Chapter Text
The teahouse where the Hashiras were gathered was a small structure consisting of a single room made of dark, glossy wood. The room was marked by wide tables only a few centimeters high, following the tradition of the time. They were darkened and lined up side by side.
Small rugs in neutral colors were also part of the environment, scattered across the floor, aiming to make it more pleasant and comfortable for its visitors. Some paintings and flower vases completed the decoration of the place.
Although unexpectedly, the small teahouse had little movement, it was justifiable. It was not yet three in the afternoon. The Pillars were late for lunch, due to the mild argument and outburst with the Wind Pillar about the Water Pillar.
The sunny sun adorned the sky and protected mere mortals from the attacks of man-eating demons, it was warm and comforted everyone with its brightness.
There were fewer than fifteen people wandering around the room, some looking for something that suited them at the moment, others were employees taking and delivering orders.
The tea room was well lit, due to the sunlight coming through the translucent papers, which gave the environment a cozy atmosphere and a mild temperature to the senses. They were fragile papers supported by a large rustic and dark wooden frame, containing some delicate drawings along its perimeter, small drawings of cherry blossoms could be seen.
The small establishment was well structured and organized, with its shoji doors strategically open to reveal the view of tall wisteria trees, whose flowers and leaves danced gently in a calm song according to the direction the wind blew.
Its environment carried a great welcoming air, like when a mother comforts her child with a soft lullaby, completely opposite to the tense air the hunters contemplated when the sun was not in sight.
With the exception of Giyuu, who was on a mission, all the Pillars were seated in seiza position on the neutral-colored tatami mats, each one relaxing in their own way, around a small food table, leaning on its edges. They were surrounded by delicious food, which smelled intensely pleasant throughout the environment, awakening the desire to eat in many.
It was food that appealed to everyone’s palate.
The other hunters sat around a table farther from the others' interaction, to keep what they wanted to talk about during the break in private. Valuing their privacy.
Even so, the table remained in complete forced silence. No one had the courage to speak.
Even the Wind Pillar, Sanemi, did not dare open his mouth and voice the thoughts that so frequently passed through his mind to the knowledge of the Hashiras. Even though his tongue was itching in his mouth with anxiety to lay out venomous words about the absence of the Water Pillar. He remained silent. But his mind was racing.
All the Pillars ate in absolute quiet, lost in their own thoughts; even Tengen, the Sound Pillar, known for his extravagant chatter, wasn’t talking about his wives, missions, or training.
He was one of the quietest there.
No one had dared to speak since Sanemi had said that Giyuu was looking down on them for urgently needing a vacation. They didn’t fully believe Shinazugawa’s words, because he had no credibility, always seeking conflict with others.
But that didn’t stop them from being wary. Or from entertaining the thought. They didn’t know much about Giyuu.
About his feelings and thoughts. But they didn’t fully believe that Giyuu looked down on them for needing a break to clear their minds. No person in their right mind would mock someone else’s problems.
Giyuu should also need a vacation just as much as they did. But why, then, had he been assigned to a mission? He should have already started his vacation. His missions had already been completed. The thought didn’t seem to sit right in the other Hashiras’ heads.
It simply didn’t make sense.
It was a shame that Tomioka wasn’t there — the Love Pillar thought.
Mitsuri couldn’t bear the forced silence in the air and so she began to speak, completely embarrassed. In a normal situation, she wouldn’t be shy. But since the mood was tense, she didn’t know how to behave.
─── So… what do you all plan to do during the vacation? ─── She asked warmly, a forced smile replacing her embarrassed features, but equally enthusiastic on her face.
Tomioka was a sensitive subject, that was clear. It was like throwing stones into a calm sea, causing ripples on the water’s surface as a result.
The same went for the Pillars.
She knew they were all still hesitant about the small argument they had earlier. They were afraid of triggering an even bigger fight.
─── I want to spend some time with my brother ─── Rengoku replied in his usual cheerful tone, his reddish-orange eyes gleaming with joy as he thought about reconnecting with his younger brother again.
─── Because of the missions, we don’t talk much, and the breaks between them don’t give us a lot of time ─── He finished, then turned his attention back to his plate of food, getting lost in his thoughts.
The atmosphere was still tense since the discussion about the Water Pillar’s “arrogance” that sunny morning.
─── I’ll look at the clouds ─── Muichiro replied to the older woman, making her chuckle softly at his answer.
His dark hair swayed gently in the calm wind as he ate quietly.
─── I’ll give attention to my extravagant wives ─── Tengen said while licking his thin, pale lips, turning it into a mocking smile as he made a rock hand sign.
Everyone there knew very well what kind of attention the Sound Pillar was referring to, and his comment made each remaining Pillar look at him with a strange expression.
Needless to say, the Pillars quickly dismissed the thoughts about Tengen’s remark.
