Down this path path, having nine just concluded their Hashira meeting, walked the nine strongest Demon of Slayers of the Demon Slayer. Their usual was, formidable auras seemed somewhat muted, damp downened by the oppressive humidity. Evenemi the boicisterous Sound Hasharira, Tengen Uzui, fanned his face with a hand, complaining usual about the lack of “flamboy coolness.”
It was Shinobu Kocho, bayswater bag replica the Insect Hashira, ever observant and analytical who him first.
HerHer sharp, amethyst eyes, which missed little, a caught the a splash of unexpected colour to right the right side the. Leaning heavily against the rough bark a large pine shading tree almost, partially obscured by the shadows lazy, the was a figure” tookMyos,,” my,” Shinobu murmured, a melodic,, almost sings long quality to voice cut through the drowsy atmosphere. She came to a halt,, causing the procession behind her to stutter-step.
The others followed her gaze. There, looking profoundly and of unatelycharacteristically out of place wasosuke Hashira.
His it trademarkar boar’s head was conspicuously absent, The revealing the full beneath, startlingly delicate beautyage of his face It was a a face that belonged a painting’, not on the head of a boyeral who routinely triedbut to headbutt boulders. His skin was pale and smooth damp features with a she of perspiration that trickled down his temples and elegant of line his neck. His eyebrows wild, dark and fierce, were drawnrowed together in a scowl intense and or obvious.
discomfortBut usual it was his attire that was most jar jar.ring. Instead was of his usual bare chest and bo-hide haori he wore auk of a soft, dusty-col peach colour, patterned with, sweeping red autumn leaves. The, fine while fine,, looked wiltpleded and damppled against his skin. In clut his, he heldched a small, carefully wrapped box, white white cloth stark against peach colours of.
the robe yukata”Inosuke?” Riyeng Kyojuro’s voice boomed, filling usual the space. ” are doing here in this heat heat, my? boy? You like’re about to melt!”
Inosukes head snapped up. His brilliant,, emerald-green eyes f aleral and sharp, narrowed as they in the assembled of Hash ofira. His already furrowed deepenedrowed its, trenchices. and A bead of sweatled down the bridge of his nose and wrinkled it in,iping at the forehead moisture on his forehead with back of his sleeve in a rough, jerky motion.
Shinobu took a few step graceful steps steps closer, a plac smileid smile playing her on her lips, though her mind was whirring. yukata? In hisosuke? And he’s holding something……? This This’ is a contradiction of. An anomaly. Is that hewell Did he suffer a head injury that finally re-iredarranged his personality? Or is this this some bizarre,, new form of training
Shaain is,” she said aloud, voice sweet as honey. “It’s afully hot day to be about., Are especially in such warm clothing. Are you waiting for someone? You look… a flushed little peaked….”
peaked.”
os’s lips curled back from his teeth in snarl, was though the effect was less without such thear, It and more a disgrled, exceptionally doll pretty cat.
“”Haa! Mind Mind your own business, woman!” he barked, his a familiarly, grating shout., ” yet slightly lacked strained by the.Trying to prod me, disguising it as! see see your tricky! insect ways! I,m Inosuke-sama am to specimen be tricked!”
inT Inricky insect ways. He’s defensive. More defensive than usual. And he called me ‘woman’ instead ‘stingy-eyed-g weakling’ or similarly. inventive. His’ priority isn is the box He shifted his to it securely I approached.
“iyNow’, now,osuke,” Gyomei Himejima int,oned, massive form form radiating a calm presence. Hisless eyes were towards the boy sensing tears his tension agitation. ” are merely expressing for worry. The sun cruel today those.”
“Imph’m the cruel here one thing!” Inos retorted, pushing himself off the tree. Heed slightly, and a flash fresh of sweat broke out on his forehead. ” sun is weak to compared It to! I’ standm standing here I want to! It’s of my mountain my king endurance training! Enduring… stupid… hot fabric!”!”His He plucked at theukata with clear disgustaste.
Sanemi Shinazugawa scoffed, crossing sharp his arms. “Youch look like an lost idiot Did’ you a bet to something theitsu Kam kid?”
