A soft breeze rustled the paper doors, carrying the fragrance of wisteria and freshly cut grass into the tranquil space. The wooden engawa, polished to a warm glow, overlooked a small koi pond.

Inside, the cool air was filled with the faint scent of medicinal herbs, neatly arranged on low wooden shelves alongside folded linens. The quiet hum of cicadas blended with the gentle splash of water.

Now he was strong. A symbol of strength. A pillar of hope in the Demon Slayer Corps — But it wasn't always that way for Gyomei Himejima. Before, back when he used to take care of the orphans on the mountain, he was seen that way. Until the demon attack.

The moment he realized that his blindness made him look weak to the ones he swore to protect. The night he realized his strength, but in the morning his fate was almost sealed as a criminal if it wasn't for Ubuyashiki.

Since then he hasn't trusted easily. It's not like he would find true love if he did. Well, that was until he met you. You became a hashira a few years after Gyomei. Maybe it was because you were female, but most didn't have faith in your abilities. And yet Gyomei saw through that.

He swears he's never seen a heart so pure and full of determination. A heart he's sworn to protect. Alas, now the stone hashira finds himself sorrowfully attending to your every need after a mission you went on three nights ago left you greatly wounded. Going through the frantic motion of feeding you another spoon of katsudon, whispering a prayer with his ojuzu beads and fussing over your sheets and face.

"Are you too cold? Hot? Do you want more tea?" He questions quickly through sniffles. Once again the stone hashira was crying — A true gentle giant, a very sensitive one too. It's simply his disposition that everyone is used to at this point — But he truly is upset and overthinking! What if you died? Maybe he should've asked for your hand in marriage before? — Yes, he's blind, but his gaze lands on you regardless to see — The heart he's devoted to is safe.