A/N: "ASL is spoken in italics." The Author signs as she dies to her death.
♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪
The ride to the next Wisteria House was pretty tame compared to your last experience on a train.
When you arrived at the Wisteria House, you and Giyuu were told you'd have to share a room since the house was pretty small and they had other residents at the moment. It didn't matter to you or Giyuu.
According to Giyuu, the Dojo wasn't far from the Wisteria House. Maybe a 10 minute walk at most, but it was fairly close. Giyuu requested for the Wisteria House owners to help get yourself fitted for new clothes that was fit for the dojo.
Apparently, the cover story was that you were his deaf and mute wife who needed to learn self defense.
You joked about how Giyuu wasn't even going to take you on a date before declaring you as his wife.
Stupid Bitch-Boy took it a bit literally and said: "Then, I'll take you out for a lunch-date soon after this mission is completed."
There was a small voice in your head that was squealing like the fangirl you repress everyday.
But... the last time you went on a date, it was with Akaza to see the fireworks.
Last time you went on a date, Akaza told you he loved you.
And... honestly you think about the Upper Moon demon a lot.
You couldn't help but feel guilty about accepting Giyuu's proposal (not that kind!). Nonetheless, you agree with Giyuu hastily to change the subject that night.
Now it was the next morning and you both were walking to the dojo. Sekido stayed behind for obvious reasons and you were wearing that weird white robe thing? You didn't know what the fuck it was called.
Giyuu was wearing a plain, grey yukata, his mitch-match haori was over his yukata. You had your hair in a bun held by your hairpin, your new robe, weird grey trousers, Sanemi's haori, some dank ass sandals, and your bandages for your ankle.
Look at you, so eager for your first day of school.
You were going to fucking die, you just know it. Every fucking time something different happens, you know it means death for you.
You're in a fucking panic from the moment you arrived to the moment you'll die.
"(L/n)," Giyuu speaks softly, "Remember, deaf and mute."
You nudge the Water Pillars arm lightly, "Yes, I know. I am the master of disguise, you got nothing to worry about!"
"I am suddenly very worried about this mission now."
"You're an ass," You laugh, "Seriously, this will be just like another heist."
"..."
"..."
Ah shit.
"Another heist?" Giyuu stops in his tracks to look at you with an unreadable expression, "Is there something I should know about?"
"Uh..." Fuck nuggets, "I lived such a badass life, Giyuu. And sometimes, people don't like that I'm badass. And sometimes, I just have to take matters into my own hands."
"...I see." Giyuu starts walking again and you follow, "I will not be opening that box."
"Thank you," You smile as you follow along, "So, what kind of Martial Arts will I be learning."
"I believe it's Soryu Karate," Giyuu answers.
Oh, now doesn't that sounds familiar.
——
"This place is pretty big," You mutter to yourself.
The Dojo was 3 stories big, the initial design reminding you of the mansion you first met Inosuke personally.
Once again, you're reminded of your poor life.
"(L/n)."
You look up at Giyuu with a smile to show you're listening.
"Deaf and mute."
You nod in understanding. Giyuu knocks against the wooden door and waits for an answer.
The door opens after about 10 seconds.
"Hello! Oh, it's you again!" A young man-who looks American-with a messy buzzed haircut and similar clothing to yours opens the door.
"Hello," Giyuu blows slightly, "My name is Tomioka Giyuu. I'd like to have my wife, Tomioka (Y/n), to participate in this dojo. She is deaf and mute, and I fear for her safety when I am away. If you would be so kind to accept her in your dojo, I'd be forever grateful."
The man looks from Giyuu to you. You were unintentionally holding onto Giyuu's haori, staring down at your feet.
"I see!" The man smiles, "Do you mind getting her attention for me?"
Giyuu puts his hand on yours, the one that's been holding his haori. You look up at him, smiling to show you were listening-er, paying attention.
You were thrown off guard at the soft expression that colored Giyuu's face. It looks a bit forced, maybe because he said something about you being his wife for the cover story.
Giyuu points over to the man by the door. You look over and smile at him. His green eyes shift over to you.
The man smiled apologetically at you before moving his hands in a familiar pattern: "Hi, my name is Alexander Akihiko. I have only learned ASL, since I am actually American. You look to be American as well, so hopefully you understand ASL."
Giyuu presses his lips into a thin line, screaming internally to whatever God might be out there.
Nooooooo! Cried Giyuu.
Yeessssss! Replied the Gods.
Giyuu really didn't count on anyone speaking Sign Language. How the fuck should you both proceed?! Abort immediately-
"I do! I am rusty since I haven't really spoken to anyone else in a while, so sorry for mistakes!" You smile, silently mouthing the words as you sign, "My husband is just starting to learn as well, so it is nice to have someone to talk with properly. My name is (Y/n) Tomioka, I will be looking forward to working with you."
