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Chapter Text

*clang*

*crash*

*clang*

*slash*

Giyuu gritted his teeth and his blade was once again blocked.

His mission should have been simple and easy… but he was caught off guard and the demon managed to surprise him.

That combined with the slick mud from the autumn rainfall and the fast speed of the demon, it make it difficult to land a hit. Giyuu has been sliding around on the unstable ground, unable to keep a proper footing.

“Come on!” The demon taunts as its claws met with Giyuu’s blade again, “Aren’t you a Hashira? Are all of you this weak?”

Giyuu didn’t give a response. He has nothing to say to a demon as he tried to focus.

The demon, almost resembling a frog, leaped away. Its strong legs allowing it to bounce around the trees surrounding them.

Giyuu took this moment to prepare… timing it just right.

The demon leapt, claws aimed for his throat.

“Water Breathing… Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent…”

“Wait! Hold on!”

The demon couldn’t stop his attack as Giyuu met him in the middle. His sword had no resistance as it torn through the demon’s neck… However he didn’t escape unscathed as in the same instant the demon’s claws caught his shoulder while it flailed around in its attempts to change directions.

“Gah!”

Giyuu slid across the muddy mountainside as the demon’s head fell to the ground.

“Curse you!” It cried out as his body disintegrated into ash, “Curse you, you human!”

Giyuu didn’t even bother giving the demon his attention as he slid his sword back into its sheath.

Now to get out of the rain and cold…

“Let’s go…” he called out to his crow, “Come on…”

Kanzaburo flew to his shoulder, nestling up against his neck and hair.

He needed to be carefully getting down the mountain. It was too dark to see the ground and the mud only made it more dangerous.

Suddenly there was a rumble. The ground started shaking as a tree near him fell in his direction.

His crow took off with a squawk as Giyuu rolled out of the way of the tree. Sliding across the mud, he just barely dodged the tree when the ground disappeared below him.

Giyuu grunted as pain exploded all over his body as both his front and his back hit solid rock

…

He blinked as he tried to gain his bearings and figure out what happened.

He shouldn’t have been anywhere near a cliff. He surveyed the area ahead of time due to the storm rolling in, knowing it would block whatever moonlight there’d be…

So why did he fall?

Giyuu shifted, only to cry out as pain once again exploded along his chest and back.

It was too dark to see… but he knew he was hurt… badly. And where ever he landed he was definitely wedged in between something.

One arm was pinned, and the other hurt to move… probably broken…

And he can’t feel his legs at the moment between the pain and cold.

Controlling his breathing he looked up. Trying to make sense of how far he fell, but he couldn’t make anything out.

“Kanza-“ he tried to call out to his crow, only to cough as pain made his breath catch. “Kanzaburo!”

The sound of the wind and rain made it so he couldn’t hear his bird… he tried not to think about something happening to him…

“Kanzaburo!” He tried again yelling as loud as he could, ignoring the pain the best he could, “If you can hear me go get help!”

…

…

Nothing. No sound of his crow.

Giyuu tried to move again to no avail. 

Wherever he was… he was stuck.

Letting his head drop against the rock face he knows is in front of him as he took notes of the situation.

First, he had fallen, given the rock faces pressing on him on both sides, it was probable that it was a hidden crevice or fissure that he failed to notice before the storm.

Second, he was injured… Badly… he could feel the warmth of his blood mixing with the cold rain water. Everything hurts, making it hard to know exactly what was hurt and how bad…

Third, he was soaked, and the storm is expected to last the whole night and even into the next day. On top of all that, it was autumn. The nights are cold already, but mixed with rain, it’s freezing…

If Kanzaburo isn’t quick enough he’s going to be in real trouble.

Giyuu focused his breathing the best he could, it’s the only thing he could do at the moment. It’ll help keep him warm while waiting.

As time passed his injuries started throbbing, hurting even more now that the adrenaline was wearing off. His back burned with pain and one of his legs felt numb.

His lungs started to hurt, from both the cold wet air and the rocks jutting into them, keeping him pinned. It got harder and harder to breathe correctly.

Shivers started racking his body as the night and storm dragged on as breathing could only keep him warm for so long.

At some point he heard another tree fall, raining what felt like mud, rock and leaves down around him.

His pinned arm was starting to go numb as well… whether from lack of circulation or the cold, he didn’t know…

Giyuu is acutely aware he’s in danger of a multiple of things at the moment. Hypothermia, pneumonia, infection… and more…

He just needs to stay awake… stay awake until help comes.

Or until the sun comes up and he can see his situation in full.. and figure out how to get out of it…

Not being to help it, Giyuu prays to the gods that at least Kanzaburo was okay… even if he ends up… not okay, he wishes his crow was okay at the very least…

Were his eyes even open anymore… were they ever open?

He was so cold…

But he needs to stay awake, no matter what.

Wiggling a bit, trying to gain more feeling in his numb leg and arm, he used the pain to help keep him awake, even though the cold was making everything numb…

Despite the darkness, his vision spun, he didn’t know if it was from blood loss… or the start of hypothermia… either way it made him nauseous.

Were his eyes open or closed? He couldn’t remember.

Where was Kanzaburo?

Is he okay? Did he make it to someone else.

Breathing was hurting again…

A cracking sound brought another wave of raining rock and mud… was he going to be buried in earth and fallen trees?

Giyuu looked up… and saw the grey light of a stormy dawn.

He blinked as he look at the opening above him… it was small, and narrow… he’s a good few feet down into it… but getting out on his own was going to be impossible.

Dropping his head back to the rock… he accepted his fate… and the world… started going dark again…

Chapter Text

Shinobu sighed as she finished wrapping the Wind Hashira’s arm.

He had cut himself to distract some demons he was hunting and now needed some stitches. Only because the idiot managed to cut himself in a spot that he could not take care of himself.

“Are you going to take care of this one?” Shinobu asks, tying off the bandages, “Or shall we be adding a new scar to your rather impressive collection?”

“I don’t care.” The gruff man grumbles, resting his chin on his hand. “All I can promise is I won't rip the stitches…”

“I suppose that will do.” She went to clean her hands, “I’d ask if you’d want any antibiotics but knowing you, you’ll just scream the germs away.”

“Hey!”

Shinazugawa was interrupted by something hitting the window.

Hard.

“What the fucking hell.”

When she opened the window a sopping wet crow jumped up onto the sill, screaming at them while in a panic, flapping about.

Water and feathers flew everywhere…

It was Tomioka’s crow. If the age was any indicator…

“Hey!” Shinazugawa screams at it, “Knock it if you senile old crow!”

Shinobu doesn’t usually deal with the other Hashira’s crows, but even she could tell this bird was not in good condition.

It shook where it stood, huffing its breath once it stopped screaming. It honestly looks one tap away from death, so much so, she’s surprised that hitting the window didn’t kill it.

“Just send it away.” Shinazugawa tells her, seemingly familiar with it, “That thing gets lost all the damn time.”

That’s when she noticed the bird was bleeding.

“Hold on, I think there’s an actual problem.” She rushed over to the bird, “Do you know his name at all?”

“Uh… Hanburo, or something like that.” He tells her, also noticing the blood. “I don’t fucking know.” 

Before she could see if the bird was hurt it perked up from its huff and cawed right into her face.

“Giyuu!” It screamed, “Hurt! Demon! Fell! Hurt!”

“Calm down.” Shinobu tried to placate the panicking bird, “Calm down, and explain the best you can.” 

“He might still be confused.” The Wind Hashira tells her, “We better fucking verify were the bastard before we follow this thing.”

The man stomped out, no doubt to summon their own crows and get information from them.

“Giyuu! Hurt!” Tomioka’s crow cawed, “Hurt! Hurt! Fell! Trees!”

If this was how Tomioka received his message it was no wonder the man was always arriving late to things.

“Follow! Follow!” The crow cries out, “Need help! Please! Mount Nakamori!”

Disliking most animals as she does, and her barely willingness to work with the crows as it, the crow before her spoke with an edge of desperation she didn’t know they could make.

“Please…”

The poor thing started huffing again, its shivers not stopping the entire time. 

Shinazugawa came back in, their crows perched on his arm.

“They say the bastard went to Nakamori.”  The Albino told her, “Did the flying bag of bones mention that?”

“He did, the information matched but now we have wasted time.” Shinobu sprung into action, grabbing the wet crow, pushing past Shinazugawa, “You are going to help me, send your crow to inform the Master, I’ll have En gather some of the Kakushi to meet us there.”