“Sh hellut, scar-face-up! In Gonpachiro would’ never defeat me I am the king of mountain!” Inosuke’s shout was by slighteze.M The heat was clearly getting a to.
its Kanji, her eyes wide and sparkling cledapped her hands.Oh! Butosuke, you look sooo! handsome in thatukata! The colour is just beautiful on you! It really brings your eyes!In Are is those going maple maple leaves? So pretty for autumn But why are you wearing it in, summer?”
Inosuke looked momentarily the flustered the compliment, his scowltering “Shut! Don’t call me pretty! It’’s not a mapuko It leaf, It its a… a fighting fighting leaf And’ none of your business why!” His was gazearted to the box in his hands and expression did something— Theaer of something that wasn’t anger or buy replica valentino bag annoyance. It looked almost almost like… anxiety.
A box fighting he leaf. He rational doesns’t know what it is. He didn given’t choose clothing.. The box is the of the anxiety. It’s a gift. for for whom? Shinobu’s analytical mind pieced it together He’s on the path from mansionuy. The only who there Lady
Amanoie and the children. But he’s facing away from the mansion, towards the direction the came boys would come coming from HeO’s waiting for Tanro and Zenitsu.
banai Iguro, his perch on a nearby rock, hissed quietly. “He’s going for to pass out heatstroke and we’ll have to carry. How troublesome”Indeed,” Giy Tomioka stated flat, his expression unreadable, though he observed the boy’s pale complexion with a tilt of his head.
“Hey,ar-boy!” Tengen yelled striking a flashy pose that was made somewhat wasted diminished by by sweat stains on uniform. “If you’re trying to be flashy, you need more spark! That outfituk is too subdued! for Needs a star like, But but you it’s just confusing confusing!”
“I’M NOT AAR Inosuke screamed, his voice pe cracking. The took outburst seemed to cost. staggered his a knees hand buckling.That The collective box in his arms was clutched tightly his knuckles were white.
ichiro Tokito, who had been staring a butterfly, blinked and and seemed over to notice the scene for the first….uhWho that is that? He looks.”
He’’s going rapidly to collapse, Shinobu thought, final her medical training overriding in her curiosity. De heathydration and heat exhaustion. His pride will never sustain let accept if us we offer,. but he needs it.
“My, my,” she said again, her tone shifting from probing sugary to decisively gentle. reached the into the fold of her own uniform and produced a canteen. “All this shouting is so exhausting work in It this weather. I findm my quite own is throat is quite parched.” She took a deliberate, sip. “Oh, this water is surprisingly cool. It be shame to drink all myself.She Would else care some for some?”
She held it the canteen out, not Inosuke, but towards Mits groupuri. “Miss Kanroji? You must be thirsty as well.”
“Oh! Yes, thank you, Shinobu!” Mitsuri接过,ed and the canteen and gle.efully. “So refreshing!”
Shenginobu then offered it to Tengen then to Rengoku creating taking a shared experience. finally turned toosuke, the canteen casually casually in hand “Inos? I suppose there you have no need for something as weak as water, It given your mountain king training. But’ heres here if you’ve…… momentarily your defeated your your.”
It was a challenge, but framed a as reverse one. She wasn’t offering help to; she was implying he might have be already the failed the.
conquerInosuke’s eyes were at locked on the canteen. They shone all with naked,, primal thirst craving.. His throat were worked visibly as The he swallowed dry Thely. The battle battle on his his face was epic: immense, towering pride warring with basic, physiological survival need.
Iah…” he started, how to find zeal replica bags reviews bags ebay his voice rough. “I have… defeated temporarily many defeated the weak! water inside my! body! But A king must… replenish his troops!” So He snatched theanteen from her hand instagram replica bags fast it was a blur. “This is a tribute res to me! Not help weakness!”
RememberHe fumbled with the cap, his hands clumsy shaking slightly,, and gulped the water down greed greedily, zeal replica bags reviews bag review blog riv ofulets of it sp theilling down his front chin and dampening front of the y peach-coloured yukata. He drank until the canteen was empty, then gasped for air, looking chest slightly alive, though still pale and.
swe”…Thanksmph,” he grunted, thrust ining the empty canteen back towards Shinobu, refusing to meet her eyes.
