103 Well Deserved Visit

[Kept you waiting, huh?]

Hiroto was currently in the recovery room of Zenitsu and Inosuke and catching up with the two of them. After the final battle with Muzan, everyone look had a look as though they were rejuvenated, as though a heavy boulder was lifted off their shoulders.

After having a brief chat, Hiroto left the room under the reverent eyes of the other 3 demon slayers within the room. Gradually the hustle and bustle within the Butterfly Estate started to calm down, as there weren't any more people clinging on to dear life.

Walking down a hallway and turning the corner, Hiroto came before a door and lightly knocked on it, waiting for a response.

"Come in." The voice of Shinobu came from the other side of the door, warming Hiroto's heart. Pushing the door open, Hiroto saw the sight of Shinobu laying in the bed in white clothing for the patients of the Butterfly Estate, smiling brightly at him.

There were bandages all over her body, but those were merely for the cuts and scratches she received. The main source of her pain was her lungs, since the fight with Doma and his Ice Demon Arts.

Hiroto gave a smile of relief and took a spare share from the side to sit next to her bed. Shinobu held her hand out, indicating for him to take it, which he obliged.

Holding her hand, Hiroto asked her, "How are you feeling? Are you still in pain?"

Shinobu caressed the top of his hand with her own and shook her head, saying, "Not anymore. I only get some pain in my chest if I breathe too roughly. Besides, you don't need to worry about me so much, I'm the doctor here, remember?"

"You're more like a patient now instead," Hiroto said with a chuckle, to which Shinobu raised an eyebrow.

"Ara? Are you really one to tell me that? Look at you, walking around like nothing's wrong. Do I have to remind you that people saw you missing limbs, only for you to regain them back?" Shinobu said with some tension in her tone. Although happy to see him here, she was still worried and mad at him for leaving his sickbed only 2 days of recuperation.

Hiroto sighed and said, "It's alright now. Look at me, I practically look no different than before the fight against Muzan. I'm more worried about you, especially after hearing what you did to your own body." After that final sentence, Hiroto frowned.

Shinobu looked down with a sad smile on her face, saying in a quiet voice, "I didn't expect to come out of it alive. I was ready to sacrifice myself."

Hiroto frowned even further, but soon relaxed as he felt Shinobu's hand trembling in his.

Sighing, Hiroto held her hand tightly and said, "What you did, was stupid. I won't ever deny that. It was reckless and stupid. I know that you wanted to sacrifice yourself and whatnot, but you could have relied on us more. Besides, now that this is all over we need to do something with all of that poison inside of your body."

Shinobu struggled for a second, her eyebrow-raising and falling until she calmed herself down, replying in a quiet and timid voice that was unlike her. "Sorry…"

Hiroto nodded and moved closer to her bed, wrapping his arm around her head, bringing her into his shoulder. Shinobu reacted and rounded her arms around his waist, not saying anything. The two stayed in that position for a while, occasionally talking about small tidbits happening around the Butterfly Estate and what to do for the future.

To this, Hiroto told her to be with him, to which she agreed in an instant. Before leaving, Hiroto gave her a parting kiss and left to find Kanao. However, before he could enter he found out that she was currently sleeping, so he didn't want to bother her recovery.

Hiroto went back to his room and changed into his Hashira outfit. In the corner of his room lay is ripped and torn Haori. How it was even found, who knows? Fitting the spare monocle that he got from Shinobu once more onto his left eye. Looking for his sword, Hiroto thought for a second but decided against taking it with him.

Hiroto silently left the Butterfly Estate, leaving a single note behind in case people were to raise a fuss about his going missing.

Escaping the premises, Hiroto took a deep breath and let it out in one go, feeling his body getting lighter, as well his spirit. Putting a hand on his left hip, Hiroto froze as he felt the missing sword strange to him.

With a wry smile on his face, Hiroto shook his head, muttering to himself, 'With Muzan gone, there's no point in me carrying around a sword anymore. '

Shaking his thought away, Hiroto moved and went towards the premises of the Flame Estate. Along the way, he saw numerous Kakushi and Demon Slayers going about their business, either under orders from the few conscious Hashira's or Kiriya Ubuyashiki himself.

Many people along the way recognized him, bowing to him constantly with tears streaking their faces in gratitude. Hiroto was held up for more than an hour as the number of people that wanted to thank him was practically overwhelming.

Slowly but surely, Hiroto finally made it to the Flame Estate, where he could see people still running around like headless chickens inside trying to go about their jobs after the few days of celebration, grief, and jubilation they had.

Hiroto smiled and instead of entering the main estate, he circled around the back and entered the backyard, where the Hashira mark training occurred. Seeing the obstacle courses and empty training grounds, Hiroto had mixed feelings about them.

On the one hand, it felt empty and lonely, but on the other hand, it meant that they were finally free of their duties, having performed the sole purpose of the Demon Slayers.

There were still traces of equipment having been left behind haphazardly since the attack of Muzan commenced, with the urgency of the situation forcing everyone to abandon their posts and rush to fight against Muzan's forces.

Hiroto was then pulled out of his reminiscing, as a cacophony of shuffling noises interrupted him from behind. Turning around, he could see dozens of Kakushi and Demon Slayers watching Hiroto silently, sometimes whispering to one another.

Having seen him turn around, everyone paused for a moment, then bowed deeply as one. No words were said, as they all merely bowed in silence, with Hiroto silently watching them. The low setting sun reflected behind his figure, casting a soft and warm glow around him, highlighting his red hair mixed with purple strands.

Hiroto knew that he didn't need to say anything, same with the others. With that, Hiroto turned back around and walked away, only to stop just as he was near the entrance to the estate, saying, "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's get back to work."

"Yes sir!" Everyone shouted at once, lifting their upper body and scattering to resume their duties. Hiroto walked past the various hallways of the Flame Estate and entered his office.

The various paperwork that he never finished lied scattered around the table. Everything was still left untouched, except for the single wrapped box on his table wrapped in a colorful cloth.

Tilting his head, Hiroto went behind his desk and sat down, looking over the wrapped box in front of him. There was a folded letter leaning on it. Grabbing it, Hiroto folded the letter open and read it's contents.

-----------------------

Did you think you could escape without me knowing?

Knowing you, you would probably rush back to work despite having just recovered and forget to even eat again, so I had some dinner prepared for you. You better come back the moment the sunsets.

Shinobu

(P.S. Just because I'm still recovering in bed doesn't mean I can't punish you…)

Hiroto put the letter down and moved the box to the side. He then leaned over his desk and clasped both hands, resting them in front of his mouth as a solemn atmosphere descended on him.

"It seems I was found out," Hiroto said. Looking to the side of the room, he saw that the window was partly left open, which would explain how this bento got in here without the other Kakushi or Demon Slayer informing him beforehand. Shinobu probably got someone to sneak in and leave his bento here.

Shaking away his bad premonitions of punishment when he returned, Hiroto smiled and thanked the two girls in his heart before diving into his work. There were still remnants of straggling Demons around the country, none of them should be of the Upper Moon Level, but there might be one or two Lower Moon that managed to burrow and hide somewhere.

With that, Hiroto dove back into his work, sending various orders and messages to the other Kakushi and Demon Slayers around Headquarters as well as to those out on missions. Without him knowing, night descended, but compared to the past he was no longer as guarded since the threat of Muzan going around and turning others into Demons is a thing of the past.