Before you could react. Giyū appeared in front of you. His face was expressionless. Yet his eyes told you everything. You noticed there was a somber and malicious look in them. Clouding the clear blue sky's that were his eyes.
You jumped away from the strike. Landing on top of the gravel.
"There's supposed to be no fighting between demon slayers!"
You parried an incoming attack. Quickly twirling around him. Striking with a gentle wing of your fist. Sending him back a good distance.
You had your instruments behind you. This would be bad if you landed on your back.
"Giyū-kun!"
"Why did you not take my place?"
You frowned straightening your stance. Walking over to him.
"Your moves. Your moves are flexible. My body isn't like that. Only few times do I use my legs."
He let out a sigh sitting down on the side of the road. You smiled sitting next to him.
"Don't worry Giyū I'm sure you're far more powerful than you say."
You patted his head as if he was Kensei. You noticed the hair pin in his hair. The crescent moon was an excellent refresher.
"How about I play you a song before I leave."
"O-ok."
You pulled the Shamisen from your back. Holding it in front of you. One hand held onto the spine of the instrument. The other held onto the bachi.
You plucked at the strings gently. Your hand moved to change the sound. You switched between the three strings with the bachi.
The wound was somber and melancholic. This stopped Giyū to think for a good while. Until he suddenly got up. Bowing his head and slowly retreated from the manor.
You watched him leave.
The half haori that you'd always remember.
"Sayōnara Giyū-kun!"
You happily waved over to the man smiling as bright as the sun above. Giyū turned his head over to you. Although you couldn't see it. You could tell he would be red as a tomato. He bowed his head a bit and continued walking.
You walked in the opposite direction. Hoping to head back home. To at least get some rest.
To think just a few weeks ago. You were cutting down trees to get some wood.
Now you were cutting through demons with ease. As well as finding yourself a home with plenty of riches.
You continued to walk peacefully. Kagezora sat lazily on your shoulder. With Kensei following you closely.
Your haori flowed gently with the wind. It was high noon. The ray's of the sun annoyed you a great deal. You preferred rain to this.
"Damn, I must be getting really lonely, I'm thinking about how awful the weather is."
You groaned out loud continuing to walk. Your clogs clicked in a beautiful rhythm.
You weren't given any orders. Your crow wasn't around. With a sigh you continued to walk.
Two hours had passed. You passed fields of fox tails. As well as a peaceful moving river. The day was slowly giving away to evening. You probably needed to find a good place to sleep. Although you could walk on forever.
As your feet guided you. You suddenly stopped looking over to your left.
It was an ideal place to sit. A waterfall fell from the rock mountain above. There was a small rock island surrounding the pond that came from the waterfall. You walked over to the edge adjacent to the island.
You jumped over landing on top of it. Kagezora and Kensei sat down in front of you. You smiled a bit seeing the two together. You pulled from your back the koto. Pulling it from the bag.
Placing it down gently.
You licked your fingers and tested each string. Making sure each were tuned properly. With a sigh you began to pluck the strings. Creating a simple melody.
Your hands began to work in unison.
Until you remembered a song your mother used to play. You remembered the way her hands moved until the song began to come out.
The sound was like Sakura leaves that fell gently with the wind. A mysterious kind of harmony. Both your hands worked in unison.
The koto was a fine instrument. Creating a crisp sound that you adored with your entire soul.
You looked up. Thinking you saw Giyū sitting there with a smile. You blinked once and twice. Realising he wasn't there.
You continued playing the soothing melody. When you reached the end of the song. You finished with a sigh.
Your hand reached up to your fallen hair. You had forgotten that you gave away your hair pins. Both to two men who both shared your soul.
You felt a sudden presence sit next to you. Your mother who bared the gracious smile of a Buddha stared over to you. She wore a long kimono that surrounded you like a serpent. Her hair was tied into a tight bun behind her head. In her hair was the crsecent moon hair pin. Her hands slid over the Koto.
"The Tsukuten are well known for out mastery over the Koto and Shamisen. It seems our mastery has passed over to you."
"Well, I am my mother."
She giggled happily. Placing a hand on your head.
"The time gives into two: the night and day. The stars however stay ever present. You my son are like your father. Never giving to sides. Only staying neutral. The only side he took was with the night who was me."
She smiled standing up and walking behind you. She began to braid your hair very gently.
The sun or moon take their sides.
She sang with a gentle tone.
The stars they stay the same.
Harmony and melody in the sky.
Each sing a song.
So silent.
So gentle.
So quiet.
Only the Moon can hear.
Only the Sun can hear.
Burning bright.
Burning light.
She finished her braiding. With her hand she took the star hair pin from her hair. Her hair fell down onto her shoulders. She pulled your braid into a bun. Poking the hair pin through the middle.
It will stay through time.
With a smile she pulled away from your hair. Standing up and sitting next to you.
"Be gentle like the stars. Yet fierce like the sun and bold like the moon. However do not trust the moon."
"But why mother?"
"The moon slaughtered us all. My advice to you my son. Trust the sun. I must be going. You've got to find shelter."
"Thank you mother."
"I love you my son. Take care of yourself."
She disappeared into the air.
Leaving you to think upon her words. Never trust the moon? Well you had something new to think about in the coming years. Along with thinking about where the hell Giyū would be.
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