Ignoring the string of cursing protests, Shinobu grab her emergency supplies and informed the girls she was leaving.

“Come on, Nakamori is at least a half a day run.” She dragged him along, “We best hurry, it would be a shame to lose a Hashira.”

The man growled unhappily as he more or less threw his crow out the window to do what was asked but thankfully he didn’t fight her on the matter.

Her own crow took off on her own, flying off to inform the Kakushi in that area of the situation.

“Follow!”

The poor thing in her arm tried to take off itself but struggled.

“It’s alright.” She told it with a smile, “How about you rest now, and you can show us when we get closer, that way you can use more energy to help find him.”

Shinobu didn’t know why she was trying to logic with a bird but it seemed to understand her and stopped trying to take off. It settled itself on her shoulder, perfectly balanced with talon gripping her haori while she ran.

And ran she did, with Shinazugawa right behind her.

The rain and muddy roads did little to slow them down and about halfway there Shinazugawa’s crow came with well wishes from the Master before being sent on ahead to start scouting for their injured comrade.

The only delay they had was when they hit a river, swollen with flood waters and difficult to pass.

At least for normal people, the two of them simply leapt across, clearing the dangerous waters with ease.

Soon, after cutting the trip down an estimated hour, they finally arrived at the base of Mt. Nakamori.

It was terrible. The ground was much muddier than normal. Trees were felled all over the place, their roots unable to grip the earth any long.

The area must have poor soil if all it takes is a simple storm to knock down all these trees…

“Giyuu!”

Shinobu was startled at the crow’s sudden cry, forgetting he was even on her shoulder.

The crow took off, faltering in his take off before it managed to right itself, flying up the mountain side.

They gave it chase.

“Kakushi are blocked by the flood waters.” En, her crow swoops down to fly beside her, “Some have managed to cross but supplies will be limited.”

“Lead them to us once they arrive, tell the rest to build something we can cross just in case we need to rush back to the mansion.”

Her crow took off back the way she came to relay her orders as she turned to focus on the bird leading them.

It was slow, but exerting itself to go as fast as it can.

The higher they got on the mountain the more rain they encountered. 

Rain that was wet, and much too cold to be out in.

A strange pit of worry dropped into her stomach as the list of potential problems filed through it. With every swerve around the still standing trees, every slide in the mud, or vault over a downed tree, the list grew.

A squawk from above, Shinazugawa’s crow, alerted them. The bird was circling around an area they had almost reached.

It was loud in warning, followed by the count of a loud cracking sound as another tree fell victim to the storm.

Tomioka's bird flew up, starting to circle around as well but before them only laid trees.

“Okay…” Shinazugawa pants out, “Let’s fucking look around, it’s one thing for the bastard’s grandpa crow to mess up, but Sorai doesn’t make mistakes.”

When looking for someone in potential danger, you should always look in the places you don’t want them to be. 

The first thing they checked was the ground along the fallen tree trunk, hoping the man wasn’t actually crushed below one or drowning in the mud.

Thankfully he wasn’t.

At some point Tomioka’s crow landed on one of the trunks and was bouncing around it, as he was also trying to search for Water Hashira.

“What the-! Fucking- shit!” Came the shouts of Shinazugawa as he slipped on the mud, stabbing his blade into a tree to stop himself, “God damn it, I think I found him! Watch your step!”

Covered by mud and trees, carved into ground, was a crevice, big enough to notice in normal weather and circumstances but with the shifting ground, haze of rain, and probably the darkness of night, it would be hard to see.

It was hard to see due to the poor lighting of the storm but Shinobu could make out the familiar mop of black hair below them.

“Tomioka!” She called down, “Can you hear me Tomioka?”

He felt a pang of fear stab her when there was no reaction… of any kind.

“I need to get closer.” Shinobu states, shedding her haori and sword off, “Hold on to me if you don’t want to have to fish both of us out.”

“Yeah yeah.” Shinazugawa take her haori and drapes it across the tree, “Just be fucking careful and maybe I won’t have to rescue your ass.”

Pulling out a western device, and making sure it worked only took a few moments. Such a marvel, the flashlight. While not very long lasting it was very useful to have. All emergency kits have one now even if they aren’t as popular in Japan.

She laid down in the ground while the Wind Hashira re-stabbed his sword at a better angle, making sure it wouldn’t slide out with the soon to be added weight.

“Ready?” She asked as the man grabbed her ankle, “Hold tight.”

Shinobu slides into the crevice, confident that her weight was nothing to Shinazugawa and maneuvered her way closer to Tomioka.

She flashed the light at him.

…

It was bad.

While the crevice was wide at the top, it wasn’t as wide all the way down. Tomioka was sandwiched between the two sides and frankly, she couldn’t tell if he was lucky to be stuck there, and not further down into who knows what. He's definitely going to have some broken bones.

She stops herself from thinking of the list, she needs to know as much as she can before thinking about it.

“Tomioka!” She called again, shining the light onto his face, and seeing blood… “Tomioka, I need you to wake up please.”

She switched hands so the one holding the light was now also keeping her from smashing her face into the rock and felt for a pulse.

The cold was the first thing she took note of. The Water Hashira’s skin was freezing. Counting in her head, she waited to feel something… anything…

And she did.

Chapter Text

“Lady Kocho!” Four Kakushi ran up to them, “What would you like us to do?”

“Give me any rope you have.” Shinobu orders, “Then I need an area set up, as dry and clean as possible.”

“Of course, Lady Kocho!”

The situation was bad.

Crush injuries, hypothermia, head injuries and so much more.

She’s honestly surprised the man was even still alive, who knows how long it took his old crow to find them.

Taking the rope she barely gave Shinazugawa any warning before she dove back into the hole. Thankfully the man knows better than to fight her right now.

It was tough but she slid the rope under both of Tomioka’s arms, securing it around his chest and tying it off in a strong knot.

Using her other foot, she gave Shinazugawa the single to pull her back up.

She threw the rope up over a branch of a still upright tree.

“Shinazugawa, pull on this slowly, but with all your strength.” Shinobu instructs, before laying back down to monitor Tomioka’s condition. “Go!”

Shining the light, Shinobu focuses on the rocks holding Tomioka in place. She would rather not make his injuries worse than they are.

The rope pulled taunt, Tomioka slid up and…

“Argh!”

“Stop!”

Tomioka should not have woken up given his condition. She shined the light across his face to grab his attention, noting he was breathing heavily now.

“Tomioka! She called down, “Tomioka can you look at me!”

The man’s head lulled, cracking against the rock but he managed to look up. His blue eyes were clouded in a daze.

But he was awake, and she needed to keep him that way.

“Tomioka, we are going to pull you up.” She tells him, “It’s going to hurt but you must let us know if you need us to stop, alright?”

Gesturing for the Wind Hashira to continue, Shinobu watched Tomioka like a hawk. Noting everything. How he held in his scream as he once again started lifting again. How he clenched his teeth so hard he could probably break them. How once his chest was freed from the rock, blood started dripping from his lips…

…

But not once did he tell her to stop...

Eventually, after what felt like hours, Tomioka was fully pulled free of the rock.

“Shit!” Shinazugawa cursed once Tomioka was pulled past the edge of the hole. “That’s… Really fucking bad…”

The Kakushi were quick and careful about pulling Tomioka to solid ground and getting him to the makeshift tent they had constructed. 

“Giyuu!”

Tomioka’s bird cried out, flapping to follow him. However it couldn’t. The bird did no more than hopping off the fallen tree and landing hard in the mud. It was too tired to fly itself over.

“Take care of the bird.” Shinobu ordered the Wind Hashira, knowing he's not going to be useful for the next part, “I don’t want to explain to him why his crow died on us!”

Not giving the man any time to object as she scooped up the bird and dumped into his hands while she followed the Kakushi into the tent to assess Tomioka’s full condition. She assited the Kakushi in cutting off most of Tomioka’s clothes after helping to wrangle his awful haori off.

Lacerations marred his chest, bleeding freely with slight deformation of the sternum. Claw marks from, presumably, the demon he killed were etched into his shoulder, thankfully not deep enough to be a main concern but given the situation, not something to ignore.

“Start stitching him up.” Shinobu instructs, “Clean the wounds out the best you can but we just need to do enough to be able to move him to the mansion!”

