Everyone's day at work.

-linebreak-

Shinobu is currently waiting, waiting, and waiting and waiting. For who you might ask? Well for her current partner on the case of course. They had ended up finding another clue, a blade if you will, a blade that was described as 'ugly as helllll'. Personally, she did not understand how that was possible, or if it was even possible but hey, who knows what's really possible at the end of things? Anything, if you really think about it. Uzui could be the judge of that, he was the person she was waiting for in this Forensics Lab for after all.

She tapped her foot against the cold wooden floor, arms folded and lips curled into a slight pout. What is taking him so long? She asked herself, whipping her head around and getting no answers. She walked over to the blinds that peered into the other parts of the agency and spotted nothing, she sighed, backing up and leaning against the table. Eventually, she gets bored and starts to walk around the table, humming a tune as she waits to hear the creak of the door. Then, she does.

The door creaks open, they really need to either oil it or get it replaced, and she turns towards it, with a roll of her eyes. It took him long enough, she bitterly thought. "Hey, Uzui-san, what took you so lon- Tokito-san?" She blinked, then blinked once more trying to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Yes, that was Muichiro and not Uzui. He probably just walked in, she thought.

"Yes?" The teen answered, looking up at her. "Tokito-san, what're you doing here?"

"I'm back on the case," She quirked a brow at him. "Why though? I thought you quit for good,"

"Something told me to join again,"

"Was it me not quitting it?"

"I dunno," The younger boy shrugged, an indifferent expression on his face. He walks up to the table in the middle, on the table is an assortment of different items but the thing that sticks out is a sealed black bag with white writing. Muichiro stares at it as if he's trying to burn holes into it.

"What do we have here?" The young boy asks, craning his head down at the bag. "Well we have this blade, it was described as 'ugly as hell' and neither of us has seen it so we'll have to be the judge of that." Shinobu walks towards the table, grabbing the black gloves and slipping them on in a swift movement. She turns towards the teen with a quirked brow. "You have some gloves, right?" 

He nods, "Mmm, they're in my bag,"

"Well, get them out," she responds. "I will," As she reaches for the black bag on the table, Tokito reaches into the dark brown bag hanging over his shoulder, unclipping the locks and picking out the gloves, slipping them off with ease; he plants the bag flat on the table. She took out the blade, having to resist recoiling in disgust at the simple sight of it. Her face scrunched up, brows furrowing as she held it away from her.

"Damn this thing is ugly as hell," She gripped and Muichiro looked up from his gloves and immediately greeted his teeth. "That's what I was thinking,"

"Uzui-san is so lucky he isn't here to see it,"

"Agreed," Muichiro nods, and speak of the devil, and they doth appear the door swings open, and in walks in Tengen Uzui, the man who associates/the head of sound-related cases, or, flashy ones he labeled as 'flamboyant'. 

"Oi, sorry I was late, one of my wives called me," As if to signify his point he waved his phone in his hand, then, promptly, stuffed it into his pocket.

"Oh it's nothing," Shinobu dismisses with a wave of her hand, "Didn't even notice you were late," Muichiro shrugged, staring up at the man with an uninterested expression. Uzui let out a quiet snicker, placing his hands on his hips as he walked towards them. "So what'd I miss?" He craned down at the two, loudly grinning as he peered at what they were doing, she gave him a side glance, swatting his head away as she pulled the blade out of his view. "Put on your gloves if you want to see the blade,"

"I was going to, god, don't be such a downer," The married man scowled, opening a nearby drawer and pulling out the gloves. He shoved his wristwatch down his wrist as he slipped on the gloves. "Doesn't even make sense why I need it when I'm just looking at it,"

"now, let me see it." He makes a grabbing motion at the blade and Shinobu hands it over to him, careful not to let it drop on the floor.

"Damn bitch, this blade ugly as hell," Tengen off-handly exclaimed as he twirled the blade in his gloved hand.

"I know that's what I said!" Shinobu responded, "That's what I thought," Muichiro added.

