Tired / Exhausted / Feeling Very Weak ☀️ @saibito

“You burned your energy out in the snow, you’re shivering badly.”

He once lived on these mountains, spent winters trudging through the snow to reach town to sell firewood and return back to the cabin he had shared with his wife, but...perhaps he had been away for too long. Long enough he didn't recall, underestimated the snow, instinctively focusing on his breathing even as bits of his strength still were whittled away and left within the snow he had finally made it through.

It's not until he stops that he realizes the truth in those words, hands tugging his clothing closer to himself in effort to keep out the chill.

"I'm fine."

Words come automatically, an inability to truly admit to suffering--admitting his mistake was one thing, but that he is fatigued and cold? That was too much, less for pride and simply that the admittance could cause another to worry, to tend to him. Such things always brought guilt with them, Yoriichi unable to easily accept.

Father's words still rang within his mind.

"I'll just rest a moment to warm myself. You may go ahead, I'll be shortly behind."

There was no way she couldn’t admit to being terrified, she stood before a pillar. And not just any pillar, not the mist pillar or even the wind pillar, but the moon pillar. To just be in his presence rendered her silent for a longer period of time than she was used to, Mitsuri was totally awestruck. To use such a beautiful breathing style... she admired it, despite the male being a slayer. The moon was beautiful, ethereal, and mysterious. He definitely suited his breathing style. And they’d barely exchanged any conversation.

“Are you here to kill me, Mister Moon Pillar?”

A frown slugs onto thin lips, large lime green hues dulling with the concept of meeting her end. Of course, she wouldn’t go down without a fight, so she was more than prepared to give him one. Still, she didn’t like the idea of killing a pillar, despite what Muzan preferred. It was stupid to kill them, it would only anger the rest.

a demon has been eating travelers in the city. head east. head east.

the old crow’s caws are unnerving and sudden; shrill voice piercing the calm still of night. blue eyes open with unnerving speed, tomioka risen without a sign of resistance.

a chill had spread over the storage space, the heavy perfume of recently cut grass and turned earth only added to by the late-night downpour. how long had they been here since their last mission - two hours? they were lucky to have so long; a blessing only granted by the senior aviary’s unreliable transmissions.

turning, tomioka’s gaze moves downwards, pausing on the still-restful fox.

     “sabito.”

knees bend to the pillar’s level, a calloused hand rolling across green and yellow fabric.

     “we have to go. wake up.”

@saibito​

thank you hal for these beautiful bannerrrrsssssssss!!!

@saibito

( being a freshly minted hashira, attending his first meeting at ubuyashiki manor is a daunting affair. some douma okabe has certainly crossed paths with on missions, but to be standing among their ranks and counted among the greatest slayers is another matter entirely. is he even worthy to be here? it is a question that haunts him like a persistent storm cloud; his whole life he had been told he was better, blessed, merely for existing. was what he put forth on merit truly enough in this world uninsulated by the religious blatherings of a manipulative father?

He was bright, not the type of bright as Rengoku or even Uzui, they shun very vividly. His brightness was subtle, tranquil, even. Never did she think such things could go hand in hand. She wanted to be his friend! But missions were taking up a lot of her time, she didn’t even have time to write Iguro any letters, nor did she have enough time to tend to her bees. So when she returned and was allowed a few days to rest the first thing she did was take a nice walk, and bumped right into the moon hashira. Fate seems to be on their side.

“It was tough! I thought I was going to die every other second,” she beams almost too happily for such an answer, but her smile widens as she continues, “but he is remarkable.” Thinking back, she could recall the days they spent drilling sword swings into her head from dusk until dawn, the time they spent using her strength to her advantage- it was all so fun.

Hands rest in her lap as she sits beside her fellow swordsmen. “It was difficult. Some days I thought I’d starve before the day finished, other days I was surprised with my own achievements. He was an excellent teacher!”