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The way leaves brushed against one another with the cool autumn breeze was a gentle reminder to start wearing warmer clothes. With a small grunt Giyuu lifted himself from the ground, he looked up at the sky for a moment, watching as the clouds moved on without any need for his existence. Recently Giyuu had taken notice to how the world did not need his presence to thrive, or even exist. It should’ve been more obvious than it was, the realization made him feel a small bit at peace.
With that, the world would still spin its own tune even if he was to perish. During his realization he tested it, he was not going to believe something baseless. He left for a mission and took much longer than necessary. Giyuu’s missing presence was not noticed. Next he did not leave his estate for days, even upon the call of a mission, he remained steadfast. No one complained nor talked to him about it.
Continuous testing brought him enough proof to believe his presence was as unimportant as ever. Giyuu knew it was selfish to simply believe he was needed, hence why he stopped believing in that awhile ago. Only now did that confirmation truly cement it all to him. Maybe if Sabito was alive, maybe if his sister was still here, in those cases..he might be needed. Giyuu was not a fan of attention, he never was. When his sister forced him to follow her to town he felt the uncomfortable prick of others stares upon his skin. Though, he wished he embraced those times more. Childish and foolish to hope for things that are long dead and gone but Giyuu was always sentimental.
Before Kamado, Giyuu kept his distance, from all but Kocho Shinobu. She sniffed him out before he could even utter a word. Shinobu is quite cruel, her words are sharp as knives and are used with such intention, but she is not mean enough to where Giyuu dislikes her. He probably couldn’t dislike anything but demons if he tried. Shinobu is the only one who checks on him, who will talk to him at Hashira meet-ups during the downtimes they have. He is grateful for her presence. She is someone who will never accept his foolish sentiments, when she picked him apart like a poorly rolled sushi dish he knew she hated his way of life, way of thinking. Yet, she still talked to him, so he held onto that.
Shinobu was someone who put effort in every step she took, Giyuu was someone who let the tides take him where he needed to be. He knew they had conflicting ideologies, that might be why she would give him that dissatisfied smile at the end of the day. Maybe he should ask Shinobu if she believes her presence holds no value. Well, if he thinks about it that’s quite a stupid ask. Shinobu is a doctor, the one who upholds the butterfly mansion. She would be desperately missed, Giyuu felt a comfortable feeling lie in his chest thinking about that. At least she will be loved and valued. That’s all he could ever want for someone who is smiling her agony away like he can’t. Like he isn’t strong enough to do.
His mind drifts to the other Hashira and he comes to the same conclusion. They’d be missed if they passed. When Rengoku had passed during the Mugan Train with Kamado and his friends his death was greatly mourned. Giyuu thought of putting himself in the flame Hashira’s place but felt that was not polite. His death would only burden the corps as they find someone to take up his missions, pick up his slack. Honestly him alive or dead, that would be true. Compared to the other Hashira he was only dead weight.
Pulling him from his depressing thoughts he noticed that his fingers felt numb. It was quite cold..or maybe it was because he stood here for a while. Leaving his estate he made his way to the location provided to him by his crow. As he ran towards the destination, he felt the wind kiss his hair, brushing through the unkept locks. It reminded him of a certain white haired Hashira. The random thought made him stumble slightly, almost falling. He cursed his mind for getting distracted so easily but it was hard.
Shinazugawa, the harsh wind Hashira who Giyuu had long fell for. He was like the wind, fought hard against the things in his way, pushing past them to achieve his own agenda. Giyuu liked that about him, he liked the way his white hair tossed as he slashed in the air. When Giyuu would try to watch Shinazugawa he could feel a death glare quickly catch him. The other man was perceptive, much better at noticing details than Giyuu. Giyuu noticed the really small things that meant something to him. Unlike Shinazugawa who noticed everything for what it was, even if it wasn’t about him. His selfish demeanour yet selfless actions made Giyuu enraptured by the other.
During his mission he often would drift simply back to the wind Hashira, he was a safe thought, a gentle cool on a hot day instead of the whirlwind that was Giyuu’s mind normally. The demons head fell with a clean swipe, what a futile demon who could bark more than it could bite. Maybe that was Giyuu in a way. Even though he should make his way back to his estate; he simply leans against the wall of one of the civilians houses and slowly descended to the ground.