"I see why they said this blade was ugly as hell,"

"if you're going to kill someone at least make it flashy,  more..." She watched him as he paused, looking off with a distant expression, only being able to assume that he was looking for the right words. "Flamboyant,"

"What would a flamboyant blade even look like?" Shinobu spoke with a quirked brow.

"Bedazzled," He spoke, a tone that hinted he was in awe as he did. She just rolled her eyes, her lips curling upwards against her will. "That's flashy alright," He snickers and they go to examine their next item, Muichiro going to excuse himself to go to the bathroom. So she and Uzui continue on without him, or they would if her phone didn't loudly ring, resonating throughout the room as all eyes fall on her. "Ignore that,"

So they sorted through all the previous evidence, planning to send the ugly as hell blade to testing to see if anything could come of it but it most likely wouldn't. Then they came across another object, a pair of bloodied handcuffs discarded in a nearby dumpster. Uzui ended up picking them up, tilting his head side to side as he stared at them.

"Handcuffs," Tengen nodded in acknowledgment. "kinky,"

Shinobu shook her head with a huff. "Watched too many movies end up going wrong to know I'd never want handcuffs anywhere near me no matter the scenario,"

"Not even in the bedroom?"

"Especially in the bedroom, that's when the monster or killer comes in, and whoever is handcuffs get's left behind! Never doing it,"

"Eh, not my kind of taste personally,"

"We really shouldn't be discussing this when Tokito can walk in and hear this any second, it really isn't appropriate for him to hear it,"

"Thank god he isn't, then." Before they can finish their sentence, another annoying ding rings out throughout the room and all eyes fall onto her, she lowly grumbles looking away. "Hold I need to take this,"

"Don't take too long or else!" Uzui warned with an obnoxiously bright grin, waving at her. She let out a small snort, looking away as she opened the door that led to the hallway with a lingering smile. 

She closes the door behind her leaning against a nearby wall as her phone loudly dings. Her frown worms its way into a frown and she rolls her eyes, pulling her phone out of her pocket as she scowled down at it. "Goddamn, chill, I'm answering jeez," The contact 'dollface' shone on the screen and she clicked it with a chuckle, typing in her password with a smile.

koko & dollface

dollface: somethings wrong,, :(

hey

answer me >:((

koko: what im at work

dollface: there's something wrong

koko: like what's wrong?

dollface: i think i have a fever and i cant breathe

koko: just breathe 

its not that hard

dollface: oh ok

you think i haven't tried that???!!

koko: well I cant come over there and check you out so im doing my best here

dollface: that's not even the worst thing

koko: whats worst then?

dollface: my favorite character in this crime series i was watching just got kidnapped :((

now hes getting tortured and it makes me sad :((((

he doesn't deserve this,,

koko: isn't it that show called criminal i dunno something

dollface: shut up,

whats even worse is that the actor who's playing the kidnapper is hot instead of creepy so now i some people are gonna like him despite what hes doing

koko: ooOOooOo

whats he look like?

dollface: blonde and fit

fucking hate it when they make people who your supposed to hate hot like seriously who does that?

koko: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

tell you what, take a hot shower keep watching your show and eat some soup i have a case i need to work on

dollface: k

koko: i hope they beat the shit out of the person who kidnapped your fav character

dollface: thank you

love you <3 <3 <3

Shinobu smiled down at her phone, texting her next response. 

koko: love you too <3

Then she turned off her phone, putting it on silent as she shoved it back into her pocket. Muichiro ends up exiting the hallway at the same time she's done. The two of them together walk into the lab together and spent the rest of the hour sending the evidence in for testing along with going over the cases once more, theorizing on what happened, how it happened, what type of person did this, who would do this.

But nothing came up, except for her staying a little later than she should have, convinced somehow that she could find something someone else couldn't.

