peaceful.

xxiv.

For the past ten minutes that they were walking, Giyu's face had been flushed red the whole time. His heart need a long break after all the long laps that it had been running simply from holding hands.

Giyu cursed himself for this. Why was he getting so excited over simple hand holding?

Sure it was something couples did commonly, but friends also did it too. And that's what you saw him as. A friend.

I guess it's understandable. I'll just have to give it time.

"So when is your estate said to be ready?" Giyu started up a conversation, much to the surprise of the h/c-haired female.

"It should take about a month, that's what Ubuyashiki told me at least."

"So soon?" Giyu questioned with wide eyes.

"Yes, Ubuyashiki was constructing it in secret as I was training. I guess he had no doubts in me becoming a pillar," Y/n chuckled, which sounded almost divine to Giyu.

"Oh I see, that makes sense then," Giyu nodded, looking forward again, unintentionally squeezing the woman's hand as they neared Ubuyashiki's household, "Well if you ever in a situation like last night again, my door is always open, literally."

Softly giggling at his small joke, Y/n nodded with a smile adorning her features, "Thank you Giyu, just don't scare me when I randomly show up at your house."

"I can't make any promises," Giyu teased as Y/n let go of his hand, "Well, don't forget to come over occasionally for gardening lectures."

"I surely won't, I can't wait for that butterfly garden," Y/n smiled at Giyu, waving goodbye as she turned to enter the house.

ਏਓ ｡ ﾟ

Step after step, the further he got, the further he was from you. Yet his heart kept pumping.

He couldn't believe it.

He couldn't believe he talked to you like that, teased you, and to top it off, you touched him.

Sure, you still didn't see him as he want you to, but things didn't have to go fast.

He liked it this way.

Hearing a pair of fast pace steps, Giyu moved to the right as he avoided someone's hand.

"Eh? I can't even pat my buddy on the back?" A familiar voice boomed as Giyus eyes widened.

"Rengoku."

"I'm happy for you," Rengoku complimented as he continued with a smile, "I see you move quickly with her. Holding hands already I see."

"We're just friends."

"Are you sure about that?" Rengoku raised a brow as his smile faltered, his large eyes slightly squinting, to which Giyu responded with a nod. Rengoku smirked, and shrugged, "Then I guess you wouldn't mind if I had a shot at her? She is quite the lady, I'd like to get to know her more."

Giyus dark orbs shot at Rengoku's bright ones, jaw clenched as they both came to a stop to face each other.

"Oh?" Rengoku continued to pester, his usual expression not faltering as he held himself up with pride.

Usually, Giyu would cower, but not this time. You gave him all the confidence he needed.

"It seems I'm already a step ahead of you then, Rengoku," Giyu sneered back as something seemed to glint in Rengokus orbs.

"What could that mean, Giyu."

"I know much more about her than you'd even guess. And I'll continue to learn more and more about her."

"Is that so? Seems like I have some tough competition," Rengoku's deep chuckle echoed in Giyu's head as his anger continued to spike.

"She'll be mine."

"I beg to differ."

"You may have your charm, but your charm won't help when you're too late to the game."

"We'll see about the Giyu," Rengoku relaxed as he looked off to the side, seemingly backing down, "I'm not even who you should be worried about..."

"What?" Giyu's seemingly shock was soon to be taken advantage of by the flame pillar.

"Oh, you don't know? I don't suppose you would know since you're not involved in much..." Rengoku sent a small jab at Giyu, but it didn't affect him in which he was invested in what Rengoku knew.

"What is it?"

"Oh, it's just how everyone is so close with her...I'd say Shinobu, Tengen, and Muichiro are probably the most sought out for her...or at least that's what I've heard. I've also overheard some things about Mitsuri and Shinobu planning something."

Planning something?

"Shinobu and Muichiro? That's hard to believe."

I'd have my suspicions about Shinobu, but I didn't know I'd be right.

And Muichiro?! He's never shown any interest in anyone but Ubuyashiki.

Tengen...we all knew he was out to get her from the beginning, so it's not much of a surprise.

"Well, you better believe it, because it'll smack you in the face once you see it."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I was wondering..." Rengoku began, taking a breath as his smile dropped and his eyelids dropped halfway, "If you'd make a deal with me."