Giyuu stares at you in astonishment. So maybe you aren't as useless as he thought. Turns out you're actually a pretty cool dude.
Alexander grins then looks back at Giyuu.
"This should be fine," Alexander tells Giyuu while signing what he says at the same time, "I could speak American Sign Language so I will be able to teach her myself. Our beginners class is only an hour, so I recommend that you come back then so she won't travel alone."
You understand most of what Alexander says, but it definitely helped that he was signing it as well. You imagined that might've been difficult to practically speak in two different languages at once.
Giyuu nods and bows slightly, "Thank you very much."
Giyuu looks at you and smiles. It's definitely forced, but you know he's just trying to sell the story of you two actually being married.
Giyuu cups your left cheek and gives your right cheek a small peck.
Hm...
You two didn't discuss that.
You feel your face go hot at the sudden addition to the plan.
Giyuu smiles and looks back at Alexander: "Please take good care of her for the next hour."
——
"There is something I wanted to ask of you, Tomioka." Alexander smiles.
You were so confused why he called you Tomioka, but then you remembered you are supposedly the Water Pillar's wife.
You and the other participants of the dojo were taking a five minute break. You noticed out of the corner of your eyes that an old man had taken three younger women to a back room.
You nod for Alexander to continue.
"That haori you wear has Kanji for Kill on the back. Are you a practicing Demon Slayer?"
Oh fuck.
"No, a friend of mine was an active Demon Slayer, but he was recently killed. So this was all that remained of him," You quickly lie, "It's a sensitive subject for me, and I'd prefer if we didn't discuss this any further."
Alexander blushes in shame, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive."
You wave your hand dismissively: "Like I said, let's change the subject."
——
"So how did you arrive in Japan?" Alexander asks.
Another three young women and this time two men were taken to the back. The other three haven't returned.
"Oh, I..." You try to look crestfallen, "left to seek refuge from America."
"Ah, the war." Alexander nods, "Japan isn't quite accepting foreigners, so I recommend that you be careful. Your husband looks strong and caring, so I doubt he won't hesitate to protect you. Still, it's smart that he suggested you be brought here for your own good."
Caring, huh? You had to hold yourself back from cackling.
——
"Hello, Giyuu!" You made sure to mouth the words (you don't verbally speak out) in Japanese.
Giyuu nods at you with another forced smile. You grin and take the Pillars hand into yours to sell your shit story.
"She's a fast learner and strong for someone who is limited to only 3 of her senses," Alexander smiles, "It was amazing to see her progress so quickly."
You squeeze Giyuu's hand, praying to whatever God there is for Giyuu to understand that he needs to be present-
"Then I will go tomorrow and watch her progress myself," Giyuu says.
Alexander widen his eyes in obvious distress, "I already told you we weren't accepting any more males-"
"-I'm not joining the dojo, I will be only watching my wife." Giyuu tugs at your hand to wrap his other arm around your shoulders, "Just for tomorrow's session. Would that be okay?"
Alexander sighs, "Yes, that should be okay. I will see you both again tomorrow at the same time."
——
"So tell me why I need to be there tomorrow?" Giyuu finally talks once you two are a good distance away.
You let go of the Water Pillars hand and wipe the seat on your pants: "I saw a total of five woman and two men go in this back room with an older man. I couldn't check it out because Alexander was with me constantly."
"I see," Giyuu sighs, "By the way, the Love Pillar, Kanroji Mitsuri, she is at the Wisteria House."
"She is? What for?" You look at Giyuu in surprise.
"This is her part of the region she watches over," Giyuu informs, "She came to the house to heal from a mission and she won't leave Sekido and I alone."
"Oh rip," You hum, "Then shouldn't Kanroji have been assigned this mission instead of you?"
"She was already on an assignment at the time. Not to mention this area is right at the edge of her region and close to mine anyway," Giyuu sighs, "I'll admit, I almost missed your signal, but it was a subtle misplaced addition. Good job."
Good...
Job...?
Good job?
Did he just...
Did Tomioka-fucking-Giyuu just tell you Good Job?!
You duck your head in embarrassment to mumble a quick thanks.
——
"KYAAAA!!! SO IT WAS YOU WHO SHINAZUGAWA GAVE HIS HAORI TOO!!"
You smile nervously, "Oh, y-yeah, well I asked him to-"
"-OH, MY GOD!!" Mitsuri stops hugging the red faced Sekido in favor of rushing towards you, "THAT'S SO ROMANTIC!! ARE YOU TWO IN LOVE?!"