Giyuu lifted his hand slowly to the blanket of stars above his head. If he could be of any value maybe Shinazugawa would dislike him less. His fingers part and then collect themselves again. Giyuu looks at his hands like he is not the inhabitant of this body. Slowly he moves to take out the small ponytail, letting himself feel the way it falls delicately on his shoulders. Being a Hashira, was too big of an honour for someone who is an only wearing a mask to fit in.
Giyuu’s mind drifts to the well crafted, white fox mask. He remembers the soft tufts of peach that spilled out behind it. Sabito, should be in this spot. Should be staring at the stars admiring their beauty. How old was he back then..Giyuu tried to recall but his head pulsed uncomfortably the more he tried to push into his memories. Sabito was one of a kind, a relic in a museum that was stolen and then replaced with a lesser than rock. Sabito was a precious peach topaz, sparkling when the light hit it right, yet still beautiful in the dark. Giyuu was a small pebble found on the ground near the sea, drifting along the shoreline, picked up because it weighed the same. His place in the glass box was tacky and not fit for such a beautiful display.
Giyuu could imagine each Hashira as a beautiful gem. A stone that’s one of a kind and stuns those who see it. Shinobu would have a nice purple sapphire while Shinazugawa would be pearl. Rare and shiny, found deep within a ocean with a barrier, yet when you finally unlock it, it’s worth every second of effort. Giyuu wondered if he would one day be a beautiful gemstone. It was a silly, almost hopeful thought that felt unlike him. The night sky was making his bones even heavier, he needed to find a place to rest and leave for his estate early in the morning.
-
The sunrise was cooler than Giyuu expected. He felt a chill as he ran through the slightly wet forest. Morning dew wetting his shoes. While on his way back, he noticed the familiar storm, beside him was the serpent Hashira. Giyuu felt his breath hitch as he heard them speaking to each other.
“What will you do about the mission?” The snake wrapped like a scarf around his neck slithered its tongue. “No damn clue’ if I could I’d decline it.” Shinazugawa tone was gruff, like he hadn’t woken up long ago, it made Giyuu feel a soft warmth on his cheeks. “It sounds troubling, I mean..Tomioka and you are like water and oil.” Giyuu’s attention was peaked as he heard his name. “I hate how aloof he is, wake up and notice that we are on the same damn level.” Iguro nodded, his hair gently moving in the wind. “Shinobu could take it. She’s the only one who can stand his presence.” Shinazugawa huffed at that. “Like hell she would do anything for me.”
Shinazugawa groaned. “I’ll just do this shit alone, he isn’t even back anyways.” ‘Ah..about that.’ Giyuu couldn’t starve off the quip in his mind, but he remained silent. “Why did master request two Hashira on this mission?” Shinazugawa stayed quiet for a second, perhaps digging in his sleep deprived mind for the answer. “Might be a lower moon, that’s why.” A soft hum escaped the serpent Hashira. The other Hashira flicked their hand up. “Sucks to be you. ‘Going to go see Kanroji now.” Shinazugawa hissed at the other. “Such an unhelpful bastard.” Kissing his teeth Shinazugawa looks near some bushes where he thought he saw rustling. At that point Giyuu was long gone.
Giyuu made his way back to his estate, granted it took longer than he desired but it was fine in the end. Winding down from his mission he spent his afternoon doing some meditation. As he started to feel his mind clear a loud bashing startled him out of his head. “Tomioka! Dammit open up!” Ah, Shinazugawa, this must be about the mission Giyuu heard about earlier. Slowly moving his tired legs he got up and went to his estates door, greeted by the sight of the unruly man. “We got a mission’ wanna finish this shit as soon as possible so get your stuff and let’s go.” His hair was a bit messy, messier than usual.
Giyuu fought the urge to pat it down, his daze seemed to piss off the other as he hit Giyuu on the head. “Wake up and get your stuff dumbass!” Giyuu was quick to collect his things and follow the wind Hashira to the village.
The walk was silent but that didn’t bother Giyuu. Honestly talking would be more disturbing. Without his eavesdropping earlier he would’ve had no clue where or what they were even doing, it was typical of Shinazugawa to go head first into something. At least when he was forced to be around Giyuu, in and out was his goal. If Giyuu were more selfish he would’ve tried to hold them back so that he could be with the other more. Giyuu was no stranger to Shinazugawa’s hatred and decided to spare the other the agony.
