The sun glared at the earth as people walked and talked under its heated stare. Wind and breeze swayed through, making the people a little less heated, enjoying the calm sway and the day as trees joined together with the wind, dancing with it.

Soon, white clouds cover the blue hue, painting it a grayish, white, making people's heads even less heated, and they thanked the clouds for the coverage.

Under the gray cover, children played with each other, footsteps stomping on the ground as happy laughter fills the place, making it warm for everyone.

As children play, teenagers smile longingly at their lovers and soon-to-be husbands and wives, doing nothing but sweet talks and loving stares.

Whereas adults sip their daily morning tea, some gossiping, and others doing household chores that are to be done.

Colorful flaps of wings from butterflies cover the Butterfly Mansion's garden, giving it an ethereal look. With the main attraction, a big Sakura tree, under it, a bench, and its pink leaves carefully dancing and swirling with the wind.

With long bamboo sticks and tall leaves on every corner, making the area look like a perfect place to sneak out with your lover as you two would enjoy the moon, having a loving moment with each other.

☆•Yashimi POV•☆

It's been 2 months, and my ribcage and ankle have healed accordingly and greatly. Kocho-san says that it'll be healed in a week or so and judging from her voice. It's good news.

She also told me that Oyakata-sama advised them not to put us three on trial, but we will do harakiri if Nezuko ever eats a human.

I understand as Nezuko is one of their biggest rival, and taking her in would mean Oyakata-sama had accepted her as a whole.

Tomioka-sama still always visits me. Even when I'd know he's busy, according to Kocho-san, he always insists on checking up on me, saying,

"I'm not busy."

"I'm just checking on her."

"I have a lot of free time, so.."

And more other things that are clear lies, clearer than the sun. But I don't mind. I love that he's always checking up in me. It means Tomioka-sama cares for his tsuguko. He cares for me.

I also got Aoi-san to clean my kitsune mask. She said she knew someone who was like me, and I love knowing there was someone here before me who also bore a mask to hide his or her identity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I could see the sun impateintly beaming through my white curtains. The time states 7:15 a.m. on the clock across the room on the opposite side where the door stands, unmoved.

I separate both curtains above my bed, letting the sun glisten on my face, replacing the coldness lying on my face with warmth, sitting on my feet in front of the window.

"Yashimi?" A low, surprised voice sweeps through the quiet air as his steps move forward. Although his footsteps are as quiet as night, I can always hear it, barely, despite his great ability.

"Ah, Tomioka-sama," I smile at him, but my face still views the window as I grab my kitsune mask, slipping into it.

I fully turn my body, expecting Tomioka-sama to be by my bedside, which he is, holding my medicine tray with food. "Good morning, Tomioka-sama," the corners of my mouth turned up, "you seem even quieter today. Did something happen?"

"... Nothing.. happened today." He slowly replies. Of course, his replies are low and short. Though, he seems uncertain to answer. "Here." He cuts my train of thoughts.

"Tomioka-sama, arigatō."

"..." Why is his aura off today? Did I do something?

"Medicine tastes bad as always." I mentally cried as I set the cup to the side of the tray. "Well, if only someone didn't go to Natagumo Mountain. They didn't have to be here, and they'd be out training right now." He says, slightly hinting the tone of his voice.

He emphasizes someone as me. It isn't hard to guess. He's still pretty mad about that night.

"You're still angry about that?" I grew visibly annoyed. These past few weeks, he's been hinting that he's still mad about my breakout. Like, move on already.

"I'm sorry! Okay? How many times do you want me to say it?.!" My eyebrows turn upwards in frustration of not understanding what he wanted from me.

"You disobeyed an order." He emphasizes 'order.' His expressionless look glances at me. Eyeing through my eye holes. "Why else do you think I'm mad, Yashimi?"

"Because you went out."

"Because I had to! Goddamnit!" I fisted my hands into a tight ball. "My family and my friends left me. They died! And now," I sucked a chocked sob. Tears were forming, and if I talked more, they'll probably roll down.

"How else do you think I'd let my anger out?!"