Flipping the man on his side he let out a grunt of pain. His back held several deep cuts, sliced through a big scar he had. She carefully ran her hand down his spine, trying to feel for any displaced or broken bone or hidden injury. Thankfully there was nothing more then forming bruises. The man’s legs were torn to shreds, no doubt caused by the fall itself. Nothing felt broken but the bleeding was a concern.

The entire time Tomioka’s dazed blue eyes watched her.

His breath wheezed as she checked his ribs. Several were broken, no doubt one of them punctured a lung given he started coughing up blood and the shallow breaths.

“K-Kan…” Tomioka tried saying something. “W-where…”

“Don’t try to talk, Tomioka.” Shinobu scolds lightly, checking his head wound, “But it’s nice to know a little near death experience can get you speaking!”

The tease fell flat, she knows, but it was the best way to help keep her calm. 

Luckily his head was fine, simply a cut rather than a bump. She just slapped a bandage on it and turned back to more pressing injuries.

“Once you’re done wrapping his legs, start warming him up.” Shinobu told the Kakushi, “He’s much too cold, even if it’s working in our favor right now.”

Shinobu was worried because the man wasn’t shivering.

Tomioka let out small grunts of pain when she started wrapping his ribs. It wasn’t ideal but she didn’t know how bad they were.

Just as she was about to finish with the ribs a sharp pain tore through her hand and a soggy mess of feathers filled her view.

It was Tomioka’s crow, standing on his chest with his feathers as puffed as they could do hissing at her.

“Damn bird!” She heard Shinazugawa cursing outside. “I’m going to fucking kill it!”

“K-Kan…” Tomioka wheezed out, “Stop…”

“Calm down.” Shinobu held her hands up, showing they were empty, “I’m helping him, it’s alright.”

Tomioka groans as he forced one of his arms to move, and as much as she wanted to tell him not to, she feared the bird would bite her again.

“Kanzaburo… it’s okay.” His hand carefully scooped up the bird, puffed feathers and all, and moved him out of her way, letting it sit next to his neck, “It’s okay…”

That’s when the man promptly passed out.

“Tomioka?”

She wasn’t expecting that, but she can’t really do anything now. The only problem with it was the cold, but given he woke up in the first place was a good sign.

“Get the stretcher ready.” Shinobu calls to the Kakushi, “And all the blankets you have, we need to get going!”

She quickly finished wrapping his chest, ignoring her own bleeding hand and the crow. The crow who decided to lay down next to his master’s neck, it head under Tomioka’s chin.

“You can’t stay there.” she told it, trying to shoo it away, “Go on, let me help him.”

‘Kanzaburo’ hisses each time her hands got too close, even trying to peck at them.

“Fine whatever.” Shinobu gave up as she help move Tomioka, and his crow, to the stretcher, “But you are not staying with him when I treat him back at the mansion.”

The crow seemed to accept the terms as it pressed itself closer to Tomioka and allowing the Kakushi to wrap as many blankets and sheets they had around him.

“En!” She called out to her own crow as two Kakushi ran off with Tomioka. “Fly ahead and let Aoi know to prepare for a potential puncture lung and extreme hypothermia!”

She left the other two Kakushi to clean up the makeshift tent as she turned to face the Wind Hashira, blood dripping from his hands.

“And what happened with the crow?” She asked, slightly annoyed, slightly teasing, “Did you lose to it?”

“Like you’re one to talk, I saw it bite you too.” The scoffs, handing her her haori and sword, “For an old bastard of a crow, it’s very stubborn and has a very sharp beak.”

“Come on.” Lets head back unless you have somewhere else to be, “I have a lot of work to still do.”

“Like the bastard himself will let himself be kill by a fall.” Shinazugawa rolled his eyes, “He’ll be okay… right?”

“I don’t know…”

Chapter Text

Shinobu was frustrated.

The rain had started picking back up while they were almost back to the Mansion… and she needed to decide whether or not to push on or stop and find a Wisteria House nearby… and hope whatever she chooses Tomioka would survive it.

Adjusting herself to run right next to the stretcher, she tried to gauge how Tomioka was doing.

He was pale, of course, he’s lost a lot of blood. Breathes were short and shallow, not necessarily a bad sign, but definitely not good.

If she has them stop, she could give him more treatment, inside a warm house and potentially have a doctor help her… but that’s if there was even a Wisteria house close enough.

On the other hand, if they push to the Mansion, she’d have all of her equipment on hand for the best treatment and her girls who know how she works and can help…

Pressing a hand to his forehead she tried gauging his temperature. Definitely still too cold… but not as cold as before. With luck he might start warming up enough on his own to induce shivering.

…They pushed on… if anything major changes then she’ll know she made the wrong call in not calling for a stop.

But Tomioka was strong, he’s mostly healthy, so if anyone could survive these conditions it would be him…

Thankfully, Shinazugawa didn’t offer any comment on her worry when she started checking every so often.

They were almost there… she tells herself.

Almost there… and Tomioka can get treatment…

Almost… It's been about two hours since she made her decision to keep pushing through the storm… and now she can see the lights of Mansion in the distance.

Almost… she checked Tomioka again.

…

And waited.

“Stop!”

All four of them slid to a stop in the mud. The other three looked at her concerned but she started counting.

…

Then she put her lips on Tomioka’s.

“What the hell Kocho.” Shinazugawa yelled, shocked and confused, “What are you doing?”

“He’s stopped breathing.” Shinobu told him with a bite to her tone, “Set him down, I need to get his lung working again!”

Not removing the blankets she pushed down of Tomioka’s chest before giving him another breath.

And counted…

“Come on…” she pushed down, “You were almost there Tomioka, come on…”

She checks his pulse after the next breath. He is still there… but he’s fading…

“Dammit!” She cursed with her compressions, “Come! On!”

In her frustration she accidentally pushed too hard, but it also caused Tomioka to draw a gasp, setting off a coughing fit.

“Shinazugawa!” Shinobu tried to re-balance herself, while turning Tomioka’s head to the side as he coughed out some more blood, “Run ahead and tell my girls to be ready.”

The man said nothing but took off toward the Mansion at her word. She replaced her fingers on his neck and counted.

She counted his pulse, counted the time, counted his now gasping breaths.

It was better… but not good…

“Let’s go!” She stood up, doing her best to brush the mud off her pants, “Quickly!”

They more or less sprinted the rest of the distance, feeling all too slow while being as gentle with Tomioka as they could.

Caring less about the mess and much they dragged in, Shinobu directed the Kakushi to the room Aoi prepared for her.

“Aoi! You know what to do!” Shinobu addressed the younger girl while unwrapping the Water Hashira, “I’ll be right back!”

She grabbed the, thankfully asleep bird, and beelined to her room. She needs to change clothes before assisting Aoi.

“Lady Kocho!” The three youngest came up to her, “Welcome back! Shall we start getting the water to Aoi!”

“Yes please.” Shinobu told them gently, “Start with the cool to warm water Naho. Sumi, I want you to assist Aoi in cleaning Tomioka’s wounds and getting as much dirt and blood off him please. Kiyo, I have a special favor I need to ask of you before you assist in running water for us.”

“What is it?”

Shinobu kneeled down, holding out Tomioka’s crow to the pink butterfly while the other two ran off.

“This is the Water Hashira’s crow.” She explained to Kiyo, “I want you to take care of it, treat it as best you can, keep him warm and make sure he has food and water. He’s been hurt and over exerted himself.”

“Of course!” Kiyo took the bird into her hands, “I’ll make sure he’s taken care of!”

The girl ran off with the bird. Allowing Shinobu to have one less thing to worry about. 

Being quick she got to her room and discarded her uniform and haori, leaving them in a pile of the floor and quickly put on a new, dry uniform. On her way back she grabbed a medical apron and a mask and joined the other two girls in helping Tomioka.

The blankets and the remainder of his clothes sat in a pile in the corner, a towel was thrown over Tomioka to protect his modesty. Sumi was cleaning Tomioka’s legs, shredded with cuts. She was careful as blood sluggishly dripped down.

Aoi was undoing the emergency stitches and carefully working on treating and cleaning out his worst injuries.

The girl had thankfully prepared I.V.s for him. One of warm saline. The other was a bag of compatible blood to help replace the volume he lost and will lose.

“Have you already given him anything for the pain?” Shinobu asks, pulling on gloves before listening to hear for any more changes with his lungs. “I’ll also need you to push antibiotics, I want to prevent pneumonia and infection if possible.”

