Disclaimer:

I do not own nor claim all the rights to 鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba | Demon Slayer; all rights are reserved to its respective creator, Koyoharu Gotōge. This is purely a work of fiction; names, characters, businesses, events, localities, and occurrences are all extrapolated from the author's writings and imagination or utilized in a fictitious manner. As such, any direct or indirect references to actual entities, dead or alive, or events do not, in any shape or form, resemble the opinions of the author.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"..." = Dialogue

'...' = Internal monologues

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Giyuu stared at the figure that lay beside him.

He was wholly perplexed.

Shinobu, who was fast asleep, was clinging onto his left arm—cuddling the Water Hashira close.

The morning was still young, but the first light of dawn had already risen. The ball of flame in the sky was partially concealed by the horizon, making for only a limited quantity of its incandescent rays to permeate throughout the landscape.

Nevertheless, the existing sunlight is sufficient enough to be an indication of daybreak.

The atmosphere's general appearance is defined by its orange hue, along with the intermittent yellow color situated between the orange, spacious expanse—the sky's pigmentation—and the blackish-greyish clouds.

Wisps of cool, placating wind were gushing into the room relentlessly without stopping. But this development was more akin to a soothing sensation in lieu of it being a violent, raging storm.

With the sun's capacity to produce heat at its nadir, and the occasional breeze being concurrently ubiquitous, the absence of high room temperatures—one that induces the excessively hot conditions of the unbearable summer days—made for a refreshing start to the day.

But Giyuu's body paid no heed to any of that.

Indeed, he was more concerned about the woman sleeping right next to him on his futon.

'I'm getting a feeling of deja vu...' he notes.

And he would be correct in assuming that an identical predicament had troubled him before.

But, antecedent events notwithstanding, Giyuu was irresolute in the face of this idiosyncratic situation. And, even with past experience, he still didn't know what the right course of action was.

'What even happened last night?' he wondered, trying to remember what string of events engendered these awkward circumstances.

Unfortunately, Giyuu could only recall his conversation with her on the veranda and nothing else—everything following that is murky.

But what perturbed him the most was Shinobu herself—well, more like her physical mien.

Specifically, she appeared to be disheveled... in the wrong way.

Shinobu was accoutred in an informal attire, and her elaborate yakai-maki coiffure was nonexistent.

The shoulder-length and wavy characteristics which had hitherto defined her hair were now all unkempt; her hair now espoused an irregular contour. Additionally, the white and purple butterfly ornament within the posterior section of her hair was also omitted.

Moreover, the yukata she wore was, in essence, quite unceremonious and more revealing.

It divulged too much of her smooth, fair skin: Her legs were slightly uncovered, which revealed a section of her upper thighs, and the cleavage unveiled too much of the pectoral region.

Much to the consternation of Giyuu and his code of honor, he was staring at her chest—as if the alluring nature of those configurations captivated and bewitched him.

The cleavage had disclosed the bare skin of Shinobu's ample bosoms, inadvertently arousing Giyuu's senses.

Her plump, moist lips titillated him further—exacerbating the already-weak state of mind Giyuu was trying to overcome.

'This is getting ridiculous. Remember, you are only permitted to engage in these sorts of lascivious activities AFTER marriage,' Giyuu berates himself.

Ever since that damned day underground, after their first battle against Osore, Giyuu had taken notice—much to his chagrin—of Shinobu's curvaceous body.

No matter how hard he tries, he can't take his eyes off Shinobu's chest.

Every fiber of his rational being is telling him that he has transgressed the parameters of his warrior conduct; he is acting like some perverted, weak-minded teenager with raging hormones.

And, to an extent, that's an accurate description of Giyuu's deportment as of this moment.

One must be cognizant of the fact that the Water Hashira had always suppressed his inner desires and neglected the pleasures of life. This especially included women—something Giyuu could only use his sister as a standard to extrapolate knowledge from.

As a direct consequence of this mindset, the reticent man never became aware of what he deemed to be 'lowly' and 'unidisciplinary' thoughts or endeavors. His stringent lifestyle itself stipulated that he ought not to even look at members of the opposite sex.

And even if he discarded that astringent composure, the deficiency in his social skills would make any attempt to court women analogous to convincing Muzan Kibutsuji that he shouldn't be evil anymore or something.

However, as his emotionless shell cracked open, he began to see Shinobu in a new light.

He had previously acknowledged Shinobu's beauty, yes, but that was when he compared her to Tsutako.

Now, he recognized that Shinobu had her own distinct attractiveness—one that enthralled his senses to an enhanced stage.

And it was only her who could foster such feelings.

Only Shinobu could trigger these sentiments within Giyuu, no one else. He was not sure why, though.

In any case, he wasn't pleased with himself—if that's a thing.

He still can't seem to take the initiative and uphold his ideal bearing through averting his eyes.

