Archive of Our Own

It wasn’t often that the Hashira were assigned together on missions. There were only so many of them and unfortunately, still an overabundance of demons in the world. They were all incredibly busy and some were stretched thin enough as it was – like Shinobu, who had her Tsuguko to teach as well as operating her own makeshift hospital.

So team ups with the other Hashira were pretty rare. Those types of missions were usually reserved for when a demon was too powerful for them to deal with on their own or when they needed to cover more ground.

Such was the case now, with Kyojuro and Giyuu being sent to dispatch a demon capable of splitting itself into multiple copies. The duplicates were much weaker than their main host body, but with the sheer numbers and their ability to swarm an opponent, power usually didn’t mean much.

“Rengoku, there’s two on your left.”

“Got it!” the man declares, expertly incinerating the creatures in a blaze of fire.

Kyojuro, he would admit, was an excellent partner to have. He could be loud and was too fast-paced in everything he did, but he never did anything halfheartedly, particularly when it came to their job as demon slayers. He was a hard worker and he took their position more seriously than anyone else.

“Tomioka, one above you!”

Giyuu says nothing, dodging away and slashing the clone before its claws are able to touch him.

He and Kyojuro also worked well together as a team. They weaved in and out of each other's path, picking off any demons that the other might have missed and keeping constant surveillance of their surroundings. All without ever hindering the other’s efforts. Almost nothing had to be communicated between them, and it wasn’t long before they narrowed down the hoard to just a handful.

He spies movement at the very edge of the forest – the main demon trying to escape. He locks eyes with Kyojuro.

“I’ll be fine.”

It’s all the reassurance Kyojuro needs. He nods.

“Just leave it to me!”

He’s gone before Giyuu can even blink. He sprints after the demon, a flame colored blur contrasting the darkness of the forest, leaving Giyuu alone.

Just like he preferred.

Because even as incredible of a partner as Kyojuro was, Giyuu preferred the missions where he was on his own. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the others (although he certainly preferred some of the Hashiras' company over others and vice versa) it was just easier this way. He didn't belong amongst them and he doubted that he ever would. He had understood that since the Final Selection.

Which is why he was always last to arrive and the first to leave during their meetings, as much as Shinobu always chastised him for it. He didn’t deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

There was one person who would have been deserving of that title, but-

Giyuu forces those thoughts away and focuses on cutting down the remaining demons. He can’t allow himself to get distracted now.

He makes quick work of the stragglers, leaving just two behind.

He swings his blade as the last two demons lunge at him. Before either side can land a hit, the monsters are suddenly stopped as their limbs begin disintegrating at a swift rate.

Giyuu pauses and lowers his sword. So Kyojuro had decapitated the main demon, then. He was even faster than Giyuu had anticipated.

He sheaths his sword back into the hilt and waits for Kyojuro to reappear. He does so after a minute of waiting, smiling once he spots his partner.

"Splendid work tonight, Tomioka!” he commends as he approaches. “As usual, you did an excellent job!"

Giyuu just nods. "You too."

Their crows caw from high above them, congratulating the duo and announcing that they may go home and rest.

So without another word, Giyuu turns in the direction of his home and begins to walk off. He never was very good at talking anyway.

However, Kyojuro doesn't let him venture very far.

“Ah, Tomioka!” he calls after him. “Allow me to walk you back to your estate!”

Giyuu halts in his tracks. While he’s stopped, Kyojuro reduces the distance between the two until he’s only a few steps away.

“You don’t have to,” Giyuu tells him simply.

“I don’t mind!”

“You’d be going in the opposite direction,” Giyuu reminds him. “It will take you even longer to get back.”

“I truly don’t mind!” Kyojuro assures him cheerfully. “After all, It’s not often that we get put on missions together! I’d like to talk for a bit longer while we are able!”

Kyojuro, he’s noticed, has been doing that more often lately. He would try to find any excuse to reel Giyuu into a conversation with him, no matter how inconsequential the reasoning was. Giyuu had started to theorize that Kyojuro had taken it as a personal challenge.

Not that Giyuu himself was complaining. Kyojuro was one of the few Hashira who would speak to Giyuu unprompted, a fact that he was grateful for.

And selfishly, he thinks that having company on his way home might be nice.

It doesn’t take much deliberation.

“Suit yourself.”

Having been granted permission, Kyojuro matches his stride to that of his companion’s so that they can travel side by side.

“Oh! I forgot to mention earlier: young Kamado was asking about you the other day!”

Giyuu glances at him from the corner of his eyes. “Was he?”