"..."

Nothing comes out from his mouth as I turn the opposite side, wiping my tear under my mask, using the hem of my sleeve.

"I know it's my fault that I'm here. And I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd be this injured."

"..."

"I'm sorry, Yashimi. About Daisuke-sama and your family and friends. That must've caused you so much pain.." He lowly whispers as I feel a pair of muscular wrap around me, shocking me.

"I don't mean to be hard on you.. I just.." I cut him off when I returned the hug, wrapping my hands around him, and sinking my face in his chest after I had moved my mask on top of my head, "worry about you."

I hear something softly leaving his lips, a gentle chuckle escaping. "Now, stop being a crybaby." I feel his hand caress the back of my head.

"I have to go, Yashimi." A crack in my chest spread shortly. "Yeah.. right, I'm sorry.." I mumble, pulling away from his warm chest.

I adjust my mask after swiping my nose. Thankfully, there weren't too many snot melted. "I'll be back tomorrow." He stands up, lingering his gaze on me.

"Okay.. well, good luck, Tomioka-sama. And-"

"You don't have to say it. It's fine. I get it." He says as he makes his way to the door and shuts it close, making no sound to be heard.

"Tomioka-sama.." Whispers of denial flows around me.

Wait, what?

★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★

Giyū still checks up on Yashimi every day for the next 2 weeks, giving her her medicine, checking on how well she's healing, and overall just giving her company whenever he can.

Shinobu noticed his appearance becoming more of a daily routine of her wake-up route. She'd always see Giyū sneaking inside Yashimi's room. His actions make Shinobu think about what Giyū truly feels about Yashimi.

Is it just a relationship between master and tsuguko or a relationship between two fools stupidly in love?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dawn breaks like how you would crack an egg, giving birds the typical signal to sing and hum their melodic melodies and stretch their wings to its full limit.

Most eyes were still closed at this time, but not for Yashimi. Her body had remembered what time Giyū would arrive, and her mind made a mental note to wake up a little more early to spend more time with him during his visits.

Her ankle had felt so much better after doing physical therapy with Giyū and his concerned yells that would make something inside her flutter slowly but then would close again.

The past 2 weeks, Giyū seemed to finally let go of the Natagumo Mountain incident, relieving Yashimi from the burden of carrying the guilt above her shoulders.

Sakura leaves fall down and crunch under people's foot, making a satisfied crisp if you stepped on it.

Yashimi looks at the Sakura Tree from inside her quiet, cold room. Being inside can really make her feel lonely.

She has been talking to Tanjiro since last last week, making her feel less lonely. Aoi also said that she'll be joining them in the rehabilitation training to get her body up and a-go.

★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★•★

☆•Yashimi POV•☆

"Good morning, Yashimi." Tomioka-sama steps inside, carrying the same food tray with my medicine. I perk my head up, giving him a hidden faint smile.

"..."

"Are.. Are you okay? You usually would say good morning." Tomioka-sama asks with genuine curiosity. "Yeah.. I just.. lost my appetite, but I'm alright." I gently lay my hands on top of each other on my lap.

He grabs the medicine and hands it gently over to me. "What's wrong. Tell me." His voice softly went out of his throat and to my ears as I finished taking my medicine.

☆•Giyū POV•☆

A wave of genuine curiosity washes over me, churning in my stomach. I still had my usual look when I asked her, "What's wrong. Tell me."

Oh, God, was that too demanding? I hope she doesn't feel like she has to open up. I just want her to feel comfortable with opening up to me.

"..."

Silence meets my question. I can feel something's wrong with her, but what is? "Yashimi, did something happen?" I ask again, this time my voice didn't hesitate.

"It's just.." She let's out a heavy sigh, making me more worried, "today is the death anniversary of my parents." She quickly blurt out as if scared to admit, her voice slightly cracked mid-sentence.