He was inexplicably seduced by her.

'I'm definitely going to get in trouble if she wakes up...' Giyuu laments.

"You up, Tomioka?" Shinobu yawned as she was roused from the slumber.

'Godammit.'

Giyuu was frozen, not even daring to move—lest he miscalculates and provokes the ire of Shinobu.

"Hm?" she said lethargically—the morning fatigue engrossed her cognitive functions for a transient period of time—as she took notice of the direction to which Giyuu's eyes were gaping.

The Insect Hashira took one look at Giyuu, then inclined her head downwards to the area in which her partner had boldly taken the liberty of conspicuously gawking at.

The Water Hashira braced for the worse, knowing that having the audacity to justify himself isn't going to pacify an embarrassed Shinobu.

However, to his surprise, she didn't immediately chastise him.

Instead, she gave a playful smirk, "You want to see more?"

Giyuu forthwith backed away at the utterance of her words, "I... wasn't... looking..."

He then sits upright and straightens his spine.

"Ara-ara, looking at what, Tomioka?" Shinobu grins as she, too, hoists herself up by being perched seiza-style.

"Uh..." he was at a loss for words.

Shinobu decides to tease him further, "Oh my, were you looking at what I think you were looking at?"

".... No..." Giyuu replies cautiously.

"You can't lie to me, To-mi-o-ka," she plays around, her voice more lighthearted than usual.

Giyuu was flustered, "I... didn't..."

"What's that? Didn't what?"

"..." he didn't know what to say next.

"Well, I suppose you can't help it," Shinobu exhales.

Giyuu looks at her curiously, "Can't help what...?"

"You're a man, after all," she shrugs.

"W-Wait a minute," Giyuu wanted to clear the supposed misunderstanding, "I think your presuppositions about the situation entail details that aren't pertinent to the overall—"

"Oh no, it's fine, Tomioka," Shinbou responds plainly.

"Huh?"

'He's an adult, but acts like he's younger at times... So damn cute!' Shinobu relished in the experience of watching Giyuu's abnormal reactions to her teasing.

"After all," Shinobu closes up the space between them and flirtatiously whispers into his ear, "considering what you did last night, this is nothing."

Giyuu.exe has stopped working.

".............. Huh?"

Shinobu skilfully contrives a bashful expression and comportment, "So... you better take responsibility..."

"...." Giyuu isn't able to process anything anymore.

He concocts a look of utter and complete discombobulation.

Shinobu smiled, 'Looks like it's working. I'm going to keep that image saved in my head.'

She was obviously messing with him.

But one has to wonder: Why go through the trouble of doing all this?

Why was Shinobu seemingly making more and more aggressive moves towards Giyuu?

Was it because she wants to implicitly confess her feelings?

Maybe. But she definitely won't explicitly impart that information—at least, not now.

The reason is simply that it's difficult for her to sequester all of those pure, raw emotions within her. She wanted an avenue to which she can freely convey the substance of her thoughts without having to disseminate the general context of that content.

Why is it hard for her to keep those bottled-up feelings inside?

Beforehand, those emotions were isolated in favor of a dangerous behavior she forced onto herself—the frigid, austere feeling of discreet indignation hiding behind the mask of a fake personality.

However, that didn't stop the emotions from building up over the years. And, eventually, they all culminated in an intimate ardor for the Water Pillar—the likes of which she cannot contain.

One could presume that those pent-up feelings are the combination of love for her family, longing for the days of old, yearning for happiness, love for Giyuu, and many more.

Her anger was replaced by endearment, which she needed to project onto something—like how she directed her rage towards the goal of killing Douma.

As such, Shinobu was accepting the innate, human side; she was embracing her humanity.

"You don't remember?" Shinobu said shyly, "Then how can I convince you?"

She inches closer to him.

'What... What the hell did I do last night...??' Giyuu couldn't believe himself. 'I've destroyed my very own morals... I think I need to commit seppuku now.'

"Don't worry... I... believe you. And... I shall take responsibility," he firmly proclaims.

Shinobu couldn't help but blush slightly at the implications of that statement, "Are you sure that you want to commit yourself...? To me?"

She was edging very, very close towards something synonymous to a confession.

"Indeed," he confirms.

'I should probably tell him that I'm joking. But this is making my heart race... I love him so much...' Shinobu admits to herself.

She was being candid about her current disposition.

Something had already clicked inside of her.

All of these years, she pressed forward with nothing but her hatred to drive her. She hadn't felt, nor had she demonstrated love or affection towards anyone.

But with the onset of this mission, her rage has slowly dissipated; it was replaced by a wistful, yet ethereal sadness—as pronounced by the multiple dreamscapes she had to undergo.

In her sorrow, she mourned the loss of her parents and sister.

But the visions also reminded her of something else: The happiness that was ever-present in her life before the tragedies.