“Yes! He, along with Hashibira and Agatsuma! He’s mentioned that he has wanted to talk with you again!”

Giyuu sets his sight on the dirt path in front of them. “I see.” Then, for lack of anything better to say, adds: “Has his training been going well?”

Kyojuro brightens instantly.

“Fantastically well! He’s a hard worker, with a blazing spirit to match! I’ve never had a student last as long as those three have! Although Agatsuma does have his moments-"

Giyuu nods along as his mind starts to drift.

The news that Tanjiro had decided to study a different breathing style had been bitter, to say the least. He had initially hoped that Tanjiro would take the mantle of Water Hashira from him once he’d completely mastered water breathing. It had been a nagging hope in the back of his mind ever since he met the boy.

Despite how young he was, Giyuu knew that he was truly deserving of the position. He certainly had more of a right to it than Giyuu himself did.

Right now, Giyuu was nothing more than a placeholder until someone genuinely worthy came along. That has been his belief since the moment he was promoted to a Hashira.

However, Giyuu can’t exactly fault Tanjiro for his decision. Even though it hadn’t been very long since Kyojuro had started training those three as his Tsuguko, there was already a substantial difference in their techniques. Giyuu knows that whatever progress he’d already made would be doubled in no time with the Flame Hashira as his teacher.

Kyojuro playfully nudges Giyuu with his elbow, breaking him out of his reverie.

“You would be surprised at just how much they’ve progressed already. Why, I even see them joining our ranks before too long! Just the other day-”

Giyuu watches Kyojuro as he speaks, pride emanating off of him in waves as he talks about his students. In a way, this was good for all four of them. As much as he didn’t want to accept it, Giyuu couldn’t burden them because of his own sense of inferiority.

If it meant that he was stuck fulfilling the role of placeholder for a while longer, then so be it.

Kyojuro continues to ramble on while Giyuu listens attentively.

Just like in battle, Kyojuro is quick and unrelenting while he recounts his various tales. The conversation departs from Tanjiro and his friends to stories of the other missions he had been on recently. Then, never with any warning, he switches to another topic entirely. Right now he’s narrating an amusing anecdote involving his little brother, but it won’t be too long before he moves on to another subject.

Honestly, Giyuu can barely keep up.

He doesn’t voice his complaints though. It’s a part of the other man’s charms that he has come to appreciate.

Giyuu never says much in return, but Kyojuro never appears bothered by it. He seems happy to lead their conversations and Giyuu was perfectly content with listening.

In what seemed like no time at all, they had arrived at Giyuu’s estate.

“I must be going then! Have a good night, Tomio-”

A rustling from a nearby bush causes an instant change in their demeanor.

The two men immediately shift into a more defensive stance, their hands rushing to rest cautiously on the hilts of their blades. They wait in silence, but try as he might, Giyuu can’t detect a dangerous presence nearby.

But then, what was making that sound?

His question is answered a moment later when a tiny face peeks out through the leaves. He lowers his arm.

“Oh. It’s just a cat.”

Meanwhile, Kyojuro perks up in excitement.

“My, what a surprise!” he comments delightedly, striding casually forward. “What a lovely cat you are!”

He lowers himself to a seiza position on the ground, cooing at the cat in an attempt to coax the creature toward him.

Giyuu gawks at him impassively.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to make myself seem less imposing!”

“...Why?”

“So that she won’t be afraid to come close!”

Giyuu supposes that he can't really argue with that. He's mostly curious how Kyojuro even knows that it's a girl, but he figures that he'll just have to take his word for it.

So while Kyojuro is extending a friendly greeting towards the kitten, Giyuu chooses to study the new arrival.

The cat takes a few tentative steps towards Kyojuro’s direction. She sniffs at the air curiously but doesn’t make any further movements. She’s small, less than a year old if Giyuu had to wager a guess.

However, Giyuu notes that she’s not only tiny in stature, but in regards to her weight as well. She’s skinnier than she should be, with a noticeable dip where her stomach would normally be more rounded.

Fortunately she looks to be healthy other than that. She has no noticeable scars and her fur – while flecked with dirt in certain areas – doesn’t appear to be matted or torn. Perhaps she had experienced an unexpected separation from her family?

Whatever the situation is, it’s clear that she hasn’t had access to a meal in some time.

Giyuu figures if there's anything the cat wants right now, it would be food.

So he turns, heading into his estate in order to find something. He searches through the kitchen, but he’s not too certain about what cats eat. He eventually stumbles across some leftover fish from the night before.

