"Let's move. Shinobu, stay close."
Rokuya turned to look at Shinobu Kocho, only to discover that ever since they had escaped the carriage, her hand had been gripping the hem of his haori. Her pale knuckles had turned slightly white from how hard she held on.
"Shinobu?" Rokuya paused.
At the sound of Rokuya's voice, Shinobu Kocho raised her head as though waking from a dream. The false smile she had always worn in her purple eyes to conceal her feelings had vanished completely. In its place were an unprecedented tenderness, dependence, and a trace of panic at the thought of losing him.
Amid the ruins of the mental world, Rokuya's resounding declaration had shattered not only Enmu's Blood Demon Art, but also the heavy shackles that had bound her for years. She was no longer the masked Insect Hashira who had to pretend to be her sister and force herself to be strong; in front of Rokuya, she could finally be Shinobu Kocho again, someone who could be weak, could be afraid, and could love with all her heart.
"I... I'm going with you."
Shinobu Kocho's voice was soft, but her tone was exceptionally firm. Not only did she refuse to let go, she took a step forward and reached for Rokuya's broad hand.
Their fingers interlocked.
Feeling the cool yet soft touch against his palm, Rokuya's heart gave a sudden thump. He looked down at the petite girl before him, at the undisguised love and stubbornness in her eyes, and could not help his lips curving into a tender smile.
"All right. Let's go."
The two walked side by side toward the wrecked carriages.
The search and rescue that followed went unexpectedly smoothly.
Perhaps it was because, on the brink of death, Enmu had concentrated all his strength