After so many years, Shinobu had quietly forgotten about the happy memories she shared with her family.

Instead, her vengeful mind subconsciously inundated her with only the recollections of mishaps and tribulations that she had thus far faced in life.

From the harsh training, her inferiority complex, and the death of loved ones, those constant reminders only aggravated her blood lust and amplified her determination for achieving revenge.

But the joyful reminiscence of the past, whether it be in her demon-stricken world or even the fake remembrance of 1966 Japan, reinvigorated something within her.

This can be encapsulated by 1966 Kanae's words, which also left a lasting effect on her:

"You never left me, Shinobu. And I would never leave you. I'll always be there for you."

Jiro (father), Keiko (mother), and Kanae's memories and legacies rested within her heart, within her soul.

As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.

Which is why she had to live.

To honor their wishes. To preserve their essence.

This was compounded by Akihiro Yui's philosophy. Which emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of love.

That her love for her family has been reborn as love for Giyuu.

That her soul wasn't empty.

The spirits of her most cherished ones continue to live with her, in the form of living memories and the attachment she still has with them.

From then on, the nightmares went away and Shinobu only had dreams about the amusing or jovial periods of her two lives—as evident by how she harked back to the movie theater ticket debacle, which was a funny experience.

And finally, of course, there's the fact that she has romantic feelings for Tomioka Giyuu.

The dreamscape with the broken, elderly Giyuu had shown her the consequences of her actions—what it would do to the people around her, but especially to the person she cares about the most.

And it was also there that she came to a revelation.

One that would be the most transformative when it came to acceding to her heart.

I was, always have been, and always will be in love with you, Kocho Shinobu.

Why did she cry when she read that sentence?

Why was there such an outpour?

Simply because he loved her.

That's all she needed.

For Giyuu to love her.

For Giyuu to give her a purpose—one that freed her from the burden of revenge.

Shinobu had no one to live for, until him.

She might've had feelings for the strange man for years now, but that passion came pouring out in the form of tears as she underwent both wholesale relief and heartache—all within seconds.

That watershed moment solidified her fondness for the man.

But she also watched him ascend to the heavens. She listened to his final words and his final breath.

The soul of Tomioka Giyuu was empty and broken. All because she left him alone.

Another reason why she had to live.

"I must apologize for eating the last watermelon," Giyuu suddenly says.

"... Eh?" Shinobu said, baffled.

"I surmised that, in accordance to your assertions about what I did last night along with the fact that we are discussing my optical orientation, you were referring to the physical shape of the pectoral region. Therefore, I concluded that, since they harbor the same round, large shape as your breasts, watermelons were the ones being referenced," Giyuu explained, not knowing that he admitted to looking at Shinobu's body while also complimenting it.

This 21-year-old man is denser than a black hole and is more ill-informed than an adolescent.

"H-Hold on, Tomioka, I don't think that's—" Shinobu tries to clarify.

"And, unfortunately, I may have been the one who ate the last watermelon the night before. So, yes, I shall take responsibility by not eating anything today," Giyuu declares as he prepares to inflict a form of self-punishment unto himself.

The misunderstanding of the century.

"Wait, you don't need to do that," Shinobu tried to do some damage control.

"But I do. It's the only way a warrior can validate their honor," Giyuu asserts.

'Wow... I keep forgetting he's dumb...' Shinobu internally groans.

"Tomioka," Shinobu says in a more exasperated fashion, "that's not what I meant."

"It's not...?" Giyuu tilts his head in confusion.

"Yeah."

"Then... did I not eat the watermelon...?"

'He's still hung up on that?!' Shinobu slapped her face.

"No, there was no watermelon in the first place," she sighs.

"Oh," Giyuu gave a succinct response.

"Tomioka," the Insect Hashira calls out.

"Yes?"

She smiles smugly, "You're staring again."

'Another sin committed. When will I stop, Kami-sama?' Giyuu instantly turns around and away from Shinobu's direction.

"Sorry," he answers. "I won't bother you any further. I shall take my leave."

The Water Pillar, intending to partake in a tactical retreat, promptly upraises his body.

Then, in an unexpected gesture that startled Giyuu, Shinobu grasped his sleeve tightly, "Let's... stay like this for a little longer..."

The Insect Pillar's countenance was marked by its timid expression; her face was flushed and she didn't make eye contact with her interlocutor. Additionally, the tone of her voice exhibited a more sheepish cadence that was indicative of her embarrassed state.

Unfortunately, this heartfelt moment was almost immediately blemished whence Giyuu fell backward.

'Okay, I really did it this time,' were Shinobu's last thoughts before the fall.

Apparently, Shinobu had yanked his sleeve a little too hard. And, with Giyuu's discountenance, his posture wasn't as sturdy since he was too busy with his inner dilemma.