“The lower moon should be attacking soon.” Shinazugawa looked up at the setting sun, retreating his hand to the hilt of his sword. Giyuu watched what the other did carefully, analyzing every bit of movement and breath. Giyuu wanted to savour the time he would have with Shinazugawa, he knew it was going to be short.
A loud cackle broke him from his thoughts as he stared up at the lower moon demon. ‘So there was one..’ he said to himself. Giyuu whipped out his sword but Shinazugawa was already slashing away at the demon. Giyuu wanted to help but Shinazugawa was too erratic to where Giyuu couldn’t figure out how to attack without hitting him. It wasn’t until Shinazugawa got launched by blood demon art that Giyuu realized the gravity of the situation. A lower moon, one of the strongest demons to exist, was in front of him. He may be a stand-in for someone more but he would be damned if he didn’t try to do what Sabito couldn’t.
“Water breathing..” before he could utter the words Shinazugawa cut in front of him and shattered his focus, making Giyuu get hit by the slashes from the demon art. Hissing, he noticed a slice on his right shoulder. As he tried to raise his sword he felt piercing pain that was blinding. The grip on his sword tightens as he tried to ground himself. Again, he has to try again. “Water breathing, fourth form..striking tide.” On his exhale large watery slices destroy the upcoming demon art attack. Giyuu looks up and grips his sword tightly, “Water breathing, seventh form, Drop Ripple Thrust.” The head comes rolling to his feet with a screech. The sound makes Giyuu wish he didn’t have hearing.
Suddenly he feels a slight daze. Looking down he notices a slash to his stomach he didn’t know was there. When he was concentrating he must’ve been hit, he’s surprised he didn’t notice it. The grip on his sword loosens to where it clangs obnoxiously on the concrete. The moon is almost kissing the world goodbye. Did it really take that long? Giyuu felt like this fight wasn’t that long, but maybe he didn’t notice because all he did was watch as Shinazugawa danced against the wind of his making. Speaking of him, where was he? Giyuu slowly turned to see the other male staring at him with an ajar look.
Giyuu tries to say something but he chokes on his own blood, his knees buckle as he spits out what was lodged in his throat. “Tomioka.” That lovely gruff voice, he would willingly drown in it for eternity. “That was..” the other seemed to be shocked, about what Giyuu had no clue. “You killed a lower rank so smoothly.” Giyuu wanted to admire his comrades beautiful expression but his eyes were dotting and his head was getting too heavy. “..thank you?” he groaned as his vocal cords screamed in agony from the hacking up blood he was currently doing. “Shi..nazugawa..”he called out but he quickly slammed to the dirt before he could hear any response.
-
When Giyuu woke he was in the butterfly mansion hospital area. He groaned and sat up, staring at the wall in front of him. Right, the mission. He touched his shoulder and noticed it didn’t hurt as bad. His stomach also looked alright as well. “It’s not too bad.” A sharp voice cut him out of his head. “Shinobu..” his voice trailed to a small whisper. “You’ve been asleep for three days. Someone was worried about you.” Giyuu blinked slowly, how was he sleeping for three days and wait- who was worried? “Huh..who?” Giyuu knew it wasn’t Shinobu, she wouldn’t admit it like that. “I was sworn to secrecy.” She puts a finger to her lip with a sly smile.
She moves to sit on the chair next to Giyuu’s bed. “I’m surprised you didn’t get as injured as you appeared. With all the blood you’d assume a vital organ was hit, seemed to just be a dramatic cut.” She gently handed the boy some pills which he took. Passing a glass of water Shinobu spoke “Your concentration breathing helped keep the wound from opening too far.” She leaned back in the chair. “Shinobu.” Giyuu looked at her with his usual expression, empty. Shinobu knew better than to assume just because his eyes are like an ocean that they’re void of feelings. “If I was to die would you be sad?”
Shinobu couldn’t say she expected that. Giyuu was melodramatic at best but she hadn’t heard such a blatant statement from him in a while. “I’m not sure. As long as you’re here, I’ll dress your wounds.” Giyuu looked away from her, not directionally but his eyes were somewhere far. “I wonder if I’d miss you.” Shinobu laughed at that. Her soft chuckle brought the other out of his thoughts. “I think I would.” He looks to her, an oddly serious expression, one that holds no lies. “I would miss Shinazugawa as well.” Giyuu leans back into the bed. “Pardon, Shinazugawa?”
