'You need to smile more'
'Wearing pants isn't ladylike'
'You have no reason to be distant'
'stop being so quiet'
'you're so emotionless' 'act normal'
'You have to be more trusting'
'why are you so cruel'
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People, strangers and acquaintances alike have always had something to say about me, a new flaw they insist on revealing, a mistake they feel needs to be known to the world. And each time that they chime in with their own little opinion, they top it off with one word, a saying that I've become accustomed to, and yet;- still hurt by every time.
"Coldhearted."
It feels like a wooden stake is plunged deep into me when I hear that word- it sticks with me everywhere I go and I hate it. Still, what gives me the right to complain? That's the key to describe me. I really am coldhearted, emotionally frozen, and one without sympathy. Some can rightfully say- the adjective fits the title I've been carrying for the last year now;
The Hashira, (Y,n) (l,n), the Ice Pillar.
Yes, I work alongside the Slayers at the very top of the skill rankings, but don't be mislead. I'm not all buddy-buddy with them. Ever since day one, I've made it clear I don't intend on becoming friends with them for... unmentionable reasons..., and they all respect my boundaries, for the most part. All of them- but one. Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar.
Saying I don't like him could be a compliment; I absolutely loathe the guy! I can't get him off my back, sometimes, it's like he's around every corner I turn, trying yet again to break my reserve. Trust me, he likes to try a lot. No matter how many times I've given him the cold shoulder, he always returns with that stupid bright smile of his.
Why is he so keen on getting to know me even though I knowingly resent him? I have no clue.
Describing Kyojuro to the best of my efforts, I can say he's everything I'm not. Skilled, almost always happy, liked by practically everyone, ... and kind hearted. Now, it's not like I'm jealous of him, oh heaven's no. I'm just aware that we're two completely different people. There is a saying that opposites attract, but if I'm being honest, I'd rather not attract the attention of anyone-
"-Please, leave my sister alone!!! She's never killed a human before!" Snapped like a twig, there goes my only other distraction. Here I am, met with failure again.
I irked my eyebrow out of annoyance as the voice of a pleading boy suddenly ripped me away from my trance, whipping me back into reality. The Kamado brother paid no attention to my bitterness, still bickering with Sanemi and the others who're against him in this ordeal. He would've frozen if he'd seen my sustain towards...
This mess.
If only they'd calm down for a moment... we'd probably get somewhere with all this, otherwise.
I almost managed to escape from the fact that we're having a trial to decide the fate of a warrior named Tanjiro Kamado, and his demon sister, Nezuko. Apparently, the older sibling has been harboring this girl ever since he became a Demon Slayer, which- undeniably breaks a lot of the rules that are set in stone. We're supposed to be killing demons, not the other way around. The blatant rules are nailed into the heads of these younger Slayers, and we STILL have deviants? Unbelievable.
The sudden news of this situation came nearly unannounced- I was having a good day until basically being dragged here by my crow's nagging.
At the time, I'm in between the two sides of the argument of if we should kill them or not. The only reason why I stand at the center of this crossroad is because I could not care less about the issue, if anyone couldn't already see my reluctance to participate.
Killing this, rebuttal that, everything has been going in convoluted circles that can't be grasped onto in time before another point is made. It shouldn't be this hard for us Hashira to make a decision. Yes; Tanjiro basically committed high treason against Demon Corps, but he only did it to protect his sibling. I can understand what thoughts were going through his head when he made the daring option to keep Nezuko safe.
On the contrary, that doesn't excuse the possibility of the girl harming someone. Travelling around with such a being while also protecting the very thing it eats is risky. I might be all wishy-washy about this, but even I have my views over the subject.
If you ask me, I'd say the other Hashira are overreacting about this, especially Sanemi. Ever since I've known him, he's always been rather.... aggressive with things. And now? Still exactly that.
He has his nichirin sword placed next to a mahogany box that he's holding up, which earlier was said bore the demon inside of it. He and the boy have been butting heads about the situation this entire time.
I'd back him up if I had the sympathy, considering his past. Though, is that really a good excuse to take this drastic of an action???
"You might say that she's never attacked humans, but what happens when this merciless monster betrays your word, and ends up devouring someone!? What'll you do then, cry about it?" The white-haired man tilted his hand up so that the point of his blade is directly on the wood, if he puts even a tiny bit more force in, the weapon will surely puncture the wood. The boy tied up on the ground twisted his face into frustration and looked ready to bark out yet another argument at my comrade, but it's not like I could care much for what he has to say anymore.
฿Ɇ₮Ɽ₳Ɏ₳Ⱡ. He's saying that the Kamado sister will forsake her older sibling for her own hungry wants. A damning word, it is. Those who associate with such an adjective are considered as low-life as menaces.
Sounds... have disappeared altogether from my psyche, leaving me in a storm of seething anger when Sanemi's words echoed throughout my mind. My fists clenched at my sides from the strain of my nerves, and my eyes slanted into a harsh glare forested towards the Wind Pillar.
A part of me snapped when he mentioned betrayal. Of all the word choices he could've made, and that's what he decides to say. Ignorant bastard. Like hell I'm letting it slide by.
My mouth opened all on it's own no refute from my mind, spilling out my words the moment my train of thought rationalized the speakings within my head. Why would I try to stop myself? I'm hellbent on the thought of telling him off, oh... so very hellbent...
~*Kyojuro's POV*~
"-Sanemi... put the box down..." It comes in the whisk of a cold breeze, words that brought a silence to a majority of us slayers. I glanced to my right from which that flat mumble ripped out through the air, her voice; the muse of the summer wind. Likewise, Tengen and Mitsuri did the same with expressions near identical to mine. Calm, but clear with the sense of surprise. Our ally didn't bother to glance at us, too occupied herself to acknowledge our reactions.
The Sound Pillar gave a gesture to me with his eyes towards (y,n) and put on a look of confusion. I was less hasty to return such a glance, insteads taking my time of gazing at the woman.
From where I tower (even in my crouched form), I can see she has a blank-dead expression on her face- like usual- but anyone who looks hard enough would catch the way her (e,c)-eyes are simmering, hellfires, blazing. She looks irritated. Pissed, even.
This... is (y,n). 'She's a sweet individual once you get to meet her'... is what I'd like to say when regarding her. (y,n) isn't much of a welcoming person-... wait, let me rephrase that, she's not a welcoming person. She makes it quite obvious on a constant that she'd rather be somewhere else besides with us Pillars... *ahem* especially to me. For how likable people say I am, I'm somehow the person who gets on her nerves the most. Hey, that hasn't stopped me from spending an entire year trying to become friends with her! Can I proudly state that my efforts have resulted in success???... No.
I looked back to the slayer at the front expectantly, though he continued on with no care. Even with her statement plainly heard among us Hashira, Sanemi offers notice. He's too caught up in the moment for her to be on his mind as well, rapt on his spree. He always has trouble snapping out of it when someone sets him off like this. When it involves demons, you can bet yourself that he'll be ready to pop his top off.
It's going to be a while before he actually comes to his senses, and with how quiet (y,n) can be sometimes, well... that won't help her case. Howbeit, I can catch his attention if she really needs someone to! The Ice Hashira has been dead quiet for the vast majority of this meeting, but if this is the moment where she does finally decide to pitch in her own opinions, then I'm more than willing to help her out!
But... it seems I don't have to
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Continue reading chapter one at Coldhearted, by 2spoons_ofpepper~