(Requested)

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"You're ridiculous." I sighed softly as the Sound Pillar cried out, feigning hurt. Deciding to ignore his childish antics, I started to walk away, annoyed by his sudden intrusion in my meditation spot. All I wanted to do in the early mornings was have a little peace of mind, but then this blockhead decides to barge in and scream about how it wasn't "flamboyant" enough. My eyes were on the verge of bugging out and my lips were clamped together to prevent any foul language from seeping out.

"This isn't flamboyant at all!" Uzui complained, picking at the reeds and examining the various weeds that spread through the undergrowth. Shaking my head, I didn't respond to him and stared straight ahead, determined to get away from this lug. I didn't know how he managed to score three wives, but he must have treated them differently when trying to court them. The Sound hashira moaned in discontent, trailing me like a lost puppy.

"(Y/N)-" I wheeled around and put a finger to his lips calmly, effectively shutting him up. 

"Don't call me that." Taking back my hand, I continued to advance forwards, maintaining a relatively fast pace. Tengen refused to relent, and kept following me, much to my displeasure. 

I don't know why he chose me of all people to pursue, especially when my ways of working were basically the opposite of his. Instead of being flashy, I chose to keep quiet, to not show-off and recklessly move about. Silence is where I found my nirvana, and I intended to keep it that way, much to the displeasure of the Sound Pillar. I spoke quietly, got along with most people, and could hold my words well. 

The Earth herself rarely spoke. To me, actions had more meaning than just plain words. Anyone could build grand palaces using the art of language, but not everyone knows how to weave a fine tapestry for a story. Nature spoke in tremors -- the mighty earthquakes that shook the ground beneath us -- or in whispers of wind that rustled the trees. 

She let in the sound of the stars into her atmosphere, their heavenly voices gracing gracing our ears with silent songs. When the moon shone overhead, it served as a reminder for us that the sun was still alive. What levity it brought to our cold little land! Burning and glowing to satiate the human need for light. To truly live, is to appreciate the little things our Earth provides us with, and how it nurtures us. 

Tengen Uzui was by far one of the farthest from understanding this. His head was too far up his ass in his "flamboyant" bullshit. Personally, I was getting tired of his persona and desperately wanted a break from all the annoyance. But now all I could do was hear him behind me, and bear with the pain just a little longer.

And it wasn't like I didn't like him, I truly had feelings for him, but he needed to learn what personal space was. I wanted to be with him, I really did, but his manners needed to be spiffed up. There was a future where we could've been together happily.

But not like this.

"You need some flamboyance in your life! You're always too mild," he whined, catching up to my pace with ease, "C'mon, why don't I give you a makeover?-" Furrowing my eyebrows, I think I had enough. Turning to him, I gently folded my hands together, a sickly sweet smile adorning my features. I stopped walking, standing there on the balls of my feet.

"How am I supposed to look humble when I have a makeover?" Uzui shrugged, clearly flabbergasted by my denial of his offer. The rhinestones hanging from his blinged-out shinobi mask glinted in the sunlight, making me squint. His flashy grin did no better to not blind me.

"C'mon, (Y/N)." 

I had enough. This conversation was over a long time ago. 

Sighing, I glared at the Sound Pillar with all the spite I had built up for him. He visibly flinched, eyes flaring and pupils shrinking. The haughty demeanor that was plastered on his face was suddenly wiped away, replaced by confusion and a little bit of fear. He was probably wondering what he did wrong. Oh, to be blinded by your own pride and ego.

"Just leave me alone."

After I said it, I cleared my mind, leaving the thought of the Sound Pillar behind me. I would be lying if I said I didn't feel a bit of remorse, but with a pest constantly bothering me, I couldn't concentrate. As a hashira, he should've known better. We all have a duty, and he was getting in the way of mine.

Turning my back on him, I started to walk away as Tengen stood in place, stunned. It was the first time I'd upright rejected him with a harsh tone. He knew that I was at my limit, but what logic did he go by to keep pressing me like that? Shaking my head, I focused my attention on the training I would do once I reached the estate.

Ridiculous.

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A week passed and Uzui still hasn't said anything to me. He was unusually quiet, even in the meeting that was held. Everyone had noticed he wasn't talking as much, and that it had something to do with the bitterness our relationship held. It seemed as if a layer of ice had been cast over his usual personality, leaving a semi-empty shell of the man he used to be behind. Of course, he still had spunk, but sometimes it seemed fake.

Even Giyuu had spoken to me about Tengen, saying that although the Sound Pillar was completing his training as usual, maybe even improving, he was worried about his mental health. 

"Whatever is going on between you two needs to fix itself," the Water Pillar stated, sternly regarding me, "I know he's been pursuing you, and you've ranted to me about being annoyed and such, but this situation needs to be over with. There are better things to tend to, and we can't risk your 'falling-apart' getting in the way of defeating Muzan." 

Presently, I was on my way to Uzui's room right after he was done eating. I always saw him go directly to the woods to train after he ate, so it was odd to try and find him inside. Sneaking across the floor, I cracked open his door and peered inside my head slowly popping into the space. 

"Uzui," I softly called, knocking gently on the door frame, "It's me." The hashira turned his head, wide eyes staring at my figure slipping into the room. Apologetically looking into his irises, I could tell that something wasn't quite right. Pacing towards him, I saw his muscles tense as I got closer. Biting the inside of my cheek, I cursed at myself for handling the situation so immaturely. 

Easing myself down in front of him, I gingerly perched a hand on his shoulder, a small smile curling the edges of my lips upwards, the look reaching my eyes. Tengen seemed to calm down a bit, as I could feel his heartbeat gradually slowing. I parted my lips to speak, gaze locked onto his.

"I'm sorry," I said, fingers slightly curling around his shoulder, "I shouldn't have acted like that. It was irrational." To my surprise, Uzui laughed bitterly and took my hand, lifting it off and setting it onto the ground. His fuchsia eyes glinted with hints of sadness, a disappointed mist settling over his shiny irises. Pressing my lips together into a thin line, I furrowed my eyebrows, preparing for his response.

"You don't have to apologize. I understand. I thought about it for some time and I need to just stop-" I groaned quietly and snatched up his hand, clasping it in mine, determination fueling my intense stare. My eyes bore into his with a ferocious fervor, like daggers prodding at his brain.

"You don't need to stop. You just need to change," I replied, my grip tightening, "I've liked you for a long time. I really have, but when you barge into others' spaces and distract them with things you find interesting, you can come off as annoying or bratty. What drew me to you in the first place was your passion. Your passion alone was enough, but when it became too much, especially since I'm not one to act very passionately, it threw me off.

"So if you're willing to give me some personal space, and let me do my own thing, maybe we can work." My face blossomed into a grin as I saw Uzui blush a bit. Laughing delicately, I pressed a kiss to his cheek and squeezed his fingers once more before letting go.

"You can give me an answer in the morning, Tengen." The Sound Pillar's face grew increasingly red when he heard his first name. "Until then. Sleep well." I got up to leave, but a hand docilely pulled on my wrist, causing me to stumble backwards into Uzui. His arms caught me and wrapped around my torso, preventing me from taking another step. 

"Goodnight, (L/N)," he murmured, hugging me for a few moments. I smiled coyly and wiggled out of his grasp, making my way outside. Before sliding his door shut, I turned around with a grin, a light pink dusting my face.

"(Y/N) is fine."