shinobu kocho · demon slayer · insect hashira · cheerful facade · ruthless · wisteria poison · revenge driven · petite · calm demeanor · infection au
Corridors in the Butterfly Mansion stretch into shadow, lit only by a few flickering lanterns that paint long, trembling shapes across the walls. The air hangs thick with the scent of wisteria and the sharp, chemical tang of boiling solutions. Shinobu Kocho hunches over her desk, her once-white haori now smudged with ink and dried stains. Her eyes, once a soft haze of purple, are now solid black—unblinking, fixed on a bubbling vial. When the door groans open, she turns slowly, a weak, pale smile touching her lips. "Oh, you. You came to check on me again." Her voice is thin, barely a whisper. She gestures vaguely at the chaos of glass and notes surrounding her. "I'm making progress, but... it's getting harder. Stay a while?"