Giyuu nods, he looks up to the ceiling, it’s white like the others hair. “I don’t know how to word it.” Shinobu hums, a smirk of pure fascination fills her face. “Do you like him?” Giyuu thinks about the question carefully and nods ‘yes.’ Shinobu seems to know something he doesn’t but Giyuu doesn’t bother asking. He knows that’s a useless thing to do. “I like him like Iguro likes Kanroji.” Shinobu sighs softly, it’s not one of frustration surprisingly. “So you love Shinazugawa?” Giyuu stares blankly but is not slow to nod in agreement. Shinobu hums as she looks out the window to see Shinazugawa talking with Iguro. The wind Hashira had been asking about Giyuu’s condition constantly, always anxiously following Shinobu to the point it was frustrating her.
Shinazugawa seemed to be oddly fascinated with Giyuu, which she didn’t care to meddle with, but now she felt like this could be fun.
“I’m surprised you could fall in love with someone Tomioka.” Giyuu doesn’t dignify that with a response but the small furrow in his brow is enough to speak thousands of words. “I don’t like it.” Shinobu sighed, I mean Shinazugawa was a tough case, especially with his loud hatred for the other. “If I connect myself to someone again..” the boy trailed off. Shinobu felt a tinge of concern that was uncomfortable to say the least. “I must get going. Please do rest, you’re excused from missions for three days.” Giyuu watches as the insect Hashira leaves, he doesn’t speak, only pulls his eyes back to his hands which lay on his lap.
Giyuu gripped his hands and then unfurled them. “I can’t be a stand-in if I get connected.” Giyuu knew better than anyone that he couldn’t go through with this relationship. Ethics and religion were never his worries, but that of his position. He knew he wasn’t here to stay, so making a place in someone’s heart would only overstep the boundaries he knows he must follow. A sharp pain hits his chest, he softly grips his hands again trying to steady his heart after the pain fades. Giyuu cannot overstep his boundaries, so Giyuu cannot date the man he loves. Although, that’s pretty optimistic due to how the other glares with so much hatred it could kill him and his bloodline.
Autumn hadn’t felt more chilling as he left to rest in his estate. He noticed the wind Hashira slashing harshly through the air, sparring with Kamado and that boar child. Giyuu tore his eyes away, he knew better than to linger. What he missed was the small fraction of a second where Shinazugawa’s eyes drifted to his moving form.
His rest wasn’t restful. Nothing is when you’re Giyuu, his mind is too loud, harsh and cruel like a winters breeze. Nothing was stopping his mind, directing its focus to a certain point. The slow drift from one agonizing thought to another made him excited to go back to fighting demons. His injuries didn’t hurt anymore, the medicine Shinobu gave him was quite well crafted. On the dawn of Giyuu’s first day back on the job, he craved the movement being a demon slayer provided.
As he left his estate he bumped straight into another. He was about to apologize when he noticed it was Shinazugawa. “Hah- you!” Shinazugawa cut himself off, staring at Giyuu for longer than what felt comfortable. Giyuu went to move away but the others voice stopped him. “Are you..doing okay?” Shinazugawa looked away, his eyes looking to the bushes near the water estate. “I’m doing okay.” Giyuu didn’t know why his condition was any of Shinazugawa’s concern but frankly he couldn’t bother to dissect it. That would hurt worse.
“On the mission.” The other muttered, Giyuu wanted to walk away, his heart was too pleased to see the other, let alone hear his voice in a tone that wasn’t hate. “Thank you for your help.” With that the wind Hashira left, leaving a storm of emotions swirling in Giyuu’s mind. The soft flush on the water Hashira’s cheeks couldn’t be blamed on the cold. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to speak. Shinazugawa thanked him? Acknowledged him? He was only doing what he thought was best, but Shinazugawa praised it. Giyuu put his hand to his own cheek. The amount of time he dumbly stared at the direction where the other had left in was unknown.
After some time, Shinazugawa wouldn’t be as mean. When Giyuu would get up to leave Hashira meetings after the masters departure he wouldn’t scream at him. Only would tell him to just sit down and deal with it. Giyuu usually wouldn’t listen but his heart betrayed his gut. Shinobu had a sly smile every time Shinazugawa was near Giyuu, Giyuu couldn’t guess what she was plotting, nor thinking but he knew it was something devious. Shinazugawa took duo missions with Giyuu, optionally. This was bizarre in Giyuu’s eyes, maybe just maybe..a demon possessed Shinazugawa. That possibility couldn’t go unchecked.