Shinobu was also about to open her mouth to respond to her comrade to help ease the tension, but she and everyone else present were caught off guard when Sanemi slammed his fist on the table they were at. The thunderous noise echoed through the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
Except for the Hashiras, everyone present stared at the Wind Pillar with frightened and even horrified expressions. It was as if they had seen a demon in his place.
Some fragments of the table’s material rose under the pressure, while others embedded into the Pillar’s fist with small injuries, causing thin trails of blood to threaten to drip from his hand onto the table.
─── Don’t pretend everything’s fine, damn it ─── Sanemi said through gritted teeth, his pupils dilated and his voice raised. His fists clenched to contain some of the large amount of anger coursing through his veins. The bulging veins were visible on his scarred arm and his jaw was tightly locked.
The Pillars wouldn’t be surprised if the place ended up being wrecked.
Sanemi huffed impatiently. He was fed up.
His friends didn’t need to pretend everything was okay, because it wasn’t. Everyone was hurt about the Water Pillar’s hostile behavior. Everyone felt negatively affected by the arrogance shown by the Water Pillar.
Everyone felt sad to be looked down on by Giyuu.
─── Shinazugawa-san… please… I beg you… ─── Kanroji said, frightened, but was rudely interrupted before she could finish her sentence, with an accusing finger pointed at her face.
─── Don’t tell me to shut up, Mitsuri! ─── He cut her off abruptly, treating her with disrespect. Without caring much.
The Love Pillar felt her bright eyes grow moist and resisted the urge to lower her head in shame. She felt humiliated and offended. No one had ever treated her like that, except for the husbands who tried to “fix” her when they discovered her subtle traits.
Obanai looked at the light-haired man with a threatening stare, unable not to feel upset and irritated to see his beloved hurt in front of him and unable to do anything, especially by a friend. His snake hissed in alarm at the chaotic new energy in the air, hiding in his hair.
To everyone, Sanemi was being an idiot. Even more so than the Water Pillar. The only difference was that Giyuu had no tact, but he was subtle and didn’t sound like a shrieking seagull when he was angry.
─── You’re being a totally un-extravagant idiot, man! ─── Uzui said, easily pushing him by the shoulder, as he was seated next to him.
Each of them had already lost all concern and restraint regarding the scene they were making in front of the staff and customers.
─── You should stop making a scene, you’re scaring the civilians ─── Muichiro continued while casting a subtle glance at the customers and employees who were staring at them with hesitation and fear. His voice was calm, but he was ready to stop the Pillar.
But that only seemed to enrage Shinazugawa even more.
─── Let’s stay calm! ─── Rengoku scolded, trying to ease the situation, sweat dripping down his forehead as he rose to his knees, ready to move quickly if things got worse.
The mood was tense, and the situation was complicated.
─── We can’t stay calm while we’re here pretending to be on vacation and that bastard Tomioka is out on a mission, thinking he’s better than us! ─── The indignation wrapped around his words as his eyes closed in fury.
Sanemi didn’t like the relationship they had with Tomioka at all, the guy was an arrogant bastard who thought he was too good to be their friend. So they shouldn’t be feeling that sense of annoyance, right? They were the ones ridding themselves of the Water Pillar’s unpleasant personality.
But somehow, it still hurt.
He knew the Pillars fell into deep doubt when Giyuu once said he wouldn’t join them in one of their activities because he was busy with something. Without really revealing what it was.
It was the same excuse he used on other occasions.
The Wind Pillar knew his comrades’ feelings because even he was affected by it. Exactly the same way. Each one felt rejected in their own way every time they were turned down by Tomioka. They felt inferior. Even if they shouldn’t.
Gyomei prayed silently, only faint murmurs left his mouth while anguished tears streamed down his dark face. In his prayers, he asked that everyone remain calm and that their sinful souls be saved.
He didn’t want the situation to escalate to that point. Himejima wanted his companions to have a good relationship with one another. But everything got complicated when they didn’t make an effort to contribute to that.
Giyuu was closed off to any interaction, he didn’t know how to socialize, and because of that, he was misunderstood. But he also didn’t try to talk to any of the Pillars. Gyomei grew distressed when it came to Giyuu; he could feel his lonely soul, afraid of the events of the past. It was a restless soul that seemed to want distance from everyone as a form of protection.
Meanwhile, the Hashiras remained quite ignorant about the Water Pillar’s social phobia, preferring to cover their ears and believe he thought himself superior to everyone.
Sanemi was the main one. Clouded by his unfounded judgments.
─── Stay calm, Shinazugawa-san! I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for why Tomioka-san is the way he is, we shouldn’t judge him like this ─── Mitsuri spoke firmly. Obanai’s cold hand squeezed hers under the table in a show of support.
She would remember to thank him personally for that later.
Even if Obanai agreed with Sanemi, he wouldn’t dare go against the thoughts of his beloved.
