Work Text:
~~~
Giyuu adores Tanjiro, he really does. After the last mission where Tanjiro was exposed to Giyuu’s true nature, Giyuu deemed the boy as a safe friendship.
Tentative friendship which he told the boy as much.
Tanjiro was a breath of fresh air to hard thoughts. All sunshine and smiles that you never see in the demon slayer corps.
Tanjiro had hope, and he was more than willing to share.
He was also willing to share all his questions.
And Giyuu was nearing his cap for social interactions.
“So you speak Russian!? That’s so cool, where did you learn?” Tanjiro gushes from his side as they walk.
Tanjiro had run into him while he was coming back from a mission and wanted to walk back with him.
He didn’t mind, he wasn’t tired and the mission went well.
“I learned Japanese” he answers after a too-long pause
“That’s what I had thought but I just wanted to make sure. That’s so cool though!” The boy beams at him and he offers a nod.
“Were you born as a Rusalka?” He almost misses a step at the question. It’s a personal question but probably something that Tanjiro wouldn’t understand.
Rusalka are created not born, but he’d rather not explain that to the kid. It might make him feel guilty for asking.
“Sure” not an answer but Tanjiro takes it and doesn’t question him.
He’s grateful.
“How did you end up in the corps? What about the others?” Giyuu sighs
“Are you hungry?” They’ve been walking for a while now and while he’s not quite hungry yet, Tanjiro might be.
“Mmm not really but we should eat something soon anyway” Tanjiro nods and smiles at him.
He nods back and steers him to a traveling pub that’s down the path.
It’s almost empty other than a trio of men sitting in one corner talking amongst themselves. They look up when he and Tanjiro enter but turn away quickly after.
The owner greets them as they take a table and then gives them time to settle on an order.
“Soooo…” when he looks up Tanjiro is giving him expectant eyes
He sighs
Again
“I can’t speak for the others. I ended up in the corps because the master sought me out”
A half-truth.
The master had sought him out. It was because he had already been doing the job of a slayer beforehand.
Especially after Sabito died. He had lost his mind, went on a rampage across Japan when the master had shown up that cold winter morning.
“Tokito-san had said something similar. That the master had sent his wife to talk to him and his brother multiple times.” Tanjiro hums to himself in thought. Then he turns back to Giyuu ready to ask another question.
“Are you ready to order?” The owner steps up to their table with a bright smile on his wrinkled face.
Giyuu keeps his head down and lets Tanjiro order first. When the owner turns to him he pauses.
“Just a bowl of rice please,” he says quickly
“Just rice Giyuu-san? Shouldn’t you eat more?” Tanjiro asks.
He keeps his gaze down when he answers as the owner is still stood next to them.
“I’ll eat more when we get back” Luckily Tanjiro doesn’t argue or prod for answers. He’s been exposed enough to him and the others to know when it isn’t a good time to ask questions.
With the way the owner still hasn’t stepped away from the table, Tanjiro might sense his unease.
Getting food was a mistake. He just wanted Tanjiro to take a break from the questions and eat something.
Now his throat itches as the owner continues to stare at him even as he walks away. When the man disappears behind the kitchen doors he finally relaxes.
“That was weird,” Tanjiro says looking around.
He doesn’t say anything
“When the food comes eat quickly, we can’t stay here for long” he instructs and tanjiro nods.
The food comes out fast as the owner exits the kitchen and b-lines straight for their table.
“Here we are, I also brought out some grilled chicken incase you wanted some for your rice” the man only addresses him as he sets the tray down and even goes as far as taking the plates and putting them in front of him.
The second the smell of the chicken hits his nose he has to force a gag back.
He only eats rice and lighter foods for a reason.
“Thank you sir!” Tanjiro exclaims making the man jump and then Tanjiro watches him expectantly.
Tanjiro’s gaze is intense. Enough so that the man takes a hint and reluctantly leaves their table.
He looks up finally.
Tanjiro turns a curious gaze to him.
“Is there water on me anywhere?” He asks
Tanjiro looks closer and even reaches across the table to pat his head.
“No, completely dry. Are you ok?” Tanjiro asks
He nods and then motions for him to eat.
Tanjiro shrugs it off but looks up occasionally while he’s eating
When the man comes back to the table to check on them he hands Tanjiro money to give to the man for the food.