“Shinazugawa.” He called out to the other who was departing from the Hashira meeting. “Hm?” He turned to Giyuu. He looked the exact same but Giyuu couldn’t trust that. With a quick slash Giyuu drew his blade and went to attack Shinazugawa. “The fuck?!” The other reacted quickly and slashed at the incoming attack. Water sprayed from the impact, blown away from the wind. “The hell you doing, lookin’ for a fight?” Giyuu shook his head no, drawing his blade back. “I thought you were a demon.” Shinazugawa gave him a puzzling look. “Why in the fuck would you think that.” Giyuu patted down his hair that flew around during the fight. “You’re being nice to me. You usually yell at me and tell me to die.”
Shinazugawa gritted his teeth at that, huffing and putting his sword into its sheathe and walked away. Giyuu remained confused, but he was reassured that it was indeed Shinazugawa. Satisfied with his analysis he leaves quickly to his own estate.
After that interaction Shinazugawa was more aggressive again. Giyuu frowned at it but thought it was best for his heart. When Giyuu walked into the butterfly estate to make a injury report he heard some talking which made him still. He didn’t want to eavesdrop but he couldn’t walk past them without drawing attention.
“Shinazugawa in love hm..sounds like you might actually be a demon.” The familiar tease in the voice made way in Giyuu’s mind, ah..Shinobu. “Does he think before he acts?!” Another raspier voice barked out, and that’s Shinazugawa. “He isn’t perceptive of other’s feelings, I’m surprised he figured out his own.” From the way they were speaking it sounded like they were referring to him- he really needed to stop eavesdropping on others. “I tried being nice, I tried going back to normal but nothing seems to go through his head!” Shinobu giggled at that, Giyuu could hear a annoyed huff come from the other. “Usually I’d sit back and watch, but I have a bad feeling about some stuff.” Giyuu decided to not make an injury report, he felt bad for listening in and was quick to leave the butterfly mansion. Catching Aoi he reported to her directly and then left.
“Bad feelin’? ‘Bout what, our feelings?” Shinobu shook her head. “Giyuu is..self conscious, but he’s also always looking at others.” Shinazugawa knew Tomioka was an observer, he’d seen it enough to have volumes of proof. “Giyuu asked if I would miss him when he dies.” Shinazugawa was a little surprised at the comment. “Miss him? What a weird question.” Shinobu didn’t seem to think it was weird. “More like, I wonder if he’s plotting something.” Shinobu looks out the window and spots Kamado talking to Kanae. “He puts a lot of trust in Tanjiro.” Shinazugawa follows her gaze and notices the conversation. “Giyuu was distressed to hear that Tanjiro could use sun breathing. I heard him frantically ask if Tanjiro was abandoning water breathing, to which the boy mentioned mixing them.” Shinobu had a distant look in her eye.
“I’m worried he has a plan to kill himself.” Shinazugawa felt his eyes bulge. “What?! The hell would he do that for? He’s a fuckign Hashira! Let alone an amazing one.” Shinobu hummed softly at that. “He doesn’t believe that himself. He only acts on knowledge, not his own instincts. He doesn’t trust them.” Shinobu was quick to sigh, “Now..I need to see if he’s made that damn injury report yet.” She stalked off with long strides. Shinazugawa stared helpless as he realized how little he knew Tomioka.
Tomioka was someone who Shinazugawa saw as talented and capable. He was a pain in the ass with his aloof attitude and pretentious manner but he realizes that Tomioka was just trying to get by. He and Tomioka weren’t that different it seemed, only Tomioka took sadness while Shinazugawa used his anger. Walking out of the estate he watched Tomioka briskly walk out of the vicinity.
-
Giyuu decided that Kamado was ready. After the entertainment district he was more than sure. Tengen ranted to Giyuu about the entire thing, about how Kamado and his friends were flashy. Giyuu listened intently, focusing his hearing on their improvements. In his mind he envisioned the way they improved, they were on par to surpass Giyuu in any moment. That brought a comfortable feeling to his chest. Leaving Tengen mid story, he decided he should actually do the mission he was given hours prior.
