#( I'm not disliked- proceeds to distance and be so reserved he looks like he's superior )

[lunatrics]

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ . ℒ ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ♡ 𝓐 𝓕𝓐𝓡 - 𝓞𝓕𝓕 𝓜𝓔𝓜𝓞𝓡𝓨◞ accepting ⋰ unprompted ​​ ⤸ SANEMI "--no." it's the obvious reply. new orders have come in - ones that'll ( hopefully ) allow their number to be maintained & perhaps even grown. so simple, like he's been stupid not to see- though the master hasn't offered any scorn. up against foes more powerful, it makes sense to make themselves stronger than the sum of their parts: teams of hashira will fall less quickly, leave behind their duties less easily.     so, okay. fine. whatever. annoying,     but not a problem---      excepting exceptions:    traitorous cunt - obanai is teamed up with kanroji. one will move heaven and hell before managing to break that up- uzui & shinobu are forming a toxic power duo, rengoku's taking the mist brat under his wing. himejima's staying behind for a month to train the straggling newbies fresh out of final election. that they might, mumbling mantras, turn into something like a recruit before the end of that.    which leaves---      his knees ache against the shiny floorboards.   tomioka's knees are inches from his, the man quiet & poised as if he came out of the womb tearlessly. "i'm not fucking doing it." profanity slips out / choked after - the crawling burn of shame is invading his skin. tomioka makes no protest at all: pristine. he does not argue against the order, no matter how he eschews their company outside of them. "i-"     the master's smile is painted on, patient.    ...is he being childish..? "...i- ugh." the itch of thrill / shame's stinging burn --- the threeway meal he's being made into by d e n i a l ' s wilful struggle.     he can do this. technically.    but he doesn't want- ... "...fine." fuck. fuck! fuck. @sanyemi

If it's to help maintain their ranks, then that was that for Giyuu. His job, his very purpose, was to hunt down demons. These new orders wouldn't bother him. Though, it would be his first time truly partnering with another Hashira since his missions with Shinobu ; perhaps, somewhere deep inside his heart, that made him anxious. It wasn't his place to be standing beside the pillars. It never had been. It was a fact he knew well. Let him be replaced by the true water Hashira, and let it be soon.

But until then, he would keep fighting. It didn't matter the conditions.

❝ Understood. ❞ Is his only response. Whatever it was the master wished, he'd do. As long as Giyuu was able to keep killing the demons, it was fine.

Shinazugawa ... their personalities would definitely clash. He's not opposed to it, as long as it doesn't hinder their goals. No. The true Hashira were more then capable. More then him. It was himself that could only hold them back. Teaming up with Shinazugawa ... he had to be extra focused.

Shinobu was someone who forced her way into his life. It's a fact that ... he doesn't mind, at all. It made their missions easier. They split up often, when the situation called for it. Giyuu preferred to work alone after all ; a fake. A scam. At least, this way, he could focus on his task, and leave it at that.

And truth be told, when Shinobu approached him last, he expected ... her to be partnered with him. It was a cold shock when she teased him for it, as if reading his vacant expression with ease. Try to make friends with the others, then you won't be so disliked by everyone. She apologised after, but, was he really ... not well liked?

❝ It's fine. Our primary goal is to slay demons. ❞ Never bats an eye in his direction Perhaps, also, just a bit ... unsure of how to approach Shinazugawa. Shinobu did a lot of the talking, enough that it made Giyuu talk back. He doubted they'd have such idle chatter.

Giyuu doesn't wait before exiting, once the Master had bid them a farewell. It would be fine. They trained together for this purpose.. so that's what should matter most. If he's lucky ... if they can talk ... maybe he could learn more about Shinazugawa. He just wasn't quite sure how.