Drabbles || GiyuShino

bluebells and stumbling hearts

Sometimes, the most delicate moments bloom amidst clumsiness and unexpected kisses.

--🦋--

The sun dipped low, casting a warm golden hue over the forest. Shinobu, the Insect Hashira, stepped lightly through the underbrush, her kimono trailing behind her like a fluttering butterfly. Her purpose was clear: to gather rare medicinal herbs that thrived near the babbling brook hidden deep within the ancient woods.

As she approached the water's edge, she noticed a figure already there—a tall, stoic man with a sword strapped to his back. Giyuu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, stood ankle-deep in the brook, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His presence surprised her; after all, he was usually as elusive as the moon on a cloudy night.

"Shinobu," Giyuu acknowledged her with a nod. "What brings you here?"

She smiled, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Collecting herbs, of course. What about you, Tomioka-san? Enjoying a refreshing dip?"

He scowled, his wet hair clinging to his forehead. "I'm investigating demon activity. But I suppose I can help you with your herbs."

Shinobu raised an eyebrow. "Really? The great Water Hashira assisting a mere insect lover? I'm honored."

Giyuu waded toward her, his boots slipping on the moss-covered rocks. "I'm not helping you because I want to. It's just—"

"—Your clumsy nature?" Shinobu interrupted, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes. "You're the Water Hashira, yet you stumble like a newborn fawn."

He flushed, his cheeks turning a delightful shade of pink. "I'm not—"

"Careful!" Shinobu pointed at a cluster of bluebell flowers growing near the water's edge. "Those are the ones I need. They're excellent for healing wounds."

Giyuu bent down, his fingers brushing against the petals. "Bluebells," he murmured. "I remember my sister used to pick these."

Shinobu's teasing expression softened. "Your sister… She must have been special."

He nodded, his gaze distant. "Yes. She was."

Together, they gathered herbs—the delicate white yarrow, the vibrant red valerian, and the elusive moonwort. Giyuu's fingers fumbled, and he nearly toppled into the brook more than once. Each time, Shinobu caught him, her laughter echoing through the trees.

"You know," she said, "you're lucky demons don't attack during herb-gathering missions. Otherwise, we'd be in trouble."

Giyuu scowled. "I can handle demons."

"But can you handle water?" Shinobu teased. "Seems like it's your greatest adversary."

He glared at her, and then, unexpectedly, he leaned in. His lips brushed against hers—a soft, fleeting kiss that left her breathless. When he pulled away, his eyes held a hint of vulnerability.

"Kocho," he whispered, "sometimes silence is better than stumbling words."

She blinked, her heart racing. "Tomioka-san …"

He didn't say anything more, but his hand found hers, and they continued gathering herbs, side by side. The brook babbled, the sun dipped lower, and in that quiet forest, they shared a secret—a stolen kiss that tasted of bluebells and promises.

And as the evening enveloped them, Shinobu decided that perhaps the Water Hashira wasn't so clumsy after all.

--🌊--