He knows that Himejima owns a couple of cats. He often overheard the Stone Pillar engaging in quite a few conversations with Mitsuri about their mutual love for them. If he remembers correctly, he had talked about his own cats and how they were picky when it came to eating certain types of fish. So he reasons that it should be a safe food to give to the kitten.

It's cold though, he notes. Are cats able to eat cold fish?

He glances outside to check if Rengoku is having any luck keeping the cat occupied.

From what he can see, Rengoku hasn’t moved a muscle in the time since he’d left. He’s perfectly still, staring at the cat with a welcoming smile plastered on his face. The cat, meanwhile, matches his unwavering gaze.

Of all things, Kyojuro has gotten himself roped into a staring contest with a cat.

Well, Giyuu thinks, at least this gives him some time to heat up the fish.

He cooks the fish just long enough to warm it. Once he’s finished, he loads the leftover food onto a plate and carries it outside to where his companion has seated himself.

“Rengoku,” he says, gaining the other’s attention.

He wordlessly presents the plate to his fellow Hashira. Rengoku brightens and gratefully accepts the offering from Giyuu with a word of thanks.

Kyojuro leans to set the plate a good distance in front of him, far enough away that the cat won’t feel threatened. Still, the little thing only watches them warily and shows no signs of coming any closer. Giyuu frowns, not understanding the problem.

“Tomioka, try sitting as well!” Kyojuro suggests while patting the spot next to him.

Giyuu does acquiesce to Kyojuro’s request, albeit hesitantly. He feels more than a little foolish to be sitting seiza in front of a cat. And for that matter, surely such a minor change in their positions wouldn’t persuade the cat to come any closer.

But within seconds of Giyuu seating himself next to Kyojuro, the little kitten steps towards the pair carefully. Her movements are guarded and she keeps her eyes trained on them the entire time.

It’s only when she reaches the plate that the cat throws all caution to the wind. She bounds forward and begins scarving down the fish ravenously. Kyojuro gives a hearty laugh.

“She looks to be enjoying it! I’m glad!”

He watches the cat eat with a lively smile on his face. From his side, Giyuu regards him with vague interest.

“I wouldn’t have thought you to be a cat person,” he comments simply.

“Uzui actually said the same thing to me once!” Kyojuro responds in amusement. “But I like them a lot! They are mysterious and quiet creatures, but so self-sufficient and loving! Plus, they are quite cute!”

Giyuu nods along, humming an agreement to his assessment. After a moment, he adds. “Do you like other animals as well?”

“I do! I love all animals!” Then his expression falls into something more sheepish. “My father, though, is of the opposite opinion. He has never liked them, so we were not allowed to have any pets growing up.”

Giyuu imagines a person as caring and vibrant as Rengoku being denied the ability to have an animal companion and it just doesn’t feel right.

“That’s a shame,” he says, and it’s the truth. Kyojuro waves it off.

“No, it’s alright! We may not have been able to keep a pet in the traditional sense, but I do admit that Senjuro and I would feed any stray animals that happened to show up near our house. Just like we’re doing now,” he reminisces happily.

The vision of two baby Rengokus springs into his mind unbidden, secretive and overly cautious as they sneak away to feed a stray cat. The image has the corner of Giyuu’s lips tugging upwards.

He suppresses his smile right as Kyojuro turns to him with inquisitive eyes.

“What about you, Tomioka?” he asks. “Are there any animals that you like?”

Giyuu takes a second to contemplate his answer.

“I don’t know,” he replies honestly.

His companion blinks at him in confusion.

“I do not understand!” Kyojuro says loudly.

The kitten flinches and Giyuu resists the urge to wince. So loud…

“Rengoku, lower your voice,” he warns softly. “You’ll scare her away.”

“Oh! My apologies, Tomioka!” Kyojuro apologizes. Then he sends a smile the cat’s way. “I’m sorry to you as well, little one!”

The kitten seemingly forgives him and chooses instead to return to her meal.

“But truly, I do not understand. People usually have a clear idea whether they like certain animals or not.”

“Most animals dislike me,” Giyuu admits, remembering all the dogs that have bitten him and the cats that have fled from his presence. “So I’ve never been able to get close to any.”

“I see." Kyojuro crosses his arms sympathetically. “That is quite rough.”

“It’s fine,” he states. “Kocho says that it’s because they can sense how gloomy I am.”

“That’s not a very kind thing to say.”

“That’s just how Kocho is.”

“Well, I happen to disagree!” Kyojuro asserts. “I don’t think you’re gloomy at all, Tomioka!”

“It’s alright. I don’t mind.”

“I’m being truthful! I will admit that you don’t talk very much, and when you do it is often very hard to hear what you’re saying,” he mentions. “And as silent as you are, it’s difficult to tell that you’re even in the same room sometimes.

