"I truly wonder if you enjoy causing me more trouble and making my life harder." Shinobu who was bandaging an individual said in tone that was far from her usual friendly and cheerful tone. It sounded normal, like she was having an conversation while sipping tea in evening but the way her smile was twitching. The way her brows were twitching made it clear that she wasn't in mood to have a normal conversation.
She was angry and most prominently worried.
The one who was being bandaged is our protagonist - Kenji Sato. He couldn't do anything except for just laying on the bed, being bandaged and getting a earful. "I don't enjoy troubling...you" His tone was weak, caused by injury he had on his left hand, the fracture in his ribs and a swollen eye. Despite the words she was using, her movements were gentle. Not wanting Kenji to feel even more pain.
Shinobu stopped her movements, her smile returned - Utterly devoid of warmth now. "Oh really?~ Then do tell me my love, why the fuck were you on rooftop fixing tiles when a kakushi could've done it? I'm not angry that you tried to help or fell and got injured but I'm angry that you tried to hide it from me. So bother explaining why you tried to hide it? Because I'm losing my patience here." Her movements, once gentle and careful became rough though still careful. Poking some places.
Kenji hissed in pain, gritting his teeth, momentarily forgetting how to breath before gasping. His chest heaves in need of oxygen. "Gentle gentle, it hurts!"
"Oh it does?~ Good. Pain is a good reminder, next time you'll be more careful, yes?" Her smile turned a bit sadistic, curving up and showing some teeth though she schooled her expression quickly. Done with bandaging his arm, she moves for his ribs.
"I wasn't being careless, it's just that I heard a scream from patient room and got startled." Kenji tried to reason with her, atleast his arm didn't get broken though it suffered some injuries. He didn't had any reaction when she removed his shirt, shinobu knew his body better than himself.
"Oh? Well that was just a patient refusing to take his medicine because it was bitter. Aoi is in charge of him so I don't have anything to worry." Shinobu replied, staring at the skin on his ribs. Purple, bruised and obviously fractured. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down but it was getting increasingly difficult.
It was rightful for her to get mad, she had tried and done everything in her power to ensure Kenji remains safe. Ever since childhood, Shinobu though bickered with him but was very protective of him. One of the very reasons why she was so protective of him was because of his weak physique, even weaker than her's and his naive plus kind method of approaching everything.
Because of his weak physique that just kept him strong enough to barely reach the criteria of average human, he never became a demon Slayer. Rather he became a medic at butterfly mansion under kanae kocho. Shinobu's protectiveness soon turned into love and that love turned into possessiveness, obsession, controlling, over protectiveness and overly affectionate when kanae passed.
After kanae's passing, shinobu became the master of butterfly mansion thus Kenji working under shinobu. Shinobu used her authority to give Kenji less and less work that required him to interact with other people or patients. Giving him more household chores so he wouldn't just stay still and form some unwelcomed thoughts.
And now this? Fractured ribs and injured arm? Not to the mention the swollen eyes. She felt a headache coming but tried to push it aside for now, bandaging him first.
---
She was done bandaging and giving him medicine. Currently Kenji was in her room, laying on her futon while shinobu was having an conversation with him. Yes, a normal conversation.
"Ne ne Kenji, do you ever dream of becoming a demon Slayer?" She asked out of nowhere..? Or atleast it seemed like because that question was carefully thought. Wanting to know if saki wanted to become a demon Slayer though she already knew the answer before asking but confirmation.
"Yes, I want to save people..." He knew that his words were laughable considering his situation, weak and injured. In past, he had seen some demon Slayer training and realized his body could never take that much toll. Even if he started from the beginning with very few exercises, his body just couldn't do it.
"My~ what noble thinking but you do know that demons won't show you any mercy right? They'll kill you the moment they see, some might even torture you. Your physique isn't even strong enough to carry a sword for more than an hour." It was clear what she was trying to do - Break his will to become a demon Slayer. As much as she wanted more people to be safe and not lose their family, she wouldn't do that at the risk of his life.
She knew the dangers and horrors of being a demon Slayer, one error or carelessness can lead to fatal injuries or lifetime disability, some might even lead to death. Imagining Kenji on death bed Sent shivers down her spine, dread spreading through her body. She couldn't outright reject him, that'll be disrespectful to the corps so she tried other methods.
Which were working.
"I know..." He murmured, looking at the ceiling. He knew his body wasn't strong enough but being called out so outright and bluntly did sting. "I know I'll be just a dead weight.."
Shinobu smile became strained, he was sad. Obviously. Maybe she went a bit too harsh with words? Probably but she needs to be cruel to keep him safe and secure.
She leans down and plants a kiss on his lips, just a peck before pulling back. "Don't worry your little brain with all that complicated stuff, just rest my love."
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First chapter done. It's small, i know but chapters in the future will be longer.