sabito waits before he speaks, allowing her to resume her delicate ministrations until she is finished with him. he thanks her.
❝ mysterious? ❞ a soft laugh follows. she is right; he had not expected her to answer him so frankly in her geniality. ❝ i’m not mysterious, kochō-san. i don’t try to be. ❞
he is firm only when he has to be; brave only when he has to be. even here, he is alert. he is ready to be brave. this place is her home, graciously extended, and he will fight for it the same as his own. this is not his home, but she has a way of making them feel as if they grew up here. he regrets that it has happened at all, but is grateful for her service. he remembers kanae then, and he relinquishes a private prayer. sabito has not forgotten.
❝ if i were a book, i would probably be a very short one. ❞
he would rather listen instead. he is not the type to probe the mind, more apt to instead push the body, but he is not dimwitted, nor is he unintelligent. he can read and write, and that’s good enough. that’s all he needs. his sword will speak for him. if there is nothing to say, sabito will not say it. he keeps the mask on. she said it suits him. he caught her jest; that it would perturb her to see him. he’ll take it off for her someday.
❝ there a better books out there. ❞
in the years that shinobu has known the moon pillar and his other half, hearing either of the pair laugh was far and few. truthfully the sound felt completely unrecognizable — and yet it brings about the beginnings of a genuine smile to painted lips as skilled hands finish covering fresh stitches.
‘ short stories can still be interesting, sabito-san. although it’s all metaphorical, perhaps give yourself more credit. ’ manicured fingers part once satisfied with the ivory gauze that now decorates the slayer. ‘ — or else, you might stay as dreary as tomioka-san. ’
another playful jab as the swordswoman allows herself to straighten in the infirmary’s wooden seat. floral hues come to meet the intense eyes of her patient’s mask — treatment had been completed. he needn’t stay any longer if he so chose. yet she continues to speak, an invitation to continue their conversation outside of general courtesy to fill the air during boring medical procedures.
‘ despite your attempts to downplay your novelty, i’d like to one day get to know the figure behind the mask. maybe then i might agree with you. ’ or maybe instead shinobu would find a kindred spirit as she’d done with some of the other hashira? well — those who she can stand to speak with at least. that’s one trait that she can’t quite replicate of kanae, her sister's inherent ability in getting along with almost everyone she spoke with. the fragile woman tries, even if most seem futile or going nowhere.
sabito is one that she’s trying to understand.
‘ until then, i’m afraid you’ll remain a mystery to me! ‘
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