Chapter Text
the mountain exhales before she does, undramatically, the wind dulling and the snow fall thinning as it began to die down, settling into a small, gentle blanket of icy white beneath her knees.
the sound of those footsteps is still quiet and distant, and kanae hardly notices it outside of her focus on the man in her arms, her awareness remaining narrowed down only to that weight resting against her chest, the warmth she tried to give him without overwhelming his body, and the fragile steadiness of his strengthening breathing beneath her ear.
she keeps her hand at his neck, fingers resting lightly against skin that’s slightly warmer now. the pulse there, much to her relief, is stronger now, faster, no longer feeling like something she might lose between blinks, but carrying its own weight in its urgency.
he stirs faintly in her arms, not enough to sit up, not enough to speak, but just enough for the small shift of his shoulder, a soft sound curling in his throat that makes her lean in at once.
“i’m here,” she murmurs, even though he’d not called for her. “you’re doing fine, i’ve got you.”
his lashes flutter, dark against skin still deeply paled by the cold, and though his eyes hadn’t quite opened, the soft movement of his lashes still sent a quiet shock of relief through her chest. she tightened her hold just slightly, grounding him in her touch, trying to stay careful enough not to jostle him too much. kanae still worried somewhere inside that he wasn’t quite here yet.
en’s wings cut the air overhead, and another’s trailing behind. giyuu’s crow, kanae assumed. this time, she let the sound take her attention, and she lifted her gaze briefly, watching the two birds circle once before angling downward to her, cries echoing out of both their beaks through the thinning wind.
‘backup was close,’ was what en tried to get across, kanae knew. she assumed the same for giyuu’s older crow too.
kanae exhaled then, slowly, easing some of the tension in her jaw that she hadn’t even noticed was present, or atleast, that she hadn’t allowed herself to acknowledge enough to release.
giyuu’s breathing hitches again, followed by a quiet, involuntary sound, similar to a whine, that resolved into something like a breathless cough. his body jerked faintly with it, ache rippling through muscles that still hadn’t fully thawed from the painful snow that coated him.
“easy..” kanae whispers quietly to softly convulsing man in her arms, one hand smoothing slowly along his back in a soundless rhythm. “don’t rush your body..”
he seemed to hear her, or maybe it were instinct, muscle memory responding to the presence of kanae that refused to leave. either way, his coughing subsided, replaced by shallow breaths that gradually deepened.
she stayed that way with him, unmoving, her body bent around his to shield him from what cold remained around them, until the sound of crunching boots through the snow finally broke through her narrowed focus. voices followed that sound, low and urgent, and moments later, figures emerged through the white. kakushi, cloaked and breathless, relief plain even at a distance when they saw her signal.
kanae didn’t move until they were close enough to hear her.
“careful,” she urged softly as they approach, her tone calm but unyielding. “he’s conscious, but barely. i suspect hypothermia, atleast moderate, if not worse. he’s been exposed for god knows how long, atleast a few hours before even i found him.”
they nodded at once, hands already moving as they prepared the stretcher. when kanae shifted, so did they, adjusting giyuu with slow movements, guiding him out of her arms without allowing the cold to flood his senses again. he makes a small sound of protest as he’s moved away from her, fingers twitching weakly against her sleeve, and her chest ached painfully at his instinctive reach for her.
“i’m still here,” she reassured him immediately as he was moved, stepping close enough to the stretcher as its raised so he can feel her there. “we’re taking you home, okay?”
his eyes fluttered open then, unfocused, dark, but searching, and for a moment, they land on her. recognition flickers in his gaze immediately. it’s faint, dulled slightly by his exhaustion, but it’s clear to her.
his lips part, breath fogging weakly between them, and though the words he was trying to murmur didn’t quite make it out, she understood what he wanted to say anyway.
she smiled at that, hands steady, squeezing his own.
the descent felt slow, painfully slow almost.
the kakushi kept giyuu bundled between them on the stretcher, wrapped in layers and careful hands that kept him steady, including kanae’s own cloak, and her hands gently resting against his shoulders. the stretcher swayed gently as they navigated the mountain’s uneven terrain, kanae staging by his side the entire time, refusing every quiet suggestion for her to ease up, to relax.
she watched him the same way a tide watched the shore, constant, patient and unblinking, every cough erupting from his throat sending her heart stuttering. every shiver pulled her closer, her hand finding his, thumb pressing lightly at his wrist just to confirm the feeling of his pulse, to remind herself that it’s still there, that it’s improving.
he sneezes once, sharp and sudden under the quiet sound of the wind, and she startles despite herself, fingers tightening as a reflex.