Feeling around his ribs again, this time with more concern for detail wanting to make sure she didn’t hurt them further, she decided that surgery was not required at the moment. They, and his lungs, should hopefully heal with time.

That is if nothing else happened to them that is.

“Of course, I gave him a shot of the usual!” Aoi says, finishing up, “I’ll get the strong antibiotics.”

“Sumi, let me know if you need a break.” Shinobu addresses the younger girl, “I know you are not used to big emergencies yet.”

“Okay!”

Shinobu peeked under the towel to make sure she didn’t miss any injuries, alas the only thing she found were forming bruises, thank god.

A knock at the door signals the arrival of fresh water in which Naho drops off next to them, taking the soiled water with her to replace it.

“Thank you, Naho!”

Dropping some towels into soak up and wringing them out, she started draping them over the areas they weren’t actively working on to help warm him up.

And after a few moments… He started shivering.

A good sign… he was finally warming up…

Shinobu switched with Aoi, taking care of the worst of the injuries, letting Aoi start cleaning and treating Tomioka from head down. 

Carefully pulling out rocks and cleaning out mud and dirt, Shinobu cleaned the bleeding cut. A gash, marking his fall in the crevice. It started just above his hip and stopped at his ribs. No doubt it was landing on his ribs that stopped him from falling further.

After what seemed like hours… Tomioka’s front side was cleaned and re-sutured.

“And flip him over in.” Shinobu instructs, “One, two… Three!”

They did not flip him all the way. Only onto his side so they could clean and treat the cuts on his back. 

She made sure to adjust the towel before Sumi moved to help them.

With the three of the working solely on his back and the back of his legs, they took much less time.

There was only one big cut near the man’s shoulder that was a concern, presumably where the rocks dug in when he stopped falling.

Before they knew it, the three of them were using a lot of bandages and antibiotic creams to cover his wounds.

“Alright.” Shinobu pulls the now filthy stretcher out from under Tomioka, “Let’s get him to a private room, I want to minimize contact with people to help prevent infection.”

Making sure the two tired girls were listening, 

“I want his upper body elevated a bit and constant watch, which I will do first.” She instructs carefully. “He’ll get antibiotics once a day and we’ll change his bandages at least three times a day.”

Opening the door she allowed the Kakushi, a new pair then the ones who helped her before, come and move Tomioka.

“I want to be informed of any changes, even if it’s so small you are uncertain.” Leading them down to a room, “I’d rather be safe than sorry with this.”

Watching the Kakushi place him in the bed, Shinobu walked over to the closet and pulled out an extra blanket and a small pillow.

“Until his core temperature is back up to normal I want him as warm as we can make him.” She threw the blanket over him, setting the small pillow on the side table. “And I can't believe I’m allowing this in my clinic, but his crow shall also be allowed to stay by his side until further notice.”

The bird would probably find a way into this room no matter what, might as well save some hassle and prevent her eyes from potentially being pecked out.

“Let him rest now.” Ushering everyone but one Kakushi out, “Get cleaned up, and get some rest. I’ll send a letter to the Master in the morning.”

God she was tired…

Chapter Text

Tomioka survived through the night and the next day with no complications.

Well… with little complications.

His crow, after Kiyo treated the cuts it obtained and his apparently broken wing, slept through the night, but once he was awake he would hissed and cawed at everyone who got too close…

Except Kiyo…

Shinobu started making sure Kiyo… removed the foul fowl before she entered, the crow didn’t much like her for some reason. Today however, the crow refused to leave Tomioka’s side, standing on his chest crowing up a storm. When she went to check on Tomioka, she was surprised the bird simply hopped out of her way, nestling into Tomioka’s hair, but keeping an eye on her as she pulled Tomioka’s bandages away with a low warning hiss.

The bandages… that pulled away with a squelch…

Oh no…

Infection…

“Aoi!” She called down the hall, “Come here!”

Returning to the bed-ridden man, she started taking notes on his condition.

The wounds were inflamed, their color turned a deep red, crusted with white and yellow pus. The stitches pulled tight from the inflammation.

This was not good… Tomioka was weak at the moment… she… she doesn’t know if he can fight this…

“What do you need, Lady Kocho!” Aoi slides into the room, “Is Lord Tomioka alright!”

“I need you to grab ointment 12-H.” Shinobu instructs, marking the changes on his chart, “and we need to switch his antibiotics to twice a day, he’s developed an infection.”

“Right away!”

Shinobu set on working on patting the wounds with a damp cloth, cleaning as much guck off as she could and preparing the new bandages…

Placing a hand on Tomioka’s forehead she checked his temperature. Tomioka’s core temperature should be back to relative normal numbers, but he did give a shiver.

…And he had a fever already…

Whatever survival chances he had from surviving the night now just plummeted back to low…

But he’s not coughing… yet. His lungs at least sound pretty clear if not a small rasp, but clear nonetheless…

Running her hand through Tomioka’s hair, earning a few nips from the crow, she let out a sigh.

“You can never make things easy on yourself… can you Tomioka…”

Aoi ran back into the room bringing with her the requested items, and without words, got to work. The ointment was her own special recipe, it was designed to fight off onset infections, used mainly with people too stubborn to get injuries treated right away… or in one person’s case, forgets…

She didn’t want to risk his other wounds, or the current infection to spread…

The two of them carefully unwrapped and rubbed in the ointment, taking care to mark down each and every injury that showed even the slightest sign of inflammation to monitor.

“Can you move so we can take care of his back?” Shinobu asks the bird, “Please.”

It huffed at her, but stood up on its shaky legs and moved to the pillow she had left out for him.

“Thank you.”

Rolling him over, they were pleasantly surprised to see his back injuries were healing pretty well. Shinobu still rubs in the ointment just to be on the safe side before they wrap him up with new bandages.

“Thank you, Aoi.” Shinobu says as they lean him back down, “Let's keep a closer eye on him for now, but you can leave for the moment.”

“Of course, Lady Kocho.” Aoi bows and makes her way out, “I’ll bring a bowl and cloth to help cool him down.”

By the time she returned, Tomioka’s crow returned to his spot on his Slayer’s head, just shy of where the cooling cloth would sit.

“Kanza…buro was it?” Shinobu decided that talking to the bird would be better than sitting in near silence. “Why are you so close with Tomioka? Most crows and slayers don’t bond much outside of the job.”

The bird huff. Shinobu almost felt stupid for asking it a question when it seems to be barely alive in the first place.

“Giyuu… was the only Slayer… who was willing to work with me.” The crow puffed out, “I am old… and slow… many I’ve been assigned too didn’t want me… Except Giyuu…”

It was understandable. Most crows don’t live as long as this one has, and even then, slayers want crows who are reliable…

“Why not retire then?” She asks, slightly shocked at actually getting an answer. “You’ve been working for years, surely you’re allowed to rest.”

“I am… But I don’t want to…” Kanzaburo says, carding his beak through Tomioka’s hair, “Oyataka-sama allows me to do as I wish… and I wish to help… until I die…”

“And do you like working with Tomioka?”

“Yes… he allows me to serve… how I wish” the crow answers, “he does not get mad… or annoyed… Just worried… I cause him trouble sometimes…”

Trouble? Is Tomioka’s crow the reason he’s late to meetings all the time?

The old bird seemed tired as he seem to settle into a comfortable spot,

“I am sorry…” the bird huffs out, “For biting you… I was scared…”

She had nearly forgotten that the crow had cut her hand. But it was a simple mistake, one many creatures do.

“It’s alright.” She tells it, feeling a bit strange offering comfort to a bird, “It’s all taken care of.”

She replaces the cool cloth before standing up.

“You are tired as well, get some rest.” She tells the bird, awkwardly getting it a pet, “As long as you don’t get in anyone’s way, you can stay in here.”

Shinobu left, trusting the girls to take care of the man and to grab her if they can’t. For now she needs to report to the Master… and formulate a way to have Tomioka pay her back for allowing his bird to stay with him.

…

Maybe she can use the bird against Tomioka for when he tries to leave before he’s fully healed. The man is known for being a flight risk the moment he wakes up…

Maybe she can get Kanzaburo to go along with it, since he cares for Tomioka then most crows would.

Yes… that’s an idea.

Tomioka clearly also cares for the crow then most slayers would…

If it doesn’t work she’ll just get permission from the Master to tie him to the bed.