The man watches him pass it off and his sweet smile falls at the edges.
He takes his money and walks away to tend to the only other table that is occupied.
He and Tanjiro both watch subtly
“Giyuu we should go” Tanjiro whispers when the men at the table start to turn to them
“Yes, let’s” he nods and stands. Tanjiro is at his heels as he speeds to the exit and out the door.
He can hear the scrape of wood chairs being pushed back.
Wrapping a hand around Tanjiro’s wrist he bolts for the tree line. He doesn’t have to hold on for long for Tanjiro to realize and run behind him without prompt.
Either the men give up or they’re too slow to catch them when they break the tree line.
He’s immediately overcome by pure annoyance.
“Chertovy muzhchiny” he mutters under his breath
“What does that mean?” Tanjiro asks brightly already past the situation and back to being his overly optimistic self
“Fucking men” he answers
He knows Tanjiro is going to ask all the questions he doesn’t want to answer.
Some of them he’ll answer because Tanjiro should know if he’s choosing to be around him more.
Some he refuses to answer for a multitude of reasons.
“Chertovy muzhchiny” tanjiro butchers the pronunciation in a way that shocks a laugh out of his mouth.
“Tanjiro, don’t say that” he shakes his head.
Tanjiro huffs and crosses his arms in a surprisingly childish gesture.
“I agree though, they were rude” he defends.
Rude doesn’t even begin to explain it.
“Anyway! You said the master sought you out? How did that go?” Already changing the subject.
But he’s in a better mood now, away from the too-large town with too many people.
“Horrible, I tried to kill him” Tanjiro’s eyes widen and his jaw drops
“You tried to kill the master!?” He gasps but there’s no judgment, just curiosity.
“All knowing and smart as the master is, he was a child back then and his approach to us was…less than ideal” looking back on the memory now it’s fond.
It had been terrifying back then.
Tanjiro waits patiently for him to continue as they trace their steps back to the main road.
“He showed up out of nowhere with information about me that no one knew except for one person. And that person was dead” Tanjiro flinches
“Yeah, I can see how that may not be a good approach” Tanjiro laughs awkwardly
“I wasn’t in my right mind either, so I attacked”
If the master had been alone that day he would have killed him.
Himejima had been there. The one man completely immune to Giyuu’s existence.
“Himejima stopped me” he explains
“Himejima is a force to be reckoned with, I’m glad he was there” Tanjiro nods.
He agrees.
“How did the master convince you to join?” Tanjiro asks
“He didn’t”
The master hadn’t convinced him to join. The last thing he wanted back then was to be surrounded by trained men with sharp blades.
He didn’t need a blade. He didn’t need money. He didn’t need information. He didn’t need comrades. He didn't need to be told what to do.
That’s why he never understood why Sabito wanted to join.
If he wanted a blade all he had to do was ask Giyuu to get him one.
If he wanted information all he had to do was use Giyuu to get it.
Giyuu had his back.
Giyuu could make him money.
Sabito was human. And he would have done anything for him.
The demon slayer corps had killed Sabito. Why would he help them?
“Then how did you end up joining?” Tanjiro asks, confused
“I convinced myself” he answers.
He wanted to know why. Why Sabito had given his life for a chance to serve them.
He owed Sabito, so he would serve for Sabito.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here! You saved me and my sister and vouched for us, and helped me learn you’re like….a big brother yeah! A big brother”
Tanjiro…sees him as a brother? Really?
It’s so sweet and so Tanjiro all he can do is smile at the boy and reach a hand out to pat his head.
“Thank you Tanjiro, I’ll do my best to watch over you and Nezuko,” he says softly as he guides Tanjiro further down the road.
Sanemi would be so mad to know he’s no longer the sole reason for his smiles.
It just makes him smile more.
~
Giyuu wants to know how he was roped into this. It wasn’t even Sanemi or Tanjiro this time.
It was Mitsuri who had begged him to go to a Hashira lunch.
He had immediately thanked her and then declined. That doesn’t sound like something he could do while sane. Maybe in a high he could but Sanemi has been gone on a mission.
Mitsuri had told him that Sanemi would be there too. Sanemi informed him shortly after through Sorai.