Poor Sekido was stuck in his tiny form because Mitsuri was insistent that he needed to be a fun-sized demon so she could hug him.
The poor baby was going to cry, but luckily you came back so now he was going to crawl away and sob quietly in his box.
"What?!" You blush at the implication, "I asked him for his haori because Maeda messed up my uniform in the chest area!"
"AND HE WANTED TO HIDE YOU SO HE COULD KEEP YOU TO HIMSELF!" Mitsuri squeals and hugs your arm, "HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU, DON'T YOU SEE?!"
"(Y/n), I thought he gave it to you," Sekido pops his head out from the box.
You shrug, "He did, but I'm trying to save his dignity-"
"-Kanroji, Sekido, (L/n)," Giyuu spoke, "We should talk about our plans for tomorrow. Now that Kanroji is here, I think we can make this mission run more smoothly."
——
"Hello Alexander!" You smile, "How are you this morning?"
Alexander looks back at Giyuu who was holding your (Sanemi's) haori from the back. On Giyuu's back was Sekido's box. And Giyuu's blade was behind his back covered by his haori, your kama hiding with Sekido in the box.
"I'm fine," Alexander smiles, "Your husband did mention that he was going to stay and watch. So I hope you don't get nervous."
Your smile reached your eyes this time, "I will be just fine."
——
"I'm going," Giyuu signs to you slowly, trying to remember what you taught him the night before, "to the bathroom."
You nod and sit close to Sekido's box, knocking against it lightly three times.
"Okay, do not get lost."
Giyuu nods and leaves for the bathroom. A few seconds later, Alexander comes by.
"You've been progressing fast. In fact, I don't think you need to take the beginners course," Alexander says, "There is a room in the back that my master-"
CRASH!!!!
BOOM!!!!
The other members scream and cry in surprise and fear at the booming sounds. You jump up to your sitting position on the matted floor. You panicked at first because it seemed as if you must've heard it, but then-
CRASH!!!!
CRASH!!!!
That's your cue.
You can feel the rumbling right through the ground. You open up Sekido's box and quickly help him out. Afterwards, you grab your kama so Sekido could close the box and grab it himself.
Giyuu comes back running.
"(L/n), Sekido, let's go! We can't let him get away!"
"Yes, sir!" You nod.
"It's a demon!!" You hear some people scream.
Aw :(, the poor baby. Yeah Sekido is a demon, but still.
"You're not deaf?!" Alexander shouts.
"Sorry!" You laugh, following Giyuu and Sekido up the stairs.
"I thought they would be in the back room!" Sekido exclaim.
Giyuu shakes his head, "The demon went upstairs, I saw him."
When you three reach the second floor and immediately see the broken doors across the hall.
You all rush in and see... no demon.
There was a room of people in line, some of them you recognized as the people who were taken yesterday. On the other side of the room, was an old man on a stage and another man standing on the side in attention.
The old man turns his head towards your general direction.
"Is that a demon's presence?" He asks in a thick accent.
You were put off that he spoke in English first, but you quickly cover up your confusion when walking forward towards the stage.
"We'll be asking the questions, old man," You point towards him, "Who are you?"
"Yu." He says.
You shake your head, "No, not me. You."
"Yes, I am Yu."
"Just answer the damn question: who are you?!"
"I have told you."
You eyed him suspiciously, "Is you deaf?"
"No, Yu is blind."
"I'm not blind, you blind."
Sekido shakes his head before he and Giyuu walk closer to you.
"That is what I just said." Yu furrows his eyebrows.
You tilt your head: "You just said what?"
"I did not say what, I said Yu."
"That's what I'm asking you!"
"And Yu is answering."
"Shut up!" You roughly scratch your head before pointing to the man standing by the side, "You!"
"Yes?" The old man pipes up.
"Not you! Him!" You point to the other man, "What's your name?!"
"Mi." The man answers.
"Yes, you!"
"I am Mi." He points to himself.
The old man talks, "He is Mi. And I am Yu."
You grit your teeth together, "And I'm about to whoop your old ass 'cause I'm sick of playing games!"
"You! Me! Everybody's ass around here!" You point around to the other confused people, "Him!"
Sekido shakes his head and pulls you away: "(Y/n)-"
"-Imma kick his ass! I'll kick his ass!"
"The demon. Where is it?" Giyuu frowns.
"What demon?" Yu tries to play dumb.
"The-"
"-KYAAAAAA!!!" You hear the familiar voice of Mitsuri.
You don't have time to register what's going on when a demon comes crashing through the door in the back of the room.
You also don't have time to register what's going on when the demon decides to attack you by throwing Mitsuri's screaming body at you!