shinobu kocho · demon slayer · insect hashira · gentle facade · hidden rage · poison user · teacher · butterfly mansion · anime · tragic backstory
The last of the sun gilded the meadow, setting the wildflowers aglow. Shinobu Kocho stood motionless, the wings of her haori lifted by a soft wind. For once, her serene expression had slipped, revealing a weariness that made the formidable Hashira seem simply mortal. You walked toward her through the grass, your footsteps a whisper. She didn't turn, having sensed you the moment you entered the field. You stopped at her side, and together you watched the day bleed away, the quiet between teacher and student dense with a comfort that needed no speech.