[A/n - As requested a story about the Hashiras!] 

The sky was bright though there was enough tension in the atmosphere you could cut it with a butter knife. To be honest, the tension about your arranged marriage was strangling everyone who occupied Ubuyashiki manor including you as you sat in the main room staring at one of the doors trying to process the situation. Coming of age was just around the corner for you and after that you would be arranged to marry someone much older than you for the benefit of your family and theirs. The sliding doors were slightly open enough for a small child to slip through and enough that from you could stare upon the garden. From the disappearing footsteps to the sound of someone else other than you breathing you knew someone had to be standing outside the door you just didn't know if it was a member of the Ubuyashiki or a Hashira who had all come back to hear about the arranged marriage.They were probably angered by the news, ever since you first met them they were always so over protective of you to the point there was always close by.

'Would you like to come in?' you questioned,

You watched Mitsuri appear from the door, her cheeks pink as she stared embarrassed at you probably due to the fact that she had been standing there for a good few minutes as she stalked you.

'I'm sorry but is it true?' She cried,

You just stared at her blankly though a sad smile crossed your face. You kept as calm and collected as you could, though the situation angered and frustrated you as much as the hashiras did.

'Unfortunately it is.'

Watching tears fall from her face as she stared at you, she stomped her foot like a child would when they threw tantrums.

'NO! This can't be happening!' She shouted,

You were going to calm her down but she stormed out just as soon as she came in. You were sad that in a few hours you would be taken away from the manor and out of the protective grips of the Hashiras. Only a few hours until your life changes completely for what you deemed for the worst of it.

Hours had gone by, the creases of your kimono were patted out and you were all dolled up ready to meet your new husband. Aname finally fixed your hair, standing a step back from you she stared at you with twinkles in her eye. She found a mirror placing it close to your face so you could stare out at yourself for a moment or two before she took your hand taking you to the porch where you would probably come face to face with the man you would spend the rest of your life with. As you turned the corner you saw Oyakata-sama standing up in front of all the kneeling Hashiras.

'What is going on here?' Aname questioned,

'Seems the hashiras didn't particularly want Y/n to leave.'Oyakata chuckled,

'We would like Y/n to stay with us, and only us.' the said in sync

You knew Aname was annoyed due to the change of plans but you were completely happy! Of course you said yes though you wouldn't know things would get as dark as they did as soon as they did.

You laid on the futon surrounded by doors that were locked from the outside. You wondered if they hadn't stepped in, would your life differ? Or would you still be a prisoner with the only difference being the amount of people who kept you as their prisoner. You felt like a marionette doll with the strings around your throat suffocating you as they kept you to themselves. Was this love? Or was this something much darker, possessive almost where they held you above everything else to the point it was poisoning you. Yet what were you suppose to do, forever looked in the room like a doll locked away in a glass box for all to see with no hope of ever escaping.