Giyuu had woken up feeling the most rested he'd felt in years. He felt a weight on top of him however, something pressing down on him through most of his body. Looking down, he noticed the distinct pink and green hair. He couldn't help but smile, more than happy that him and Mitsuri really were together. He moved his head closely to hers, planting a kiss at the top on the crown of her head. "Thank you for actually being here. Thank you for not just being a hopeful dream."
Mitsuri felt something touching the top of her head, the feeling made her unable to sleep. She stretched her entire body, her limbs extending out in all directions. She noticed that her hands were in contact with something, soon noticing she was resting on top of someone. Looking up, Mitsuri noticed that she was resting on top of Giyuu. She couldn't help but smile widely as she placed her head back on his chest. "Good morning Giyuu, I take it I wasn't the only one to sleep well?" He nodded, resting laying his own head back on his pillow. "No bad dreams or nightmares." Mitsuri crawled up to him slowly, placing a hand on his cheek. "Do you... Get them often?" Giyuu placed his hand on top of hers, giving her a reassuring smile. "Sometimes, on good nights I had no dreams and just slept. Knowing we're actually here together though, that's the real dream come true."
Mitsuri laughed as she got a better look at him. Placing both her hands onto his cheeks, she looked deeply into his eyes. For the first time, Giyuu's eyes didn't look as tired, not in as much pain. They looked like she was staring into the ocean, she was more than happy to be lost in them. "You said we can still work on being friends as we're together, I trust you Giyuu. How would you like to do this? I'll go at your pace." Giyuu shook his head, finally dropping his smile. "You were the one who came to be for friendship. We both go at our own pace, slow down speed up when we need to. We're in this together, so we need to both act together."
As soft as Mitsuri's eyes normally were, they were filled with determination and conviction. Relationships were meant to be build up by all members, she had to trust that no matter what happened, they would always try their best to make this work. She yelped slightly when she noticed Giyuu sit straight up, holding her close to his chest while sitting on his lap. "Come on, I need to get started on breakfast soon. I promised you and Rengoku food so you'd have enough energy to make it home." Mitsuri pouted slightly over the need to get up, wanting to remain comfortable. She quickly got over her being upset with the promise of food.
Giyuu had left the room once again to allow Mitsuri to change. He knew eventually they would change in the same room without a second thought, but all this was still too new for them both, he wanted to be respectful. He heard knocking once again and went back in his room, seeing Mitsuri in her slayer uniform. As she was about to wait outside for him to change, he hugged her closely from being. "Mitsuri, if it's alright, I'd rather not make ourselves too public just yet. I just would rather try to become someone you're proud to be seen with." Giyuu felt Mitsuri squirm slightly in his arms, so he slowly let go of her out of curiosity. What he did not expect, was for Mitsuri to use the element of surprise and her raw strength to swing him against the wall and hold him in place.
"I already am proud to be seen with you Giyuu. You're who I want and who I have, why wouldn't I be proud of that?" Before he could say anything, she had pulled him down by the collar into a deep and loving kiss. He was frozen from the shock of how fast it happened, but soon melted into it. Before he could move his arms to pull her in closer, she pulled away. His face became a few shades of red when he realized there was a trail of saliva stretching from their lips. "Come on, you need to get started on breakfast. I can't wait to taste your cooking!" With that, Mitsuri rushed out of the room. Giyuu leaned against the wall before sliding down it, trying to process what just happened. He ran his fingers over his lips, noting a sweet taste in his mouth. "What a woman."
Giyuu soon walked into the kitchen and dining area, seeing Kyojuro was already awake. "Ah Tomioka! It is good to see that you and Kanroji are awake! I trust everything is well?" He looked to the duo, sitting down at the table as they both looked at him smiling. "More than well Rengoku. Definitely more than just well. I would prepare a normal breakfast, but I know you two well enough by now. I'll make sure it's a proper meal." Giyuu smiled down at the two, before moving to the kitchen to prepare everything. Looking over what he had stocked up, he decided on something filling and energy giving.
Mitsuri and Kyojuro stayed at the table, the scent of everything making their anticipation continue to skyrocket. "Kanroji, how are things with you and Tomioka? You both seem in better moods after last night. He even smiled just now, and you are no longer look you as if there is nothing troubling you." Kyojuro looked at her with a hopeful expression. He did not know the extent as to the relationship between the two developed in his slumber, but he had hoped things were alright to say the least.
