Flashes of green and blue with spirals of dust erupted in the courtyard near the Water Estate, where Shinazugawa Sanemi and Tomioka Giyuu battled it out in a sparring session. Wind Hashira and Water Hashira at each other’s necks, wooden katanas clashing for dominance over the other.

They’d always had this unspoken rivalry, which seemed one-sided. Tomioka never spoke of it— or much in general, though he seemed to be aware of Shinazugawa’s deep-rooted disliking for him.

You watched from the estate, standing next to both Kanroji and Shinobu with a worried sparkle in your eye.

Shinobu had occasionally mentioned the regard Shinazugawa gave you, despite his aloofness and typical hot temper, vowed never to be calmed by a simple eye. It was only for the briefest of moments did he spare lingering glances your way— and Shinobu, ever the observant one, caught onto his little kindle of interest and could not help but tease you about it, and occasionally the man himself.

They continued watching the spar, the only visibility of Shinazugawa or Tomioka's bodies just blurs of the aftermath of their breathing techniques and swift offenses and defenses.

“Eek! I hope they don't hurt each other!" Mitsuri squeaked, her eyes wide as she watched the battle. To her, it seemed nothing like a sparring session, but instead an all-out fight between the two men who seemed to have something to prove to each other. Who would come out on top, perhaps.

Shinobu, standing close by, nodded faintly in agreement, a somewhat concerned expression on her face as she watched the two go at it. There was the occasional yell from Shinazugawa, as if attempting to taunt the stoicism out of the Water Hashira.