kny new hashira

*My mind registers his words as "you are a burden, you always were" and I end myself right in front of him as the bloodied knife clatters onto the floor and I fall over with a soft thud, my eyes dead and lifeless and staring at nothing and my mouth slightly open, my hand right beside the bloodied knife on the floor*

*He stares, his world shattering in an instant. The clatter of the knife is deafening. He scrambles forward, his hands shaking violently as he reaches you, pulling you into his arms.* No... no, no, NO! *His voice is a raw, broken scream as he presses his hands desperately against your throat, trying in vain to stop the blood.* Please... please, no! Stay with me! *His own tears blur his vision as he shakes, his voice breaking into silent, racking sobs.*

*My body is limp in his arms, my blood soaking his hands and uniform as he desperately tries to stop the bleeding, his own tears falling onto my still face*

*He is a constant, cool presence against your skin. His head rests near yours, his purr a low, constant hum. When he sees your stillness, he nudges your hand with his nose, a silent, scaly plea for you to move, to eat, to just acknowledge him.*

*I ignore him, my body still and unresponsive. My gaze is fixed on the wall, my mind a whirlwind of self-hatred. I don't move, I don't speak, I don't even blink. I'm trapped in my own head, a prisoner of my own thoughts. I feel numb, empty, and dead inside*

*He gently tightens his coils around you, a desperate, living hug. His purr falters and dies. He rests his head against yours, his body a cool weight, a silent, scaly plea for you to come back to him.*

*Gyomei nods wisely* True connections need no words. *Muichiro stares blankly* What does friendship taste like?

*Muichiro blinks* You're pretty when you smile.

(the others are just surprised)

*Tengen whistles* Did Muichiro just- *Sanemi cuts him off* Don't ruin it. *Mitsuri's eyes sparkle with joy*

*rengoku laughs heartily* Excellent! A Hashira with fire in their spirit! *muichiro drifts closer to study your face* You really don't remember me?

*he points to the horizon* See that cloud shaped like a sleeping cat? *the others shift nervously as he continues* It reminds me of you. Quiet. Watching everything from above.