"We're more than alright Rengoku-san, Giyuu and I just had a long and thorough talk last night. A lot of things were said, there were tears from both sides, but it was all worth it in the end." She looked to Giyuu as she became relieved and felt a smile stretch across her face. Kyojuro became slightly shocked as his eyes bounced back and forth between Kanroji and Tomioka. He did not think that they would already advance their relationship so quickly, he had to theorize the talk was rather passionate and serious. He had something he wanted to say, but decided it would be best to wait until Tomioka sat with them.
"I hope this is sufficient. It was rather last minute so while it may not have the quantity you two prefer, I hope the quality is enough." Giyuu made several trips delivering the food to the table. Mitsuri and Kyojuro both almost drooled from the home cooked meals Giyuu had prepared. Chicken katsu, Octopus karaage, Teriyaki vegetables, and fresh rice. "My apologies for not having any sweet potatoes or sakura mochi, I will have some next time though." Giyuu looked as the two were hyper focused on the food, shaking his head with a slight smile.
Kyojuro heard Tomioka speak finally, shaking himself out of his sight trance. "Tomioka! Before we eat, I would like to say something!" Giyuu and Mitsuri looked towards him, wondering what was important enough for him to not focus on the hot food in front of him. "Even if this may not be needed, I approve of your relationship with Kanroji! We may have not been close before recently, but I trust your character!" Giyuu was caught off guard from this, not expecting Rengoku to actually spare a thought or two about their relationship. It made sense to him after a moment, he was now dating Rengoku's former apprentice, it was obvious he wished for her best interests and happiness.Giyuu stood up quietly, moving back to the kitchen. He came back with a bottle of sake and three glasses. "Please, call me Giyuu. You two are friends, and one of you, someone I can say I love. Let us drop the formalities." He poured a glass for each of them, Kyojuro and Mitsuri happily taking the glasses. "To the friends we make." "To the passion of our hearts!" "To the love we share!" The three tapped their glasses and shared in the celebratory drink. They quickly dug into their food, wanting to cherish this memory.
Everyone had enjoyed their meal and after giving it time to digest, Kyojuro and Mitsuri were ready to depart. They had walked out the front door and Giyuu stood in the doorway. "Kyojuro, Mitsuri, if you two would like, we can meet somewhere for food one instance, and someone's estate the next. That way all of us are required to travel and not just you two." The duo nodded at the idea, Mitsuri taking a long look at the estate and at Giyuu. "I can't wait for you to see my family someday! Ah, they'll be so happy I found someone!" Mitsuri was jumping in excitement, eager for the day to already come.
"Oh, Giyuu. Shinobu-chan said she wanted to talk to you about all this, I already talked to her when she was giving me directions here. It's your turn to be interrogated!" She pouted lightly, watching as he nodded. "Don't worry I'll make my way to the Butterfly estate later." Giyuu watched as his new friends were departing, suddenly thinking of something to do. "Mitsuri." She turned around, wondering what else Giyuu needed to talk about. She was shocked to see he rushed to her, holding her by her face and kissing her deeply. He was acting dominant in the kiss, with her barely able to do anything but embrace what was happening. She was ready to wrap his legs around him, that was until she found him pulling back. She had noticed his tongue was poking out before pulling it back in his mouth. "That, was for earlier." She watched as he walked back into the estate and shut the door. She fell onto her knees, her legs becoming jelly as her face was burning hot. "Giyuu! What did I say about not being fair?! At least what I did was in privacy!"
It had been several hours since Kyojuro and Mitsuri had left. Giyuu admitted to himself that this was the best he had felt in a long time. He was sure Shinobu would think he was replaced. Sighing, he left his home and embarked for the Butterfly estate. "I can already feel a headache forming Shinobu." At the Butterfly estate, Shinobu sneezed, blowing away the notes she was currently working on. "Is Giyuu talking about me?"
After a journey he was thankful to have done on a full stomach, he reached the estate. Helping himself in, he found the fittingly named caterpillar trio rushing to see who had arrived. "Ah, Water Pillar-sama!" "We thank you for your visit!" "Are you injured, or are you here for lady Kocho?" He watched as they all bowed to greet him. He momentarily stayed silent, detailing they really did work well together as a team. "I'm here to see Kocho. I take it she's in her office?" The trio nodded as they all pointed to the stairs in unison. "She's in her office!" "Please knock before entering her room." "I'll prepare some food and drink for you in case your stay is long." As he past the trio, he gently padded their heads, signifying he appreciated their work. "Thank you Kiyo, Sumi, Naho." As he made his way up the stairs, he heard the sounds of three confused children talking amongst themselves in a flustered manner.
