her.
"Shinobu-san!"
The girl was out of breath and the demon frowned, disliking how Aoi was running when she was sick and wasn't supposed to run out of all things. The black haired girl was panting, cheeks red, bending over to catch her breath with something in hands. It was a beige envelope, plain and the material looked rough, not so smooth from the look of it like normal paper. Cocking her head out of curiosity, Shinobu waited until Aoi's breathing slowed down until she questioned about the envelope.
"It's a letter for you, Shinobu-san. We don't know who sent it, there was no name and no trace."
This was suspicious. Maybe someone wanted something from her?
"We only know it was for you when we saw your name on the front. The Estate's workers were supposed to give this to you but I think it was better for me to do it."
Shinobu believed what Aoi said was genuine and Shinobu couldn't deny how kind the girl is, but deep inside she knew that people were still afraid of her. If not, one of them would've approached her by now and deliver the letter instead of making poor Aoi running all the way from the other side of the Estate to her.
Shinobu took the envelope with a smile and a hug. Immediately after Aoi waved goodbye, the demon moved right back into her room to examine what was delivered to her. This could be it. This could be a trace of something, maybe someone or anything that is related to all this mess.
Shinobu was right. The envelope was a beige colour and was rough to touch as she smoothed her slender fingers over it, but now she could see her name neatly printed right in the middle at the front in black ink. Such neat handwriting, the demon thought.
Now that she finally have a room that Ubuyashiki have given her to sort out all of this mess, Shinobu could have some privacy and relax back on to the floor, back pressed against the wall and read what's inside. At least Shinobu had some real privacy now that her room was all the way on the other side of the Estate. No one could easily bump into her then, because they were still thinking of what to do with her and they don't want people panicking whenever they saw the demon. Cautiously, Kochou opened the envelope. She was greeted with a fold up paper inside. It was a letter.
Dear Shinobu,
It might be strange for me to call you by your first name, but we are actually closer than you think we are, Kochou. I still remember that day when you looked so exhausted, so tired. You never stopped fighting even if you were bleeding, never stopped advancing even if you were bruised and crying. I admire you Kochou, so I watched and I watched and I watched. Tomioka. He has a beautiful name, doesn't he? When you screamed out his name as you fell, your body falling you, Kochou, you've never once stopped thinking of him even when you were at the brink of death, didn't you? I am not your saviour, Kochou. I am not your hero, Kochou. I saved you because I wanted to satisfy my own satisfaction. So that everyday, I could see you smile, so that I could see you laughing with the kids downtown, so I can see from afar how you practiced with your sword out in the field, how you grow your little garden outside the abandoned house that you made your home. I saw you at first snow, Kochou. I saw the way your cheeks reddened and the way you smiled, looking out of the window and forgot your misery, forgot about you ended up here. I'm still watching you even if you can't talk anymore, even if you turned into something you thought was ugly and horrible. I never once thought that way. I saw you cried, Kochou, saw blood running down your face. You aren't alone and maybe one day we could talk as friends. Maybe one day everything will click into place for you like a puzzle you were desperate to solve and you'll see me with a smiling face. You are my satisfaction, Kochou.
Till we finally meet. Again.
From, Unknown
P.s. I've finished reading Demon Slayer's manga and it was so incredible to go along with the journey. Tomioka cut his hair also! Yay! I wanted to cry when I read it because I thought of everyone who died. I'm sorry for not updating frequently but I am very busy. But here it it finally! Enjoy the new chapter! o(^▽^)o
YOU ARE READING
Finding You
Aksi[Kocho Shinobu x Tomioka Giyuu] Kocho Shinobu loves a certain someone, but when they went missing, what would she do? Trying her best to find them is what she would do.