*Slip*

'Shi—' Giyuu had barely any time to react.

Luckily, before he could collide with Shinobu, Giyuu adroitly maneuvered in a manner which saw him—upon the initiation of the incident—subsequently turn around back towards the Insect Pillar and utilize both arms to act as supports for his landfall.

Shinobu, on the other hand, dropped down herself in order to prevent Giyuu from making a physical impact.

*Bang*

Giyuu's palms slammed onto the ligneous flooring, his muscular arms providing the necessary strength to maintain this position after falling at such a momentum.

Now, it was Shinobu who was lying supinated on the futon with Giyuu stationed in an overarching posture—he was directly above her.

Their faces were on the verge of osculating—they were extremely close.

Shinobu could closely examine the clearly defined jawline and other masculine features that constituted Giyuu's face. She was enticed by his chiseled looks as well.

Giyuu intently eyeballed her amethyst, lustrous eyes and her soft, emollient-like skin. Her untidy hair oddly made her holistic appearance more fascinating to look at.

Both of their bodies felt warm.

Shinobu's heart was throbbing while Giyuu's mind was racing.

"Tomioka..." Shinobu instinctively said.

'Dear God, my arms are sore,' was Giyuu's first thought.

*Slide*

Akihiro Yui stepped into the room, "I know it's early, but could you—..."

She stares at the inopportune arrangement that was transpiring before her.

"..."

"..."

"..."

She then smiles broadly.

"Oooh. Getting the train into the station already? Good luck, both of you!" Yui gives a thumbs up.

"..." The Hashiras take their time to process what she just said.

Shinobu was the first to react, "Wait a second!!"

Her face turns beet red, and her cerebral functions are simultaneously experiencing extreme turbulence but are also at a standstill.

Her thoughts and feelings had fractured into a state of utter and unrelenting turmoil.

She abruptly pushes Giyuu off her and stands up.

"I-It's not like that!" she tries to explain, "There's been a misunderstanding!"

"Hmmm?" Yui pokes fun at her statements, "You sure about that?"

"Yes!!"

"Ah yes, I remember when Hiroto-san and I had our first time. You two remind me of that," she intentionally recollects so as to instigate another reaction.

"Akihiro-san!! W-We weren't..." Shinobu stammers.

"What weren't you doing?" Yui presses, she was having way too much fun with this.

"You know... Having..." Shinobu was cursing herself for having to spell this out.

"I'm sorry, could you speak a little louder? I can't hear you well with these old ears of mine," the elderly lady messes around.

"S-S-S..."

"S? Spelunking?" Yui deliberately plays the role of an ignorant bystander.

"A-Anyways!" Shinobu shifts the topic, "Why are you here, Akihiro-san?!"

"Oh yeah, about that. I was wondering if you could sign some paperwork before leaving today?" she asks.

Shinobu, still distressed, answers, "Yeah... I can do that..."

Meanwhile, Giyuu was having a discourse of his own.

'Train? Station? Where? When? There are none nearby... Sometimes, people say the most bizarre phrases, and trying to decipher them is vexing...'

..

..

"If you inscribe your signatures here, I will be able to formally discharge the two of you from my care," Yui informs as she hands a sheet of paper to the Hashiras.

Giyuu and Shinobu both meticulously read through the contents of the paperwork.

"In any case, I congratulate you both; you're now fully recovered!" she exclaims.

"I give you my eternal gratitude, Akihiro-san, we are in your debt," Shinobu bows.

"Thank you very much, Akihiro-dono," Giyuu emulates the gesticulation.

"Now, now, no need to be so formal with me! All that matters now is that you two are well, isn't it?" she beams with pleasure.

"Yeah, that's right," Shinobu reciprocates the smile.

"Indeed," Giyuu concurred.

"Oh, by the way," Yui adds, "I know it must be extremely difficult to find housing or hostels in light of the city's recent housing shortage. So, you guys are free to sojourn here—at my place—for the remainder of the mission."

Considering how onerous it was to find a place to stay for the night, this was an extremely generous offer bequeathed by Yui to the slayers.

In fact, the Hashiras were disquiet about the prospects of having to find housing after they vacate the Akihiro residence.

"Akihiro-san, you... are a lifesaver," it was as if a boulder had been lifted off of Shinobu's shoulders.

Giyuu nods in agreement.

"Haha! Don't worry about payments, I'll let you stay for free on one condition," she replies.

"And what's that?" Shinobu inquires.

"You guys have to attend the Fireworks Festival tonight," she announces.

"Really? That's all?" the Insect Hashira said.

"... There's a festival tonight?" Giyuu asked.

Shinobu was wondering the same thing.

Evidently, neither of them has been keeping track of the date.

Only then did they realize that it's been nearly two weeks since they were sent to convalesce here.

Two weeks.

'We've been here for a little too long...' Shinobu opines.

