Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a beautiful night with the bright moon looming over the water estate, It's soft light covering everything in it's view.

Giyu was sitting in an empty room that looked as if a living soul had never set foot in it. Furniture was useless if nobody was there to use it. Truth be told, Giyu somewhat liked being alone, him listening to the sounds of his surroundings drowned out that static he would feel deep in his chest. It often felt like a violent ripple in a pond, disturbing all the peace it once had. The silence stopped it from spreading throughout his body like it would whenever he was with the other Hashira.

He felt childish having this plague that made all his limbs feel heavy and his abdomen clench with unknown fear. A demon slayer- No. A pillar, shouldn't have any weaknesses. Let alone one so pointless.

However, the quiet chirps of crickets and the occasional breeze of wind pushed all his problems to the side. For the time being at least.

Deciding he has had enough of sitting in this room, Giyu stood and made his way to his supposed training ground. He never used it for that reason. It was a place he chose to ease his mind instead.

He walked through the halls, footsteps deafening loud in the quiet despite being softly set. On his way, his thoughts wondered to the meeting that took place earlier that morning. Kanroji, Tanjiro, Nezuko and one other had defeated Uppermoon 4 as well as Tokito defeating Uppermoon 5. He was truly impressed that two upper ranks were taken out during the same time period, not to mention the marks they had earned. The explanation of getting the mark was complex yet how the mark would work was understandable...to him at least. Not by any means 'simple' like Shinazugawa had stated.

Giyu had made his way outside and planted himself on a nearby bench. All this thinking about his fellow slayers had put a stone back in his chest however he couldn't stop. He kept thinking back to the fact that his 'equals' had been an important part of something significant and he hasn't done anything. He doesn't deserve to be a Hashira.

His eyes drifted to the sleeves of his haori, the simple red clashing with the complex green and yellow pattern. He doesn't deserve to be a Hashira.

He lifted his gaze from looking down at his clothing, now looking at the ground by his feet. So much for silence helping him with feeling incompetent.

Giyu took a look at the moon, seeing it was half way of looking straight down at the earth. It wasn't that late but given that demon slayers don't usually have leisure time, he decided it would be smart to rest for the night. A plus side would be not being awake to feel like his own heart was weighing him down.

As he stood once again from his sitting position, he heard scuffling in the distance, then a thud. His hands instinctively went to where his sword would be held only to come into contact with nothing. He glanced down to his waist, no sword in sight. He must've forgotten to bring it with him outside. Another reason why he doesn't deserve to be a Hashira, he forgot his own sword. Changing his thinking to not beating himself up but to rather get his sword back, he ran back the way he came from.

He shot down the halls he once walked down, the sound of footsteps not heard in the rush to get his only form of protection.

Giyu spotted it next to where he was resting before in the decoration-deserted room. He grabbed it and then took a large intake of air, preparing himself for what would most likely be a enemy.

He began to make his way to the origin of where the noises were coming from, not quite running but not walking either.

His feet took him to one of the sides of his estate, one where the trees and bushes were unruly. He unsheathed his blade and listened closely, trying to find something more in the quiet of night.

Breathing. Laboured breathing in fact.

So faint he would've missed it if not for the fact that the usual wildlife had gone completely silent, even the wind dared not to whistle. Cautiously, he pushed past leaves and sticks in his way. He knew this was not a demon. Demons had a hardly noticeable rumble in their breath that he only picked up on when he had been with the Kamado siblings. This breathing was one of a human.

He did not sheath his sword back however, using it to cut away any tough branches that tried to catch themselves on his figure.

He gazed the floor for a body. Either looking for a injured person, a lost child or even a drunk who stumbled a bit too far.

However, he didn't find any of those. Instead, Giyu caught sight of a white and black striped sleeve with a familiar pale hand just barely peeking out from behind a bush.

Iguro?!

He practically jumped over to the other man, shoving the bush away as best as he could.

His suspicions were correct when Giyu saw the persons face, covered in dirty bandages that were on the verge of falling off with messy choppy hair flying in all directions, this was Iguro. The Serpent Hashira was limp when Giyu tried to lightly shake him. Not a good sign.

His body was littered with scratches and a nasty gash was found just below his ribs, it cut through his uniform and through his flesh to the point where Giyu swore he saw a flash of white bone hidden behind all the red. Iguro was clearly unconscious so he didn't bother calling out his name nor asking if he was okay. There was no need to waste time like that.

Alternately, he quickly shoved his arm below the males neck and his other underneath his knees, picking the smaller up in a strong grip. The others weight hardly concerned him in the moment, just glad he wasn't as hefty as some of the other Hashira as it would make it a lot more difficult to carry.

With Iguro in his arms, he quickly turned around before a realisation hit him hard. He quickly scanned the male in his arms before he spotted it. The tail end of a white snake was coiled tightly around his wrist opposite of the one Giyu saw, the rest of its body and head hidden under the haori. Good, his snake was also with him, that made things somewhat easier. Barely but somewhat.

Without another thought, the Water Hashira bolted back to his estate, not caring about any plants in his way.

He opened the front door after some difficulty since his upper torso was occupied with a body. He then rushed to what he would call his 'bedroom' which was the closest place with items he needed. It was practically another empty room with nothing but a closet and a futon which isn't exactly comfortable like a true bedroom but if it worked, it worked.

As soon as he made it to the room, he wasted no time to set Iguro down on the futon and gather medical supplies he kept nearby.

Disinfectant, cloth, a roll of bandages and a sewing kit. Should be enough until he could get Iguro to Shinobu in the morning.

With his supplies in tow, he returned back to Iguros side. Setting down the medical items, he careful took off the others haori. Giyu noticed some parts of it were horribly teared, he winced mentally, that would be extremely difficult to fix. He chucked it off to the side, silently promising to fold it neatly once he patched the other up.

Next was his uniform top, his fingers flew down the button line in the middle of his shirt, quickly unfastening them. Just as he was about to shove his shirt completely off, he was then reminded about the snake around his arm. The haori was easy to get off because it was baggy and the snake was underneath it but the uniform shirt is a lot tighter and his snake was practically acting as a rope, tying Iguros sleeve to his arm.

Giyu didn't exactly need to take off the other Hashiras sleeves to patch up his wound so he just spread the two unbuttoned parts of the top wider instead.

