24. Comfort

Hana was guided by a Kakushi and Aoi into a quiet, sunlit room within the Butterfly Estate. The faint scent of herbs hung in the air, soft footsteps echoing across polished wooden floors.

The Kakushi lingered by the door, silent and watchful, ready should they be needed. Hana sat quietly on the bed, her hands folded in her lap, gaze distant. She only flinched back into the moment when Aoi's touch brushed her arm.

The warm water stung like fire against her raw cuts. She hissed softly, shoulders tensing.

"Don't worry," Aoi murmured, her voice steady yet gentle. "It'll feel better soon."

Hana nodded, wordless but grateful.

Gently, Aoi cleaned away the dried blood, applied salve, and wrapped her wounds with careful precision. When the last bandage was secured, Hana exhaled a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Relief swept over her like a quiet tide.

----

The next room was far less serene. The moment Hana stepped inside, she was met with the familiar sound of shrieking and wailing.

"FIVE TIMES?!" Zenitsu cried, his voice cracking as his arms flailed wildly.

"Five times?!" he repeated in panic. "I've gotta take this medicine five times a day? And for three whole months?! If I take this, I won't be able to eat anything it's so bitter! This is torture! Wait- are you seriously saying my limbs will heal with just this medicine? Are they really going to heal? Somebody give me a thorough explanation!"

Hana blinked at the scene, lips parting in surprise.

Behind her, Aoi's sighed. "He's still going on?" she muttered, arms crossed. She strode forward.

"We've explained this a hundred times! If you don't quiet down, we'll tie you up!" Her tone was stern, though weariness edged through. Shaking her head, she marched off, muttering under her breath.

Zenitsu froze in place, tears still streaming down his cheeks, shoulders sagging. That was when Hana stepped closer.

"Zenitsu," she called softly but firmly.

His head snapped up. "Hana-chan!" He practically lunged for her, clutching at her hand like a lifeline. "You came!"

Her eyes softened. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

"Yes!" Zenitsu wailed, tears bubbling again. "I got stung by a disgusting spider! The poison was horrible! And that scary girl kept yelling at me! I thought I was gonna die!"

"So you did come up the mountain after all!" She said with a soft smile.

She crouched, meeting his panicked gaze. Her voice was low, soothing.
Hey... shh. It's alright now. You're safe. "You'll be fine, I promise," she whispered, gently patting his head.

"Also, d-did you...get smaller or something?" Hana asked, concerned.

"I almost got turned into a spider. My arms and legs are really short right now," he admitted miserably.

Her brows furrowed. "...You almost turned into a spider?"

Zenitsu nodded. "Almost! My poor body."

Hana gave a faint sigh of relief. "I see. What about Inosuke? And Murata?"

"I don't know any Murata," Zenitsu grumbled, sulking. "But Inosuke's right here."

Following his gaze, Hana spotted Tanjiro at the bedside, Inosuke swathed in bandages beside him.

"Tanjiro... Inosuke..." she murmured.

"Hana." Despite the strain in his face, Tanjiro managed a small smile. "I'm fine, don't worry."

"I'm fine too," Inosuke muttered abruptly, though his voice was oddly subdued. It startled her.

Leaning closer, Zenitsu whispered conspiratorially, "I heard he lost his voice or something. I don't know everything, but he got hit on his neck. And when he yelled at the top of his lungs at the end, that finished it off.

"He's so depressed now, it's made him so gentle and it really cracks me up!" Zenitsu let out an eerie giggle.

Hana blinked, then laughed softly despite herself. "Why are you laughing like that?"

But Inosuke suddenly muttered, "I'm sorry... for being so weak."

Tanjiro's eyes widened. "Hang in there, Inosuke! You were amazing you fought so hard!"

"Yeah! Don't say that!" Zenitsu said.

"Yes, Inosuke," Hana added gently, her voice firm but warm. "You're not weak! Don't doubt yourself."

The room quieted. Inosuke turned his face away, hiding his expression, but Hana caught the faint tremor in his shoulders.

----

When she finally stepped out of the Butterfly Estate, she saw Tomioka Giyuu standing outside.

He stood quietly, as always, his expression calm and unreadable. Yet, for Hana, his presence felt gentle and comforting.

"Tomioka-san..." Hana's voice softened. Warmth bloomed in her chest at the sight of him.

He lifted his gaze and met hers. For a moment, she felt her heart flutter.

"I... I just wanted to-" Hana began, then paused, realizing words weren't enough to capture what she felt. Instead, she closed the distance between them and stopped a few feet away.

"I... I just wanted to thank you," she muttered.

"Back then...when you met Nezuko... you could have killed her. You didn't have to spare her, but you did. You gave us a chance...you guided us...and you even put yourself at risk," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Her fists clenched at her sides, resolve burning in her eyes. "I promise you, I'll protect her. I'll fight with everything I have. Because you believed in us."

Hana hesitated for a moment, looking up at Giyuu.

Then, as if sensing her emotions, he stepped closer. His hand moved gently, resting on her head, giving a light, comforting pat.

"You're strong," he said quietly. "Stronger than you realize."

Hana's breath hitched, tears started rolling down her cheeks as her voice broke into soft, hiccupping sobs.

Caught off guard, Giyuu's eyes widened, startled. He didn't want her to cry, worrying he might have said something wrong.

"H-Hana...?" he murmured, low and unsure, his hand hesitating just above her shoulder.

Hana sniffled and leaned slightly into his touch, seeking comfort.

"You... you believed in us... in me...in Nezuko...even when it could've cost you your life..." she whispered through trembling lips. "I...I don't know how to thank you..."

"Y-you... don't have to," he murmured, a foreign feeling fluttering in his heart.

She tilted her head, gathering courage.

"Tomioka-san... about what Shinobu-san said in the forest... that people dislike you..." Her voice caught slightly as she looked up, meeting his calm, deep eyes. "That's not true. I... I like you, Tomioka-san. A lot."

For a brief moment, Giyuu froze, startled by her words. A faint warmth tugged at him a feeling he wasn't used to.

"I...I see," he murmured, his voice calm.

"We're good friends, right?" Hana asked cheerfully with a hopeful smile.

"Friends," he said, a faint smile appearing on his face, a foreign feeling fluttering in his heart.

From the corner, a certain Love Hashira squeaked happily, clasping her hands together.

"Aww! How adorable!" she whispered, bouncing on her toes. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Hana and Giyuu.

----

"Hana!"

Aoi's sharp voice cut through the night. She stormed across the courtyard, hands on her hips. "What do you think you're doing out here? You're supposed to be resting!"

"I...I just needed some air-" Hana started.

"No excuses." Aoi seized her wrist and tugged firmly. "Back inside. Now."

Hana wilted under the scolding, letting herself be dragged like a guilty child. But when Giyuu's voice called softly after her-

"Hana."

She glanced back at him, caught between Aoi's grip and the pull of his words.

"I'll come see you."

She froze, glancing back. "...You will?" she asked softly.

He gave a simple nod.

Her lips curved into a small smile, even as Aoi huffed and tugged her away.

----

That night, for the first time in a long while, Giyuu slept with a smile on his face, his thoughts consumed by a certain girl.