Knocking on the door to Shinobu's office, Giyuu waited outside patiently. "Shinobu, Mitsuri had told me you wanted to see me. Also, why did she mention something about interrogation?" Shinobu stopped working on her notes, smiling as she had her chance for Giyuu's side of everything. "Come in Giyuu, and don't think of it like that! Think of it more as of... A thorough questioning on a very interesting topic at hand." She smiled at her answer, fully aware that it didn't help in making things sound any better.
She saw Giyuu finally walk into her office, feeling something was immediately different. "My oh my Giyuu, I'm actually believing now Mitsuri-chan is a positive influence on you. I can already feel a difference." Giyuu looked at her confused, wondering in what manner that was obvious he could be different in. "To start your 'thorough questioning on a very interesting topic at hand' how am I already appearing to be different?" Shinobu got out of her chair, closing the distance been the two. "Your eyes firstly, they aren't as dull as they normally are. Your shoulders are more broad, you usually have them in a slacked position. Lastly, you're actually holding your head up. You normally always have it tilted down, like your eyes are glued to the ground."
Giyuu became physically stunned as he was picked apart so methodically. He looked at Shinobu questioningly, wondering just when she got to this level of reading him. Shinobu rolled her eyes lightly before smiling to him. "I've known you for years and have been on many missions with you Giyuu. So many quiet one sided speaking years. Learning to read your small physical expressions was the only way to ever know how you really felt." Giyuu's eyes went wide as he realized she was correct on that front. He really had been quiet for this long stretch of his life. "You continue to prove you are the smartest and scariest woman I have the courtesy of knowing."
Shinobu let out a laugh as she waved her hand. "Your flattery skills still need work however. Now then, how are you and Mitsuri-chan? I wanted to ask her how yesterday went today, but she sent me you instead. I've been wanting to talk to you about your thoughts on everything anyways, so this still works." She leaned against the wall, curious now more than ever. "Mitsuri and I have developed a relationship. We've become romantically invested in one another. We still do intend to develop our friendship as she originally intended as well."
Shinobu felt a wave of deja vu flood over her, almost ready to believe this was an alternate world once again. She got off the wall and pulled Giyuu into the sun. Seeing he wasn't melting, she was forced to believe the bizarre truth of reality the first time of being told it. "Details Giyuu, now." She was confused how the lone swordsman she'd been slowly befriending over years, had suddenly stumbled into a romantic relationship with someone he had met barely three months prior. "How? Last I spoke to her a week ago, she was adamant that she wasn't doing this for romantic reasons."
"She had seen the small things I had done as a slow progression of developing a positive view of me. However at the same time, it also was creating a desire to be involved with me. What I believe was the final straw, was when two women in my district had belittled her for her eating habits and outward personality. I had vehemently defended her in a cold manner, then gave her my food as a way to return her normally cheerful mood." He saw it unflattering to him to mention how he threatened the elders, or how he offered Mitsuri his food. He believed not every detail needed to be said. "After agreeing for her and Kyojuro to stay at my estate last night for recovery, we had an... unplanned serious conversation where we both spoke our truths. She had slipped she had loved me, and things only progressed from there. We both confessed how we felt, and agreed to being romantic partners."Shinobu felt a sense of pride for the both of them. For Giyuu to be able to actually open up to others and find a chance to not be so lonely. For Mitsuri-chan, it was being the only person in Corp history to make Giyuu Tomioka open up. "How does she make you feel then Giyuu? You've supported her since her arrival, and she's done near the same for you. How does it feel?" Giyuu looked down at the floor, unable to stop himself from smiling. "Appreciated, cared for, she's actually happy I'm here. I don't feel forced into talking, she makes me feel...safe."
Shinobu let out a soft sigh, feeling a slight guilt. "I'm sorry I never made you feel that way. You just never talked to anyone, rather than let you have the peace to actually speak for yourself, I always tried to force you to talk. The truth is I've only teased you because it was the only way you would speak to me. I wanted you to try and open up. I've never said it until now, but I'm sorry. I really have grown to care about you. I'm appreciative that you were my partner for all those missions. Even if you don't see it, I do see you as a trusted friend Giyuu." She stood up, bowing her head in shame. "Can you forgive me?"
GIyuu looked at her with a confused look, even tilting his head slighty trying to comprehend what was happening. "Shinobu raise your head, don't worry on apologizing for anything." She raised her head, looking as if she was about to say something. He stopped her by giving her a hug, as he towered over her smaller frame. "Shinobu I've never held your teasings against you. I always interpreted it as you at least cared enough for me to check in on me, even when I didn't want you to. This has just been our dynamic, and just because things are different now, doesn't mean that this needs to be. You're still my friend. Even if I can safely call Kyojuro and Mitsuri that now, our unspoken friendship was still first."