Chapter Text

Tomioka woke up in a haze, and a weight in his head…

It was hot… and his brain felt like mush as he tried to remember what happened…

Staring at the wood grain above him he could recall the cold… and the rain… and trees?

He must have closed his eyes again because the feeling of something cold touching his face caused them to jerk open again… and he was met with blue eyes and butterflies.

One of Kocho’s girls… he was at the Butterfly Mansion…

“…oka…” her words were muffled to his ears, “Mr. Tomioka, can you hear me?”

The girl sounded worried… but all he could offer was a grunt of a response… he was so tired… didn’t he die?

“No! No sleeping, Mr. Tomioka!” A soft slap had him struggling to open his eyes again, “Not until Lady Kocho can come and ask you questions, alright?”

Giyuu gave a noncommittal groan.

“You make sure he stays awake.” The butterfly girl said to someone…? “Or Lady Kocho will kick you out.”

Who… was she talking too?

Trying to look around only sent flares of pain running through him…

God he feels like he was thrown off a cliff… or hit by building…

A sharp and sudden pain suddenly stemmed from the center of his forehead when his eyes started closing again.

What was that?

Did he hit his head and was just now feeling the pain again?

No… because it happened again.

Opening his eyes, he tilted his head back on the pillow… and saw nothing.

Until it happened again and the familiar beak of his crow peaked his head.

“Kan…”

That’s when his throat made it known that it was horribly dry, causing him to start coughing. His entire body seized in pain caused by the coughing jolting his body and… he just couldn’t breathe…

Struggling, he managed to push himself into a sitting position, pain making it hard for his arms to support him, and tried to get control of the coughing.

It was hard… and his lungs hurt… he could hear Kanzaburo squawking behind him. Taking a deep breath was a mistake, the pain from his lungs had him choking on the next cough and all he could do was bend over himself, holding his chest…

Something tugged at his hair… Probably Kanzaburo… as the room started spinning.

“-mioka!”  Something touched his shoulder, offering something steady to focus on. “Tomioka, Breath, calm down…”

It was Kocho… and the girl from before… he thinks her name has something to do with blue…

“Ko-“

He forgot about his dry throat, the scratchiness of his re-sparking his coughing.

“Easy…” his vision was suddenly filled with the butterfly pattern of Kocho’s haori and the smell of wisteria, “Don’t try any breathing techniques right now, just do what doesn’t hurt… Match me if you can.”

She rubbed his back as he tried to focus on her breathing… but it was hard…

Whatever energy he managed to have was drained away by the coughing, and he was tired…

“Hey! No sleeping.” Kocho poked him, “Not yet.”

After what seemed like ages, his coughing finally died down. He looked down at the hand he was using to cover his mouth and found it sticky with blood.

Giyuu couldn't help but stare at it, dazed.

“I have some water for you, Mr. Tomioka.” The Butterfly girl tells him, wiping the blood from his hand, “It’s medicated, just in case your throat needs it, please drink it slowly.”

The cup was held to his hand… but he couldn’t hold it, his hand shook too much. The butterfly girl didn’t seem to waver as she helped him bring it to his lips, allowing him to take small sips, soothing his throat.

“Tomioka, I know you’re tired but I need you to answer my questions. Alright.” Kocho tells him, trying to get him to focus on her, “Do you have any problems breathing right now? Does it hurt at all?”

“Only…” Tomioka tested his voice this time, “Only when I… breathe too deeply…”

“Great, how about your pain level?” She asks, concerned barely hidden behind her usual cheerful tone, “How do the rest of you feel? Anywhere that hurts more than other places?”

“Uumm.” He felt his brow pinch as he considered his own state of being, “No… everything hurts… maybe the chest…?”

“Thank you.” Kocho tells him, “Can you feel this?”

She poked his leg, sending burning hot pain up it.  Kocho got her answer in the form of a pained grunt and a bleeding lip.

“Okay last one, then you can go back to sleep for now.” Kocho smiled at him, “Are you feeling cold, or hot?”

Giyuu knew it was a trick question, if he recalls correctly he’s been stuck in the cold for at least a few hours… if not longer. It hasn’t been the first time he’s almost frozen to death. She wants to gauge what temperature his body is registering..,

“Hot.”

His answer was honest even as a shiver racks his body, he knew the extra blankets would not go away right now.

Giyuu felt the weight of his hair change as something dropped into his lap.

It was Kanzaburo, who looked up from where he landed on his back with a happy bird expression.

“Giyuu!”

The crown kicked his feet, trying to get them under him. Once he did, he started rubbing his head and beak against his arm, not unlike a cat…

All Giyuu could focus on was the stark white bandage wrap around Kanzaburo’s wing… He had been hurt.

When? How badly…? Kanzaburo didn’t seem to be in pain and he climbed all over his front, unfazed by the injury.

“You can rest now, Tomioka.” Kocho told him, seemingly pointedly ignoring the bird crawling across him, “If you need anything just ask Aoi or one of the other girls.”

They helped him lay back down, which he was thankful for as darkness started creeping along the edges of his sight, and made sure he was comfortable…

“Oh! And Tomioka!” Kocho stops in the door way, “I’ll say thing again the next time you’re awake, but if you think about leaving before I give you the okay, I’m locking Kanzaburo in a cage and will petition for his permanent retirement!”

Cold dread ran through him as he heard Kanzaburo squawk from his chest.

Giyuu knew she wasn’t kidding. She’s always made all kinds of threats against him to stay for full treatment, but never against someone else…

He’ll stay of course… not just for Kanzaburo’s sake…

But because he can’t move right now even if he wanted to.

For now… he’ll just rest, and deal with it when he’s awake…

Chapter Text

Shinobu had to take a moment in the hallway before gathering the rest of the stuff Aoi needed.

She almost had a heart attack when she heard Tomioka’s coughing. The fever was already bad enough but pneumonia would be deadly.

It would weaken him further, and his body would just give up and there would be nothing she could do about it…

But he hasn’t hit that point yet, his lungs were clear when she listened to them after he went back to sleep. 

Clear with a small wheeze, which is common with a punctured lung. She should be glad it’s healing on its own, if she had to do surgery then… she wouldn’t know what would happen.

Tomioka somehow seems both the luckiest and unluckiest person she knows…

Him waking up was a great sign, especially after nearly being frozen then having to deal with a raging fever right after…

It's been two days since Tomioka was brought back here, and his infection wasn’t getting much better. Aoi was about to start changing bandages when he woke up… and grabbed her.

Now that her heart doesn’t feel like it was about to leap from her chest, she grabbed what she was grabbing beforehand and returned.

Shinobu helped the girl pull off the soiled bandages. While most wounds outside his chest have remained clean and clear, they weren’t healing as fast as they should. An unfortunate side effect of the infection…

The areas around the infection looked absolutely horrible, red angry lines bruised the unmarred skin as they inched towards his hearts, and the wounds themselves were hot, swollen and half scabbed over, leaking blood and pus.

It was a ghastly thing to see.

If his body doesn’t fight it off soon, then it could lead to blood poisoning… then shock and death.

And to think she was originally worried about his lungs and ribs.

It might be a good idea to look into some herbal remedies if the antibiotics weren’t enough. They are a fairly recent discovery for medicine… she’ll need to look through some of her books.

Maybe even ask some of the elderly in town for home remedies… just anything that could potentially help…

One thing she was glad about regardless of the circumstances was the fact Tomioka didn’t try to fight her on his treatment. Granted it could have been because she had threatened his bird, he didn’t seem to have the usual fight in him.

She didn’t know if it was because of the fever haze, or he knew his current state.

Although the face he made when she threatened his crow was amusing, even if the man was unaware of it.

Making sure he was comfortable once they were done, she replaced a few bags of ice they were using to help keep him cool.

During that time Kanzaburo waddled over from where he was watching and made himself comfortable in the crook of Tomioka’s neck.

Shinobu didn’t know why the bird did that. Her current guess are it’s a comfort, for Tomioka or the crow? She didn’t know. 

It’s not like he’s laying there to feel his pulse and make sure the man was still alive, no animal was that smart…

“Please…” the old crow quietly squawks out, “Don’t make me leave…”

“I won’t…” she tentatively gave the bird a pet, “I just want to make sure he stays here till he’s healed.”

“Okay…”

They certainly were an unusual pair, this crow and Tomioka.

