Confession of identity
The gate to Tomioka's residence closed behind him with a soft click. Shiro stood in the center of the courtyard, watching Giyuu turn to face her. The afternoon sun filtered through the wisteria trellis, casting dappled shadows on his haori.
"Now," Yiyong's voice was calm but unyielding, "tell me the truth."
Bai's fingertips dug deep into her palms. She lowered her head, her silver hair obscuring her expression.
"I... am indeed not an ordinary human." Her voice was so soft that it almost disappeared in the wind. "But I am not a demon like Nezuko."
Yiyong didn't say anything, just waited quietly.
"I was abandoned in the snow when I was born, and it was Muzan who picked me up." Bai's voice began to tremble. "Because I have rare blood, he kept me captive... Mr. Kokushibo taught me swordsmanship... Until I was eleven years old, I witnessed the Upper Two eating people..."
She spoke in fragments, from the time she was transformed into a demon due to a persistent high fever, to the three years she spent in the laboratory, to Kokushibo's help and escape. Every word seemed to be torn from her throat.
"I'm not afraid of sunlight... nor am I controlled by Muzan... so he has always wanted to use me to become a perfect life..."
When she finally finished, the courtyard fell into a dead silence. She didn't dare look up at Yiyong's expression, for fear of seeing disgust and murderous intent in those blue eyes.
"Why did you hide it?" After a long moment, Yiyong finally spoke. His voice remained calm, yet it carried a hint of emotion Bai had never heard before.
Tears finally couldn't be held back and fell. Bai raised his head, his dark pupils filled with tears.
"Because I'm scared!" Her voice was filled with tears. "I'm scared of being hated, scared of being abandoned, scared that you'll treat me like the Wind Pillar treated Nezuko... I'm even more scared that you'll regret taking me in and teaching me..."
She was so choked up that she could barely speak. "When I met you at the tomb of Xuantu... that was when I was most desperate. It was you who gave me a place to stay and a reason to keep living... If even you hate me, then I..."
A pair of warm hands gently pressed against her shoulders. Bai looked up in surprise, meeting Yiyong's deep eyes. There was no disgust or murderous intent, only a tenderness she had never seen before.
"I won't hate you." Yiyong's voice was low and firm, "nor will I abandon you."
Bai looked at him in disbelief: "But... I'm a ghost..."
"You are Shiro Ujiji." Giyu's fingers tightened slightly, "You are my stepson."
Those words brought tears to Shiro's eyes again, but this time, they were tears of relief.
"Besides," Giyuu continued, his gaze slightly averted, a faint red tinge to the tips of his ears, "you are...very important to me."
Bai stared at him blankly, his heart beating violently because of these words.
"Giyuu-senpai..."
"From the moment you followed me back through the snow," Giyuu whispered, "you've become a part of my life."
The sun shone through the flower stand onto the two of them, and the fragrance of wisteria filled the air. Bai looked into Yiyong's eyes, which were always calm and peaceful, but now reflected her figure clearly.
She took a step forward and rested her forehead on Yiyong's chest. This action made Yiyong's body stiffen slightly, but soon, his hand gently fell on her silver hair.
"I won't let anyone hurt you." Yiyong's voice came from above his head, "Including myself."
Bai closed her eyes, feeling the hard-earned warmth. She knew that from now on, she no longer had to bear this secret alone. There was someone who was willing to accept all of her—including her dark past and this incomplete self.
A gentle breeze blew through the courtyard, and wisteria petals gently fluttered down. On this quiet afternoon, two lonely hearts finally found their home.
A few days later, in the courtyard of the Butterfly House, Tanjiro was carefully helping Nezuko practice walking. When Bai's figure appeared in the corridor, Tanjiro immediately smiled brightly:
"Sister Bai! You're here!"
Nezuko also made a cheerful "Mmmmm" sound and staggered towards Shiro. This caught Shiro off guard - since that day, she thought Tanjiro would be afraid of her or alienate her.
"Tanjiro...you..." Shiro started hesitantly.
"Mr. Tomioka told me everything!" Tanjiro's voice was still full of energy. "He said that Shiro-nee is special. Like Nezuko, they are both demons who work hard to protect humans!"
Bai was stunned. She didn't know what Giyuu had said to Tanjiro, but the innocent and kind boy had obviously accepted this explanation completely.
Nezuko gently pulled at Bai's sleeve and looked at her expectantly with her pink eyes. Bai's heart softened and she reached out to touch Nezuko's head.
"Want to play together today?" Tanjiro invited enthusiastically. "Miss Shinobu said Nezuko needs more exercise!"
In this way, Shiro began to spend most of her time at the Butterfly House. She discovered that Tanjiro had an amazing sense of smell, but never asked for more details about the "ghost smell" on her. Nezuko was particularly close to her, always following her like a little tail.
One afternoon, Shinobu Kocho came to the courtyard with some medicinal tea. Looking at Bai who was playing with Nezuko, she smiled and said:
"It's incredible. Ever since you guys arrived, the Butterfly House has become so lively."
Shiro looked nervously at the always smiling Insect Pillar. But Shinobu simply placed a cup of tea in front of her.
"Don't be so nervous. Mr. Giyuu specifically asked me to take good care of you."
"Giyu-senpai, he...?"
"Yeah." Shinobu's smile became more meaningful. "Mr. Tomioka, who never likes to talk, actually came to me just for you."
Bai held the warm teacup, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.
As Shiro spent more time at the Butterfly House, she gradually got to know the other Pillars. When Wind Pillar Fuzugawa Minami first saw her, he simply snorted and turned away, but at least he didn't draw his sword. Flame Pillar Rengoku Kyojuro, on the other hand, showed great enthusiasm for her, loudly inviting her to train with him.
What surprised Bai the most was that she became the mediator between Giyuu and the other pillars.
Once when he encountered the Snake Pillar Iguro Obanai at the headquarters, Bai mustered up the courage to speak:
"Mr. Iguro, Giyuu-senpai actually respects everyone... He's just not good at expressing it..."
Iguro raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly, "Tomioka actually has such a considerate stepson."
When Kasumi-Hiroshi Tokito asked in bewilderment, "Who is Tomioka?", Shiro patiently explained, "It's Water-Hiroshi Giyuu-sempai, who once taught me swordsmanship."
Gradually, Bai noticed a subtle change in the other pillars' attitudes towards Giyu. Although Giyu himself was still taciturn, at least now when he showed up at the pillar meeting, someone would take the initiative to greet him.
One evening, Shiro and Giyu were walking back to Tomioka's house. The setting sun stretched their shadows very long.
"Tanjiro and Nezuko...both like you very much." Giyu suddenly spoke.
Bai nodded gently: "They are very kind children."
After a moment's silence, Yiyong said softly, "Thank you."
Bai looked at him suspiciously.
"My relationship with the other pillars..." Giyuu looked off into the distance, "It's much better than before."
Bai smiled and shook his head: "It's because Senior Yiyong is very respected. It's just that people didn't understand you before."
Giyu didn't answer, but Bai noticed that the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
As night falls, the lights of Tomioka's house appear particularly warm in the darkness. Bai knows that this hard-earned peaceful life needs their joint protection. And now, she finally has the courage to protect it all.
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