Giyuu deadpans. Is he supposed to be making him feel better?

“But that’s not a bad thing! Actually,” Kyojuro continues, grinning softly when he meets Giyuu’s eyes, “you quite remind me of a cat yourself.”

And that-

That was meant to be a compliment wasn’t it? Giyuu wasn’t able to develop an opinion on cats, but Kyojuro seemingly held them in high esteem. And now he was here comparing Giyuu to those very same creatures?

His words from before echo in Giyuu’s mind, and it’s suddenly all he can focus on.

‘I like them a lot!’

So, in a round-about sort of way, didn’t that mean that Kyojuro liked Giyuu as well? He knew that the younger man was always friendly and amiable towards him, but this felt like direct confirmation. Would it be safe to assume that Kyojuro also considered them friends, then?

Giyuu’s chest swells. It was nice to know that he really wasn’t disliked by people, no matter how Shinobu liked to tease him.

A hand on his shoulder draws him back to reality.

“Tomioka, look. She has finished eating.”

Giyuu checks and, sure enough, the fish has been picked clean. The kitten sits back as she licks at her paws and grooms behind her ears.

“She looks better already, wouldn’t you say?”

“She does,” Giyuu agrees.

It wasn’t much, but he was glad she was able to get something in her stomach.

“Well, that’s to be expected!” Kyojuro proclaims, crossing his arms with a wide grin. “I’ve often said that there’s nothing better than good food to heal the soul!”

“Are you sure you didn’t learn that philosophy from Kanroji?”

“I did not!” Kyojuro declares proudly. “Probably!”

"Probably?" Giyuu questions.

“More than likely!”

A sudden meow calls their attention directly back to their feline friend. Without warning, the cat starts to come closer to them. It would make sense if she were coming towards Rengoku, but she’s not.

She’s walking towards Giyuu.

Kyojuro's eyes light up with interest. "Oh?"

Giyuu, although he tries to disguise it, tenses nervously.

“What is she doing?”

Kyojuro grins at him. “I believe that she’s coming over here to thank you!”

“Why? You’re the one that set the plate in front of her.”

“But the food came from you,” he points out. “Cats are very intelligent creatures as well!”

Giyuu wants to argue with that, because what does it matter who supplied what? Kyojuro was the one who put the plate in front of her, and Kyojuro was the one with the friendly and welcoming disposition.

It doesn’t make sense why she’d approach Giyuu of all people.

Regardless of the reason, she's stopped directly in front of him now. She fixes wide blue eyes on him and Giyuu has absolutely no idea what to do next. He worries that one wrong move will scare her away.

He apparently takes too long to come to a decision. The cat bumps her nose against his leg and peers up at him expectantly.

Giyuu stares back at a loss.

There's a chuckle from right beside him.

“Tomioka, I think she wants you to pet her,” Kyojuro helpfully informs him.

Pet.

Right.

He can do that.

He reaches out his arm slowly and carefully. His hand falters momentarily in the air before he presses forward, gently running his fingers between her ears.

She responds enthusiastically to the affection, rubbing against his hand with a small trill.

Pure happiness rushes through his veins and freezes Giyuu in his place.

Kyojuro claps him eagerly on the shoulder. “See that? Good job!”

“She’s so soft,” he mutters in amazement.

“I’m sure that she is! I’m happy for you!”

Giyuu peeks over at Kyojuro to find him watching the two with a wistful smile. Before he can stop to think, his other hand is grasping at Kyojuro’s sleeve.

His expression then melts into one of surprise. “Tomioka?”

Giyuu comes back to his senses at the sound of the other’s voice and he instantly releases his hold. He pointedly avoids the other’s eyes as he casts his gaze downwards. Heat simmers beneath his skin.

He doesn’t know why he did that.

“Tomioka?” Kyojuro repeats.

“You should pet her too,” he mutters instead, not offering an explanation. “I’m sure she won’t mind.”

It’s quiet between them for a moment. Giyuu doesn't dare look back to confirm it, but he's positive that he hears a smile when Kyojuro responds.

“Alright. If you’re sure she won’t mind.”

Giyuu watches from his peripheral vision as Kyojuro reaches out his hand. He appears delighted as he scratches underneath the kitten’s chin.

“Oh, you were right! She is very soft!”

The kitten positively thrives under their mutual attention. She purrs happily as she switches between the two of them, taking turns rubbing her face along both of their legs.

And Giyuu suddenly adamantly agrees with everything that Kyojuro had said earlier because, really, this was nothing short of incredible. Shinobu would never believe him. Giyuu himself could scarcely believe it.

