Uzui never came back to your room that day, or the next. It wasn't until the forth day had passed that Kocho was the one who you woke up to.
You watched as she gave you the routine check-up. Poking and prodding where your body used to be littered with bruises.
"Good morning Kocho-san."
She gave you a nod as she work her way down to your legs.
It surprised you, how fast you healed within a few weeks. You looked over to where your glasses would have been on the night table beside you. It came as a kind of shock to you, that even without your glasses your eyes seemed to be adjusting to this world. Things slowly coming more into focus than they did before.
Your attention was taken away from it as you jolted from Kocho's hands. She had given your leg a squeeze, your right one.
The muscles felt like they were going to cramp up, but the tension left your leg almost as soon as it had happened. "Well, that didn't feel like it was supposed to happen." Kocho was looking at you, gauging your reaction as she squeezed your leg once more. Your brows furrow for only a second when that feeling arose when she did so.
"It is safe to say that it will take a few more days for this to heal. However..." You could only stare at her blankly. Yes, you were learning the language, but they seem to forget that it's going to take you a while to pick it up fluently. Kocho let out a sigh before sending you a smile that was a lot softer than you were used to. "Are you ready for more intense exercise?"
Showing her a bright smile, you nodded your head vigorously. "Yes, absolutely!"
After finishing your daily examination Kocho brought you down the hallways of the estate, stopping at a large room. The inside reminded you of a dojo, there were mats set in both the center of the room and on one of the sides. "Here you will begin what we call recovery training." You watched as she gestured to the mats on the side of the room. "You will start off by having your body stretched out to both help with your circulation and your flexibility." She moves on to a small table that you didn't notice until just then. "This is where you test your reflex and reaction time. The girls will explain this part a bit more." Lastly she brings your attention to the center of the room. It looks like she's going to make you grapple* someone. "You will be playing a simple game of tag. It will help bring your stamina back up as Aoi and Kanao will be who you will try to tag."
Looking back at Kocho with the same blank look, she let out a laugh. Her words were lost on you, but you had a general idea that there were three different exercises that you had to go through daily as a means to get your body back into shape.
She guides you over to the mats on the side, gesturing for you to wait there.
Standing there to wait was no issue at all, as you could stand for at least 10 minutes straight without your muscles having to strain. Balancing you weight evenly on both feet, you left your hands in front of you, left placed over your right as you waited.
It didn't even feel like a minute passed when Kocho returned with Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho.
The three girls became familiar to you as they helped Aoi out during your recovery. Helping with the changing of your bandages and standing to the side in case you fell during your walks with Aoi.
You greeted them with a bow and a smile on your face. They returned your greeting and motioned you to sit on the ground. Sitting down, you let out a breath to relax your body as they took your arms in their hands.
At first, the stretching was pleasant, like one of those real nice stretches you would do in the mornings. However the three girls kept going, one girl was at each of your legs, the third one behind you pressing on your back. They were pushing you into the splits and you could only wince in pain as the muscles pulled. Your eyes squeezing shut as you sat with your legs shaping a wide 'V' and Naho pushing you down to deepen the stretch.
To say that Sumi, Kiyo and Naho were surprised would be an understatement. From what they knew, you were heavily injured from when you came in a month ago. You had only started some of the physical therapy, going on walks with Aoi. So in their minds, they believed that you were going to stay at the stretching section for a while.
However, seeing how far you can go with the first stretch was a first for them. Naho had you so bent forward that your forehead was almost touching the mat. Where Sumi and Kiyo have your legs in almost a perfect split. To be fair, they could hear you breathing heavily as you were doing your best to hold the position as relaxed as you could. There was a sparkle in each of their eyes, finally there was someone they could stretch far past the previous recovery patients.
~~~~~
Aoi had entered the room at some point to see how your progress was going, only to see you folded up like a pretzel and the three girls giggling along side you.
The first few stretches that the girls had gone through with you after the splits had you feeling refreshed. It had been way too long without any sort of exercise and seeing the determination on their faces spurred you on. It helped that with each movement you went through loosened up your limbs.
You had looked up from your spot to see Aoi standing there with her mouth agape at your twisted form. "Are you girls crazy?! You're supposed to be taking it easy on her!" Aoi hadn't necessarily yelled at them, but her voice carried a sternness that they would never want to cross.