'It feels like yesterday when we arrived here, but that may be because I was out cold for over a week,' Giyuu ponders.

Sending that report to Oyakata-sama was now a matter of utmost importance.

..

..

It was suddenly cloudy.

Nonetheless, the bustling city of Yokohama and the surrounding prefectures—including Tokyo city itself—were scurrying along.

The two slayers were ambulating along a sidewalk as they attempted to bypass the busiest sections of the city in order to reach their destination—the postal office for the Ministry of Communications.

Why couldn't they refer to any other private service for this function? Or, better yet, why not confer with a Kasugai Crow?

The reason is simply that the Demon Slayer Corps has an unwritten rule that, as a way to appease the current government, its members are obligated to send messages via the government-monitored mail system. Of course, messages amid battle can be delivered in the most convenient manner, so this practice mostly denotes peacetime transmissions.

Paradoxically, this is done as a means to avoid censorship laws—especially ones being enforced at the outbreak of a new war. This is because, by propitiating government bureaucrats, the Ministry of Communications commits to not thoroughly analyze any of these private messages.

This informal arrangement had been the status quo ever since the Meiji Restoration of 1868. In return for promising not to conspire against the dispensation and by providing revenue to one of its agencies, His Majesty's government is impelled not to impose the same restrictions on the movement of information as it normally would.

With these changing times, it has become more and more imperative that the Demon Slayer Corps adapt to new circumstances and continue its war against Muzan without having to deal with the headaches of political strife.

Even so, for the slayers on the ground, this was an annoying caveat that wasted much-needed time.

But neither Shinobu nor Giyuu were in a rush, so it wasn't much of an inconvenience.

"WAR BONDS!! WAR BONDS!! Help our Divine Heika-sama (Emperor) win this war by purchasing government bonds!! 1.5% Interest for short-term bonds, 3.0% for long-term bonds!!" a man dressed in a military uniform declaims with a loudspeaker as he is surrounded by troops and men in western-style business attire with tophats.

"Recruitment centers are situated around the block! Join the Armed Forces and patriotically serve our divine nation!" another soldier shouts.

The military advertisements that accompany the outbreak of war are omnipresent throughout the crowded streets of this city.

Crowds gather around these booths.

Women, businessmen, middle-aged men, the elderly, and other individuals with seemingly disposable income have assembled around the former booth and purchased bonds to help finance their government's endeavors in this new war.

Young men or older teenagers are congregating at the latter booth and enlisting into either the Navy or the Army—either due to their patriotic ardor, the necessity to acquire money, or merely because it's easier to woo the ladies as a soldier.

The elated atmosphere of war was certainly there.

In any case, there was pandemonium concentrated near the stalls, but that thence allowed the sidewalks to be cleared of the hordes of pedestrians.

Meaning, Giyuu and Shinobu could nonchalantly saunter without worry and partake in a meaningful exchange of words.

*Honk*

Car horns are incessantly calling out to whoever may walk through the mayhem of metropolitan streets.

"Have you ever thought about enlisting before becoming a slayer?" Shinobu poses a question.

"Not really," Giyuu curtly replied.

A preposterous thought then popped up in her head, "Don't tell me... Is it because of the pay?"

Compared to what a Hashira makes, which is any sum they can reasonably request, an enlistee in the armed forces barely makes enough to support both themselves and their family.

"No."

"Ah, figured. You aren't the type to amass your wealth, Tomioka," she adduces his personality.

"Says the proprietor of a mansion," Giyuu quips.

"Oh my, do you really want to go there?"

"... Nevermind."

"Thought so."

The Water Hashira steals a glimpse at his partner's apparel and appearance.

"Kocho," Giyuu says.

"Yes, Tomioka?"

He glances at Shinobu before answering, "Why are you wearing that."

"This? For the festival, of course," she replies.

While Giyuu was clothed with the standard-issue Corps uniform along with his haori, Shinobu, though she still had her haori, was accoutered in a purple kimono.

The kimono was of a lavender tincture with tinges of white blending that had an overall light-purple complexion. Meanwhile, the obi sash—a long strip or loop of cloth worn around the waist, especially as a part of an official dress—is designated by its singular, unitary violet coloring, with no other tints obstructing the primary color like with the rest of the dress.

Furthermore, there were supplemental features appended to the kimono. For this particular one, there are flowery patterns and images—of varying shapes and sizes—bestrewn across the surface of its fabric. The buds of the flower are of a white color, while their pistils are dyed with a very dark amethyst coloring. There were also additional 'leaves' that, too, were shaded with purple.

"Is there something wrong with it...?" she queries.

"Not at all."

"Then what seems to be the problem?"

"Uh..." Giyuu wasn't sure why he asked in the first place.

Shinobu, upon seeing a lack of an answer, grins, "Do you like it?"

"Uhm... Well..."

