After his training with Kyojuro Regoku, the Flame Hashira, Goku reached his room, when the moon shined bright in the sky. As Goku arrived, he put down his katana and sat down, leaning on a wall.
"Here, the life is fine... I finally have a place where to stay, people to talk to... But... What if the find out one day...?"
"Yoriichi's son. Half demon. Sun Breathing user. If they ever find out... Will they still want me here, at the headquarters?"
"Tch, let's not think about it... Kyojuro said there will be fireworks in a while... I should hurry, or I'll miss them..."
And so, Goku opened the door of his room and got outside, sighing.
"I hope fireworks will help me not to think about it..."
Finally, in the middle of the night, Goku arrived at the Butterfly Mansion.
(The fireworks already started...) he thought.
As he got on the rooftop, he sat down, crossing his legs.
(Fireworks... really are beautiful...) thought Goku. As he watched the fireworks, he couldn't help but keep thinking about what would happen if his friends ever find out he's a hybrid and Yoriichi's son.
"Why am I worrying? There's no way they ever find out... right?" He said, trying to ensure himself that the problem he's thinking about will never happen, "I should try to meditate... It'll help me relax during the fireworks..."
While the fireworks skyrocketed in the sky, Goku closed his eyes, deeply sighed and focused.
Suddenly, when Goku was at the top of his concentration, his ears seemed to starting to hear a distant voice.
"Is anyone there?"
(Whose voice is this...) thought Goku, a bit confused.
"Is anyone there?"
(This voice... I know whose voice this is...)
Suddenly, he gasped, and his eyes snapped open. Next to him, there was Shinobu, the one who made Goku experience the sensation of love for the first time.
"WAAH!" Yelled Goku, jumping back, (No, I won't run away this time... I don't want her to think I'm a wimp...)
This time, Goku didn't run away, and remained on the rooftop.
"Did I scare you?" Asked Shinobu.
"Yes, you did," answered Goku.
"So, how does it work? You jump out the window every time you meet a girl?"
"No, it's just that... You scared me earlier!"
"I see... Do you mind if I sit here, next to you?"
Goku slightly blushed.
"N-no... feel free to sit..."
Shinobu sat down.
"So... Why are you here?" Asked Goku.
"To see fireworks. I bet you're here for the same reason."
"Yes. I'm here for fireworks too..."
For a while, there was silence between the two of them. They just kept staring at the sky, where the fireworks were playing.
(I can't believe I'm here, next to her... I can barely hide my blushing...) thought Goku, who was somehow resisting to the sensation of self-detonate.
(She's so gorgeous... Those violet eyes... And that haori...)
Goku punched his own head.
(No! Stop thinking about it, Goku! You're a pervert! She's a Hashira, I'm just a Mizunoe... And with a secret that would shatter everyone's trust, in addition... I have no chance with her...)
"Anything is running on your mind?" Asked Shinobu.
"Uh? N-no, nothing!" Said Goku.
"I see... so, how's your life, here at the headquarters, Goku-kun?"
"Very fine. Tengen is funny. Mitsuri is super loveable and cute. Kyojuro is the one who's training me. Muichiro never remembers my name, but he's okay. Obanai is rude sometimes, but he doesn't hate me. Giyuu is very silent, but I like his company. Gyomei is a little bit too religious, but he's a good guy. The only one I don't get along with very well is Sanemi. He's too rude, sometimes..."
"Oh, I see... Shinazugawa is always rude with everybody. The only one who could tame him was my sister Kanae. It's a shame she's dead now..."
"Oh, I see..."
"I think Shinazugawa was in love with my sister, you know?"
"Yeah, probably..."
"What about you? Do you have any brother or sister?"
"N-no. I'm an only child."
In that moment, Goku worried a bit: What if Shinobu asked him about who his parents were? Fortunately, that question never arrived.
"And what do you think about me, instead?" Shinobu asked suddenly.
Goku's heart skipped a beat.
"Wha... What do I think of you?" He repeated.
"Yes. You've talked about every Hashira, but not about me."
"Well, I think that..."
(Don't say anything inappropriate, don't say anything inappropriate...)
"I think that you're very kind, and also a good healer." said Goku.
A firework exploded in the sky.
"T... Thanks, Goku-kun..." muttered Shinobu.
(She said 'thank you'! That means she liked my compliments!) Thought Goku.
Then, another moment of silence. Until Goku saw the moon. It was full that night.
"The moon... is beautiful, isn't it?" He demaded.
"Yeah, it really is..." replied Shinobu, who kept staring at the fireworks.
(I wonder if she understood what I meant with that phrase...)
Finally, the fireworks stopped.
"Seems like fireworks are over, Goku-kun,"
"Yeah, it seems so..." muttered Goku.
"I'm going to sleep now. You should do the same, Goku-kun." said the Insect Hashira.
"I will..."
Shinobu got up, turned back and left. Goku remained alone.
"The more I look at her, the more beautiful she becomes to my eyes..." he whispered, getting up. Then, lost in thought, Goku accidentally tripped on a roof tile.
"WOOO!" He yelled. The boy finished right inside a bush.
"Puah! Great move, Goku..." he said to himself, spitting a leaf. Suddenly, Goku's stomach started to growl.
"I'm not hungry, but my stomach is growling... I think this is how butterflies in the stomach feels like... Well, maybe it's because she reminds me of a butterfly, but I've never felt a sensation like this..."
"I may have the strength to take down powerful demons... but talking to her? That's a way more harder challenge."
Chapter 12 - End.