Unfolding yourself quickly, you stood with a bit of a wobble, waving your hands. "Don't Worry! I wanted to show them that I could do that. See? I'm ok!" Aoi's eyes squinted at you for your words as you proceeded to bend backwards, your hands meeting the mat as your feet stayed flat on the mat as well, falling into a version of the bridge stretch. The three girls silently cheered for you until they saw the wide eyed look Aoi was giving you. The position you were in made it hard to see Aoi, but at the girls' silence you pulled at your core muscles to pull yourself back into a standing position.
There was a slight upward twitch to her otherwise straight-laced mouth as Aoi gestured to the small table beside the mats. Kiyo, Naho and Sumi were quick to scramble out of the room only to sprint back in with cups in their hands. You watched as they placed all the cups onto the table and Aoi sitting at one side.
Following her lead, you sat yourself opposite of her, watching as she furrowed her brows in thought. The cups, at first glance looked like they were filled with regular tea, but as you took a closer look you could smell the medicine. It was that medicinal drink they gave you while you were still healing from your major wounds!
It was interesting to watch as Aoi opened and closed her mouth multiple times. You easily guessed that she was thinking of how to explain the exercise to you. "You show me, I will follow." Was the best way you could explain to her that you would follow her example.
Your eyes followed as she used one hand to grab one of the cups, the other reaching for your own. You eyebrows raised as she had you cover the cup that she had grabbed. Tilting your head in confusion, you watched as she repeated with you having the cup in your hand, her free one covering the cup. Then with a speed you didn't think she had, Aoi had dumped a cup of medicinal tea on you face.
Kiyo, Naho and Sumi's eyes went wide at the sight as you blinked the stuff from your eyes.
A grin spread across your face, one that the four had never seen before. Your hand rushed to a cup only to have been blocked by Aoi. Another cup full of medicine greeted your face. It was like a game very reminiscent of Slaps**.
Without a warning the two of you speed up the game. The three little butterfly girls watching with rapt attention, eyes fluttering between the two of you as your cups kept getting blocked.
~~~~~
You ended the day with you hair drenched and smelling of medicine as Aoi, who was as dry as straw, guided you to the baths.
There was no animosity at all between you two, only large smiles. "That was fun!" You exclaimed, and you weren't lying. It was the most that you've done all day, all month since you've dropped in to this universe.
It seemed that you didn't have to lean as heavily on Aoi either after all the stretching you did earlier with the girls.
The two of you stopped outside the women's bath, you turned and gave her a bow. "Thank you Aoi! I'll clean up first and head back to bed. See you tomorrow!" Aoi returned the bow with just about the same amount of enthusiasm. She left you there, getting one of the three girls to wait for you after you finished. You were more than likely going to get lost once you finished (She learned that you were horrible with directions when you had tried to get your way back to your room after one of your physio walks.)
As you entered the baths, you noticed three pile of clothes. One set was placed by where you would usually rinse yourself off before getting into the onsen. The butterfly girls started doing that for you as you didn't really have any other clothes to change into. The others were folded neatly only a few feet away from yours, one of them a uniform similar to the one that Uzui and Kocho wore.
Keeping in mind that there was another person in here, an official demon slayer at that, you proceeded to rinse as much of the tea from before off. It was all fun and games, but in the end you knew that it was a sort of reflex exercise. Tomorrow would be a new day, and you'd do your best to get Aoi at least once.
Not dwelling to deep in your thoughts, a light tune came to mind. Once that you remember overhearing at some point at home. It could have been from a game that one of your brothers played back home.
You hummed it softly, reminiscent of your family back home. How would you be getting back? Is there was way to get back at all?
There was a small splash that rang out, interrupting your thoughts and pausing your humming. Right, there was another person here with you. Quickly finishing up with your rinsing, you wrapped a towel around yourself as you approached the pool. A sigh escaping your mouth as you lowered yourself into the water.
Your eyes followed the ripples of the water as settled down for the soak. Doing your best to not let your eyes wander to the other person in the bath.
This was the first time that someone else was in here the same time as you. All the other times the girls left you to your own after a lot of frantic pleading from you. The customs of how bath houses ran were not totally unfamiliar to you, but you've never stepped foot into one your whole life. At least not until you got here.
It was nice. The warmth of the water seeping into your body, relaxing it even further than you thought it would. Maybe when you get back home you could travel to Japan and try it out with some friends. As you were closing your eyes you felt movement in the water. The other occupant must have been here for a lot longer, as it seemed like she was getting out.