Tanjiro would also be there for some reason. Mitsuri had become very adoring of the boy after the swordsmith village.
Muichiro too.
He even got along better with Genya, and if he’s anything like his brother that’s a feat on its own.
Pressure from Mitsuri, Tanjiro, Sanemi and surprisingly Himejima had finally made him cave and agree to go.
Now he was second guessing himself as he walked up the steps of the love estate. Sanemi wasn’t here yet but Tanjiro was waiting at the door.
He sighs as he spots the kid bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet while waving him down.
“Giyuu-San! I’m so glad you could make it!” He calls out.
“Hello Tanjiro” he nods a greeting to the boy
Tanjiro beams at him and grabs his hand to pull him further in. Any chances of escape stay at the door as he steps through.
“Everyone is outside today, it’s such a lovely day!” He says and continues to lead him through the estate to the back gardens.
It is a lovely day, a little on the hot side for him. He prefers the cold. But it’s still nice out. Sanemi loves this weather.
Sunny with a small breeze. Will Genya be here too? Muichiro and Genya seem pretty attached he wouldn’t be shocked. It would be a disaster though.
Thankfully when he makes it outside Muichiro is lazing under a tree with no Genya in sight.
“Tomioka-San we’re so happy to see you!” Mitsuri bounces up from her seat to greet him with a smile that rivals Tanjiro’s.
The sunshine trio is just missing Rengoku at this point.
“Thank you for the hospitality,” he thinks that’s the right thing to say in this instance.
Japanese customs are still a little difficult for him to get the hang of. Sanemi was no help either, he didn’t really care about manners.
Himejima and Shinobu had taught him what he knows now.
“Oh oh nonsense no need for formalities between friends Tomioka-san” Mitsuri’s bubbly enthusiasm takes some of the anxious edge off.
He nods and they both drag him off to sit with the others.
Himejima nods a greeting to him and Shinobu smiles and waves as he approaches. Iguro just watches him and he can hear the man hissing from where he stands.
“Ah Giyuu! My flashy unflashy friend, it’s good to see you!” Uzui greets with a grin.
Uzui’s grins sometimes make him nervous, too similar to some of the faces in his past. He knows the man means well but it is a reason he avoids him.
“Hello,” he greets back and then takes a spot next to Himejima.
Shinobu pouts when he declines the offer to sit next to her. He’s already on his nerves just being here. Being poked at the whole time would make him want to leave even more.
“We are just missing Sanemi and Rengoku” Mitsuri claps her hands.
Sanemi should be here soon. The time between their messages with Sorai has decreased so Sanemi is getting closer. He did say he wanted to stop and clean off because his last mission was a mess.
If he had known that before he left he would have waited.
“Rengoku just arrived” Tengen smiles at Mitsuri who squeals and takes off to greet her mentor.
“I’m surprised to see you here, didn’t feel like brooding today?” Iguro hisses when Mitsuri disappears through the doors.
He doesn’t answer. He’s learned over a long period of time that saying nothing will do more than feed into the oncoming insults.
“Let’s not be mean, at least he agreed to come” Shinobu smiles sharply at the man.
“Oh, hello Tomioka” Muichiro’s voice suddenly greets from over his shoulder. He jumps.
He knows the kid…er not kid is a kitsune and they are known for being near silent almost always. But he swears the kid takes pleasure in making them jump.
He definitely does.
“Hello Tokito-san” he greets looking over his shoulder.
Muichiro looks less than human today, fox like features out for the world to see. He’s glad he feels safe enough around them to do that.
He always keeps an iron grip on his inhuman features, not because he feels unsafe around them, but because it would be unsafe for them.
When he looks around at the Hashira gathered he notices that all of them barring Iguro and Himejima have let go of their features as well.
Tengen's wings fluff and shift behind him and he can hear the faint trill of some song coming from the man as he leans back on his arms.
Shinobu’s wings hum behind her and her facial features are sharp as she observes Muichiro slinking between them.
Muichiro has all nine tails out for show and long black ears flick towards him even as he starts to talk to Himejima. He’s taller, more defined and it honestly throws him off.
It’s nice that they can be themselves out here. He’s sure they are used to hiding themselves like he is.
“We’re backkkk~” Mitsuri jogs back to them followed by a beaming rengoku and a laughing tanjiro.