Now given a full view of the slash, there was a lot more gore when the uniform wasn't in the way. The edges of the skin were torn and lifting up, giving more of a view to the inside muscle. Like Giyu saw before, Iguros rib could be seen between all the bleeding tissue if looked at the right angle. He had to go to the Butterfly Mansion and he had to go soon. But for now, Giyu would have to do his best work.

The Corps could not lose another Hashira. Despite the wound not being a instant fatal one, it could easily become one if it was exposed to bacteria or left to bleed out for too long.

Now noticing the possibility of Iguro bleeding out, flakes of dried blood were seen on Iguros skin which did not ease the Water Hashiras worries. Giyu had to work fast if this wound was old enough to have blood drying yet deep enough to not stop the flow of the liquid.

He quickly poured the disinfectant he got from Shinobu a long time ago across the white cloth and in seconds, it was on the cut.

He was grateful that Iguro was asleep because this would've hurt like a thousand fires if he wasn't. He held the cloth there for only a little while and he could already see a pink colour quickly seeping in. After a few moments, the now pink and red fabric was carefully lifted up and Giyu saw that the gash was still bleeding but now it was a lot less dauting than seeing almost a river of flowing red cover everything. Everything like his floor and clothes.

Placing the material back over the cut in the mean time, Giyu then grabbed the sewing kit. All the Hashira went through a small safety program to help fellow slayers if need be and learning how to sew up wounds was part of it. He didn't really understand why only Pillars were taught the medical tutorial but he really didn't have time to dwell on that.

He opened up the box and there was multiple needles, multiple threads and another cloth. With lightening quick hands that could almost rival a thunder breather, he set up a medium sized needle with a sturdy string perfect for the deep cut he was dealing with.

He turned his attention back onto the injury and again lifted up the bloodied rag.

Giyu let out a deep breath that he honestly didn't know he was holding after seeing the blood had stopped. His hand with the needle went in close. But he stopped his movements upon noticing it was shaking. He forced his hand to stop quivering and focus on the laceration.

But despite that, the shaking of his hand threw him back to the present. The anxiety that throbbed in his every veins and bones suddenly made itself known. Giyu automatically went on autopilot as soon as he saw that striped haori in the forest but now he was thrown back.

His hand started shaking once again regardless of his resistance, his grip on the needle turning weak. This was weak! He's a slayer who has seen horrifying things in his lifetime but yet again he can't help another person? Yet again, he was rendered useless by his own self. The needle almost slipped from his fingers to the ground before he made eye contact with another thing.

It wasn't Iguro but his snake. It's two red eyes, similar to the blood smeared everywhere, blazing into his. It did nothing but stare. But in spite of simply looking at him, there was something behind those eyes, something that pleaded Giyu to continue. To save Iguro. To save someone. Someone close to him

He needs me. His snake needs me. The Corps need him. I need to do this.

Taking another deep breath, he focused. He ignored the sharp feeling of underlying fear in his bones that made him weak. His grip tightened on the needle again and his hand went close.

His free hand held the gash closed as his other hand worked the needle through the skin. It was tough and the texture was horrible but it was much better than other things Giyu had seen.

After threading the string through the skin twice, he made a knot and then weaved in the next stitch. He repeated this motion almost like a machine, not stopping once until he completed the last snitch.

It took a while and his fingers were stained bloody but it was done. The cut was closed, the bleeding had stopped and it...didn't look too bad actually. Giyu would pat himself on the back if he didn't think such things were selfish. All he did was what he was required to do, he didn't do anything special other than close a wound. Nothing other than save a Hashiras life.

He grabbed the roll of bandages he also had prepared, taking the beginning of the roll and draping it over the cut and then the rest of Iguros torso. It was complicated getting the bandage under the others back so he could wrap it around him multiple times but Giyu found a way.

In the end, the cut was securely covered by clean bandages. A smile almost- almost found its way onto Giyus face but he made his face relax to his normal blank stare before the face muscles could even move.

He did a onceover on Iguro one more time just in case he failed to notice any other key injures. He didn't find any but sore looking scratches, to which he disinfected as well, and some purple looking bruises just below where the wrap of bandages ended. He also noticed Iguros face bandages covered in dirt which was a given from where he found the smaller man.

Giyu, only for a second, contemplated switching them out for cleaner ones but immediately declined his own idea. Though it would be a good idea to change them, he wasn't going to pry into his colleagues privacy. The Water Hashira doubts he uses them for a wound but rather to cover something up. Still, not his business.

He then gave Iguros snake a small onceover, it seemed fine physically but it looked rather tired. Giyu didn't even know snakes could look tired. He knew it's name started with a K? Or was it a M? Hm, he would have to ask the owner once he wakes up and what it's gender is. He may feel rather rude for constantly regarding it with...well, 'it'.

Moving on from focusing on the snake, he saved those questions for later.

Now that the main issue was taken care of, he looked around his surroundings. The once bare room now had a trail of blood on the floor coming from the door to where they were now, a pool of blood on the same floor where Iguro currently laid, and an unconscious man with his snake laying on Giyus futon.

Giyu concluded that he could clean this. A glance was made to his hands and his clothes. And himself it seems.

He quickly stood, deciding that the sooner he dealt with the mess, the easier. He then walked out of the room, careful not to step on the small puddles of liquid, and turned to the direction of his bathroom. He had a bucket of water there he could use.

He entered the room and quickly spotted the bucket with moonlight from the window helping him see. As he hovered over it, going to pick it up, he noticed his reflection in the water.

...He looked like he had a fight with a animal and lost. Giyu sighed and bore in mind that this was going to be a pain to clean up.

Thinking to the future now, he silently hopes that Iguro won't be mad when he wakes.

Chapter Text

Sunlight shone through the shoji doors of the estate. The familiar yellow of morning fading into the desolate room.

Obanai was still on the futon, sleeping for who knows how long, resting his pain off. However not even dead sleep can shield the sun away. The sunshine got too bright for his liking and he moved around, subconsciously trying to get away from the light. However in his movements, he agitated his wound.

It sent a bone-rattling pain that felt like multiple needles in his skin throughout his torso. Obanai shot up from his lying position at the feeling, ultimately making it worse due to the sudden jolt. He was wide awake now.