Snapping your eyes open at the sudden gasp, you reached out as the other person slipped. Your speed surprised the both of you, you reached her in time before she could fully submerge back into the water. Saving her from smacking her head against the side.
Her eyes were wide as she stared at you. The pink hue of them reminding you of Kocho sensei's, albeit not exactly the same.
The eye contact didn't last very long as she moved out of your grasp so fast it had you stumbling to keep your balance, both of your faces beet red. You cleared your throat, looking away to hide your embarrassed face. "Sorry..." Taking a deep breath you let yourself at least gaze in her direction as to not be too rude as you spoke. "Are you ok?"
Your expression fell as you watched her get out of the bath without a hitch this time. The poor Japanese must have turned her away. Frustrated with your limited speech, you couldn't help but start to berate yourself. "Of course she wouldn't answer. I'm just a stranger with probably the worst Japanese she's ever-"
The sound of something metal being hit cut you off. Spinning on the spot, you turn to see that the girl had pulled a coin out of her uniform pocket and flipped it.
For a moment, the two of you watched it spin in the air before she caught it and placed it on the back of one of her hands, covered by the other. She let her gaze flick between you and her hands before she uncovered it.
A smile graced her lips as she turned to you. "I'm alright, thank you for catching me."
Her voice was soft, and so quiet that you leaned in her direction so that you would be able to hear her. Relief washed over you, letting you ease your worrying thoughts.
Seeing that she was getting dressed, your brain also decided to remind you that you were practically embracing her earlier. Your body heat rose and it was like you could feel the steam escaping your ears from embarrassment.
The girl watched as you fumbled getting out of the bath, scrambling to your own set of clothes. She stood to the side, already finished putting her clothes on, as she continued to gaze at you. You could feel her stare, a shiver going down your spine as you straightened yourself. Tying up the past part of your Gi and turning to face her once again. "Did... you need anything else? Are you ok?"
Her head titled at the sound of your English before flipping the coin once more. She said nothing this time, only shaking her head.
You seemed to be sighing a lot lately, this time a bit more out of relief that she still answered you in some way. Not one to waste time, you gave her a slight bow. "Hi! Sorry about uhh... invading your space earlier. My name is (Y/N)!" You mix of English and Japanese got her to now raise her eyebrows, only by the slightest bit.
It was now your turn to stare at the girl. Waiting for her to flip the coin didn't take as long this time around. She did it quickly, nodding to herself after and giving you a bow. "Hello (Y/N), my name is Tsuyuri Kanao." With a small smile on her face, you joined her as the two of you left the onsen. The silence between the two of you not as stifling from before.
Walking down the halls, you noticed that she had tied her hair up in a ponytail on the side of her head. A butterfly ornament, not unlike the other residents of the Butterfly Estate, fastened by it. The sight of it made sense, she has an official demon slayer uniform. You eyes straying down to the blade at her side that you didn't notice till the both of you were out of the onsen. Your thoughts concluding that she must be working more directly under Kocho sensei.
At the sight of the recovery room, the subtle ache in your leg came to mind. You turned to Tsuyuri, giving her another bow. "Thank you for walking me... Sorry again for what happened earlier." A blush made its way back to your cheeks, making you look away from her as you cleared your throat. "Have a good night!"
Not even sparing her a glance this time, you sped as fast as you could back into the room, jolting Aoi from what she was doing as you slipped into the bed. She squinted at you as she handed the medicinal tea for you to take. Your eyes shifted from the door, holding your as Tsuyuri not even glancing in as she passed.
Aoi raised an eyebrow at your antics, turning to see what you were looking at only to see no one there. When she turned back you had already emptied the cup, as it was placed back at the bedside table, and you were tucked into the bed already dozing off into the dream world.
She'll just have to ask you about it in the morning.
*Grapple - Or Grappling, is a martial art category where, in hand-to-hand combat, describes sports that consist of gripping or seizing the opponent. Common examples of this would be Judo, Sumo, Western Wrestling, and more!
**Slaps - Slaps is a name of a card game where a deck of cards is dealt out to all the players. then players place a card into a main pile, one by one, and quickly. When you have two of the same card, or a sandwich (for example a 7, king, and 7) is made, you slap the deck. The person with the most of the deck at the end wins the game. Remember to remove all rings, bracelets or any sharp jewelry when playing this game