“Hello, fellow Hashira!” Loud as ever Rengoku greets them. He nods back.
Rengoku’s eyes are reptilian and his figure is almost the same size as Himejima. So he’s also relaxed.
Now that he’s looking Mitsuri’s voice has changed some, almost unnoticeable but her eyes are like pink ringed mirrors.
He’s seen her eyes like that many times but never this close. They’re very pretty.
“Tomioka-san glad you could make it” Rengoku claps a hand on his shoulder as he passes by and it’s hot to the touch. He flinches and hopes Rengoku doesn’t catch it.
But he does.
“I’m sorry was that too much force, Sometimes my strength gets away from me” he apologizes
“No, just hot. I don’t do well with heat” he brushes the man off, there’s no need to fret over it.
“I didn’t know that Giyuu-san” Tanjiro says tilting his head like a puppy.
“Makes sense being a creature of the water” Muichiro hums
He nods
“It’s alright Tanjiro, I never said anything about it,” he says to the frowning boy.
“I know I run hot I hope I never bothered you,” Tanjiro says and Giyuu is quick to shake his head.
Rengoku laughs.
“I doubt you run as hot as I do my boy, you’re such a gentleman looking out for Tomioka like that,” Rengoku says loudly bright smile still stitched to his face with too sharp teeth.
Tanjiro still looks to him.
“You’ve never bothered me Tanjiro” he soothes
“Good, I was worried I had hurt you and you didn’t say anything” as if Tanjiro would hurt him. If demons weren’t around Tanjiro wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“Who hurt Giyuu?” Sanemi has arrived.
“No one just clarifying some confusion” he’s quick to placate before Sanemi jumps to conclusions.
Sanemi studies him for a moment before he nods to himself, satisfied. What a guard dog.
Sanemi shoves him to the side so he can fit in between him and Himejima and the giant man laughs at his antics.
He gets comfortable and then looks around before sighing. He seems to let go as well.
Parts of him wisp off with the gentle breeze before reforming as he relaxes back on his arms like Uzui.
“God it’s nice out” he groans.
“Isn’t it!” Mitsuri jumps to agree.
“It’s warm,” Iguro says quietly.
Iguro and Rengoku must be loving the sun bearing down on them. Muichiro seems to be sticking to shadows. He can imagine he’s hot as well with all the black fur.
“Well since everyone’s here, let’s get food brought out, Mitsuri-san and I worked hard” Tanjiro says with Mitsuri nodding.
A Kakushi bows to them before running inside. He hadn’t even seen that Kakushi there.
Conversations start up as they wait and Giyuu listens aptly but doesn’t try to talk himself. A few times Tanjiro asks him innocent questions about his missions and how he’s been and he answers those.
When the food comes out the conversation dies a little but it still buzzes around him as Sanemi hands him a bowl of rice.
He only takes a few bites before setting it down. He’s hungry but the rice won’t sit well right now.
“Golodnyy?” Sanemi asks
“Izgolodavshiysya” he affirms and Sanemi nods
Sanemi goes to say something back but Tanjiro interrupts him.
“Can I ask you all a question, I’ve been dying to know?” He asks and Sanemi shoots him a glare.
He still doesn’t like the kid that much.
He would say liking Tanjiro is an acquired taste but that would be a lie. Everyone loves tanjiro. There’s even a deemed ‘tanjiro effect’ going around.
“Sure, ask away” Mitsuri smiles
“Giyuu and Muichiro already told me how he ended up here, but how did you guys end up in the corps?” He asks.
No one answers right away seeming to wait for whoever wants to explain first.
“Well my family has been working with the Ubuyashiki name for generations I really don’t know how they first met” Rengoku explains and tanjiro nods as he listens.
Shinobu speaks up next.
“The master bought us out of the slave trade and then bribed us with knowledge on human anatomy and medicines” she shrugs. That’s very on point for her and her sister. They both were morbidly obsessed with the inner workings of humans.
“Oh oh me next, I tried to kill the masters wife because I thought she was a priestess who came to exorcise me. Then she explained that there were more like me here and of course I had to join! It’s been amazing meeting all of you!” Mitsuri’s explanation made him smile. How similar to his own joining.