There was a knock at the door, which was unusual. Upon opening it she found the Master and his wife standing out side.

“Greeting Shinobu.” His calm voice says, “I was hoping I could visit Giyuu for a moment.”

“Certainly.” Shinobu steps aside, allowing the two to enter, “We just finished changing his bandages, and he was awake a little beforehand as well.”

“That is certainly some good news.” The Master said, taking a seat in the chair Aoi grabbed for him. “But I understand he’s not doing as well as you hoped.”

“…No sir…”

“It’s only been a few days. I have faith in him.” The Master says, grabbing the Water Hashira’s hand to hold. “He’ll pull through, he’s strong and he has you watching over him.”

“And me…!”

“Oh! Kanzanburo!” The Master seemed mildly surprised, “How have you been doing? Has Giyuu been taking good care of you?”

“Yes!” The crow was carefully cupped in the Master’s hands, “And I take care of him!”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Have you been behaving for Shinobu?” The Master asks, “She doesn’t usually allow animals in here.”

The crow swivels his head to look at her before facing the Master again.

“Yes!”

Shinobu’s anger spiked at the lying little piece of fowl… maybe she should kick him out after all…

“That’s good.” 

The Master set the bird back down, allowing it to return to his spot next to Tomioka’s neck and just sat there for a moment. His wife offering her silent support behind him.

The Master placed his hand on Tomioka’s head, as if giving him a comforting pat.

It was the first time she’s ever seen Tomioka get any kind of physical affection outside his crow, granted he can’t really object right now, and she was surprised when the unconscious seemed to lean into his touch.

“Thank you, Shinobu.” The Master bows slightly to her, finished with his brief visit. “Please continue to watch over Giyuu for me.”

“Of course, Master.” Shinobu tells him, bowing back, “It is my job after all.”

“Sometimes care is best extended outside the realm of work.” The Master said almost cryptically, “After all, not all injuries are physical.”

~*~

Shinobu had to take a moment to decipher what the Master was telling her… Was he talking about mental disorders?

She wasn’t familiar with the field, but she’s seen some studies, most cases were handled… unseemly.

And the Law that was passed a few years ago…

She glanced at Tomioka before she left for her other rounds.

Melancholia would explain… a lot… but how long…? And was he safe?

…

Shinobu shook her head, he had to be, or else he wouldn’t still be here and be allowed something so sharp to work with. It was one less thing to push from her mind, the idea that he would just… simply not be in the world anymore.

As much as it was a terrible thought… she most certainly hopes the disorder appeared after he joined the Corp. if not… well she’s heard the stories. She knew the results of the ‘treatment’ that some places use.

The pictures she’d seen…

It was one of the reasons her family never got into the practice… the results were never good and there was no science behind it, it would result in having to experiment… which her family frowned upon.

A disorder of the mind would most certainly explain the whole ‘I’m different’ comments… but something tells her it’s not like that.

It’s just another thing to potentially look into when she looks into some herbal remedies… if something exists for it…

Chapter Text

The next time Tomioka woke up was expected, albeit quiet.

He simply watched her as she worked, nearly giving her a heart attack when she noticed.

“Good morning, Tomioka.” She says to him, despite it not being morning anymore, “You slept a while this time.”

Her statement hid her concerns. His injuries weren’t getting better… but at least they weren’t getting worse… but the infection was starting to spread to other wounds…

Her research into less modern medicine yielded little results, as she didn’t have any books.

“How…”

“You slept through all of yesterday and most of today.” Shinobu tells him, “The antibiotics don’t seem to be helping you fight off the fever and infection…”

Tomioka’s eyes drifted to the IV stand next to his bed before looking back at her.

“How are you feeling, Tomioka?” Shinobu inquires, needing to gauge his awareness, “Anything hurting too much?”

“No…”

“I suppose that’s good…”

“How bad…?” 

His voice was quiet as he airily huffed out his half question. It’s a miracle he didn’t develop a cold nor even a sneeze from being hypothermic.

“45 percent of your torso injuries have severe infection… and another 20 percent are showing signs of growing infection.” Shinobu tells him, not even sure he’s lucid enough to understand, “Your fever is bad enough that we are considering dunking you in an ice bath… if it wouldn’t potentially cause you to go in shock from experiencing another extreme temperature shift.”

…

Did he fall asleep again?

…

No, his eyes opened back up.

“Kocho.” He gets out, “I need… a favor.”

“If you’re going to ask for me to take you last words, I’ll have to decline.” Shinobu quickly tells him in a teasing tone, praying he wasn’t about to give up. “Surely you have other people to pick from?”

“What…?” Tomioka’s brows pinched in confusion, “That’s… not… What I was going to ask…”

“Apologies.” Shinobu hoped her relief wasn’t showing on her face, “What do you want, Tomioka?”

“…” he closed his eyes again, before speaking. “I need… honey… and onions…”

Okay… Maybe he wasn’t lucid…  was he hungry? Understandable given it’s been at least three days since he’s had anything solid… but she can’t imagine choosing to have those two items together.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” She asks, “Why do you need… honey and onion?”

“…It’s…” Tomioka seemed to struggle to find a way to explain. “It will help with the infection…”

She somehow doubts that…

“Please…”

Tomioka’s voice was quiet, almost like he was expecting her to say no… and she was tempted too. But she’ll trust him, after all, he hardly ever gets treatment at the Mansion so he must have his own form of treatment for himself.

“Very well.” She tells him, “Anything else?”

“… The stitches need to be removed…”

“Alright.” She writes it down, “I’ll go gather those items then. Get some more rest, I’ll walk you up once I have them. If you’re up for trying to eat something, let Aoi know.”

“…Where’s…?

“Your crow is over there.” Shinobu tells him, pointing to a dresser along the far wall, “He seems to have taken up the task of guarding that haori of yours.”

Tomioka's eyes drifted over to the dresser, his dual color haori was repaired and returned by Aoi last evening. Kanzaburo had turned the neatly folded fabric into his nest and was content to sit on it and peck at anyone who tried to touch it.

“…”

“Tomioka?” She gently poked his cheek… “Tomioka…?”

It seems he’s back to sleep. Which will be good, she’ll need some time to gather what he wants. She knows Mitsuri keeps beeboxes, she’ll have Sumi and Kiyo run over and grab some.

As for onions… she supposed she can run to the market, maybe she can pick up a book to help her.

And the stitches… she didn’t want to remove them… But she wants to trust Tomioka. She’s seen him injured so on many accounts, but when the Master forced him to get a baseline physical done with her a while ago, she noted he barely had any scars… and the only ones he did have were older…

…She wonders if it the honey, or the onions, that’s good for the skin, she’ll need to ask him when she wakes him up.

“Aoi!” Shinobu calls down the hall, “Naho, Kiyo, Sumi!”

“Yes, Lady Kocho?” Aoi and the girls pop around the hall’s corner, “Is there something wrong with Mr. Tomioka?”

“No more than usual.” Shinobu tells her, “I just have some errands for you, is all.”

“Alright, what is it?”

“It may sound unusual, but I need you to gather some honey and onions.” Shinobu tells them, “Mr. Tomioka requested them, I suspect it’s how he usually deals with his injuries.”

“That’s right.” Aoi notes, “Mr. Tomioka doesn’t usually come to the Mansion while injured, and when he does, leaves the first moment he can…”

“Hmm, that’s right.”

“Alright, what do you need from us.”

“Naho, I leave you in charge of keeping Mr. Tomioka’s temperature down.” Shinobu tells the young girl. “Sumi, Kiyo, I want you to visit the Love Hashira’s Estate and get as much honey as you can, let Lady Konroji know I’ll pay her if she wants.”

“Okay!”

The three girls ran off to their tasks.

“Aoi.” She turns to the older girl, “Please prepare something for Mr. Tomioka to eat when he wakes up next, but I need you to start removing his stitches starting with the infected areas.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be back.” Shinobu tells her, “I’m going to handle the onions myself. Send En if anything happens.”

With that, she was off.

They are lucky that it’s been slow, so they could give all their attention and care to Tomioka… But as a Hashira, it’s important to get him back up and about. The others can only cover his district for so long before it becomes a problem.

Upon reaching the market stall… Shinobu realized she had a problem… as she crouched down and looked at the various onions before her… she didn’t know if she needed a particular type of onion… or if any will do.

Why did she insist Tomioka get more rest before she asked more questions.