His breathing hitched when he tried to calm down at such a violent wakening and his arms shook from the remaining ache thrumming around his body.

Fuck, what had happened?

He gazed down to were the sharp pain was emitting from, seeing medical dressings neatly coiled around his rib area. His shirt was open as well, clearly it had to have been in order for these mystery bandages to wrap around him.

Feeling exposed, he quickly went to button his shirt back up. He felt a bit cold too. In the mist of lifting his arms to do the first button, he felt a familiar weight curled on his arm. Kaburamaru!

Obanai instantly sprung into action, checking over him and making sure he was completely fine, forgetting about his original task at hand. Thankfully, not a single scale was out of place. After the checkup, the snake slid off his arm and around his neck like he usually does. While looking at him slither, Obanai was glad he got the worse of it rather then Kaburamaru.

He began to button his shirt again.

Now thinking about the injury once more, his head swirled with memories. He remembered his crow directing him to go to what was supposed to be an easy mission, for a Pillar of course, only to find out that it had been far too underestimated. He also remembers the demon slashing his abdomen with it's deathly weapon and then ripped the cut open more by punching directly on it as a taunt.

He thinks that's what made the slash so dire. So dire that he had to retreat. Him, a Hashira, retreating? Pitiful. Obanai doesn't recall anything past the point of running through flora and scaring away the nearby fauna due to his desperate flee.

It all went black from there. He huffed at his failure to recollect what had happened.

So clearly, his memories didn't help him tell where he was nor who helped him. He had noticed the different setting almost as soon as he awoke and bandages couldn't have found their way around his chest by themselves.

Obanai looked around for any clues to where he might be but found nothing other than a simple, bland room with really nothing other than the futon he was laying on. On the bright side, he did find his haori neatly folded next to where his head was resting and a fresh roll of gauze. He guessed that was for either his chest or his face.

His face...

His hands flew up to his cheeks, a relived sigh found its way out his mouth at the feeling of his covering still being on. He knew that his mystery saviour hadn't taken them off as they still felt a bit grimy from the dirt that was on them. Also the fact that his usual dressings that he wore daily were a different material to the ones that had been provided so the person didn't replace them either.

Different materials probably made by different medical professionals. Obanai mused.

Back to where he was located, this place didn't seem like any danger would be lurking around but a slayer could never be too sure. Even humans could be dangerous. Upon that revelation, Obanai searched his sides for his sword, to which he found nothing.

Shit!

He didn't drop his sword during his battle and he's somewhat certain he didn't drop it on his way through the bushes. Maybe the person who saved him took it? Or maybe he did drop it somewhere in the forest. Either option wasn't good, he needed his sword at all times, no matter what.

A break in the silence was heard, a door opening and then closing in the distance. Obanai instinctively put his guard up, this could be an enemy and he was rather helpless at the moment with his injury and lack of sword. Deep down, Iguro hoped it was simply a kind soul who took him in and then would let him leave.

Footsteps were heard getting louder and louder obviously coming to enter the room he was in. He prepared himself though he didn't quite know why. Surely the person coming to him would be someone like a nice citizen or a humble- TOMIOKA GIYU?!

The door slid open and there stood the Water Hashira, dressed in his slayer uniform with the same blank stare as always. However, Obanai swore he saw his blue eyes widen the slightest bit when realised Iguro was staring right back at him.

The silence was loud with other but shocked eye contact. Obanai expected anyone...anyone except Tomioka. When did he show up in the picture? He had no memory of the other Hashira coming in to save him, not to mention if he did, his pride probably would've shattered into pieces at the mere thought of it.

"I didn't expect you to be awake. My apologises for startling you." A smooth but bland voice broke the uncomfortable tension in the air. Was it just Obanai or was the air around him getting thick? If that was even possible.

Honestly, out of all the Hashira who could've been there, Tomioka was. The singular Pillar he has the most disdain for. This had to be a sick joke.

Pushing all formalities out of the way, he spoke.

"What happened?"

A short, blunt question that Obanai needed to an answer to. What the hell did happen after he retreated?

"I was outside when I heard scuffling just outside my estate which we are in right now." Ah, now Obanai knows where he is. Did Tomioka purposely have a desolate environment or was this just a room he never got to decorating?

"I then went to the noise and you were passed out on the ground. I took you in, stitched up your wound and checked over your snake."

Passed out? Was he really that badly injured? He was the slightest bit thankful that Tomioka had sutured him up. He wouldn't put it past him to leave Obanai out to bleed since he thinks of himself highly anyways. Tomioka probably helped him due to the oath they took of helping any slayer they crossed. Figures.

Just as Iguro was about to speak, his eyes drifted to what was in Tomioka's hand. His sword. It had dirt on it and some grass stains on the handle but the blade overall was pristine.

Following his line of sight, Tomioka also looked at the sword in his hands and looked as if he remembered something. As if Tomioka looked like he could do any other emotion then just a simple face.

"When I woke up this morning, I had realised your sword was not with you. I went out just then and found it nearby where you fainted."

That was...kind...of him to do. Obanai thought for a moment, fixing up his wound was just part of oath but going out of his way to find his sword was unneeded on the Water Hashiras part. Tomioka didn't need to do that but he did.

Before a tiny, fleeting thought that he had misjudged Tomioka crossed his mind, he focused back on his property.

"May I have it back." More of a statement than a question but it worked as the other passed him his wavy sword back. Another bout of silence erupted as Obanai inspected his blade a lot closer now.

"How are you feeling?"

The Serpent Hashira looked up and they made eye contact.

"Fine." He was hungry, the bandages on his face were uncomfortable and his middle body constantly ached.

A hum was heard in response, one that could be taken as either acceptance or could be taken as doubtful. Obanai took it as the latter.

"I will make food for the both of us. Rest and we'll discuss more about your condition later." And with that, Tomioka left the room to presumably what Obanai thought the direction the kitchen was in.

...

...Tomioka had saved him. Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, had saved him and is currently heading to make him food. Usually, the thought of eating with another person would plague his body with fear but at the moment, he couldn't think about anything else but the fact that he had saved Obanai, got his sword- hell, even looked over Kaburamaru.

He was baffled to say the least and an unsettling guilt creeped it's way over his heart. Even if Tomioka thought he was better than everyone, he still did this for Obanai. Would someone as 'arrogant' as him do that for someone like Iguro?