"Do you... find it pretty...?" Shinobu asks.

Giyuu covers his mouth with the palm of his right hand in a gesture of embarrassment, "Yeah... You're pretty, Kocho."

She couldn't help but smile like some fool, "Well, I guess it can't be helped. You are a man, after all."

Shinobu had accomplished her aspirations concerning this garment. Basically, she wanted Giyuu to compliment it.

In actuality, though, it was Yui who had insisted that Shinobu wear her old kimono to the festival.

Her rationale for this proposition is that Shinobu ought to go on a 'date' with Giyuu to the fireworks festival.

Of course, Shinobu wouldn't accept such an outlandish term and instead dubbed it a 'diplomatic overture', whatever that meant.

"So, what do we have planned for today, Tomioka?" she asks, even if she already knew the answer—she was testing him.

"We have to deliver a report to Oyakata-sama via mail, pay Arata Fumiko the fines we owe, lunch, scout the city for any points of interest, and festival—as per Akihiro-dono's stipulations," he lists off.

"Wow, I'm surprised you remember," Shinobu says sarcastically.

"Why wouldn't I remember?" he asks.

"I was merely taking precautions, especially with your propensity to be absent-minded at times," she answers.

Back to the daily teasing routines again.

"I disagree."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes. I am bound by duty to relay such vital information without having to neglect them," he defends.

"But when it comes to everything else, you aren't as bright," she jests.

"How so?"

"For example, you should already know the date of my birthday, right?" she expounds.

Giyuu stopped walking.

"What seems to be the matter, Tomioka?" she also halts her stroll.

'Oh no... I don't know that...' Giyuu laments.

"Uh..." was the only thing he could get out.

"Well, since you maintain that you would be au courant with that anyway, mind telling me what month it is?" Shinobu now put Giyuu between a rock and hard place.

If he says he doesn't know, then he proves her right.

If he guesses and, in the most likely scenario, gets it wrong, then it's the same outcome.

So, he's basically screwed.

Shinobu sighs, "Let me give you a hint: We share the same month."

Giyuu's birthday is on February 8th.

"February?" he was enlightened.

"Mhm!"

'Huh... Our birthdays are in the same month...' he wonders.

However, it did not occur to Giyuu that Shinobu remembers HIS birthday.

Nonetheless, while it certainly did narrow things down for Giyuu, there still are 28 (or 29) days for that month.

So, he only has a 3.57% chance of getting it right.

Luckily, mother nature came to relieve him of such taxing decisions.

*Drip* *Drip*

Individual raindrops were starting to fall.

Under normal circumstances, this would be the preamble to a much larger deluge, which would come later.

However, almost immediately following that first drop, all the water secluded in the heavens and the clouds concurrently came pouring down like some tidal wave.

Now, the entirety of the vicinity is being flooded by this downpour.

Like everyone else, Giyuu and Shinobu dashed for the nearest shelter.

They eventually found refuge under the cover of a canopy—one belonging to some tea shop—but were drenched in rainwater.

"Oh dear, I got the kimono wet," Shinobu muttered as she wrings the long sleeves of the dress as a means to extract the excess liquid from it.

"We're both wet," Giyuu points out.

"Thank you for your invaluable observation," Shinobu jests.

She then exhales in acquiescence to mother nature, "Remind me to bring umbrellas next time."

"Understood."

The weather was unusually cool today—an aberration to the blistering, oppressive heat from the antecedent days.

As such, the rain itself only enhanced the chilly sensation exuded by that particular day's temperatures.

Shinobu, as such, began to rub her hands together—hoping to warm them up somewhat.

Giyuu watched this development transpire.

He then takes the initiative, "Kocho."

"Hm?"

"Your hands."

"Oh, yes, I'm warming them up. You see, I'm not too acclimatized when it comes to cold temperatures—" Shinobu explains, only to be interrupted.

Giyuu's hands clasp with that of Shinobu's, allowing for more heat to be transferred over.

His larger, rough hands manage to completely envelop her smaller, velvety ones.

"Tomioka..." Shinobu looks up at his eyes.

"I assumed you needed something like this," he replies.

"My, my, you sure are aggressive, Tomioka," she smiles.

Giyuu raised an eyebrow in confusion, "I am?"

"Oh, don't worry about it," Shinobu reassures.

They were both enjoying this little moment with each other. The air was calm, the ambiance of the precipitation procured a tranquil environment, and the two Hashiras stood there in silence as they held hands.

"My birthday," said Shinobu.

"... Can I get another minute?" Giyuu was still playing their little game.

"It's February 24th," she ignores him.

"Oh..."

"And yours is the 8th," she beams with delight.

"Yeah... That's right," Giyuu acknowledges.

Shinobu would've preferred if he found out himself, but she figured that she ought to reward him for his kindness.