Shinobu scoffed lightly and hugged back, shaking her head lightly. "I'm starting to think she's more capable than Muzan himself with how much she's already made you more sociable. This does mean a lot to me though Giyuu, thank you." She continued her hug as she realized she had him in her grasp. "Oh, and Giyuu?" Giyuu looked down at her, unfortunately noticing a growing vein outline on her head. "Just why is it that I've never recieved some kind of gift even if you've acknowledged our friendship all this time?" Giyuu suddenly had the desire to run for his safety, noticing a disturbing smile stretch across her Shinobu's face. "We-well you see Shinobu. I just never knew as to what would be a fitting gift for you is all."
"You say that as if you had some sort of idea at all. You never once thought about it did you? It wasn't until sweet and loving Mitsuri-chan warmed up the lonely and cold Giyuu Tomioka heart that you thought to share the appreciation back. Am I right?" She smiled up at Giyuu, noticing his tinge of embarrassment and shame. She laughed as she finally let go of the hug, wanting to leave getting these kind of reactions out of him to Mitsuri. "It's okay Giyuu, I don't mind the lack of presents. However I do know of a way you can make up for this." Giyuu looked at her expectingly, not sure if he would like hearing her request.
"Come to the next hashira outing with us after the next meeting. If you've already been able to share a few meals with the two of them, then it wouldn't hurt to at least try eating with the rest of us. Besides you'll have three people ready to stand by you should things turn sour." Shinobu looked towards Giyuu's face as he contemplated her request. His eyes were squinting lightly as they darted in various directions. The corners of his mouth strained to the sides as it straightened out. She smiled as she saw him finally calmed down, agreeing to the terms.
"Excellent! It'll be nice to finally have you out with us, much to the potential dismay of Shinazugawa and Iguro." Giyuu sighed as he now had to think of them, not looking forward to hearing what they may have to say. Both were pulled out of their thoughts when there was knocking at the door. "Lady Kocho, Water Pillar-sama, I have lunch for you two. The girls made it, but they seem to have something bothering them." "You can come in Aoi. I'll ask the girls as to what's wrong later."
Aoi came into the room, carrying a tray of food for them. She quickly placed two bowls onto the table. "Ginger tsukudani and Salmon Daikon. Enjoy your meals you two." Shinobu and Giyuu both looked down at throw favorite meals, each having their respective reactions from them. Aoi was caught off guard to see Giyuu smile. She had known from Shinobu this was his favorite meal, but to see it was capable of getting him to smile was something else. "My, this looks delicious. Thank you Aoi, please pass on thanks to the girls as well." Shinobu wanted to quickly give thanks, wanting to eat while it was fresh. Giyuu looked at the young girl, offering her a pat on the head as well. "Thank you Aoi, give my thanks to the girls please." He soon took his bowl and savored the taste of his comfort food.
Shinobu watched the interaction, noticing that Aoi had the slowly devoloped a red face and couldn't form any words. "My oh my, I think I understand what happened with the girls then! No need to talk to them." She laughed as Giyuu sighed, both of them choosing to focus on their meals. Aoi soon left the room, attempting to process this form of newly found affection. "So Giyuu, do I get to know what this 'unplanned serious conversation' was about that you two had?" Giyuu froze and placed his food down, seriously contemplating if he wanted to go about everything again. "Eventually, it took a lot out of me and it was a rather... Emotionally driven conversation. Maybe once enough time has passed, I'll talk about it with you."
Shinobu sighed as she looked at her reclusive friend. "Emotional conversion being done by you." She shivered. "It almost doesn't feel right. I mean I am proud of you for it, but this will take some getting use to." Giyuu looked to her with a deadpan look, already done with his meal. "You described my smile as making you almost lose your desire to eat, I don't believe you will ever get use to it." Shinobu was ready to retort back, only to find herself defeated by his reasonable logic. "Touche." The two continued their first meal in a while together, enjoying the peaceful silence that always lingered between them.
After finishing their lunches, Shinobu escorted Giyuu to the front door as he as preparing to leave. "I just have one last question before you leave Giyuu. Does the topic of the conversation you had with Mitsuri-chan have anything to do as to why you always stand away from us?" Giyuu waited to open the door, looking down at Shinobu with the same look of shock as earlier. "Without going into details, yes. Your intelligence also continues to be frightening." Shinobu nodded without saying anything else, watching as Giyuu left to return to his own estate. She doubted she'd be told the whole truth of what was still bothering him soon, but she was still happy with the progress he was making regardless. "Mitsuri, you really are a miracle worker."