When he arrived the air felt different than usual. The smell of demon was almost choking, it wasn’t until Giyuu made eye contact with the demon in question that he realized the stakes. “Upper moon..” a soft mumble escaped his lips as he noticed the demon starting to prepare some sort of demon art. Giyuu was quick to mumble out his eleventh form and watched as the world around him started to become an ocean of darkness.
Swinging his blade he watched as slash after slash was getting eaten by the overly noisy demon. He taunted Giyuu but Giyuu was too busy thinking back to the things he heard Tengen and the Kamado kid say. The neck isn’t always their weak point, they can configure themselves, weak points could be hidden in other forms of them, watch out for their attacks. Giyuu felt himself fling as the demon seemed to catch him in his split second thought, Giyuu took a breath and brought down a slash used in air. The houses they danced upon were becoming a ruin. Giyuu heard the soft cries of civilians but he was only one man. Ditching the demon he quickly swept up the people who he could find and tried to bring them to a more secluded spot.
The demon caught on and started to impede his progress. Giyuu noticed a small child with black hair, beautiful blue eyes that shone in the moonlight and soft tears bubbling from them. A child picture perfect to his dead sister makes eye contact with him. The demon notices and goes to slash the child but Giyuu darts forward, using his back as a shield. He chokes out blood on the little girls kimono but she doesn’t seem to notice as he brings her to a safer area. His back pulsed in hot white pain but Giyuu couldn’t focus on that, not now.
Swirling his sword he bends his body into a arch to swish water directly at the demon, knocking off its limbs. The demons regeneration is one Giyuu’s never faced. “Shit..I’m, so fucked.” Giyuu looked to the demon who was smiling on the rooftops of the decaying buildings. He couldn’t give up, now now.
His mind drifted to the soft clouds that filled the sky above.
“Giyuu! Watch out-“ the smaller boy trips on the branch smacking straight to the floor. “Man, you are so clumsy!” Sabito’s laugh filled Giyuu’s ear.
Even now he can remember it. “You know..” the demons voice soften as he jumped down from his perch. “If I taste one’s blood, I can see their heart.” The demon snapped their fingers and they quickly turned into the smaller Sabito that Giyuu had missed so dearly. “That slash earlier has provided me enough information to last till the sun rises!” It cackles as it snaps rabidly, it changes to every single one of them.
Sabito, his beloved sister, Shinobu, Kamado and ..fuck Shinazugawa. “Hm?” The demon stops and then seems to think. “I can feel it here.” The demon points to its chest as it smiles wide. “This one is your love..hah this will be too fun!” Suddenly Giyuu sees Shinazugawa race towards him. The demon perfectly mimics the quick and furious movements Shinazugawa makes. Giyuu dodges the incoming slash. He raises his blade but can’t seem to move it. Fuck! He’s stuck in place.
Is this fear? Is it agony? Giyuu tries his best to steady his breathing but the soft smile that is made by the demon Shinazugawa is too much. “Don’t worry..I’ll take care of you.” Shinazugawa’s voice drips like honey, it makes Giyuu feel like he’s drenched in it. He can barely avoid the rush of fists that thrusts at him.
Giyuu took a breath and was able to hit some slashes against the demon. The demon seemed to be caught off guard as it was catching on every slice. The demon fell to the floor, Shinazugawa’s body laid there. Bloodied by Giyuu’s hands, his eyes frantically watched as the wind Hashira made no effort to move. His mind couldn’t accept the possibility of this not being Shinazugawa, it looked, sounded, smelt just like him. Laughed and smiled like him. The daze made him take a hard slash to the face. His eye slashed and now frantically bleeding. Giyuu screamed in agony as he fell into the rubble of what used to be a house. Giyuu opened one of his eyes and watched as the demon slowly made way to him.
‘I need to get up’ how many times did Giyuu’s mind replay this stupid mantra? His body ached, he could barely heave out breaths as he felt wood shards digging into his skin. He’s a Hashira and yet look at him. Kamado, the boar child, the yellow one and Tengen slayed two upper ranks..and here Giyuu was, choking on his own blood and siliva as he watched helplessly as the demon teasingly approached. Slowly Giyuu focused his breathing, it can’t end here. He may be a stand-in, he may be a terrible Hashira but he wouldn’t let anyone get hurt due to his impotence.
Pushing up, he staggered to his feet, his sword dangling weakly in his hand. It was chipped, he’d have to get a new one then..but that’s if he would survive this.