“He saved me from execution so I felt indebted to him, I came to work with him to pay that off and I’m glad I made that decision” Himejima’s eyes well up with tears and he smiles at the memory.
Iguro sighs
“I spent a lot of time with the Rengoku’s so when the master came to ask me to join I had already decided I would” Tanjiro perks up and looks like he’s about to ask further but he nudges his side quickly. When the boy looks at him he shakes his head.
That’s a personal story for Iguro, one that shouldn’t be asked about.
“The master didn’t ask me shit, I joined on my own and then he shows up saying he had been expecting me. It was damn freaky if you ask me. How he knew everything” Sanemi answers gruffly. He’s surprised he even answered the boy without prompting.
Uzui claps his hands and smiles ready for his turn.
“The masters wife tracked us down and badgered my wives into convincing me to join. I of course valiantly agreed but that woman knew exactly who to target” very true.
The masters wife is a smart woman, he doesn’t know if she’s human or not but she knows how to play her words and actions right.
Despite tanjiro saying he already knew, Muichiro explains how the master had pestered him and his brother to join before his brother was killed and they took him in.
They all converse about their memories of joining and he notices Iguro has locked in on him again.
“You’ve been awfully quiet what about you, how’d you end up here” he hisses. Sanemi immediately shoots him a glare but he nudges him to drop it.
Sanemi and Iguro are friends, and this is a harmless question.
“Yeah, how’d the master get to you Tomioka-san” Mitsuri giggles to lighten the mood.
“He didn’t, I told him no after almost killing him. If Himejima wasn’t there I would have” eyes widen at his answer and shoot to Himejima who nods.
“Damn Tomioka, you didn’t like him that much?” Uzui whistles
“I didn’t like anyone back then, when he showed up, he knew everything” he shrugs. Even now it still makes sense to kill someone who knows all his weaknesses.
In Russia, monsters like him take no chances. It’s kill or be killed.
There was an unspoken rule there not to bother other monsters unless you wanted to die or kill them. Here that rule didn’t exist.
“The master had to have been a kid then, since you joined before us?” Rengoku asks and he nods.
“You’d kill a human child? How low” Iguro grumbles and earns a smack from Mitsuri that nearly knocks him over.
He doesn’t say anything.
“I would have too, if he approached me knowing everything. I would have taken it as a threat” Uzui chimes.
At least he’s not alone in that notion.
“I’d be pretty concerned too, and I don’t have the instincts you guys do” Tanjiro agrees
“You callin us animals kid” Sanemi grumbles next to him. Tanjiro immediately puts his hands up to defend.
He elbows Sanemi but his arm just passes through the man and he sends him a mocking grin.
“See! It’s not fair!” Muichiro suddenly cries out pointing at Sanemi.
Everyone snaps to him confused. But he picks up what he’s referring to.
It is quite unfair that Sanemi doesn’t take what he dishes out.
“It’s not, not at all. I assume Genya does the same to you” he smiles and Muichiro rolls his eyes and nods
“Huh? What’s not fair?” Tengen asks.
“We can’t get them back” Muichiro explains even going as far as to swipe a hand through Sanemi’s side.
Sanemi glares.
“Woah, that’s so cool!” Tanjiro beams moving to do the same.
But Sanemi swats his hand.
“Don’t touch me parasite!” He barks
Rengoku and Mitsuri burst out in laughter.
He’s glad to see everyone so relaxed and carefree. They don’t get breaks often and even more rarely all together.
Being here isn’t so bad.
Iguro seems to have finally relaxed as well, he can see scales rippling across his skin where his uniform doesn’t cover. He had taken his haori off to better take in sunlight.
He himself was sweating under the unapologetic rays of the sun. Part of him wants to take his haori off as well. But better to leave it on in case something happens.
“More drinks?” Mitsuri asks standing from her spot.
Some agree but he remains quiet. He wants no accidents. Last thing he needs is to fight off Hashira because he was clumsy and spilled his drink on himself.
“Are you alright Tomioka-san? You seem a little anxious?” Shinobu asks with a grin and it immediately unsettles him.
Fae, they like to meddle in things they shouldn’t. He would call Shinobu a friend and they have plenty of pleasant history. But Shinobu is what she is at heart.
If she’s bored it would be worse than Muichiro.
