(Learning with Pibby AU)

Gyomei Himejima was never the type of man to trust someone immediately. After what had happened to his temple, he wished to never make a mistake like that again.

Samuel Agreste-Toulon was no different. Compounded by the fact that he was most likely lying about being deaf because he responded to Gyomei's verbal questions.

That all changed one day.

After Rosie had rescued the Hashira from their home dimension from a 'Glitch', Gyomei was thrust into a strange new world he had no idea how to get around in.

Samuel was eager to help, eager to please, yet Gyomei refused.

But one day, he, Mitsuri, Samuel, and another strange woman named Jackie got a mission. A strange one, at that.

They were to go to a place called 85-Rend, and obtain as many scrap items as they could.

As soon as they arrived, Gyomei was able to immediately hear an almost deafening blizzard, and biting cold. Some tears dripped down from his eyes at the thought of how cold poor Mitsuri must've been in this weather, but Samuel reassured him that they would be inside soon.

But somehow, the inside was almost as bad as the outside, if not worse.

Strange new creatures littered the halls. A plant/man like creature called a Bracken quickly had its head bashed in by the flail part of Gyomei's weapon, and many more creatures met their end to either Gyomei or Samuel.

"Samuel, I have been pondering something for a while now." Gyomei said when the duo finally got a quiet moment in the manor together.

"Yeah?" Samuel asked, and Gyomei noted that he tilted his head a little based off the creaking of his armor. "What have you been pondering?"

"I was pondering why you chose to learn a modified form of Sound Breathing from Tengen, despite the fact you told me you are deaf. It also confuses me how you can respond to me, despite that." Gyomei spoke, fidgeting with his prayer beads.

"Ah, I can tell why you'd get confused. You can't see them, of course, but I have these special devices in my ears called Cochlear Implants. They allow me to hear again." Samuel chuckled. "It's very complicated, I'll explain lat-"

Gyomei immediately noticed three things. A strong, malevolent Aura behind him, the sound of a music box, and Samuel going incredibly still.

Gyomei barely had anytime to react before Samuel hoisted him up and sprinted out of the building with speed almost uncharacteristic of Samuel. Tengen's teachings must've done Samuel well, but what was all that running about?

Gyomei learned later what it was about. The being that he had detected malevolence from was a monster known as a Jester. Little was known about them, but what was known is that they were invincible to all forms of traditional weaponry and that they would kill anyone who spent too long inside their homes.

A shiver ran down Gyomei's back as he heard that. Mitsuri and Jackie were fine, and Rosie decided to not send anyone back to 85-Rend.

And that was the day Samuel earned Gyomei's trust. To save Gyomei without any further prompting from a threat both of them barely understood was brave.

And of course, such a genuine act made Gyomei cry.

Which then in turn annoyed Samuel.

Because of course it did.