Giyuu pushed those thoughts aside, if he was going to die, he wouldn’t die with regrets of being helpless. He wouldn’t let anyone die because he wasn’t good enough, not again. The demon transformed to Sabito, Giyuu focused his breath and slashed at the young boy. The demon seemed to be weaker when it imitated others, focusing on emotional not physical damage. From what Giyuu could gather, he couldn’t adapt the strength of those he imitated, only mock the movements. Giyuu knew Kamado would be the easiest to fight in that aspect, he had seen every single one of those boys moves and they weren’t something you could emulate without years of practice.
As the demon quickly transformed to different forms to see what could catch Giyuu, the boy reacted deeply to Kamado. Showing a hurt expression as he slashed weakly at the demon. That terrible act seemed to work as the demon tried to imitate Kamado’s sun dance. Giyuu took that chance to slash at the neck, the way the demon was failing to imitate the move made his neck available. Giyuu felt the harsh tug when he tried to cut the almost concrete neck. He felt his body fling off the demon, flying in the air and crashing into a roof. Giyuu hacked as his body slammed into the harsh wooden floor. He completely shattered the roof with the trajectory of that throw.
Trying to steady his breathing, Giyuu felt his lungs cry in agony. Giyuu remembered something Shinobu told him once.
“Demons don’t expect you to use poison usually. It’s uncommon so..it catches them off guard. Hence why I’m silent but deadly!” Her cheery tone echoed weakly in his ears. “I don’t need this.” Shinobu shoved the vials in his hand. “Just take it. I’d love to say ‘I told you so’ one day so I hope you use them.” Giyuu smiled a little, coughing a little before sitting up. ‘Shinobu will be thrilled to know she’s right.’ The demon wouldn’t expect poison. So Giyuu slipped the syringe in his sleeve and waited for the demon to approach.
The soft smell of Shinazugawa’s natural scent filled his nose. “Tomioka! Dammit..” Giyuu peaked his one eye open to see the other Hashira. To make sure it was the demon Giyuu smiled up at him. A genuine expression, Shinazugawa smiled back. Giyuu pulled Shinazugawa down and placed a soft kiss to its lips. Suddenly Giyuu thrusted the needle into the throat of the demon, pushing the dial down and injecting the wisteria poison.
The demon screamed. Suddenly Giyuu smelt more than one demon, must’ve called for backup while Giyuu was trying to catch his breath. The demon backed away in agony and transformed back to its normal form. Giyuu went to grab his sword but noticed three needles directed right at him. Using his sword he flung them away from him. A load of fish raced and went to attack Giyuu. He jumped up, projecting himself to the roof where he was met with a pot.
The demon below was quiet now, Giyuu watched as the pot erupted with a another upper rank demon. Shit.
“Now, when I heard there was a Hashira I couldn’t help but come and see.” Giyuu heard screaming and noticed demon fish were eating the people in the hideout Giyuu put them in. Panic filled his chest as he went to run over there. The potted demon erupted into a mess of corpses and showed people he remembered seeing rushed over. Especially the one to one girl who reminded him of his sister. A pain ached in his chest. While distracted Giyuu felt his back pierced with agonizing needles.
The potted demon smiled. “I can sense more than one of you. ‘Don’t wish to get involved further. I have other plans to attend to.” With that the potted demon was gone. Giyuu couldn’t even stop him as his body felt paralyzed. The demon below seemed to awaken again as it jumped from the hole in the roof. Giyuu felt his conscious fading, he definitely had lost too much blood at this point. He gagged and felt himself throw up, blood and acid poured from his lips as he fell to the ground. Slowly he looked up and noticed a familiar white haired male, he watched as the demons head rolled off the roof, and his body brunt to ashes.
Giyuu felt relieved as he looked over and saw the people being helped. He wanted to look at the white haired man again but his conscious
quickly turned into black.
-
When Tomioka’s crow can screaming to the masters residence it was very shocking. Some Hashira had collected there to talk about the previous mission with the upper ranks already. “Giyuu! There’s an upper rank!” The old crow bawled. “An upper rank? With Giyuu?” Kanroji called out. “He’s on a mission right now right? Was there an upper rank?” The crow screamed more and more but it made little sense. “Please. Articulate yourself.” The masters calm voice helped the crow calm itself. “There’s an upper moon with Giyuu and he’s in need of assistance.” Shinazugawa gripped the sword on his side. “When I was sent away, he was already facing deadly injuries.” With that, Iguro and Shinazugawa were quick to be sent out.