─── The explanation is that Tomioka’s a fucking bastard, arrogant son of a bitch who thinks he’s too good for our friendship! ─── Sanemi shouted, slamming his fist on the table again, this time using and injuring his unharmed hand in the process.
Tokito sighed at the unnecessary scene caused by the Wind Pillar. He just wanted to go back to his property and wander in his thoughts for a while. But it seemed his plans were ruined having to deal once again with the Pillar’s outbursts.
Unlike Shinobu, who could feel the sweat trickling down her neck; she flashed a fake smile at the villagers staring at them in terror. Even the staff in the back were whispering about what to do with that table. But they were too afraid to become the target of the scarred man.
If the Pillars’ goal was not to attract attention, they were succeeding. Succeeding at the exact opposite.
─── Let’s not start this again, Shinazugawa-san, we’ve already discussed this before, I don’t feel the need to revisit this subject again! ─── The Insect Hashira felt the need to intervene, opening a small fake smile.
She frowned when she saw the man cross his legs and arms in reluctance at being contradicted. But she huffed in response when a vein popped in her neck. If looked at more closely, you could very well see a pout starting to form on the Wind Pillar’s face.
Sanemi could be so childish when he wanted to be.
─── Instead of sitting here arguing and getting nowhere, why don’t we just ask Master about Tomioka-san? I’m sure he’ll clear up all our doubts ─── Kanroji suggested with excessive optimism, offering everyone a nervous smile.
Surely the Master wouldn’t mind sharing a few things about Tomioka. Especially if it could help with his relationship with the rest of the Corps.
Obanai promptly agreed with his beloved when he felt her trembling under his touch, not wanting to see her sad.
He gently stroked the pet snake coiled around his neck when he felt it tense up due to the confrontational atmosphere. Like a predator, Kaburamaru felt the need to hide in that kind of situation.
But when it saw its owner trying to comfort his beloved, the snake came out of its hiding place inside the Pillar’s dark hair and slithered over to wrap around the Love Pillar’s neck, to show a little affection.
Kaburamaru knew how important that woman was to his friend.
─── Kanroji-san is right! ─── Rengoku expressed his support, crossing his arms over his chest in a stoic position. ─── Kagaya-sama wouldn’t hesitate to answer us!
A spark of excitement rose from the ashes inside him along with a small smile.
─── You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! ─── Sanemi muttered as quickly as he shut up when Shinobu threatened to stand and hit him—or worse, poison him.
He wasn’t afraid of the little insect. Sanemi had immeasurable fear of the poison that little insect carried. Because he had Marechi blood, Sanemi became Kocho’s main “lab rat.”
She found it incredible when she discovered the properties in the Wind Pillar’s blood, and its effects on demons, who turned feral when sensing such rare blood in the air.
─── Let me take a look at your injuries, Shinazugawa-san ─── Kocho said to him, her bossy tone not hidden as she calmly marched toward the mentioned, who felt sweat trickle down his forehead.
How could such a small being seem so terrifying?
─── I’m not hurt! ─── Sanemi grumbled as the Pillar began checking his injured hands, taking from her belt a small pouch containing first aid supplies.
The Pillars hissed at his reply.
It seemed to them that the day hadn’t even begun yet, although it was already a bit late, something told them it was going to be quite a day.
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─── Do you think Tomioka-san is eating? ─── Mitsuri asked worriedly when everything calmed down. Her eyes started to glisten when her friends returned her gaze with skepticism.
They were nearly kicked out for bringing chaos to the little establishment, but Sanemi would still have to pay for the small damage done to the table. Shinazugawa even seemed a bit embarrassed by the scene he had caused earlier. His ears were red, but the Pillars pretended not to notice.
The Serpent Pillar, Iguro, was the only one who dared give the Love Hashira a gentle look, sitting beside her; offering her comfort as before, only now with a hand on her shoulder.
As much as he didn’t like the Water Pillar, Obanai couldn’t leave his beloved feeling down and worried beside him. He would feel like the worst human being in the world for that.
Mitsuri just wanted her companions to get along with the Water Pillar.
─── Kanroji-san, I don’t think you should be worrying about Tomioka-san, he’s a grown man, he knows how to take care of himself ─── Shinobu replied after taking a sip of her green tea, the soothing steam entering her nose.
Knowing Tomioka, as little as she did, Kocho knew from the Hashira’s slim figure that he probably didn’t eat well. But she gave one of her fake smiles again to try and reassure the Love Hashira.
Meanwhile, Sanemi had been silent since Kocho threatened to wrap his mouth with bandages ─── He still didn’t understand why he obeyed her, Shinobu wasn’t even that scary.
The Hashiras, on the other hand, believed that if Shinazugawa kept frying his brain the way he was right now, smoke would soon start rising from his head and the sound of faulty gears could be heard in his brain.
