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Celeste wasn’t always a patient woman, or even patient at all. Her heels tapped the floor hastily, her breathing shifting in order to keep her composure. To help explain the situation you need to know the characters and why they’re here in the first place. She felt it was insulting that she had to take in some child under her wing, worst of all make him her tsuguko! It’s as if the world had gone off course and was headed straight for any nearby meteoroids. She was always very calculated and knew very well who would take her place as the next Butterfly hashira. Their legacy lives to never be taken to vain by anyone, especially no imbecile of a man. So seeing Kirigiri introducing her to the Ishimaru boy wasn’t an issue, at first.
If anyone were to take the crest of the butterfly name it would be her younger sister Mikan but life always tries to test her. Mikan cries pathetically about not wanting to become a slayer at all insisting to stay at the infirmary incase of emergencies when the real issues we’re outside need to be dealt with. Sure she was.. Clumsy.. At times but that meant nothing especially when compared to the grandmaster's daughter Kyoko who couldn’t remember anything for the life of her.
Now telling Kirigiri that she didn’t want Ishimaru as her tsuguko wasn’t the problem, it was her eldest sister Maki that was the issue. Her sister wasn’t kind in any regard and that's why Celeste had always admired her, she was wrong.
Personally she blamed the past Hashira of wind, Kaito, who most likely got into her head and had convinced her that she was really a good person, or maybe some change of heart really did just magically happen..
Patching up Kiyotaka was no issue, the grandmaster had stumbled upon the fainted boy bruised and broken despair riddled, the infirmary thinking thoughtfully about who could’ve done this, it had clouded everyone’s mind and at some point hers too.
Celeste didn’t pay the child any mind unless she really had to, such as when it was time to give him his medicine or change his bandages. So once he woke up Maki interrogated the child who was frantically begging to see his father refusing to answer any of our questions, only focusing on getting out. What confused Celeste was how the grandmaster stood there with his daughter by his side staring at the small child with recognition.
The sisters bowed as he finally decided to step in the room, his footsteps echoing now face to face with the bruised kid. Finally the kid spoke his truth explaining he had been beaten because of his relations with a previous Hashira of morality, a man who turned corrupted and outed the location of the rest of the Hashiras in exchanged for power turning into a demon himself, it visibly bothered Maki but no one dared to interrupt. Maki clenched her fist and for the first time she saw her sister's eyes soften as if she was staring back at another version of herself. Maki could see just how determined this boy was in clearing his family's name to restore their honor so she offered to take him in to train him by the butterfly code, to make him one of our own.
Foolish to Celeste she just chose to remain silent, but once Maki died the burden of her previous ‘heroic’ actions were passed onto her. Now having to deal with it.Ishimaru had been very obedient, robotic never once smiling unless told too, and respectful especially once Maki told him and his dad to move in with them. Although Celeste had her objections she chose to keep her opinions to herself. Everyday she's faced with the decision to kick Ishimaru and his dad out yet the fact it was Maki's last honorable act is what left her stuck. So seeing Ishimaru walking back from the final selection had been a let down per say especially once his sword came in. It's as if you gave a baby a piece of candy as he went on babbling like an excited child over it to her and to her surprise someone else. God knows who would want to be friends with the rule-freak but supposably the new wind Hashira’s brother and Ishimaru have been hanging out, by that she means arguing and training with one another.
Their dynamic confused Celeste but who’s to say it was her problem after all the Owada brothers seemed cruel and ridden with crimes, it wouldn’t surprise her if she found out Ishimaru had gone too far with one of their squabbles and the Owada had gotten so outraged he’d killed the pitiful boy, but one could only hope for such a miracle. Honestly she didn’t care for the thing, so why was she standing impatiently for her tsuguko to arrive. He was never late for their training sessions, always whining about how insulting it would be to be late to such a formality so to Celeste this begged the question on where he was and why was he late?
No longer tapping her feet on the wooden floor she decided to take matters into her own hands now roaming the halls of the Butterfly estate, her red eyes scanning each room for the ruby eyed boy. Walking out from the house she saw something that caught her eye almost immediately. There was Ishimaru seated next to the younger Owada laughing, his hand covering his mouth looking almost.. Flustered? His eyes focused on the Owada who had been dramatically from the looks of it reenacting a story using his hands to act out some of the parts. Her hand formed into a fist as she felt her jaw clench.
Didn’t they hate one another or something? Hadn’t they just been arguing over how there's no right way to use a sword, over something so small, so petty?
Maybe it was her own confusion that was clouding her mind but she swore when she focused back on Ishimaru she saw her, Maki sitting in his place smiling listening to Kaito ridiculous looking telling unbelievable stories swearing up and down it was all true. Her eyes widened at the imaginary sight and anger boiled through her veins just at the thought.
Kaito was full of himself, prideful, and deluded!
It was all his fault that Maki died the way she did. Maki never was interested in love but to only follow the orders she was given and to go through with it. Rarely she saw her sister smile, not unless with that buffon. It was senseless! Something had to be wrong with her eldest sister.
Only if Kaito hadn’t filled Maki’s head with all that selfish shit then she wouldn’t have defended Kaito from upper moon 2. Maybe then she’d be here, maybe then she wouldn’t have taken that street garbage in, maybe Kiyotaka wouldn’t be wearing Maki’s uniform, maybe then-
“Celeste?” The sound of her heavy breathing was interrupted by Ishimaru's worried eyes, his voice filled with confusion.
How is it that he's confused, doesn't he see what he's doing wrong, that boy was always so serious but now letting his guard down for a boy?
The thought of history repeating itself having a front row seat to watch it unfold angered her further. Without a word she walked up to Ishimaru she smile tied up to her face as she held onto Ishimaru’s wrist tight pulling him off the ground not sparing a glance at the Owada before clearing her throat, “Our training Kiyotaka.” “Ah! I apologize ma’am I seem to have forgotten, it must have slipped my mind please forgive me I- "
“How do you expect to restore any honor when instead of training you're playing tea party with a Wind slayer of all people?”
She didn't mean to sound so harsh but seeing the Owadas face grow from confusion to disdain drew excitement, especially when imagining it was Kaito of all people she was talking about. Ishimaru had looked hurt but chose to say nothing instead staring back at the Owada apologetically as he let himself get dragged along into the estate. The door shut behind them and Celeste stood there unsure of what she was thinking anymore “I do hope the Owada boy does not get in the way of our training, Kiyotaka.” Turning back to stare at maki’s, no, Kiyotakas ruby eyes which linger with hurt and wetness. After some turn she spoke once again making it clear she was ending this conversation,
“Are we understood?”
“Yes ma’am.” Celeste has never felt happier, maybe there was a chance she could like this boy even if it was a small amount, because deep down inside it wasn’t Kiyotaka she was talking to trying to help fix, it was Maki. Celeste will ensure this time things go right this time. She will ensure Kiyotaka will be the hashira her sister was always meant to be.