Why did there need to be so many kinds of onion…

Hmm… there must be a logic to this.

She doubts that it’s green onion, too thin and wouldn’t be effective or sustainable to use that many, so…

Turning to the rounder ones, all were similar in properties outside of taste… So maybe…

Shinobu picked her onions.

“I’m back!”

“Shinobu!” Kiyo came running up to her, uniform dripping with water, “Mr. Tomioka’s fever spiked!”

Chapter Text

Shinobu rushes behind Kiyo as the girl runs back to Tomioka’s room.

Tomioka was right where she had left him, but now his face was pinched in pain while the girls placed bags of ice on his pulse points.

His crow was pacing along the headboard, cooing in worry…

“Shinobu!” Aoi looked happy to see her, “His fever spiked at least ten minutes ago! I was checking on him when I noticed!”

“Have you tired waking him up?” Shinobu asks, setting the bag of onions down, “Did anything change?”

“No. I…I don’t know…” Aoi admits, moving out of her way, “I did what you asked and was keeping an eye on him.”

“It's alright.” Shinobu tells her, “You did the right thing, trying to cool him down before sending word to me.”

Shinobu focused on the Water Hashira… his bandages were stained with red, no doubt caused by the removal of his stitches…  she cut them off and was greeted with his foul smelling injuries… it was getting worse, she hoped Tomioka knew what he’s doing…

“Hey, Tomioka!” She shook his shoulder a bit roughly, “I got what you asked for, I need you to tell me how to use it.”

“Hmmm.”

It was no good, his fever is too high at the moment. Even if he was awake the chances of him being even somewhat coherent would be incredibly slim.

Shinobu found it frustrating… She was the doctor, the healer for the Corp but for some reason she can’t figure out how to heal Tomioka!

And Tomioka tried to help her, give her his personal method and she didn’t think to pester him for more information before insisting he sleep more.

“Honey first!” Kanzaburo suddenly squeaks at her with a flap, “Clean wound! Rub honey!”

“What?”

“Honey first!” The bird bounded his head up and down, “Clean the wounds. Rub the honey! That's what Giyuu does!”

“You…” Shinobu couldn’t help being shocked, “You know what to do?”

Shinobu, like most other slayers, knew the crows were smart and each had their own personality like most animals… but to remember more than messages and location? To remember a potential medical process?

Was it just Tomioka’s crow with this talent? Or has she been under utilizing her crow this whole time?

“Yes!” He squeaks at her, “Keep honey on for a while!”

“Okay.” She steadies herself, “Aoi, I need fresh warm water and fresh towels. Naho, Kiyo, Sumi, keep bringing ice and bandages.”

The girls all left to complete their tasks as she gets ready.

“Bird, what about the onions?” She asks, cleaning off the ooze and guck Tomioka’s injuries produced, “What do I need to do with those?”

“Cut them!” He cried down, “Cut them and press them flat to the cut! Helps skin!”

“Really?” A stinky vegetable was good for the skin? She might need to do some more research into that… “Do you know how it helps the skin?”

At that question Kanzaburo just tilted his head, giving her a look that held no thoughts in his little bird head…

“Nevermind, just make sure I’m doing this right.”

Shinobu will admit… she wasn’t too worried about getting it wrong, it’s just honey and onion she can’t imagine it doing a lot of damage if she got it wrong.

If it doesn’t work she’ll only have one option… Wait it out, Tomioka will either survive or not…

“Here’s water and towels!” Aoi says, setting the fresh supplies down, “What now?”

“Help with cleaning.” Shinobu instructed, grabbing a clean towel, “Get the injuries as clean as possible.”

They made quick work of removing the crusted and non-crusted grossness from Tomioka chest.

“Ready?”

“I guess?”

They pour the honey on him slowly, making sure to cover all of the cuts… 

and then what? The crow told them to leave it for a while, but how long was that?

…

“We might as well do all of his open wounds…” Aoi suggests, “The bed’s already dirty so if it works we won’t have to do more cleaning.”

“A fair point…” Shinobu agrees, “Might as well, let's make sure to place a towel under his back so the honey doesn’t seep into the mattress.”

Doing a quick check on Tomioka's temperature told her he was still running too hot.

She and Aoi flipped the Water Hashira on to his side and lathered his back injuries with honey.

…

Honestly she can't imagine he uses this method often, it’s quite annoying to deal with all the stickiness, he has to have other methods of care for himself.

They carefully made sure every open wound was covered and just… left him there covered in the golden yellow substance…

This was ridiculous…

“Come on.” She turned to Aoi, “Let’s go cut the onions I guess… we can check back in an hour to see if there’s improvement. I’ll check the book I bought to see if it has a time frame…”

“Do you really have no idea what you’re doing with this?” Aoi asks skeptically, “Why are you even listening to him in the first place?”

“No idea.” Shinobu admits, “But there’s a reason he doesn’t come here for injuries, and he does get injured quite a lot from what I’ve seen working with him.”

“Yeah and?” Aoi asks, confused, “We can’t make everyone accept help from us unfortunately.”

“Haven’t you noticed what he’s lacking?” She teased vaguely, “For someone’s who’s injury count could rival Shinazugawa’s?”

“No?” Aoi says even more confused and giving her a strange look, “What?”

“Scars, Aoi.” Shinobu points out, “He barely has any scars from his fights against demons.”

“And so you think he has some magic anti-scar… concoction?” The girl asks incredulously, “He could just not scar easily.”

“Also fair.” Shinobu conceded, “I suppose we will just have to find out.”

Shinobu and Aoi cut the onions… well more like peeled them layer by layer so they remained in as big as possible pieces.

After an hour, she was pleasantly surprised to find the honey in the area of infected wounds seemed to have caused the wound to discharge more… well discharge which was a good sign it means the wounds were trying to expel the infection.

She cleaned off the area and put new honey on… hoping to see similar results later… she supposed she needs to keep the honey in until that stops…

Only time will tell.

Now where did she put that book?

Chapter Text

Giyuu blinked himself awake, taking a few moments to himself to remember what happened… or what last he remembered.

It had been cold… then hot… and now it was cold again.

Rolling his head to the side he was met with the sleeping form of Kocho, leaned forward, using part of the bed as her pillow.

… That’s right… he’s at the Butterfly Mansion…

Carefully sitting up, as to not wake the other Hashira, Giyuu took stock of his current situation.

Lacerations littered his body, and his chest felt like it had been caved in… that checks out, knowing he fell down somewhere and got… stuck?

And… Kanzanburo got help…

Ugh his head hurts.

… and he’s covered in honey… and onions slices… that’s not right…

Giyuu carefully disconnected the line from his IV after closing the drip and set his feet on the ground.

A poke to his back has him pause but he discovers it was only Kanzanburo, the crow looking at him happily as he starts climbing his way to his shoulder.

Making sure he was careful, Giyuu made his way to the door, and out into the hall.

It was quiet… probably because it was night time if the darkness outside was any indication… he just needs to get a bathroom…

“Mr. Tomioka?” A voice behind him had him pause as he leaned against the wall, “What are you doing out of bed?”

It was Kocho’s assistant, Aoi. She asked her question cautiously, as if he was going to run from her…

“Need… to clean off…” His voice was rough as he told her, “This… is wrong…”

“I’m sure Lady Kocho could help.” Aoi suggested and was about to open the door again, “If you tell her what you want.”

“No.” He winced as pain jolted through him trying to stop her, “…She’s… asleep, don’t want… to bother her.”

“Okay…” Aoi stops, “Then can I help? Just tell me what to do…”

“…Bath…”

“Well you’re going the wrong way then.”Aoi tells him, coming to his side to help support him, “The bath is this way.”

Aoi was careful with him, gently leading him the right way and not asking questions. Not making him uncomfortable.

“…Thanks…”

She helped him sit on a stool once they reached the bathroom. He could actually have a bath but he was able to wip away most of the old sweat, blood and honey, the onion slice dropped to the floor as the water ran down his shoulders.

“Can you…” Tomioka turned to the girl, “Grab the onions… and some water… for my throat?”

“Oh course.” Aoi tells him, standing, “I’ll be right back.”

He looked at his chest again now that it was cleaned. The honey had done its job correctly, leaving the cuts looking raw and pink. The infection that he could feel the lingering effects under his skin killed off.

Some of these would undoubtedly scar…

“I’m back.” Aoi walks back in, handing him a glass, “Please tell me what to do.”