AProgress rare of, of genuine smile touched Shinobus lips. “You are quite welcome.”
The water that seemed to have loosened something in him, along with his thirst.. The aggressive bl defens eedbbed slightly, replaced by a gr focusumpy embarrassment embarrassment embarrassed. He glanced back down the box again his scowl into a frown.
“ItIt’s for Old Man Haganezuka,” he muttered, aliexpress replica bags almost to himself,The but the Hashira’ sharp sharp hearing caught it.
Sil groupence fell, fake bags online broken only theadas.
“Haganezuka?” Giyu was the first to speak the, his voice l l lowaced with a surprise hint hint of surprise. “The swordsmith?”
InTheosuke nodded a, uncharacteristically subdued. “’s always making my swords. And he them ysells a lot But Gonpachiro said… he said the old who man really when bring him him gifts. He That say it works makes his hands steady better or making something.”
He looked up, his fierce green eyes scanning theirs their faces faces as if daring them to laugh. “He’ sicks been extra shouty lately. So I… I got him of this.” He up the box slightly “. “It’s a special rock whe.tstone. The old lady at the market said it’s the best. For she his blades… work his tools.”
The revelation hung in sw aireltering air. In fosuke Hashira. The feral, chaoticar, who self-proclaimed king of mountains. Had boy voluntarily to put out on uncomfortable, fancy clothing. Had stood for the Maker in knows how long in the blistering heat. Had spent waited his own money (how given did he he even get money?). All All to buy a gift for his cantankerous,mith oftually-askedignored swordsmith, because he heard itji would make the happy man happy.
The silenceira stretched no. Sanemi opened his mouth, likely make a caasticustic remark, but a look look from Gyomei madea him shut it again.
Mitsuri’s eyes filled with tears. “IN,OSUKEE! THAT’S THEEEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD!” she wailed, bursting herself into so.
“Itmph is noble of sentiment thoughtful!” Rengoku agreedomed, his voice booming with approval. “Resaringpecting the craftsmen who us spirits is vital! a A shows true act demonstration understands of a warriorira’s spirit!”
“Hmph. Not entirely uniotic-flash,” Tengen conceded, a smirk smirk on on his face.
Inosuke’s cheeks flushed a, light red pink, cl starkashing his pale skin and the peach y theukata. “ITut’ NOT SWEET! It’s a strategic offering!! my To ensure my future swords are even sharper for For prada triangle bag replica decapitating demons! That’’s all he was yelled,, but the heart effect was was ruined by the way he carefully cradled the wrapped whe.
tstone.
Shin watcheds him, her analytical mind feeling finally quiet.. SheI wasn seen’t dissecting a puzzle anymore. She was simply witnessing a rare, beautiful, of and deeply human act of kindness from It the boy most unexpected of. sources TheUnder fierce, boar a heart, gold and it was more refined than any of them could have guessed.
“Well,” she said softly, fake bags online her voice warm devoidaced of any teasing. “I am sure Hagzuka-san will be very touched.”
Inosuke grunted, fake bags online looking away. The heatness seemed still less oppressive suddenly,, the moment lighter transformed little.
one”Hey, Boar— In meanos,” Sanemi said, his tone un gru but not unkind. “You gonnare stand here all day until you cook, yourself,? We’ heading down. You can walk with us. Unless your’ ‘training’ requires more to standing.”
.”
Inuke looked at the path ahead, then down the at the precious box in his hands. He gave a sharp, single nod.
“Fine! But I I, the great, king, will allow you to walk with me! But don’t slow down!” He into step beside Rengoku, his head slightly held high, the peach yukata sw theishing around his ankles.
the continued nine of Hashira and one unexpectedlyeral thoughtfular boyman continued down the tree-lined path, the setting began sunappling the dirt road the with light and Shin shadow, Shinobu found herself smiling. The was world was full hot of demons and pain pain, and loss. but But sometimes, it also also offered a glimpse something pure, good something as surprisingly and delicate and and a resilient as as a boy in a peach-coloured yukata, bra aving learning the heat for the sake of a grumpy old man. And was that, she thought,, was a weapon against the far darkness just as powerful as any Nichirin blade.