CAT || Kimetsu No Yaiba Fanfic

Cat Chapter 26

Rengoku had been asked by Shinobu to stay for a night at the butterfly estate. The gash on his arm was not that big, but she had insisted for him to stay so it won't get infected. Knowing him, he would probably make the wound larger just by training and not properly taking care of himself. Which was true.

The only problem now was sleep.

He sat upright, ruffling his hair that was already  sticking up in all directions. Figuring that he won't be able to sleep unless he do something about it, he pick up the book that he always carry in case he got bored from his bedside, adjusted his yukata and putting on a white blanket around his shoulders, before heading out to somewhere chill to relax.

The estate was quiet, which was understandable considering it's currently in the middle of the night. He can hear his own almost inaudible footsteps. Everyone was certainly dead asleep except him.

Well, except him and a certain shifter.

He went straight to the backyard, rounding a corner into another clearing with an engawa, to where he saw something expected yet unexpected at the same time.

Hotaru was training, doing pushups with three head sized rocks on her back and two other rocks being balanced on the back of her knees. Each one of those would at least weight a lot, depending on their sizes alone.

Her hair was in it's usual low ponytail. She was wearing the slayer's uniform, but her entire top was discarded in place of only bandages covering her private part. Though sweat was already clinging onto her and Rengoku could only imagine how sticky she feels right now.

After a few minutes of observation, he announced his presence.

"Why are you still training, Hotaru? Don't push yourself, you need to rest." He said, mindful of keeping his voiced hushed not to wake anyone.

She didn't bother glancing at him when she answered. "I need to be stronger," She grunted shortly.

"But training in the middle of the night?" He asked, coming closer to sit at the engawa. "You should do that when it's day, when the sun's high up. Times at night should be given to rest, considering it's rare at night for us not to have missions."

She paused, seemingly considering what she will be saying next. "I... I've been slacking off. I need to train harder. To protect someone."

'Someone?'

He guessing it's not her brats, seeing that she referred that someone as only one person. Or could it be the younger Kamado?

He cocked his head. "And who may that be?"

She didn't respond, discarding the rocks to stand up straight, the rocks giving a soft thud when hitting the ground. She immediately went to a boulder, getting her sword which was leaning on it along with a bottle of water and a towel.

He can only smile slightly as she started swinging with fast and precise slashes. Figuring that she would answer when she wanted to, he flipped his book open and started reading quietly.

The only noise was the sounds of sword swinging, the flipping of pages and her occasional pants, but he was fine with it.

He was starting to get a little drowsy, and he knew a few hours had already passed. A soft thump was heard beside him, and he lifted his glaze from his book to see Hotaru already looking at him.

"Ugetsu Monogatari?" She read. "I didn't know someone like you would like Shūsei-sensei's works." She said, leaning her elbows on her knees while still staring at him.

"Yes, I do." A smile tugged on his lips despite how distracting her neon green eyes were staring at him. "I quite enjoy Harusume Monogatari the most, though I don't have it with me right now."