Chapter Text
The kid was laying in the middle of the road while it was pouring rain.
Just lying there.
Doing nothing.
The notorious mist hashira prodigy.
Lying in the road during a rain storm.
Genya scoffed inwardly, he could never say it aloud to the kid, because he didn't want to get his ass beat, but he could not stand the newest hashira.
He was just so... dense? Oblivious? A fucking air head?
Genya truly didn't understand how someone with absolutely no common sense in how to take care of himself could be capable of passing the final selection at 15?
That shit wasn't even allowed!? Did he get special permission or some other stupid complicated reason to participate in the exam despite being under 17?
What really pissed Genya off is how Mr. Himejima didn't even let him take the final selection this year.
He had been training for what felt like forever, and when Genya finally thought he was ready to become a demon slayer like he his brother, he was told that he wasn't ready.
But a skinny, short, abnoxiously long haired twerp was??? Without even being old enough???
The kid didn't even look threatening!? All the hashiras had some sort of unsettling vibe to them, even Ms. Kanroji with her abnormal strength!
But Tokito?
He was just kinda
There.
Staring off into the distance murmuring something about some weird looking cloud.
He was the furthest thing from threatening, he was even a little cute, with his dumb big teal eyes and over sized uniform.
He's getting off track.
So what if he's some super talented descendent of some other super talented guy, he's a fucking annoying kid who's currently going to get ran over by someone's cart if he doesn't get the fuck up.
For a second Genya was tempted to just walk by him and leave Tokito there, it wasn't his responsibility to look after the hashira.
But, Mr. Himejima would have his head if he knew that Genya left Muichiro out on the road in the cold wet rain.
His mentor already voiced his worries to Genya about Tokito more times than he can count, between his medical problems and his age. And Genya knew that his teacher wanted him to be more kind to people.
So, reluctantly, Genya made his way towards the mist hashira with his umbrella.
Once he was close enough to see Tokitos face, Genya saw that the kid was just,
Staring up at the sky.
'What the fuck.' Genya thought.
He was just
Staring at the sky.
When it was pouring rain.
And isn't fucking blinking??
Are his eyes okay???
Is he dead or something????
"Oy, you good?"
Genya said as he gently kicked the hashira.
Tokitos eyes flicked towards him for a second before immediately turning back to the sky.
'Okay, not dead.'
"Dude, you can't just, lay in the middle of the road, get up."
He did not get up, in fact, Tokito seemed to be ignoring him.
And that really pissed Genya off.
He was trying to be fucking helpful??? And this kid was just gonna act like he couldn't hear him???
Genya stomped his foot on the ground and just thought about leaving Tokito there again, Mr. Himejima wouldn't even know Genya passed by him, so what was the point?
Genya kicked Tokito again, a bit harder this time.
"Tokito, get the fuck up."
In response to being kicked and cursed at, Tokito did nothing, shocker, as he continued to stare into nothingness.
Genya let out a very long and drawn out groan. As much as he wanted to he really couldn't bring himself to just leave Tokito there.
The butterfly estate was close enough, Genya could just drop off the hashira there and call it a day.
Putting down the umbrella for a quick second, Genya kneeled down next to the hashira, and started to pick Tokito up.
The sudden feeling of warmness around Tokito seemed to have waken him up, as his eyes grew wider with shock and grabbed Genyas arm with a strong grip.
The two boys eyes met, and Genya felt his face betray him with a large blush, as it usually did around pretty people.
Tokito stared at him for a few moments, his eyes seemingly scanning Genyas face, making him blush a deeper red.
After what seemed like forever, Tokito released his grip on Genyas arm, and went limp in his hold.
Genya didn't exactly have time to ponder on whatever that long look was about due to the two boys still actively getting soaked by the rain.
He picked Tokito up and maneuvered the boy to carry on his back. Tokito clung onto Genya instantly, burying his head into Genyas neck.
Genya felt a shiver go down his spine, the hashira was freezing, and the rain was just getting worse while the wind was picking up.
"You're warm." Tokito murmured behind him.
Hearing the boys voice so close to his ear made Genyas face burn up again. How was he even supposed to respond to that?
"Uh, thanks, I guess."
Gods he was awkward.
He felt Tokito shift on his back, Genya could hear his breathing, slow and relaxed right in his ear.
"Erm, I'm gonna take you to the Butterfly estate, okay?"
"Mm."
Genya took that as a yes, and walked/jogged towards the estate, as the weather was just becoming worse and worse.
"Oh my." Ms. Kochou said as Genya and Tokito barged through the door.
"Sorry Ms. Kochou," Genya wheezed out, the wind and rain howled behind them as Genya quickly slid the door shut. Both boys were drenched due to the storm and were currently soaking the floor under them as well.
"We got caught in the storm."
"Yeah I can see that." She said, walking towards them.
"There are some towels in the other room." Ms. Kochou said while Genya gently put down Tokito.
"Can you go get them real quick, Genya?" She asked, walking up to Tokito as soon as his feet reached the ground.
"Yes m'am." Genya replied quickly, he was freezing at this point, and didn't want to completely ruin the estates floors.
As he walked out, he heard Ms. Kochou talking to Tokito in a soft voice.
"Hey Muichiro, let's get you some warmer clothes okay?"
Genya rolled his eyes as he walked away, how could that kid be a hashira when he had to be babied half the fucking time.
While walking to where he hoped some towels would be, he almost ran right into Kanao.
