Can't Do it Without You

✨ Chapter 2 ✨

Toji had been staring at the same painting on the wall for some time before he felt a sharp poke in his chest that snapped him back to reality.

"Toji-kun! Earth to Toji-kun!" Shinobu prodded as she poked him in the chest repeatedly in an attempt to get his attention.

"S-sorry, I was in a train of thought" Toji stuttered.

"That's alright, I was just saying that there are no more visible effects from the poison. When you were rushed into the Mansion last night you had several spots all over your body that were turning purple, if it had spread any more than it did..." she trailed off but Toji knew what she was implying. 

Toji looked down as he remembered his last moments of consciousness before he had passed out, even then the poison was potent enough to knock him out in a matter of minutes. He shivered as he thought of what could've happened if the other slayer hadn't brought him in time.

Shinobu quickly changed the topic in an attempt to alleviate the mood.

A small smile returned to her face as she raised a finger asked "May I ask what it was that had you so deeply in thought a moment ago?"

Toji looked back up at her and panicked for a moment but managed to think of something on the spot and clear his throat.

"Well... I was just thinking about what happened to my swords. I don't see them here and was just wondering if I lost them in my battle yesterday" he lied. 

Shinobu squinted her eyes as if evaluating his words for a moment.

"Ah I see, well the slayer that carried you here managed to return with your swords as well. I can call for a Kakushi to bring them if you really want to see them" she said, her smile returning.

"Yes please, I just want to make sure I didn't lose or damage them too badly. Tengen-sama wouldn't let me hear the end of it if I did" Toji said with a laugh.

"Phew, thank the gods she believed that" Toji thought.

A Kakushi walked into the room after Shinobu had gotten up and called for one to bring in his swords.

The kakushi entered the room and bowed to Shinobu and I before stating "The blades themselves have been returned in one piece, unfortunately the chain connecting the two had been snapped at some point during Masanori-san's battle".

Toji sighed in relief that the blades were still intact.

"Thank you Tachi-san, that will be all" she thanked as the Kakushi placed the swords on the cabinet next to the bed. He bowed once more before leaving the two slayers to themselves once again.

Shinobu walked over to the cabinet to take a look at the two huge cleavers resting before her. 

"May I?" Shinobu asked, turning to Toji.

"Of course" Toji nodded.

Shinobu picked up the blade on the left and quickly had to grab the hilt with her other hand before the blade fell to the floor.

"How in the world do he and Uzui-san fight with these? One of them probably weighs twice as heavy as an average katana" Shinobu thought as she tried holding up the large cleaver-like sword.

Toji laughed as he witnessed the small woman struggle to hold up his sword but was quickly shut up when she gave him a stern, closed eye smile.

"Is there something funny, Toji-kun?" She asked with a tone he hadn't heard from her before.

"Umm *cough* no, nothing funny at all" he said, removing the grin from his face immediately.

"Some of us aren't blessed with a physique like yours" she said sarcastically.