“sorry,” giyuu murmurs hoarsely, barely audible as he spoke.
kanae almost laughs at that, and it comes out soft, breathy, edged with something dangerously close to her relief.
“you don’t need to apologise, giyuu,” she tells him gentle, “just breathe.”
he nodded faintly, eyes closing again as if even that subtle movement of his head took more energy than it was worth.
as the mountain gave way into the forest near its bottom, then to the familiar paths, the air gradually begins to feel warmer, enough that the cold shifted from biting to only briefly lingering, clinging stubbornly to him like a mother unwilling to let go of its baby.
kanae noticed before anyone else did, the way his skin grew warmer under her fingers, not only returning heat, but something that felt heavier beneath the skin, the way his breathing grew uneven again, sweat beading faintly at his temple despite the chill.
she frowned, brushing her fingers lightly against his forehead. too warm.
“giyuu?” she spoke softly, leaning closer so he could hear her. “can you look at me?”
his eyes open slightly, slowly, pupils sluggish as they adjusted. he looked at her, and for a moment the fog in his brain cleared just enough for him to focus.
“you’re burning up,” she murmurs, more to herself than to him.
he shrugged weakly, as if that explained anything.
“didn’t.. notice,” he responded, voice rough at its edges.
of course he didn’t, kanae thinks. she swallowed, forcing the worry down into something manageable. there would be time for fear later, after he’s safe, after he’s warm, after she’s handed him over to beds and blankets and given more time to suit his needs like she should.
the mansion comes into view not too long after, it’s paper lanterns glowing warmly against the encroaching dusk. home.
the shutter-doors to the mansion open before they even reach the entrance, the warmth inside hitting kanae, the kakushi, and the half-conscious tomioka, all at once, alongside a fragrance of herbs, familiar to the woman, and for the first time since the beginning of their journey back, kanae let her shoulders relax.
shinobu is standing before them instantly, her eyes wide and sharp, sleeves already rolled as she rushes forward.
“what happened?” she asks, her voice tight with urgency.
kanae answers calmly, efficiently, even as her attention doesn’t quite leave giyuu, “exposure to the snow, for a prolonged time. he was unconscious when i found him, he’s been warming gradually, but he’s starting to run a fever.”
shinobu nods once, already turning to bark instructions to a smaller figure hovering anxiously by her side.
“aoi, gather blankets, and hot water bottles, not too hot, but enough for rewarming.”
the smaller girl bolted at once.
the kakushi continued to move giyuu through the corridors, footsteps echoing softly against the polished floors, and kanae remained close enough that her shoulder stayed brushed against his as they went.
he coughs again, a little harder this time, and she reaches for him instinctively, steadying his chest with one careful hand.
“almost there,” she murmurs. “you’re alright, i promise.”
giyuu leans faintly into the touch, not consciously, she thinks, but with the quiet trust of someone too exhausted to guard himself anymore.
they settle him into one of the hashira-specific wards, spacious, warm and already prepared for his arrival, and as blankets are carefully layered over him, kanae finally steps back, just enough to allow the training shinobu to also assist in the work.
she watches as shinobu makes her attempt to take charge, taking his temperature as her mouth tightens.
“he’s definitely feverish,” shinobu claims quietly. “we should prepare something to bring it down.”
kanae nodded to her, then interjected. “i think ill stay here, with him. to watch over.”
shinobu glanced at her with suspicion, something unspoken passing between them both, then she turned away without argument.
the room quieted down again, and kanae returned to his side, sitting carefully on the edge of his bed. his breathing is rough now, uneven, chest rising and falling beneath the blankets, cheeks flushing with faint warmth.
kanae brushed damp hair back from giyuu’s forehead, fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“you scared me, you know.” kanae spoke gently, not accusing him of anything.
giyuu’s eyes opened at that, clearer now than they had at all the entire day. he looks at her. really looks.
“..sorry,” he whispers again.
this time, kanae doesn’t laugh.
this time, her voice trembles just slightly as she replies, “don’t do that to me.” she gulps.
his brow furrowed faintly, confusion and guilt mixing together, and kanae exhaled, steadying herself before continuing.
“rest,” she muttered gently. “please. we’ll talk later, giyuu.”
his eyes hesitantly drift closed again, body sinking deeper into the warmth of the ward’s bed again, and kanae remains by his side, her palm gently brushing his head.
“i..” kanae huffs. she doesn’t finish her words, instead watching as the man slumped into sleep again.