The girl was nice, almost never talked, but she was good company to be around whenever he was at the butterfly estate. Genya considered them to be friends, though he wasn’t exactly sure Kanao thought the same.
Unfortunately, Kanao’s slightly older sister was behind her.
“What are you doing here? You don’t got an appointment today.” Aoi said, it was almost nice to see her back in her spunky mood. The last time Genya saw her was a few weeks after she went to the final selection, she passed, but…
“I found the mist hashira outside so I brought him here.”
That earned him a narrowed eyed look from Aoi.
“What do you mean you found him?”
Genya rolled his eyes, never mind, he did not miss Aois attitude.
“I mean he was laying in the road outside where I found him so I brought him here.”
Aoi rolled her eyes back at him,
“Alright, what’re you looking for anyway, you’re ruining my floors.”
“Since when are they your floors?”
“Do you want me to get you what you need? Or do you want me to kick you out and let the storm kill you.”
Genya groaned,
“Ms. Kochou said there were some towels in here, that all I need.”
Aoi pushed past him to a cupboard, getting out a considerable amount of towels and throwing them at him.
“Here, and be nice to Muichiro. Don’t say you found him like he was some missing dog.” Aoi said, walking to wherever she was before, as Kanao gave him a little smile and wave goodbye.
‘I was being nice to him, I never called him a dog! What is Aois problem…’ Genya thought to himself, going back the room Ms. Kochou and Tokito went into.
When he opened the door, only Ms. Kochou was there.
“Hey Genya, thank you for getting those.” He handed her the rest of the towels as he saved one for himself.
“So,” Ms. Kochou started.
“Has he been like that the whole time?”
Genya looked at her confusedly.
“What?”
She pointed to a room where Tokito must’ve been in. “Muichiro, has he been dazed and unresponsive when you were walking here.”
“Oh.” Genya felt the awkwardness start to take over his body,
“Pretty much yeah, he barely reacted to anything I said.”
Ms. Kochou pursed her lips,
“Can I ask you to do something Genya?”
‘Noooooooooooooooo.’
“Yes?”
“I’m not letting either of you leave until the morning, if the weather is better that is. But can you take Muichiro to his estate? I want to make sure that he gets there safely.”
Genya groaned inwardly, he really did not want to.
“Can I ask why?” Genya said, hoping his words didn’t come off as disrespectful.
“Im sure you have realized that Muichiro isn’t exactly always,” Ms. Kochou did some random gestures with her hands,
“There, per se. Lately he’s been getting worse rather than better. I just want to make sure he makes it to his estate safely.”
As she was talking Tokito walked back in, with the clothing Ms. Kochou had given him on. He didn’t really pay any mind to Genya or Ms. Kochou as he sat on one of the beds.
And Genya couldn’t help but stare at him, Gods, why did Ms. Kochou have to ask him to take the mist hashira home, he already had to bring him here.
And Genya couldn’t help but feel like skin burn up anytime he looked at Tokito for too long.
“Yeah, I’ll take him back to his estate.”
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"...-warmer clothes okay?" Muichiro processed what someone was saying as the boy with a Mohawk walked away.
"Muichiro?" He looked at the lady in front of him, her purple eyes almost looked like bug eyes, he thought.
"Hi Muichiro," the lady said, giving him a small, kind smile,
"Do you remember who I am?"
Muichiro stared at her.
"I'll take that as a no."
She walked away, grabbing some folded clothing,
"Change into these, alright? You must be freezing."
Freezing, he was pretty cold, but that other boy had been warm. Where had he gone?
Muichiro felt the weight of clothes in his lap as the lady lead him to a room to change. It would be nice to get out of his uniform, it was soaked. And the clothing was soft, like a blanket.
By the time he got done changing, the boy from before was back. He was talking to the lady, though Muichiro wasn’t really paying attention.
What was he even doing here? Had someone summoned him here?
Muichiro then realized the woman was in front of him now, holding out a tea cup for him. When had she stopped talking to the other boy?
“Here Muichiro, drink this up okay?”
He took the cup from her and took a sip, it was hot, but good.
“Now, I want you to take some deep breathes with me.”
The lady breathed in, and out, and Muichiro found himself doing the same.
“Good job Muichiro. Do you remember where you were before you got here?” The lady asked, as she cleaned the scratches on his arm.
The scratches on his arm.
Did he have those before?
“I was outside.” He answered in a small voice, he had been watching the clouds he thinks.
Ms…….. Kochou, that’s what her name was. Ms. Kochou let out a small hum as she finished wrapping up his wounds.
“I want you to stay here for tonight, okay? You can go back to your estate in the morning.” She said, her voice was sweet, almost motherly.
“Okay.”
Ms. Kochou smiled and lightly patted his head,
“Genya is going to be your roommate for tonight, and he’ll walk you home in the morning.” She said, motioning to the boy from before.
The boy, Genya, hopefully he would remember his name. Genya didn’t seem happy about this arrangement, a sort is scowl on his face as he settled into one of the hospital beds.
“Why?” Muichiro asked, he could get to his own estate just fine, he didn’t need a babysitter to walk him home.
“Because I asked him too, now rest.” Ms. Kochou said, walking out of the room.
Muichiro looked at Genya in the bed next to his, for a second they made eye contact, before Genya quickly turned to his other side, a bit flustered.
Whatever, Muichiro thought, tomorrow he would be home, and back to doing his job.
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