He was tugged out of his own thoughts when Kaburamaru made his head clear to Obanais eyesight. He rubbed his scaly head across his owners covered cheek in an attempt to sooth the other. It worked, Obanai smiled ever so slightly under his wraps. However, that made him realise how itchy his cover had truly become.

He eyed the fresh roll of bandages next to his haori and decided he should change his. Despite having no mirror near, he's sure he has done it enough times to perfectly cover his lower face and plus, Kaburamaru could always double check for him.

He finally took off the dirty wraps and sighed in relief. Much more comfortable with those off.

Obanai took the new roll and applied it on his face and like it was second nature, he did it perfectly. He also noticed these bandages were a lot softer and less harsh on the skin than his usual ones, he might ask Tomioka where he got these from.

Just as he was figuring out where to discard the dirty bandages, Tomioka slid the door open once again.

"Breakfast is ready."

The monotone voice coming out of seemingly nowhere almost made Obanai jump but he held back the involuntary jolt.

"...T-thank you." The words felt odd to say especially towards a person he 'hated'. He said the first letter and almost gave up on saying thanks completely but he managed.

Obanai glanced over to the other, again seeing the slightly widened eye look. He rudely wondered if that was the only other face he could make.

"But I don't eat in front of others." Obanai quickly added on with a harsh tone. It was true, he didn't but he caught the way Tomiokas face scrunched up the smallest bit into what looks like it could be a frown. It was gone as fast as it came.

"I'll bring your food here then."

He left once again and Obanai was in silence... once again.

It did annoy him that he just replaced his bandages only to have to take them off to eat but the painful hunger shooting up in his stomach really wasn't nice. He would definitely like breakfast.

It wasn't long until Tomioka came back with two bowls. One with steamed rice and the other with miso soup. A simple but perfect breakfast.

"I hope you enjoy it. If there are any issues, I'll be outside near my training grounds. Come after you eat, we should plan a trip to the Butterfly Mansion."

Eugh, the Butterfly Mansion. The work they do there is respectable and extremely helpful to the Corps but Obanai can't help but be afraid over the amount of females working there. Let alone Shinobu. As much as he and she were similar in physique, her demeanor was off-putting and disturbing. Obanai didn't like her all that much. Kaburamaru did however...a little too much.

After losing himself in his thoughts, he hadn't even noticed Tomioka leaving. Well, not a problem for him, he could eat now.

Chapter Text

Giyu was outside where he was the night he found Iguro, sitting on the same bench, taking in the sun.

He didn't expect Iguro to wake so early but an underlying feeling of relief filled him when he saw those two mismatched eyes staring back at his. It meant he did a well enough job for him to be able to wake but now he had to plan to visit Shinobu. He may have done well on the wound but she's the professional.

With a light sigh, he cleared his mind for the time being. Just enjoying the simple breeze and the faint buzzing of insects around him. He had to wait for Iguro to come outside to talk more about his recovery.

However, he didn't have to wait long as the other Hashira came out around after a couple minutes.

He heard the sliding door open and footsteps approach him slowly. He only turned to look at his guest once Iguro was standing next to the bench he was on.

The other was there, bandages sat tight on his face, his snake wrapped around his shoulders and with his haori now over his uniform. Giyu did a once over and his posture was slightly tilted and his clothes still had those tears.

Giyu felt bad he didn't give spare clothes but nothing he had would've fit the smaller man. Maybe he, himself could fix Iguros clothes.

The Serpent Hashira didn't speak while he stood, just looking around outside, Giyu guessed he was curious at the new environment. He let him have his scan of his training grounds and then decided to speak up.

"How was breakfast?"

Breakfast. He made enough for him and Iguro but he didn't eat his portion, he didn't feel hungry this morning.

"...Good. I needed food, thank you."

The gratitude sounded a lot less abnormal from Iguro this time around, like it slipped off his tongue naturally. Nonetheless, his tone still had a sharp edge like it always did when talking to Giyu.

With no time to waste and deciding to get to business, the Water Hashira continued the conversation.

"I'm glad. Now, the best thing we can do is to travel to the Butterfly Mansion as soon as possible. It is not far and we can get there by noon if we leave now."

Direct and to the point but something made Iguro seem uneasy judging from his expression.

"I agree that we should leave but...I don't believe I can walk for long periods of time in my state." Of course, how could of he have forgotten? He must have been in pain even walking outside. Giyu silently curses himself for his lack of consideration.

It also seemed extremely hard for the Serpent Hashira to admit his problem. It looked like he was battling himself on spilling his vulnerability so easily like that.

Silence over came them as Giyu thought. He could carry the other but he doubts Iguro would let him and it's a bit inconvenient to have his hands occupied with another person in them. Possibly, he could take inspiration from Tanjiro and carry him on his back but one wrong move and his injury would knock against Giyus back. That would hurt.

There seemed like nothing could be done. He didn't have any modes of transportation to take Iguro. He couldn't carry him and the other couldn't walk on his own.

"I don't believe we'd be able to go then." Giyu suddenly spoke and after a moment, he continued.

"We have no ways to get there."

Iguro seemed irritated at this, huffing as he sat down next to Giyu. Most likely his wound was getting too much to keep standing.

"Then what's going to happen." His tone was a lot more brutal than before but Giyu didn't hold it against him. This wasn't the best situation and it was reasonable to be aggravated.

He thought for another moment before coming up with an idea. He could sent a message to Shinobu via crow so she could inform him on what to do next. It would be best if she was there in person but he doubts she'd be able to make her way here, she's far too busy for that.

"I'll notify Shinobu of the situation. I will also ask for information on what else to do for your injury but for the time being, you have to stay here."

Iguro instantly bristled.

"Stay? Here?! You've got to be kidding me. What about my missions?"

Giyu turned his head and now made eye contact, if humans could, he's sure the other would be literally steaming with rage.

"You cannot fight in your condition. You must rest until you're fully healed. Master will understand. I'll make sure to ask Shinobu if she can notify him of your state as well."

Iguro just simply looked at him, defeat slowly etching its way onto his face. A heavy sigh was heard and a head shake was done.

"Fine. But I'll be gone as soon as I can be."