Both were very much appreciated this little moment.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't last for much longer. For, they had visitors.

"Tomioka Giyuu and Kocho Shinobu, am I correct?" a stern voice calls.

The slayers turned around to pinpoint the source of this voice.

Two men were furnished in a cavalry uniform with high black leather boots. Moreover, they wore a black chevron on their uniforms and a white armband on the left arm with the characters ken (憲, "law") and hei (兵, "soldier"), together read as kenpei or kempei, which translates to "military policeman".

It was the Kempeitai.

The military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army.

But, while they were a conventional military police, they also were the de facto secret police of the Imperial government.

They were tasked with a multitude of prerogatives, but foremost was the suppression of dissent, subversive activities, and 'anti-Japanese' rhetoric on both the colonies—Taiwan and Korea—and the Japanese home islands.

But why are they here?

"Yes, that's us," Shinobu was quick to discreetly remove herself from Giyuu's warm hold.

"We would like to have a word with you," the second officer states.

The Hashiras knew that they couldn't refuse this order, lest they cause trouble, so they capitulated.

The two officers guided them into the tea shop and they all situated themselves on an unobtrusive, self-effacing table adjacent to the corner.

The tea shops owners and their patrons, previously full of lively candor, were now abruptly quiet. Of course, a few conversations still continued here and there, but the volume has been clearly toned down by a substantial degree.

They knew not to mess with the Military Police.

The officers were the first to speak.

"I believe you two were consigned here under the orders of your demon-slaying organization," the first officer begins.

"After numerous reports of killings and sightings around here, yes," Shinobu confirms.

"And we presume that you have slain the demon already, is that right?" the second officer inquires.

"Indeed," Giyuu answered.

"Then—"

"But we aren't done yet," he added.

The officer was a little provoked by Giyuu's callousness but ultimately dismissed it, "But you have slain it. You have slain a SINGLE demon."

"That is correct," Shinobu replies.

"Then why haven't you purchased your train tickets back home," the first officer interjects.

"I'm sorry?" she said back.

"You have completed your objectives. The demon has been slain. So, why aren't you returning home?" he reiterates.

"The situation has changed," Giyuu commented, "we are dealing with a much larger threat than originally anticipated."

The officers momentarily look at each and before turning back to their interlocutors.

"Are you two aware of the Haitō Edict?" the first officer asks.

"Yes," Giyuu answered, "it was an edict issued by His Majesty's government on March 28, 1876, which prohibited people—with the exception of former lords, the military, and law enforcement officials—from carrying weapons in public. Violators would have their swords confiscated."

"It's common knowledge, why would you ask that?" Shinobu contends.

"Are you aware of the informal arrangement that exists between His Majesty's government and the Demon Slayer Corps?" the second presents another question.

Then, the Hashiras finally knew where this was going.

"Dignitary officer, might I appeal for a rationale to your inquiries?" Shinobu uses a more formal, respectable language to supplicate for what she covets—a reasonable explanation.

"No. You will not. Now answer the question."

"In the aftermath of the Meiji Restoration, the new government led by His Majesty Emperor Meiji sought to forbid the daily usage of swords as a means to weaken the privileged samurai class," Giyuu assents to their demands.

He continues, "This, however, came into direct conflict with the Demon Slayer Corps, which relied on Nichirin Katanas to eliminate demonic creatures. Thus, in order to avoid armed conflict, the Haitō Edict exempted demon slayers by denoting them as 'public officials'. Of course, the government doesn't officially recognize the Corps—this is by the organization's wishes to remain incognito."

Shinobu then completes the rest, "In return for keeping their weapons and for having members being absolved from universal military conscription, the Demon Slayer Corps formulated several compromises with His Majesty's government. This includes: Not conspiring to overthrow the government, not impeding upon any government policies, being subservient to any emergency wartime measures the government may impose, and a plethora of others."

"Which means that the Imperial Army has indirect discretion over what you people may or may not do," the first officer explicates.

"Normally, this arrangement should not disturb the business of either establishment, but there are a few misfortunes that may see our interests collide against each other," the second officer delineates.

"This is one of them," the first one asserts.

"What are you trying to say..." Shinobu said with suspicion.

"According to the terms agreed upon by our respective superiors, the Demon Slayer Corps has the obligation of 'not impeding upon any government policies.' And your continued presence within this city is most definitely impeding upon the wishes and policies of His Majesty's government," the officer says in a very serious manner as if he's threatening them.

"And why's that," Giyuu counters.

"His Majesty's government is at war, slayer. Any public uproars about 'demons' or other ridiculous claims will harm His Majesty's reputation and damage the veracity of public law enforcement," said the first officer.

"Which, in turn, will impair the capacity of the Divine Emperor and his ability to conduct this war with efficacy. It is imperative that the public retains their devotion to Heika-sama and his government," the second officer says indignantly.