So here she is, in her office going over file after file, then rechecking them, comparing contrasting. She's not as focused as she would when it comes to cases she specializing in, it doesn't have anything to do with poison, this case has nothing to do with anything they all specialize in so why did it have to give to any of them. Stupid, stupid, stupid, she hits the side of her head, gripping at her hair, so stupid, I hate-

A knock on the door breaks her out of her thoughts, loosening the grip on her hair she looks up from her papers and stares intently at the door. Now, who could that be, she tilted her head to the side, I thought I was the only one here. She shrugs, sitting back in her chair and calling out.

"Come in," The doors open, and in walks a familiar woman, her hands are held behind her back as she leans against the doorway of the cracked open door. Almost instantly, Shinobu smiles at the other woman. "Oh, hi Mitsuri, are you leaving?"

She nods at her, "Yeah, what about you?"

"I think I'll  stay a little later,"

"I thought you said you'd stop staying late," concern spreads across the woman's face, but she tries to show it but fails miserably. You're always so easy to read Misturi, she thinks, don't try to hide it.

"Well, change of plans," A light laugh bubbles out of Shinobu's chest as she leaned forward, "this case has really got me," and Mitsuri just frowns at her. "Are you sure this is healthy though? You've been staying behind so much for the past week or so, I'm worried."

"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine,"

With a sigh, the other woman's gaze falls to the ground with pursed lips, "I know but..." she looks up at the woman at the desk, gesturing lightly. "But what about Tomioka-san? I know if I did the same Obanai would be worried if I did the same, and the same way around if it came to him."

Shinobu feels her smile twitch. "I appreciate the gesture but I don't think I need you teaching me about my own relationship, especially when you have your own to worry about. You have a wedding you need to plan, so go plan it!"

Misturi lets her eyes linger on Shinobu for a little longer till she shakes her head and turns away towards the door, not sparing her friend a single glance. "Good night Shinobu-san, I'll see you tomorrow,"

"Same to you as well," With a nod, Mitsuri walks off and leaves her in complete silence. 

Just a few more minutes, she told herself, a few more minutes and I'll have figured something new out, I'll have done something. It was a lie she had been telling herself a lot this month, she was sure the others had done similar things as well, so what could happen, really? 

Who could it hurt? Certainly not her.

-linebreak-

As quietly as she can, she tries to close the door, keys loudly jangling as she takes them out of the door trying to, she fumbles slightly and they fall to the floor with a clatter. Cursing under her breath, she reaches down to pick up the keys, moving to throw the keys in a nearby ceramic bowl, freezing once she hears the opening of a door and the footsteps quietly thumping against the floor. She ends up throwing them into the bowl when footsteps are still, turning back sharply to face the owner of said footsteps.

Unexpectedly it was her husband, she softly smiled at him, ignoring the frown that was painted on his face. "There you are," She shuffles toward him, standing up on her tippy-toes to press a kiss to his cheek and then the corner of his mouth. "are you feeling better honey?" As she stares up at him, resting her hands on his chest she flutters her eyelashes at him, expecting some kind of reaction. 

Instead, all she gets is a deafening silence and a deepening frown along with a glare.

"Don't give me that look," She scowled, taking a few steps back, glowering at him.

"You stayed back late again," He commented, returning the glare, a flat tone to his voice. "I'm aware," She frowns and Giyuuu takes a step forward, reaching out his hand to rest it on her shoulder as he talks. "You had gone so long without doing that, and now you're doing it again, you really should leave thi-" Stupid, stupid, stupid, she bitterly thinks, so stupid!

With a stomp, she jerks away from him, clenching her teeth. Anger radiates off of her, grinding her teeth as she glares at him with an icy look. "I don't want to hear it right now Tomioka, I'm not in the mood." I just want to go to sleep, why can't you leave me alone, it's like your trying to aggravate me. 

Her husband frowns at her, crossing. "Stop acting like that, you need to talk about it eventually,"

"If you keep pestering me like this I'm going sleep in the guest room,"

"I wouldn't have to," He paused, his voice smooth and calm yet it slightly wavered as he talked, "'pester you'" he spoke with air quotes. "if you didn't do things like this. I'm just look out for you and now yo-"

"Oh my god! I know goddamnit! You and your fucking nagging isn't gonna help me!" Shinobu suddenly snapped, clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white. Giyuu took a step back, raising his arms slightly as he frowned at her, a hurt expression on his face. 