"It's not a big deal," she lifts one hand and starts waving it around as if dismissing a joke, "it's just that I won't be able to go to their grave this time since I'll be stuck here. And the way to their grave is far, so.." She trails off, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"I usually go alone as Daisuke-sama would let me. He says he wants me to have some alone time with them, but now. I.. I don't know. This happened 5 years ago. I know it shouldn't bother me anymore. I just -" I cut her off with a hug.

I pull her closer to me. I don't know if that's a good thing to do, but I think she would want this. "I'll take you there."

"But won't you be busy?"

"I have a lot of free time, so."

I hear her gentle chuckle and a sniffle. "Tomioka-sama, arigatō." She says softly. And ever so slightly, just a little bit, did my mouth turn up. And damn hell did I pray for her not to see the faintness of my smile.

But damn, hers can really make my knees kneel and melt. What kind of thing does she have that I somehow can't go against?

"Where are your parents buried?" I ask, pulling slightly away from the hug as I look at her face, rather mask, and strands of hair flew and sway with the wind that came out of the window as I sat beside her. And she adjusted her mask back down.

I'd grown a little too comfortable with her. I could sit anywhere without feeling uncomfortable or awkward or her feeling that I'm too strict.

"At the opposite, dark side of Mountain Sagiri. That's where they're buried in." She replies, still feeling unsure. "But that's too far. I-"

"I know. That's why I'm a little sad. They're too far away. And, and.." her voice starts cracking. I can hear the vulnerability that covers her tone, revealing her sadness.

"Then let's do something in the butterfly garden." I blurt out. My eyes widen ever so slightly at my own words. I didn't want to say that. The words had just come out against my will. It felt as if it's the right thing to say.

"Uh, you mean now?" Yashimi tilts her head to her food tray. "Then I'll wait for you." I say, this time willingly. "Outside. I'll wait for you outside." I added quickly as I made my way out.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

☆•Yashimi POV•☆

Funny how it's ironic that only I feel this way. The feeling of sadness and just suddenly crying out was taunting me.

I have never felt more miserable than today. I'd lost everyone that meant the world to me.

My head hung low as Tomioka-sama sits beside me, almost touching my shoulder. "What should we do now." I let out a low sigh, letting my shoulder drop.

"Now.." I feel a sudden and faint nudge on my masks' cheek. I turn and see Tomioka-sama holding out a singular petal from the Sakura Tree. "You close your eyes and pray for those you love." He held the leaf between his thump and index finger, "or whatever you'd desire."

"Do I have to close my eyes?" I let out a soft chuckle. "Yes. Now, go." His hand takes mine and lifts it up to my chest height, letting the leaf fall over on my palm.

I could feel its gentleness caress on my dry palm as I tried not to let many flutter flap its wings in my stomach.

"Okay, okay," I reluctantly say, mentally rolling my eyes but still accepting the gesture. I take my hand back and pull it closer to my chest, and I pray wholeheartedly.

☆•Giyū POV•☆

My sight lands on her pure, white hair, waving around, and then to her, just her, feeling somewhat sad. Is it because she took her hand away from mine without hesitation? Do I make her that uncomfortable? No, it's because she needs her other to pray, duh dumbass.

"Don't get too caught up." A whisper from me.

She feels so peaceful. Like, there's no one to disturb her.

Oh, how I really want to interwine my finger with hers, caress her cheek and kiss-wait, what the hell am I thinking?

I shake my thoughts away. "She's my tsuguko. Nothing more and less." My own words and voice remind me once more.

In the corner of my eye, I see her blowing her closed hand that wraps around the petal I had given her, and before the wind can carry the petal away, I hear her whisper so lowly.

"And please protect Giyū in the future."

I fully and softly turn my head, eyes widen. She.. mentioned me in her prayers? Why?

And with that, the light pink petal gets carried away with the wind, going up as Yashimi looks at it dancing away.

Strands and locks of her hair blow with the wind, waving in the side.

Damn, she's so just.. woah.

She turned to me, and I could feel her face mold into a soft smile when she said, "Thank you. So much, Tomioka-sama." As she wraps her hands around me and I return it, feeling accomplished.

"You're welcome." I whisper lowly.

"Bold move, Tomioka."