But even as amazing as this is, Giyuu can’t help peeking over every so often to watch Kyojuro as he plays with the cat.

The Flame Hashira was always a positive human being, and it wasn’t often that Giyuu saw him without a smile on his face. But the smile that spread across Kyojuro’s lips now was nothing short of blissful, his eyes fond as he gazes upon the little kitten.

Then Kyojuro glances up as if feeling Giyuu’s eyes on him. He blinks but then he easily smiles at Giyuu with that exact same joyful expression.

His heart throbs in his chest as though it were being squeezed in a vice-grip. Giyuu is starting to genuinely wonder what’s wrong with him.

He’s saved from pondering over it too hard as the kitten flops onto her side and demands their attention back. Kyojuro laughs, Giyuu’s mouth twitches, and they both happily oblige.

The two men talk amongst themselves in the meantime, ranging from any topic that comes into their minds. Giyuu, in pleasant spirits, makes an effort to contribute more to the conversation this time around. It’s not much, but it’s something.

Their conversation gradually dwindles away until they’re left in a comfortable silence, basking in the peace that they’ve been granted. The kitten has long since fallen asleep, curled up in between the two men while they continued to idly pet her.

It’s only when the first rays of sunshine start to sparkle along the horizon that they realize just how long they spent there.

“I’m truly sorry to have to cut this short,” Kyojuro says, “but I must be going soon.”

There’s nothing in his facial features that gives it away, but Giyuu almost suspects that he spies some hidden disappointment lurking underneath. Startlingly, he feels that same disappointment.

Once again, he doesn’t voice anything out loud. He merely nods in understanding.

“I’m sorry to have kept you here for so long.”

Honestly, Giyuu should have been more responsible than this. They each had their own respective obligations that needed attending to, and it would reflect badly if they weren’t performing at their absolute best.

Giyuu should’ve sent Kyojuro away a long time ago and then retired to bed himself. It was the reasonable thing to do.

But Giyuu hadn’t even entertained the thought of ending this early.

He had been having fun. More fun than he’d had in a long time.

Kyojuro shakes his head. “No, this was truly wonderful! I’m glad that I got to share this experience with you!”

He leans down towards the cat, sparing Giyuu the effort of even attempting to come up with a reply to that.

“It was very nice to meet you,” he states, petting the kitten one last time before standing.

The sudden motion rouses her from her sleep, but a few gentle scratches from Giyuu has her yawning and snuggling back into her previous position. Kyojuro chuckles at this display.

“It appears that she’s taken quite a liking to you," he remarks.

“I’m not so sure,” Giyuu brushes off his comment bashfully. “You’re here too. That probably helped her feel at ease.”

“Don't be so doubtful! You don’t give yourself enough credit!” Kyojuro cheerfully admonishes him. He punctuates his next words by giving Giyuu a few pats on the shoulder. "You're a great person, Tomioka! I certainly think so. I’m sure she does as well!”

Kyojuro takes a step back after completely uprooting Giyuu’s world. He takes a moment to stretch out his aching limbs, unaware of the effect that both his words and his touch have left on Giyuu. He feels warmth unfurling in his chest and spreading throughout his entire body. He tries to formulate a response, but Kyojuro beats him to it.

“Tomioka.”

Giyuu peers up slowly. He’s met with the sight of Kyojuro’s smiling face.

“I really enjoyed this time we spent together. I’m looking forward to another mission together soon.”

He turns away before Giyuu can speak. He probably doesn’t expect him to say anything back, which is a fair judgment. Normally Giyuu would just let him leave without another word. That’s what he has always done.

But-

“I look forward to it as well.”

His voice is soft, carried between them by the gentle morning breeze. Giyuu wonders if Kyojuro could even hear him.

But when he glances over, he sees Kyojuro has turned back around to stare at him with mild surprise. For a few seconds, nothing is said.

Then his lips curve into a radiant grin, one that almost steals his breath away. Giyuu doesn’t know how he’s meant to function while standing under the dazzling light of two suns.

“I’m happy to hear that!” He spins back around on his heel, raising a hand in farewell. “Make sure to get some rest! Until next time, Tomioka!”

Giyuu mirrors Kyojuro’s gesture and lifts his own hand to wave goodbye. This earns him one last smile, sent his way over Kyojuro’s shoulder, before the man takes his leave.

Giyuu watches him go until his silhouette disappears beyond the horizon. He observes the sleeping bundle next to him and allows his own tiny smile to take form.

Until next time, huh?

Giyuu couldn’t wait.