"Ugh, just leave me alone! I'm going take a shower," He waves him off, marching towards the bathroom, and loudly slamming the door behind her. Giyuu watches her as she does, an ache lingering in his chest.

With a sigh, he shakes his head, hugging himself with his arms. Silently he walks back to their room all by himself, both alone and hurt.

-linebreak-

When Shinobu exits the shower a wave of guilt washes over her. She doesn't want to go back into their bedroom, going back in there means confrontation, confrontation for something she started because she got unrightfully angry. 

Maybe sleeping in the guest room wasn't so bad.

But she decides to brave it, with a deep breath, she pushes open the door to their bedroom, hesitating slightly. As she walks into the room, closing the door behind her she spots her husband, his back is facing her, he's silent, but he's not asleep another wave of guilt washing over her as she frowns at him. At least he's not asleep, she laments, though I'm not sure which one is better in the end. 

Silently she walks towards the bed, sitting on the edge of it looking down at him and watching as he stilled as the bed dipped under her weight. "Hey... Honey," She muttered, he didn't move or say anything. "are you feeling better? I shouted at your earlier," As she's talking she rubs her arm and gets no response. Just like what I expected, she thought. 

Silently, she slips under the covers, letting out a sigh, and cuddled closer to him, "I'm so sorry about earlier, I shouldn't have snapped at you, that was my fault."

"It's fine," But she knew from his tone it wasn't and he was just trying to avoid an argument. She hugged him a little tighter. "I know you Giyuu, and I know when your lying so please don't lie to me like this,"

He doesn't answer her and she feels even worse."I'm sorry," She silently whispered, curling in on herself slightly with a frown. You probably don't want to talk to me, she lamented, I don't blame you, especially after what I said. They spend a few moments in silence, Shinobu feeling guilty and guilter by the second until she event blurts out:

"I can go sleep in the guest room if you want," Her husband is silent for a few beats and she gets ready to move and sit up until he sighs, turning over to face her. He wraps his arms around her waist, nuzzling into her neck, deeply sighing. "I'm just worried about you,"

A hand slips its way up his back into his hair, running a hand through the messy locks, a sigh slipping past her lips. "I know you are..."

"Stay safe okay?" He holds her tightly, 

"I will," she holds him even tighter.

"Promise me you will,"

"I promise I'll stay safe dollface," 

They spend the next few moments in silence until Giyuu eventually breaks it with a slight chuckle. "I feel like I should be the one calling you that,"

"Only one of us can be called 'dollface' and that is you."

"And what will you do if I don't stop?" As a response, Shinobu sits up, moving to straddle his waist staring down at him with a bright grin.

"This!" She cups his cheeks in his hands, giggling as she moves downwards to pepper his face with kisses all over, feeling his face heat under her lips. "I'll smother you with affection!" Giyuu half-heartedly pushes her away, face growing scarlet red, "K-Kokoooooo!" he pouts at her, pushing her off of him and rolling over onto his stomach. He grabs the pillow and pushes his face into it, trying to hide the blush that went from ear to ear. Shinobu grins at him, moving towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying on his back, kissing the back of his neck.

"Why are you so needlessly shy, we've been dating for years along with married for a couple too. You'd think you would have gotten over it by now," She pouts, resting her head on his shoulder and receiving a muffled response a few seconds later. "Your predictably unpredictable, that's it,"

"But you love me for it, don't you?" 

Silently he nods, and a light laugh bubbles out of her chest and she beams at him. "I know you do,"

He looks at her and smiles, and she's satisfied with her answer.

~ Record Scratch ~

Oh, Giyuu... Why couldn't you have stayed safe as well?

A/N: Inspired by this randomly generated plot blurbed:

Shinobu Tomioka is a pretty and kind Demon Slayer with a fondness for catching butterflies. She doesn't know it yet but she is the only one who can stop the scheming killer.