On her tray was a lot of bandages and more onions.

“You said what we did was wrong earlier.” Aoi explains, kneeling down next to him, “So what is the right way?”

“Mash the onions… into a paste.” He tells her, grabbing a roll, “It will help cover all the cuts… but normally you’d just wrap the onion up while it’s over the injury.”

“And what does that do for the injury?” Aoi asks standing up, “We hardly use methods like this, so I’m a bit curious.”

“The honey helps promote healing and prevents germs from growing in the wound.” Tomioka explains, grabbing an onion slice and pulling off a thin layer of it, “Onions are used to help close wounds, acting like skin itself… they don’t work together unless you stick them in a jar…”

“And what happens when they’re in a jar together?” Aoi pulls a mortar and pestle from under the sink.”

… Why was that under there?

“It will cause a separation, which can be used for respiratory problems…”

“Really?” Aoi says starting her work, “You sure know a lot about old medicine…”

“…Not… really…”

Giyuu worked on wrapping the injuries that he can do on his own, like the ones on his legs.

“Done!” Aoi holds up the bowl of onion paste, “Don’t want me to apply it or do you want to do it yourself?”

“… You can do it…”

The girl seemed nice despite her stern face… and she didn’t push him to comply with what they think he should be doing.

Giyuu turned to working on his arms while the girl applied the paste to his back and the room started swaying... He’ll pass out again soon, they need to be quicker.

“Mr. Tomioka.”

He was tired… and he felt like he was running out of the strength to stay up.

“Mr. Tomioka!”

Aoi was in front of him now… her hand on his shoulder looking concerned.

“I’m done and you’re all bandaged up now.” She tell him, keeping him steady, “Let go back to your room so you can get some more sleep. Alright?”

Giyuu allowed it, using the girl to support part of his weight while she guided him back to his room. As much as he didn’t want to be here, he knew he would never make it back to the Water Estate in his condition.

Working together they carefully shifted Kocho so they could replace the dirty bed sheets, and got him back in the bed.

“Please…” Giyuu quietLu whispers as Aoi reconnects the lines to his IV, “Lower… the pain killer does…”

“… I’ll drop it down a little. Alright?” She tells him, making the adjustment, “If it is still not low enough like us know when you wake up again.”

Giyuu gave a noncommittal sound as he felt Kanzaburo snuggle into the crook of his neck.

He wasn’t tired… but sleep was better than dealing with the swirling room. He hasn’t eaten in… who knows how long… So… Sleeping was better than dealing with… Everything…

Plus he didn’t need Kocho to tease him for throwing up from dizziness.

Giyuu lets the darkness take him again.

Chapter Text

Shinobu was upset when she learned that Tomioka had woken up and gotten out of bed, but she let it go because Aoi took care of it and prevented him from leaving the building on his own.

It was a surprise to wake up and find Tomioka honey free and covered in fresh bandages, but that the sheets below him were changed with clean ones.

Although, according to Aoi, he was simply cleaning himself up and adjusting the… treatment that they were giving him.

Even now she’s huffing out annoyance while unwrapping the man’s injuries to replace the onion paste and seeing soft pink lines of nearly heal lacerations.

It’s only been a few days since Shinobu agrees to using Tomioka’s old medicine ways and frankly… it seems to work very well on him.

“Well Tomioka.” She tells him, “Outside your broken arm and the lingering malaise you’re feeling… I think you’re okay to move around for a bit.”

“… Thanks…”

“I would like it if you stay here for at least a few more days, just so I can make sure you heal fully.” Shinobu finishes off the paste and re-wraps the area, “But knowing you, you are anxious to leave.”

Tomioka gave her a noncommittal hum.

“If you do, I want you to come back in a week just so I can see how your arm is.” Shinobu tells him, moving to the next spot, “Or I’ll tell Master you are not fit to return to duty.”

“Fine…”

“I’m serious!” Shinobu pokes him roughly, “If you don’t come back in a week I’ll have Master pull you from duty until I see you… And request your crow be retired!”

The bird in question sat on Tomioka’s head… She would have considered it cute if the crow wasn’t doing its best to glare at her for that statement.

… or maybe he was just squinting due to bad vision… she really can’t tell…

“Master already told me to do what you ask…” Tomioka tells her looking away, “I know… I’ve been a hassle…”

“Is that what you discussed?”

Once the Master heard Tomioka was awake and recovering well he made his way down to the Mansion to visit the Water Hashira. They talked in private for a good moment before the Master and his wife took their leave.

“Part of it…”

“Well I thank you for your compliance.” Shinobu gracefully tells him, tying off the last bandage, “Is there anything else you feel a concern for?”

“…No…” He tells her, pulling away, “Just… Stiff?”

“Well then, if or when you’re feeling up to it, talk to Sumi, Naho, and Kiyo.” She cleans up the supplies, “They’re the ones in charge of the Rehabilitation Training, maybe they can help.”

Tomioka gave her a blank stare…

“Right… you don’t normally stay here long enough.” Shinobu brings a hand to her face. “Rehabilitation training helps injured slayers get back up to their best condition before discharging them. I rarely partake in them unless another Hashira is involved and my skills are needed.”

“Hmm…”

Tomioka just laid back onto his bed, sending his crow flying across the pillows with a roll.

“Lunch will be in an hour.” Shinobu tells him, “It’s tempura today, feel free to join the girls and I in the kitchen, or we can just bring you a plate here.”

Not bothering to wait for a reply, she left. In an hour she’ll know what to expect for him.

And she had other things to do then worry about Tomioka.

She will not acknowledge that her hands shook as she made medicine she needed to stock up. Not acknowledge that Tomioka almost died because she couldn’t clear the infection from his wounds…

That he ended up doing most of the work even while down and sick…

Out of the corner of her eye, sitting at the edge of the desk was the book she bought along with the onions… The author, Suisha, wrote on both modern and older medicine and pharmaceuticals and how and when to use the two together.

She had skimmed through before deciding to buy it, but she hadn’t actually looked at it.

It was interesting, how common everyday household ingredients when used just right could act as medicine.

Shinobu ends up reading the book all the way to lunch, walking into the kitchen with it.

‘Prontosil, while great for most, doesn't actually target all bacteria. While many people respond well to treatment with it, when it is ineffective it better to-“

Below was a list of alternatives, including the treatment Tomioka recommended.

“Here you go, Lady Shinobu.” Aoi sets a plate of food in front of her. “What are you reading there?”

“A book on treatments like what we ended up using on Tomioka.” Shinobu tells her, setting the book aside, “It’s an older book, published almost two decades ago, it was the only one I could find.”

Aoi set three more plates down for the younger girls.

“It’ll be something to look into but unless someone has an allergy to something, I shouldn’t see anything being too problematic.”

“Oh, hello Mr. Tomioka!” Aoi looks at the door, “Are you joining us for lunch?”

“Yes…” he says, taking a seat next to her, “I’m… staying until I’m discharged…”

“Alright.” Aoi sets a plate for him before grabbing her own, “I’ll keep you on my rounds then.”

Outside of eating and the youngest of the three talking amongst themselves, they were quiet. 

… 

And apparently Tomioka was a messy eater when he’s tired but that’s not what she was paying attention to.

Tomioka was staring at her book, almost with recognition.

“Tomioka.” Shinobu cocks her head to the side teasing, “Are you familiar with this book? I find it quite interesting, is this where you learned your honey secret?”

“…No…” Tomioka pulled his eyes away, now staring at his half eaten food, “…I just knew who wrote it…”

“Ohh?” Shinobu leaned closer, eager to learn, “Well they have an interesting writing style, almost like-“

“It was written by two people…” Tomioka guessed, not meeting her eyes… “It was… Suisha… was my mother’s family name…”

That shocked her, but also confirms the suspicions that he also had a medical upbringing like she did. It would explain why he’s good at handling most of his own injuries…

“I see.” She states, trying to think of a way to change topics… “By the way, is it the onions, or the honey, that helps with your skin and scarring?”

“Onion…” he tells her, “… You can make it into a lotion… it’s good for your skin…”

“Hmm, that will be something to check out…” She started to tease him again, “Maybe you can show me how to make some before you decide to run away.”

The conversation died out after that, with Tomioka refusing to play into her jests and pokes, but that was alright.

It assured her he was fine, that he was going to be fine, even if he doesn’t come to her for help…

Everything was okay.