"That would be preferred." As much as Giyu didn't care about the Serpent Pillar staying, he could easily tell the other didn't like him. It would be best if this recovery went as quick as possible.

His words seemed to put fuel to the fire as Iguro sent him a deathly glare but nothing else was exchanged.

Iguro was such a mystery to him. One moment, he'd be soft-spoken and tranquil but in the next, he'd be cold and closed off. He often wondered what was going on in the others head whenever he switched to being aloof.

Giyu looked away from him and now back to his 'training grounds'. He really did enjoy the way the plants flourished in his estate.

A warm weight suddenly slithered onto his hand. He immediately looked down to see Iguros snake, it's head resting on the back of his palm.

His eyes widened at the fact that it was on him and not on its owner and Iguro seemed to share the same surprise.

He was gonna move his hand away in case the other would be mad at the snake being on him but instead he stopped Giyu from going.

"He's micro-sleeping. Don't move, he needs rest." Micro-sleeping? He's never heard of it but from what he understands, the snake is sleeping on him. Giyu silently noted that Iguro used 'he' for his snake. That's gender out the way. Now for it's name.

"What's his name?"

Iguro looked up from where he was observing his snake and he looked quite shocked. Did he not want to share his snakes name or...?

The shock appeared to wear off and the other spoke.

"Kaburamaru."

A fitting name for the serpent in Giyus opinion. Honestly, it looked quite at peace resting on his hand and he would be lying if he didn't say it made him feel a little fluffy inside. But only a little.

"You know, people don't usually ask about him."

Oh? Giyu looked up to see yellow and turquoise looking at him already. His eyes had an underlying look of contemplation in them, like Iguro was thinking hard about something.

"Why don't they? He seems important to you." Giyu opted to respond, not breaking eye contact.

Apparently, Giyu was really shocking him today as Iguro widened his eyes before looking the smallest bit solemn.

He didn't give an answer but Giyu wasn't expecting one. The new quietness between them made the familiar noises of nature sound quite loud.

One would think it would be awkward sitting outside in silence with a person who hates you but Giyu felt comfortable with the other. In fact, this was the calmest he'd ever been in a while. Company was nice here and then.

"Tomioka."

They looked at each other. Iguro looked like he was having inner turmoil. His brows were furrowed and he seemed like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure on it.

"I-..." Giyu perked up, waiting for him to finish. An unknown feeling bloomed in his chest. "I'm going to head inside."

Giyu felt the hope that he didn't even realise was rising, snuff out as soon as it came.

Iguro stood along with Kaburamaru on him and walked- or well stumbled back the way he came.

He sat for a couple moments longer after seeing that striped haori disappear behind the closing door. What was he hopeful about? The way Iguro said his name felt so natural like- like they were friends. Like the other had said it a thousand times before. ...Did he want to be friends with Iguro?

He stood after a bit. He should find his crow and send that message to Shinobu.

As he walked away, he idly wondered if he and Iguro could get on a first-name basis.

Chapter Text

It wasn't long until Giyu got a response from Shinobu, her crow flying around the estate after only a day of waiting.

He listened intently to her crow, he vaguely remembered it's name being En , and was pleased to know that not much had to be done for Iguro.

Shinobu had praised him for his stitch work despite not being able to see it and informed him that the best thing would be rest until the wound closes over and the pain subsides. Easy enough.

After En flew off, he was proud at Kanzaburo for being able to get to the Butterfly mansion so quick in his age. He smiled ever so lightly at the thought of his crow.

Deciding to relay the information to Iguro, he made his way to where the other man was.

It wasn't long after they had eaten lunch that Giyu showed the Serpent Hashira a guest room where he could stay. Iguro rarely came out of it.

He walked throught the long halls, bareness covering the walls. He remembered a comment the other Hashira made once, about his estate being 'extremely mundane'.

He didn't take it personally and instead thought about possible decorations. Though he doubts he'd put any up. Not like he had anybody to impress with his estate.

Stopping at the guest bedroom door, he knocked twice and slid it open.

Iguro sat on his futon, hand stretched out to Kaburamaru who was on the floor. Seemed like a enjoyable moment between the two and Giyu felt like he was imposing.

Iguro didn't even look up at him when the door opened. That was something Giyus been noticing. In the rare occasion that the Serpent Hashira went out of the room, he'd never directly look at the other.

Giyu decided he didn't like that after the first time it happened.

"I heard back from Shinobu." He broke the silence.

This got Iguro to twist his head to his direction, so fast that Giyu was sure it hurt.

"What did she recommend?"

"To put it simply, she said to rest and wait til the wound heals which was part of our plan already."

It was, they had talked about Iguro staying that one moment in near the training grounds.

He heard a dejected sigh come from the other which was somewhat expected. The others mismatched eyes moved to where Kaburamaru was again.

Giyu didn't like it when Iguro avoided his gaze or just avoided him in general. He knew they weren't friends yet but he didn't quite understand how distancing himself from his only source of help would be a smart choice.

So, he decided to ask.

"Why have you been keeping your distance from me?"

The other's hand, which was mid-air on it's way to pet Kaburamaru, flinched.

Iguro said nothing for a few moments before finally piping up, assuming that Giyu wouldn't give up on this.

"Why do you care?"

Deflecting the question. Hm.

"I care because you're in my estate under my watch."

Silence once again.

Giyu was getting ever so slightly tempered off but not once did it show in his voice. It being stone cold like it always

The Water Hashira was starting to doubt Iguro would even say anything before his voice spoke.

"I..." He trailed off.

Giyu was reminded again by the moment near the training grounds. The way the Serpent Hashira voice sounded..it sounded exactly like that time before he staggered off.

"I think I may have misjudged you."

The tone was cold and harsh, like it hurt Iguro to physically say it. It was quiet too. If any other noise was happening, Giyu wouldn't have heard the sentence.

Misjudged? What did he mean by that.

"What do you mean?" Giyu asked.

Iguro gave him a look that could kill. But it softened for a millisecond when they made eye contact but he cut it off by looking at Kaburamaru once again.

"I mean just that. I think I may have misjudged you. If you can't understand what that means then that's not my issue."

Ah. Does that entail his hatred towards Giyu was miscalculated? Or that Iguro actually didn't hate him? Or that-

The Water Hashira reeled himself in before his head could make anymore questions.