“I’m alright, thank you for asking” he brushes her off but watches as her grin stretches.
Subconsciously he scoots closer to Sanemi. Not like he could do much if Shinobu decides she wants to poke fun at him.
She watches him subtly until Mitsuri returns with a tray of drinks.
And her grin sharpens.
At this point, he's ready to hide behind Sanemi who is arguing with Uzui and oblivious to Shinobu’s advances.
Drinks are handed out and everyone settles down again and for one foolish second, he thinks that’s it. Shinobu just wanted to get under his skin and tease him.
“You should relax and let go like us Tomioka-san” Shinobu’s wings buzz faster to prove her point.
“Oh Miss Shinobu-san Giyuu can-“ he interrupts Tanjiro.
“You know very well why I can’t” his tone takes on a note of finality, warning Shinobu not to do whatever it is that she’s thinking of.
“It’s alright Tomioka-san we are all a little different we won’t judge” Mitsuri smiles
“I’m fine, thank you” it’s short and he hopes they understand not to press.
Shinobu grins.
Then she leans over to whisper something into uzui’s ear. The man’s eyes widen and he choaks on his drink, spitting it out.
Across their picnic blanket.
Directly across from him.
On to him.
Tanjiro in a valiant effort to save him tries to move in front of him but Giyuu still ends up sprayed with water.
Sanemi moves faster than he can process, ripping his jacket off and throwing it over his head to cover himself.
He shoves his hands into his pockets and lets his sleeves drape all the way down his arms.
How annoying.
He can hear Uzui coughing out apologies and the sound of Rengoku patting his back harshly.
He can hear Mitsuri and Himejima scolding Shinobu but he knows the woman doesn’t particularly care right now.
He can hear Tanjiro asking to help and Sanemi telling him to back off.
He can hear Muichiro giggling quietly and Iguro stating that he’s over reacting and to stop being an idiot.
He sighs and it’s loud and long enough that his throat crackles and pops in an almost hissing growl.
“Why Shinobu?” He asks.
“'Cause you gotta let loose, it’s bad enough you never hang out with us” she answers
“You of all people should know that my appearance is dangerous” they should all know really. Don’t they know?
He’s never exactly explicitly said what he was to them except for Sanemi and Himejima. He knows that Shinobu knows and he’s sure that rumors get around to the others at least
“Dangerous? Seriously what a load of shit” iguro laughs
“Shut up iguro!” Sanemi snaps
“Sanemi it’s ok”
He pauses.
“Do you not know what I am?” He asks them instead
“A siren right?” Mitsuri asks.
Guess he had explained himself as a siren to a few slayers who couldn’t understand what he was saying in the beginning. That misinformation must have spread.
“Then it would just be his voice, I mean sirens are beautiful but that’s not it” Muichiro clarifies.
Sometimes he forgets that he’s actually the oldest of them.
Right next to Mitsuri.
“Ohhh….oh, I’m so sorry Tomioka-san!” Mitsuri apologizes
“Not your fault what are you apologizing for!” Sanemi gripes.
“Then what is he?” Iguro grumbles
“Rusalka” he answers
“Oh shit” that was Uzui.
“I’ve never seen one before” Rengoku hums.
“Giyuu-san why don’t we go inside?” Tanjiro offers next to him and he nods quickly.
“I want to see” iguro pipes up
“Hey! That’s not-“ he will apologize later for how many times he’s interrupted tanjiro.
“Fine, but if you step a foot in my direction you’ll lose your life before you can close your eyes” he’s annoyed and old mannerisms are starting to peek through his carefully trained Japanese manners.
“That goes for all of you” Sanemi adds.
“Sure sure whatever” Iguro agrees.
In irritation, he rips Sanemi’s jacket off his head and glares.
He catalogs each reaction. Each movement. Each inhale and exhale.
“Woah” Rengoku says and leans forward, reptilian eyes narrowing on him.
And Rengoku leans forward about to take a step.
His jaw is already starting to open, black void in view for everyone.
Himejima slams a hand down on Rengoku’s shoulder.
“I wouldn’t, Tomioka made his boundaries clear” Rengoku doesn’t snap out of his daze but remains still.
He closes his mouth.
What a disaster
This is why he doesn’t hang around the Hashira in groups. Or even in general.