Once again, the Pillars returned to square one without Giyuu’s presence even being required to reject them.
Why was Giyuu Tomioka still such a delicate subject among them? Was it because he thought he was better than everyone? Or because he was always so silent? Why did the Water Hashira have that superiority complex?
The Hashiras’ doubts grew as their certainties shrank. They knew nothing about the Water Pillar, his past was as if there were no ripples on the ocean’s surface. His eyes were dead and his face was devoid of any human emotion. That scared them so much.
It was as if Giyuu were just an empty shell destined to kill demons until his death was planned and thrown in his face by fate.
The Pillars chose to return to silence.
They spoke minimally, only when necessary or to compliment the delicious food, until the uncomfortable silence was cut by the Flame Hashira.
─── Tomorrow we can arrange to go see Kagaya-sama ─── Rengoku said cheerfully, his smile was as warm as the temperature at sunset.
The Pillars stared at him in confusion.
─── Yes! ─── The Love Pillar replied excitedly, her mentor remembering something she had said previously. ─── Tomorrow we’ll learn more about Tomioka-san! ─── Mitsuri commented dreamily, her pink lips pulling into a wide smile.
Mitsuri was as beautiful as the blooming garden she carefully maintained at her estate. Obanai felt his cheeks flush and the so-called butterflies flutter in his stomach, not paying attention to what his comrades were talking about. His luck was that the bandages covered half of his face, that way he could avoid future teasing from Uzui and Sanemi during one of their training sessions.
He tried to hide his red face by pretending to see something interesting on the wall in front of him. He didn’t know how to react to the devastating and warm effect the Love Pillar caused in his chest.
It was a feeling that made him want to be a better person for Kanroji. Made him want to protect her from everything.
Iguro wasn’t eating, Obanai hesitated when he had to remove his bandages around people other than Kanroji. The only person who had seen him without and didn’t judge or comment on his appearance.
─── Are we going to investigate Tomioka’s past? ─── Sanemi asked, and Rengoku nodded.
A frighteningly wide smile spread across Shinazugawa’s face as his lavender-colored eyes grew unfocused. He was finally going to discover what the damned Water Pillar was hiding from everyone.
The Pillars could barely contain the anxiety crawling under their skin. Would they finally learn why Giyuu was always so distant and hostile? Maybe get to know a bit of his past?
They were finally going to uncover the mystery that was the Water Pillar.
─── You look so weird when you make that face, dumbass ─── Uzui mocked the unusual expression on the Wind Pillar’s face, offering him a scornful smile. Tokito confirmed Uzui’s words with his bored look.
Sanemi looked at him with wide eyes and let out a low growl like a caged animal, ready to respond, but decided to let it go, bringing an ohagi to his mouth. Feeling the pleasure when the flavor of his favorite food met his palate.
He was too excited to let himself get caught up in provocations. He was finally going to wipe that arrogant façade off the Pillar’s face.
The Pillars finally realized that there was less than half an hour left before the sun would start to set, and the establishment was slowly emptying. People preferred to return to the safety of their homes while the sun was still in sight rather than risk walking at night. Alongside the presence of demons.
The Pillars were almost done with their meals when their thoughts were interrupted by a small, old crow, who flew through the entrance door of the establishment in a flurry of wings; bumping into a few people along the way, it seemed to be looking for someone specific.
It was a Kasugai crow.
More specifically, it was Tomioka’s old crow. And it was looking for the Hashiras.
The Pillars tensed when the crow clumsily landed on Mitsuri’s lap, its excessively black feathers wet with a thick red liquid, similar to blood. It appeared injured, and the crimson liquid dripping onto the Love Pillar only confirmed everyone’s theory.
The old creature looked anguished, like a mother watching her child get hurt, its old feathers, in addition to blood, also had a bit of snow, hinting that it had come from the northern mountains — the place where Tomioka’s mission had been assigned.
Everyone went on high alert — if Tomioka’s crow was here, in that state, it wasn’t a good sign. Perhaps the mission had taken an unexpected turn.
The crow jumped onto the table, creating a small mess with food, blood, and snow. But none of the Pillars cared. Especially not Mitsuri, who began to question the little crow about what was happening.
It seemed confused for a few seconds.
─── What’s Tomioka’s old crow doing here? ─── Obanai asked in a curious tone, watching his beloved try to help the bird that seemed to let out anguished whimpers.
The desperate animal tried to signal with its injured wings and speak, but nothing beyond low murmurs came from its beak. In a burst of energy, the old crow uttered words that left the Hashiras in a tense state.
─── C-cow Cow! Giyuu Tomioka, Water Hashira cow cow! Fell in battle north of here c-cow cow! ─── The bird chirped quickly, desperately turning its head toward the mentioned location, as if begging the Pillars for help.
Everyone froze at the statement.
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