With the information he just got, he decided to ask a risky inquiry.

"Do you not hate me like you imply?"

The other frozen in real time. His hands clenching into fists. Giyu could tell this was taking all of Iguros mental strength not to back out. Not to run.

"Tch- imply? I'd say I made it pretty clear that I hated you."

Hated? Hat-ed? Past tense?

His heart was pounding. It wasn't like the way his heart pounded in battle. This pounding was uneven, untamed and erattic. It felt wrong.

Before Giyu could ask another question, Iguro cut him off.

"Now, don't go thinking we can be friends. I only meant that I believe you aren't the arrogant person I thought you were. Not that my resentment is gone."

Giyu understands now. A light feeling in his stomach starts fluttering in time with his heart and it makes him feel sick.

"I see. In that case, I hope to change your mind about your distaste in me."

What. Why had he said that. His mouth moved before his brain and Iguro looked as confused as Giyu himself felt.

"Tomiok-"

"Giyu."

It happened again. His mouth starting spewing before his mind could tell it to stop. He had just corrected Iguro on calling him by his last name. How can this get worse.

"Call me Giyu."

...great.

Iguro looked conflicted. Extremely so actually. Like he wasn't believing what Tomioka was saying and honestly Giyu didn't either.

A bout of silence fell upon them.

Two eyes were on him, scanning his face for anything. Any emotion.

They landed on his own pair of blue once they found the same blank face as always.

"...Obanai."

Giyu let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. Not good for a slayer.

They had just exchanged first names. He had never gone to this basis with one of his colleagues.

Not other than...

One side of his haori felt a lot heavier than the other.

They simply looked at each other, no word exchanged. Not that any had to be anyway. But the Water Hashira had work to do.

"I'll be preparing dinner soon. Come out when you'd like."

And with that, Giyu left.

He ignored the fact that his heart did not stop fluttering until after he had closed the door and walked away.

Chapter Text

Obanai had a problem. A big one from his point of view.

He had been at Giyu's- it still felt weird to say his first name- estate for a while now. His wound had closed up quite nicely, only hurting when he exerted himself too much.

But that wasn't the issue. Feelings were. Whenever he and Giyu had any interaction, his heart would flutter and his stomach would twist.

It was vile.

At first, Iguro had thought the feelings were just caused by him being wrong about the man. But when time passed, so should've those feelings. They didn't.

It slowly led him down a rabbit hole to a horrible realisation.

He, Iguro Obanai, was in love with Giyu Tomioka.

Okay- Love felt too strong of a word to describe what Iguro had for the water hashira. Maybe it was admiration? Or simply attraction? Either way it was not acceptable. Not to him.

Obanai swore his heart was purely for Misuri and for her only but it appeared not. It was undeniably difficult and horribly pitiful.

So what did Obanai do? Obviously stuff down his feelings until they eventually died out. Which then leads into the situation he was now in.

Both the Hashiras were in the training grounds, they decided it'd be good for Iguro to start moving again. Giyu was very persistent on making sure Obanai told him if anything hurt at any movement before they started.

Iguro hated how it made his chest warm and his legs ever so weak at his concern.

Giyu stood on the other side of the area, holding a wooden training sword. The Serpent Hashira had a similar one in his hands as well.

The other was clearly waiting for a signal to start, waiting for the shorter to be ready before they started sparring.

A nod was made and they sprung into action. Giyu started off strong and made a very easy-to-dodge move straight to Obanai. He quickly dashed to the side and in turn moved his sword to aim just short of the neck.

That was the goal to any spar, if you get the others neck then you win.

Giyu however moved with the grace of a river and slipped away from the stick. He then tried to strike again, from the side this time rather than straight down. Though as he was making his move, his eyes widened in remembrance and quickly switched his aim from the torso to the legs.

Obanai jumped and avoided the sweep.

He attempted to make another attack, twisting his middle body to get the proper angle and--

He staggered. Hot flashes of pain racked his body and Iguro fell to his knees. Fuck. He did too much.

In a blink, Giyu was already by his side, asking what had happened.

"What do you need? Are you alright?" Now, usually Obanai would involuntarily swoon over the worried tone but all that plagued his mind was the horrid ache in his abdomen.

"G-give me a moment.." He forced out a response. This had happened once or twice before but it never got easier. Incidents like this just grew his distaste.

How was he meant to be a Hashira when he can't even train for more than a minute.

Giyu did as he said and simply waited beside him. Movement stiff and face blank as ever. Obanai had come to grow accustomed to that face and whenever unwanted thoughts about how handsome it was appeared, he'd stomp them down in an instant. It was always inconvenient.

A minute or two passed and the pain eventually subsided. Not completely gone but much lower than what it was previously.

"Don't push yourself." Giyu spoke. It lacked any obvious emotion but Obanai had been with him long enough to know how that he was apologetic.

"Let's go inside and have a break." Tomioka continued. It was hard to gauge was he was thinking but Iguro couldn't care at the moment. The sound of a break was appealing even to him. However, a nagging voice still reminded him that he had done nothing to earn one.

"No. I said give me a moment." He relented. Even if Giyu decided to go inside, Obanai would still train. He had to.

Giyus face turned sour. A rare expression on the man that only came out when something truly detested him.

"We are going to rest." He spoke just a bit louder, asserting himself. He knew Iguro wasn't going to stop pushing himself until he did more bad than good.

"You can rest. I will keep training-" Before Iguro could even fully finish the syllable he was on. He was hosted up by two strong arms, carrying him like he weighted nothing. Did he just?

"For the final time, we are resting."

Oh my god.

Iguros face erupted red and was extremely glad his bandages had covered his cheeks. Giyu felt insanely warm against him and it was insanely unfair. This was a worse case scenario in Iguros mind.

Stuff it down. Stuff it down. Stuff it down. He already has a love and this is Tomioka Giyu he's talking about. It will never work nor does he want it to.

He was so caught up in trying not to feel the fuzziness of his own head that he didn't even realise they were suddenly inside. Although being inside, Giyu didn't put him down and kept carrying him until they had reached the guest bedroom door.

Only then did he slowly put Iguro down from the bridal way he was holding the other. Quickly checking the other was stable on his feet, Giyu opened the door for him and waited. Obanai swore at times like these, Giyu was doing this on purpose.

