The battle with Kibutsuji and the Upper Moons came to a bittersweet end ages ago, and here she was, without her legs, with purple veins blooming upon her neck and arms due to the wisteria poison, bound to a wheelchair and being pushed around by the young Hashibira who's growing older with every day passing him, it has her grateful a little bit .. to watch this young boy turn a day older, the boy who she clung to as if it were her own — thank gods she was alive still to see him grow a little more mature but still retain his boyish youth .
shinobu basks in the presence of cherry blossom trees, feeling the breeze kissing her face gently and whilst some gawk and question at her pitiful condition she paid no attention , what's important to her is this, peace at last from the terrors of before .
" the flowers look a tad bit brighter, don't you think ? "
Inosuke's favorite season was right around the corner. When the trees lost their petals, and bright green leaves grew anew. Nature would soon don her most beautiful colors, so many different vibrant shades of green that made Inosuke feel more alive than ever.
For now, he would be more than content with the pink hues that colored the trees above their heads. He pushed the wheelchair with little effort, all the vigor long returned to his arms. Contrary to most of his comrades, there were but few traces of the battle visible to the naked eye, aside from the large cross shaped scars that spread on his torso. No, his wounds lay deeper, for only a few select eyes to see.
Dead boar eyes rose to the pink canopy, a little smile tugging at his lips.
"Yeah. But if the wind gets any stronger, they'll all fall off before the sun sets and rises again."
He was starting to see why humans placed so much importance in those trees and their ephemereal flowers. How fragile these little flowers were, yet their fall was necessary for the fruits to grow later on, offering the humans many feasts to come once the days grew hotter and longer.
For every glance he felt setting upon himself or his companion, Inosuke would return a glare that could very well kill. His hands tightened around the wheelchair's handles, but he managed to keep his composure. They could stare at him all they want, but he would not tolerate any ill glances at Shinobu. Or he would be gnawing some eyeballs off.
Inosuke's hand slashed through the air. He snatched a good few petals as they lazily headed towards the ground, and threw them all into his mouth with a quick push of the boar mask above his brow. His next motion caught a full flower, one he would gently offer to Shinobu, held flat in his calloused palm while the other hand held his mask. His head would come into her vision next, as he leaned over her shoulder and offered her an upside-down smile.
"We should head back soon. I said I'd help the blue nurse and the caterpillars with all the food for the big meal outside. You know, for the looking-at-flowers thing! Everyone's gonna be there, so we've gotta make a LOT of food!"