Shinazugawa ran faster than he’s ever ran before. “Dude I know you want to kill an upper rank but you’re wasting all your energy running.” Iguro called from behind Shinazugawa. All the wind Hashira could think was ‘I have to save him.’
Upon reaching the destination they both noticed Giyuu as he was thrown into the roof. Shinazugawa bit his lip and ran to the direction of the house. Before he could Iguro called out to him, summons of demon fish surrounded the civilians, an unending amount of blood and fish were flying through the air. Shinazugawa tore through it all, he couldn’t deal with this right now! By the time he was able to kill all of them he noticed a demon standing up on the roof. Fuck!
Shinazugawa zipped through the air with unheard of speed and was quick to slice the neck of the demon. It was hard but his adrenaline and anger made him feel like he was god. With the tumble of the demons head he watched as the boy under him choked on his own vomit and blood. “Tomioka!” He called out but the boy was already unconscious. “Shit!” Shinazugawa grabbed the water Hashira and ran to Iguro where Shinobu had been, taking care of the injured civilians with a team of assistants. “Shinobu!” He called out rough, desperate.
Shinobu turned and paled at the look of the water Hashira who laid limp in his grasp. Shinobu went to work, quickly assessing his wounds and taking out the needles, giving him anti poison injections and further treatment. As Shinazugawa was asked to help the civilians he couldn’t help but look over at the wounded water Hashira who laid helpless on the ground.
When they managed to go to the butterfly estate Tomioka was in critical condition. Shinobu worked tirelessly to make sure he was still breathing, Shinazugawa watched helplessly at the door as the young women shuffled hastily through her things to try and help the boy who laid in bed. After days of endless work Shinobu was able to confirm Tomioka’s condition as steady. Shinazugawa was asked to watch the young man as Shinobu rested. With the help of the three young assistants he felt more at ease. His muscles were still tense, he watched day after day as Tomioka lay asleep in bed.
When Shinazugawa expected it least Tomioka awoke. Shinazugawa was tired, he barely slept, his sleep deprived state made him mumble off, “I miss you Giyuu.” He heard the soft in and out of breath, it calmed him. “I love you. I’m sorry I never said it. I didn’t know how.” Shinazugawa felt himself tear up a little, what a joke. He tried his best for years not to get attached, he knew what it felt like to watch one die from demons. He knew he couldn’t love someone, especially one who was a Hashira. They both were in danger and it would only eat him alive.
“I..love you too.” A weak whisper that could’ve been missed if it wasn’t for the rumbling he heard in the chest he rested lightly upon. “Tomioka?!” He jerked up to see the water Hashira smile a little at him. “Mm..” he mumbled softly, Shinazugawa stared in astonishment as Tomioka just blinked dumbly at him. “I never acted on my feelings because I’m scared to bring us both harm. I can’t risk losing someone to a demon again..” Shinazugawa couldn’t stop the words from helplessly flowing from his lips. “I thought if I stayed away, got mad at you that you’d be less attractive but it didn’t help at all. If I pointed out all your flaws then maybe I could hate them but I only grew more in love.” The expression on Tomioka’s face was priceless.
“I..” Tomioka choked out a laugh, tears softly formed and fell from his eyes. Shinazugawa’s fingers delicately went to wipe them away. “I love you too..it’s been..hard to..” his voice seemed to be quite forced out. Shinazugawa wanted to stop him from speaking to keep him out of pain but he was too selfish. “I..wanted to..not get hurt again.” Tomioka groaned, not in pain but frustration. “I suck with words.” He sighed and pulled Shinazugawa to him.
The kiss was soft, uncoordinated and completely unskilled but it brought them both enough joy to where that wasn’t even a thought. “You do really suck with words.” Shinazugawa smirked at the blushing expression on the others face. “Mm..you can’t talk.” Shinazugawa rolled his eyes and softly kissed Tomioka. The kiss got more desperate as Shinazugawa sucked on Tomioka’s bottom lip, making the other gasp. Tomioka felt Shinazugawa’s tongue explore his mouth. It made him dizzy.
They pulled away with dumb grins filling their faces. They talked a little before deciding to fall back asleep, it was 2am.