Anything that could be considered kind or somewhat attractive, his brain latched onto and made his infatuation ten times bigger. He needed to kill this emotion towards Tomioka. As soon as possible.

Back down to Earth, he stepped into the room and spotted Kaburamaru snoozing next to his futon. He swiftly made his way to the snake and gently pet him. He didn't even notice that Giyu had not only stayed but had walked inside with him and closed the door.

"Okay, lay down."

...what.

Obanai whipped around to glare at the other who was still standing at the door. When he thought Giyu was doing these things on purpose, he hadn't truly meant it- maybe he was wrong. But that sentence was out of the blue and crudely said.

Giyu took in his glare and tilted his head in confusion.

"Do you not want me to check on your wound?" Giyu asked, his puzzlement clear in his voice.

Well now Iguro felt like an idiot, a bashful one at that. Of course Tomioka was talking about his wound, what else would he be talking about?...

The thoughts his mind created next do not need to be spoken of nor did they last more than a couple of seconds.

"Right. Check what you want." Obanai took off his Haori and laid down on his futon and Giyu made his way over.

The next steps that followed weren't monumental. Giyu simply buttoned his shirt- to which Iguro had to have an inner fight with his own body-, undid his bandages and observed.

The wound wasn't bad at all however the scab that was over it had split in a spot, most likely where his pain was emitting from. It wasn't dire and he didn't need anything else other than new wrappings. Giyu mentally noted this and rebuttoned his shirt with speed.

Giyu looked solum for a moment before speaking.

"You're healing well. It won't be long until you can leave." His voice felt distant. Extremely so. It caused an ugly feeling in the Serpent Hashiras chest but it had to be said. Truth be told, he didn't even know why he had stayed so long anyway. Obanai's sure that if he left for his own estate now, he would make it with little complications. So why hasn't he left yet?

It was silent for a moment. Both men thinking in their own heads. Iguro looked up at the other and in that split second made an absolutely horrible decision.

"Giyu." He spoke and his tongue felt heavy as he did it but he couldn't stop now. His head was subconsciously set on saying this particular sentence.

"I don't want.." No. Stop talking!

"I don't want to leave."

...

Are you kidding. No way he had just said that.

Iguro felt his face go hot and his brows furrow. Anger suddenly flooded him. Not pointed towards Giyu, of course not, but rather pointed to himself. This whole thing was utterly abysmal. The wound, the feelings, the blabbering. It was all so horrible.

If you told Iguro from the past that he was currently beating himself up for saying something extremely vunerable- stupid infront of his unwanted crush who was Giyu...He would've given a grimace and yelled about how psychotic you were. This entire fiasco messed him up and started making him not like himself at all.

Why hasn't Giyu said anything yet? Obanai's been wallowing in his own baffled thoughts for at least a couple minutes now and it took another couple more until Tomioka actually spoke.

"Why."

It wasn't spoken like a question, more as a statement that was doubted and Iguro wanted to crumble into the floor right then and there. He obviously couldn't tell him why so he went with the easiest option to get him out of this mess: A half-truth.

"I don't know." He knew why he subconsciously wanted to stay but he didn't know why these emotions were getting to him. It was the best answer to the question he could give.

Giyu's face wasn't blank anymore like it normally is. It was scrunched in what could be disbelief and Obanai sure he had a similar expression on his own face. Despite his face being scrunched, it didn't look negative, just looked baffled.

Obanai didn't blame him. It was pure silent in the room and it felt unbearable. It was too much pressure in a singular room and if Giyu didn't do something soon, Iguro feared he would run out of the room out of pure instinct.

"I see." He quite literally flinched at the others voice. Giyus eyes now trained onto Obanais. His face didn't look shocked anymore but rather contemplative. Iguro hated to admit it but he could get lost in those ocean blues easily. He was actually about to until the Water Hashira spoke again.

"Obanai." His voice was hushed and quiet. Even if Giyu spoke that way most of the time, this time it felt wrong. It was too quiet.

"May I tell you something?"

Chapter Text

His stomach felt weak and his heart could be seconds away from stopping completely. Obanai looked at him expectingly and it settled a horrific dread upon him. He already started now he can't stop. Giyu is sure if he let down his facade then his own face would be something close to horrified.

His throat felt impossibly dry as he forced out his next words.

"I...would not mind you staying." Wow. Great going Giyu.

He mentally face-palmed. That was no where near of what he truly wanted to say.

Giyu wanted to explain in detail how Obanai makes him feel...he makes him feel like a companion, like he can branch out and become friends with others, how he can surpass his loneliness. How he feels worthy. Even with heatful glares and sharp words being pointed at him almost all the time, Giyu can't help but feel connected to the other. He's sure the other feels the same, how could he not?

Obanai is the only person to correct himself on perceiving Tomioka as an arrogant asshole in front of him. The number of people who would do that is close to zero.

However, Giyu reads people better than books and it's clear as day that Obanai is fighting something deep within- whatever it may be. It may be selfish but the Water Hashira wishes he would get over it.

Back to the mistake at hand, Iguro looks absolutely appalled. But despite his very clear horror, it doesn't seem entirely directed at the other. In fact, he's not even looking at Giyu, just the flooring in front of him.

But the grimace didn't deter him. Giyu had more to say, so say he will.

"In fact, I enjoy your company quite a lot." Still not all he wanted to say but it'll do for now.

This made the other shoot his gaze from the floor straight into his eyes. Yellow and turquoise looking far to captivating for this moment.

"You...enjoy my company? The aggressiveness...? The rudeness? The glares?" Obanai sounded completely shell-shocked and he announced his words with flailing his hands in a circular motion. He didn't stop there.

"The harshness? The stubbornness? The-" A hand gently cupped his mouth through the bandages, shutting him up effectively. His rambling didn't seem to affect Giyu however as his voice was smooth as honey when he spoke.

"Yes. I do."

Obanai almost melted there. His voice held something deep in it, something far too serious. The sentence itself felt like it had been waiting to be said and it sounded absolutely heavenly.

The hand retracted after a second too long.

"Why- how?"

"Because though you've given me a million insults, you've also given me a chance." Heavens above, Giyu looked ethereal. His eyes were filled with gratitude and his lips were ever so slightly perked up in a smile. His eyebrows were knitted together but not in anger or anything negative for that matter. This entire ordeal was unfair.