This among other things.
“Iguro-san I think you should apologize to Tomioka-san,” Mitsuri says quietly. He had not been expecting that.
But if anyone were to be immune to him other than the blind, it would be the two eldest. When he turns to look for Muichiro Iguro speaks up.
“I’m sorry, I was rude” it hardly sounds meaningful and he knows the man only said because Mitsuri told him to.
He doesn’t care really, not right now. Right now, the aching hunger from earlier has crescendoed into an unrelenting need to eat.
“Tomioka? You alright?” Tengen asks but still doesn’t move from his spot.
He nods. It’s nothing he hast felt before.
“Can we move now?” Shinobu gripes and he shoots her a look.
“Not in my direction but yes” so far none of their reactions had been threatening except for Rengoku.
He honestly can’t blame Rengoku either. Dragon instincts have been said to be nearly impossible to fight without practice. Dragons like pretty things, shiny things, and new things.
He’s not mad, he had expected it.
“God it’s so hard to look away from you” Uzui groans and he snaps his attention to the man. He raises his hands quickly
“I’m not going to do anything Tomioka you can relax,” he says.
Sanemi glares at the man.
“Woof” Shinobu mocks with a sharp grin in Sanemi’s direction
“I still don’t understand how your appearance is dangerous. If anything you're just an overpowered incubus” Iguro rolls his eyes
Irritation bubbles under his skin and the sick chaos drivin monster in his core tells him to show Iguro just how dangerous he can be.
“If he told you to kill yourself right now you would” Muichiro hums languidly
It’s true.
His appearance is deadly because it’s unquestionable. Rusalka kill their prey by telling them sweet nothings to lure them into water where they steal your breath. Sirens use their songs. Rusalka don’t have to but they can use their voice too.
“Bullshit” Iguro snaps
Giyuu ignores him and slowly moves to take his seat next to Sanemi again.
Now the heat is even more unbearable
“It’s true. Too much exposure to a Rusalka can make you forget yourself” Mitsuri agrees with Muichiro.
“Make you forget your goals, asperations. You’ll just want to look at them and listen to everything they say” Muichiro continues.
He doesn’t appreciate being dissected right here, in front of all of them. They’re all looking at him. Haven’t looked away once. It makes his skin itch.
“What about Sanemi and Tanjiro then?” Uzui asks
“It’s different for us, our biology is made to withstand our own so it’s easier as long as Giyuu isn’t trying.” Muichiro starts but then pauses.
His face melts into confusion as he looks over to Tanjiro who has been watching patiently and listening.
“I….i don’t know Tanjiro isn’t affected” Muichiro being unsure of information never happens. Forgetful yes. Unsure no.
He turns to the boy who jumps at the sudden attention.
But Muichiro is right.
Even when he’s more human people still what to steal his attention, still want to look and grab at him.
Tanjiro never has.
Tanjiro has never set off his instincts to kill or fight like everyone else he’s met.
Even Sabito had been affected by him so he covered his face.
Giyuu makes a decision. An intrusive decision.
He turns fully to Tanjiro and the poor boy looks so scared.
But not scared of Giyuu.
“Tanjiro, go climb that tree” his mouth doesn’t open to speak the words, and all anyone else will hear is maybe a whisper.
Tanjiro tilts his head confused.
“Ok, I mean I will but why?”
Holy shit
“Tanjiro…” he trails off
“He’s immune?” Muichiro asks sitting up.
He nods
“Do someone else, what if you did it wrong” Muichiro orders.
As if he’d do that wrong when he’s been using it for longer than he can remember
He turns to Sanemi who immediately sighs and nods
“Sanemi, don’t dematerialize and let me smack you” It’s only because he’s never gotten a hit on him and a petty part of him has always wanted to.
It takes longer to affect Sanemi but he can see it. The way Sanemi’s eyes loose focus and he straightens only looking at Giyuu like nothing else is around him.
Giyuu hates it.
He doesn’t even move to dig his fingers into the man’s side like he had been planning. He releases Sanemi immediately
“Oh I hated that, not doing that shit again” Sanemi shakes himself out
They all turn back to Tanjiro.
“Tanjiro…. Are you sure you’re human?” Mitsuri asks gently.
The kid doesn’t answer.
~~~