"It wasn't.. an order."
"Wind breathing... Third Form : Clean Strom Wind Tree."
She blows that attack to him—Caught him off guard. Not to hurt him, but to give her space—Moving him away.
She continues to block the demon. Trying to push it back. Acting like she has no intention to kill it, despite all the demons she had just took down like a mad beast.
The force of her Wind Breathing technique, sent Giyuu skidding backward, his feet dragging against the blood-soaked earth. His grip on his sword remained steady. But he didn't counter-attack. He could have. He should have. But something about the way she fought—the way she held back— made him hesitate.
She had cut down so many demons before this one, without hesitation, without mercy.
And yet... this one was different.
His sharp eyes narrowed.
"You're not trying to kill it."
It wasn't a question. It was an observation. A realization.
The demon snarled, its jagged claws swiping at her once more. But she didn't go for the kill. She deflected, redirected it, forced it back without ending its life.
His instincts told him to act—to finish the fight, to rid the world of another monster. But Giyuu was no fool. He knew what it looked like when someone hesitated. And she wasn't hesitating out of fear. It was something else. Something more dangerous. And that meant he couldn't walk away.
He exhaled, steadying himself. His voice quieter now, but firm.
"If you don't plan to kill it, then what do you plan to do?"
Because if she wasn't going to end this demon—he would.
"Stop you." — "Both of you."
"Shadow Breathing third form: Umbra pierce!" she said under her breath.
She hits demon's acupuncture points, disabling it. Before turning to strike him.
"I'm sorry.." she whispered before hitting his vital points with the hilt of her katana, passing him out.
She gathers her breath as darkness crept in at the edges of his vision.
His body, usually so quick to react, felt sluggish. He recognized the sensation instantly—his vital points had been struck with precise accuracy, his limbs refusing to obey. The last thing he saw before his consciousness slipped was her silhouette against the moonlit mist, carrying the demon. Trying to keep it away from the world.
"You don't know me, Water Hashira-sama."
Then, nothing.
~ ~ ~
When Giyuu woke, the night had deepened, the scent of blood long faded. His body was still stiff from the effects of her attack, but he forced himself to move, slow and controlled. The village was empty. She was gone. The demon was gone.
For a long moment, he simply sat there, staring at the space where she had stood.
Shadow Breathing.
A technique that shouldn't exist. A style he had never seen before. And yet, she wielded it as if she had spent years perfecting it. Not only that—she knew how to disable a demon, not kill it.
Why?
Giyuu's expression remained unreadable, but his mind was restless. He didn't understand her motives. He didn't understand her. But one thing was clear.
This wasn't the last time their paths would cross.
And next time—he wouldn't let her slip away so easily.
~~~
Days passed~
The cool morning mist hung over the training grounds, the scent of damp earth and flowing water filling the air. The steady sound of water rushing through the nearby streams blended with the murmurs of the gathered demon slayers. They stood in neat rows, their uniforms crisp. Today, they were to train under the Water Hashira, Giyuu Tomioka.
She was among them.
She stood near the back, her posture as composed as ever, but her presence felt different from the others. While most of the slayers showed determination or anticipation, she radiated something else—avoidance. Her gaze never once met his. In fact, since that night, she had made sure to stay out of his reach, slipping away at every possible moment.
But here, she had no choice.
Tomioka stood before them, his arms crossed over his haori. His gaze swept over the group, silent, unreadable, before finally settling on her. He didn't react. Didn't acknowledge their past encounter. But she could tell. He knew she was avoiding him. He knew, and yet, he had said nothing.
Until now.
"You'll be sparring."
The slayers exchanged glances, quickly choosing partners. Some whispered among themselves, excited or nervous about training with a Hashira. But as she quietly tried to shift away, to blend into the crowd, his voice cut through the air like a blade.
"You. With me."
Silence fell. Some of the slayers turned, curious. She stiffened, but didn't argue. She couldn't. Refusing would only draw more attention. With measured steps, she moved to stand across from him, her expression carefully neutral.
For the first time since that night, she was face to face with the Water Hashira.
His grip on his wooden sword was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, watching her with quiet intensity.
"Draw your blade."
She did, her grip steady, but her mind raced. He wasn't just training her. He was testing her. Watching. Waiting. Trying to understand.
And she knew—there was no running from this.