"You told me yourself that you thought wrong of me. No one has done that to me..." Giyu kept talking, taking a break with a deep breath to say his last part.

"You may deny it but I believe we both want to stay with the other." He was dead on and Obanai hated it. Though was it truly hate? He started to fidget with his fingers. How the hell was Giyu so good at knowing what he was thinking?

Obanai didn't know what to say, it was clear that Giyu was waiting for a response. Should he agree or should he deny like he predicted?

"I...do want to stay with you but I can't." Obanai is sure that didn't make any sense but it doesn't matter to him as long as it gets the point across. It's the best he can word it. Actually no it isn't. He can word it much better than that. He had to.

For some unknown reason, anger suddenly started blooming in Obanai's chest. It was strong and overpowering, clearing his head of any rational thoughts. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

"I...can't" Obanais words were strained, like it physically hurt him to speak. Giyu furrowed his brow at such a sudden change in the other, this wasn't good what so ever.

Iguro stood abruptly and rose his voice.

"I can't!" He was shaking now, whether it be from fear or from anger he didn't know. His eyes were locked onto Giyu's and the Water Hashira saw something break behind those mis-matched colours.

"Y-you don't understand Giyu! I'm cursed- tainted. My blood is the same as those who have harmed. The same as people who are just as sinful as demons." Obanai was pacing around while spewing his thoughts out. Clearly not thinking at all and voice held a certain pain in it that Giyu awfully too well. Unworthiness.

Hands were tangled in his own choppy black hair and Giyu was worried he'd start pulling. However, he didn't stand nor try to intervene. He felt like if he did then this situation would escalate.

"Not only that but I'm already conflicted with another! I can't love Mitsuri and I don't deserve her or..." 'or you' was left unsaid but it didn't need to spoken aloud. Obanai's face was twisted with rage.

"Look! Just you look! Look at what they did to me." Then you'll understand.

Obanai starting clawing at his face, rushing to be rid of the bandages he'd always wear. He was livid and fear kept shooting down to his hands that were sloppily trying to undo his tight bindings. He had to show Giyu, to scare him away so Obanai didn't have to face his unwanted feelings. If Giyu left first then he didn't have to leave on his own accord.

Finally, his mask fell. It wasn't off entirely but his scar was clear on display and that's all that mattered.

His whipped his head around to face the other and a hitched breath could be heard in the suffocating silence.

He suddenly got close to Giyu, bending down to be face-to-face, noses just inches apart.

"Do you see now." Venom and hatred laced his every word. A cover for the terror that was racking his entire being. He saw Giyu's eyes not looking at his but rather his scar. They started from his lips, slowly looking up to where his scar stopped- just in front of his ears.

No sound was heard other than ragged breathing and it was nauseating.

Calm blue eyes lifted themselves to make eye contact.

"I do." Voice was as cold as always and Obanai almost fell to his knees. "and all I see is you."

...

Obanai froze and his eyes widened. He felt his lips part in shock and his brows furrow in disbelief. His trembling hands started to shake even more now and tears could be felt building up at his water line.

"What."

"I see you, Obanai."

This time he did fall to his knees. His throat was dry and his eyes felt too watery. Obanai couldn't believe it. A couple of simple words crumbled his exterior in an instant. How could Giyu just accept him like that? This is not how it was supposed to go.

In his frozen state, he didn't even register a hand coming to his cheek until it touched him. Giyu held the side of his face with a tenderness that no simple companions should have. And that's when it clicked.

Giyu was in the same state as Obanai.

Oh how pitiful this was. As much as Iguro wanted to lean into the hand, he couldn't. He couldn't taint Giyu as well. He had to leave before they both faced the repercussions.

As if Giyu could read thoughts, he spoke.

"You don't need to worry. I don't know the full story but you are nothing alike to those people," The tears finally spilled from Obanais eyes. "you being in the Demon Slayer Corps already detests that."

Giyu was right. Obanai had never thought of it like that. He perceived himself in the Corps as a way to make up for being tainted, not the fact that he wasn't.

A thumb wiped away the stray tear that had rolled down Obanais cheek. It brought him back to the present, all his anger disappearing in a second. Giyu hand retracted from his face and Obanai took this chance to furiously wipe at his face. He hated how he was crying like a child.

Giyu was looking at him with such love and it felt foreign. This whole interaction had a new meaning to it now that Obanai knew that Giyu was like him and he wasn't sure what to do next.

Giyu shuffled a little closer to the other, still in his sitting position but now their knees were touching.

So much had just happened in such little time, it was all so confusing to process. Giyu started fiddling with the edges of his haori while he waited for Obanai to say something. Anything.

A couple minutes of silence passed that could be taken as both comfortable and uncomfortable though neither one of them moved.

"Well what now.." Obanai was cautious with his words, he wasn't sure if he should even speak. Giyu hummed in consideration.

"Maybe.." Giyu placed his hands on top of Obanais. "you could stay...with me."

That option sounded heavenly right now. Obanai would do anything to just stay with Giyu. So, he mustered up everything he had. He pushed away his fear, his resistance and his doubt.

"I...think I will." Obanai had finally said it. All the affection he'd been stuffing down had come back tenfold. The moment those four words left his mouth, it had felt as through the weight on his shoulders suddenly lifted.

Giyus smile turned into a bright grin which could've sent Obanai into an early grave with how hard his heart was beating.

"I'm glad." There was no lie in his words, Giyu felt glad for the first time in a long while and it was all caused by man he thought would never like him.

Obanai on the other hand looked as if he had just found a solution to every problem he'd ever had. Was it really that easy to say yes?

Giyu took him out of his thoughts when both of his hands landed on each side of Obanais face.

"May I?"

Obanai knew what he was asking permission for and he would be out of his mind to say no. He smiled.

"You may."

And with that, both of their lips connected softly. It wasn't anything hungry or harsh but a soft embrace. It held far too much emotion for a singular action to have as it lit fireworks in both of their chests.

Obanai held both of Giyus wrists gently which was as close as he could get to holding the others hands. He felt Giyu smile against him at the action and it let off butterflies in his stomach.

After a moment or two, they parted. Looking each other dearly in the eyes.

This was perfect.