"Let me get this straight," Shinobu said in an exasperated manner, "you want us to leave because you're worried that we might damage the credibility of His Majesty's government? How does that make any sense?"

"Your job isn't to ask questions, woman," the officer chastises while also hurling an insult.

A vein protrudes from Shinobu's forehead, while Giyuu was inches away from yelling back at him.

"If you don't comply with our requests, then we may be forced to take action. Remember, we have the power to crack down on your petty organization whenever we please," the first officer warns.

"Request? This is more along the lines of coercion," Giyuu rebukes.

"That is none of your concern, slayer."

Giyuu's face furrows as he concocts a look of annoyance.

"One more thing," the second officer says, "we know you are carrying a mission report that is due to be submitted to the head of your organization."

"What about it," Shinobu was seething at the prospects of having to listen to these two any longer.

"Under the provisions of the Safety Preservation Law of 1894, we will be confiscating that material," he declares.

BAM

Giyuu slams his fist on the table, "This goes beyond simple confiscation... You are violating the informal arrangement you had us elucidate verbatim."

"Hand over the document."

"We are protected by the jurisdictions of the Ministry of Communication," Giyuu was clenching his teeth.

"Which is being overridden by the Ministry of War."

"If so, then you are liable for a court hearing," Shinobu explains in a more calm demeanor, though she's also outraged at these developments.

"The Ministry of War isn't liable to jurisprudence during times of war."

The Hashiras knew it was hopeless. They can't possibly go up against the entire Japanese government.

If they did, then there could be grave consequences for the Demon Slayer Corps as a whole—a risk they were not willing to take.

Shinobu sighs, "We will hand over the document, only if you give us one more week to dwell in the city limits of Yokohama."

"We aren't here to compromise," the first officer scoffs, his stance on the matter unyielding.

"Unfortunately, the entire relationship between the Corps and His Majesty's government is grounded on compromise alone," Shinobu asseverates.

"You insolent civilians, how dare you act repugnantly towards representatives of Heika-sama's govern—!" the officer was about to lash out.

"Wait," the other officer stops him and then whispers something into his ear.

This continued for another minute before the officer nodded and looked back up to the Hashiras.

"Fine. We shall discuss this with our superiors. But, otherwise, you must hand over the document," the officer proposes a compromise—though, it put the Pillars at a disadvantage, as they had to abandon their only leverage to the Kempeitai.

Shinobu turned to face Giyuu, who then simply nodded in approval.

She spoke, "That's acceptable."

"Very good."

..

..

Shinobu and Giyuu stood outside, under the same canopy as beforehand, but there was no rainfall this time.

Indeed, it was actually sunny.

Their altercation with the Kempeitai officers ate up an extended period of time. Plus, they had to give up their status/mission report—the one that was supposed to be read by Oyakata-sama alone—as well.

Things weren't looking great.

"Tomioka?"

"Yes?"

"I want to punch something."

".... Hold it in."

"That will be very difficult to do."

"At least do it until after lunch."

"Deal."

Shinobu fiddled around with her hair, "I still don't get it."

"Get what?"

"Why would the government want us out?" she clarifies.

"They said it was to maintain public order," Giyuu replies.

"That makes zero sense, though. What point is public order when you have demons lurking around in your basement?"

Giyuu also had his reservations about the explanation the officers gave them, but he knew that—more often than not—the government was involved in shady business.

"But, thanks to your counter-offer, we might be given an additional week to wrap things up," Giyuu commends her.

"Hopefully, that will give us enough time to deal with everything," Shinobu groans.

"Maybe..." Giyuu had a bad feeling about this in his gut, "Something tells me there's something off about those officers."

"What do you mean?"

"If the Secret Police wanted to interrogate someone, wouldn't they sequester them in an isolated location so as to not arouse suspicion?" Giyuu explains.

"That's true..."

"And the officers were quick to lose their temper, as if they were in a hurry or something," Giyuu added.

"Seems like there's more to this than meets the eye," Shinobu comments. "But, as of now, we can't do anything about it."

"Agreed."

"Anyways, since our evening plans have been foiled, why don't we head straight to Arata-dono's abode?" Shinobu suggests.

"Foiled? What of the Fireworks?"

"I assumed that would be canceled..." said Shinobu.

Giyuu looked up at the blue sky, "I don't think so. Otherwise, there would've been an announcement of some sort."

"You may be right..." Shinobu murmurs.

Giyuu looks at her, "In any case, you shouldn't let a dress of that caliber go to waste... It fits you, after all..."

Shinobu's heart fluttered at the implications of his statement, "Oh? Is that so? Then why don't we find out?"

Giyuu's furrowed face is long gone, "Alright."

And so, they continued with their day, making mental notes of recent events, but also savoring the experience of having some peace together as well.

Little did they know that this was the precursor to their next challenge...