"...and then a demon suddenly appeared, attacking us. Luckily, no one was injured, and we managed to save the village. There was this one time, the demon..." The words tumbled out of your mouth as you ran alongside Shinobu, returning to headquarters after completing a mission.
Among the Pillars, you were known for your relentless chatter—Shinobu being the exception. Everyone else actively avoided partnering with you, privately complaining that listening to you was more exhausting than facing a demon. They wouldn’ t dare voice these complaints aloud, of course.
Days after your return, you found yourself wandering the headquarters, searching for someone to talk to. You stumbled upon Obanai, peacefully resting on a branch of a tree.
"Obanaiiiii!" you called out from below. He exhaled deeply the moment he heard your voice.
"Go away," he said curtly, not even bothering to look down.
"So cold! Just listen to me for a second. I’ll tell you what happened during my mission with Shinobu. You see, aft—"
"Shut up!" Before you could finish, Obanai cut you off. He dropped from the tree, landing with cold precision.
"You like Giyu, right?" he blurted, catching you off guard. It was a secret among the Pillars—your affection for Giyu, at least—a secret you hadn’t dared to share with Giyu himself.
"Why are you bringing that up now?" you asked, flustered.
"I’ll tell you a secret. You see, Giyu..." Obanai whispered, and you, naive and trusting, believed every word. After that day, the other Pillars didn’t hear your constant stream of chatter.
A few days later, you and Giyu were assigned another mission. As you ran side-by-side, you remained uncharacteristically silent. Giyu constantly glanced at you, wondering what was wrong.
After successfully completing the mission, you were halfway back to headquarters when Giyu suddenly stopped, forcing you to stop as well.
"Why did we stop?" you asked, tilting your head.
"Why aren’t you talking?" Giyu asked, his gaze fixed on you.
"What do you mean?"
"You…you’re usually so loud, so talkative." His voice was serious. You fidgeted with the hem of your uniform.
"Isn’t it better this way? The others always look annoyed, avoiding me whenever they see me. Besides, don't you hate it when I blabber on? I’m sorry." You bowed your head, fighting back tears.
"Who said I didn’t like it?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of anger.
"Obanai said you prefer working in silence, that my talking bothered you."
Giyu stepped closer, cupping your face with both hands. His dark blue eyes locked with yours. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears that were falling.
"I like it," he said, his voice softer now. You looked at him, confused, waiting for him to continue.
"I like listening to your voice. It’s soft and gentle, like water. It’s calming. Don’t listen to him, and go back to being yourself."
You stared at him, wide-eyed. Giyu always seemed so cold and distant, but beneath the surface, he was warm. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to your forehead. When he pulled back, he rested his hand on your head, a small, reassuring gesture. You smiled.
"So tell me, what happened on your mission with Shinobu?" he asked, and as you began to talk, your hand intertwined with his.
*One kiss on the forehead is much sweeter than a thousand kisses on the lips. No lust, but full of love and respect.*