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As Hashiras they were more often than not sent on solo missions, usually no demon was a direct threat for them. So when Sorai delivered to him the news that not only was he to take a mission along another Hashira but that said player was none other than Tomioka Giyuu.
Hadn't it been for Sorai's quick reflexes he would no longer have a kasugai crow. The vase hadn't been as lucky.
It was outrageous, there was no way, he would simply show up finish the job on his own and leave. All of that before Tomioka even had the chance to show up.
He got ready as fast as humanely possible and left for the village they were summoned at with only his sword and the desire to kill every demon in existence.
Maybe he wasn't as fast as Tengen but he made it there before sundown either way. Thankfully there were no signs of Tomioka yet, he had at least two more hours before he could actually start looking for the demon so as any normal person would he decided to take a small nap under one of the trees in the outskirts of the village.
He closed his eyes and allowed the peaceful aura of the village to wash away any other feeling and in no time he was already dozing off.
And as always his sleep was dreamless, he couldn't remember the last time he had a dream, not really but he was sure he had dreamt when he was still a child, another thing that had been lost to demons.
As day turned into night the air got chillier and with that sleeping outside got uncomfortable. He opened his eyes and the moon was just starting to rise.
Officially he could start the mission. The forest surrounding the village seemed like the best place for a demon to hide so he would investigate it first and then hope for the best.
He had been a bit too hopeful because when he turned his head to the right he spotted just what he was hoping to avoid Tomioka’s ugly haori.
"How long have you been there%” His tone was as accusatory as he could make it and still Tomioka looked as stoic as always.
"An hour" The water Hashira always had a way to make his words as neutral and toneless as they could possibly be. He would usually describe it as creepy but with the way Tomioka's eyes shined under the moonlight he just couldn't do so right now.
“Did you just spend an hour watching me sleep?” Because that would be certainly concerning.
"No, I arrived half an hour ago and here" He gave him a small bowl with rice.
"You stole the plate?"
"No, the lady from the food stall said that you looked like you needed the food" Now he was mad he was a hashira not a street rat, still he ate it because he wanted to not because he needed to and much less because Tomioka had given it to him.
While he ate Tomioka just kept his eyes closed and that gave Sanemi the perfect opportunity to stare without being seen. Whenever they were all together it was always for meetings or just in passing so he never had the time to really look at them. So he would use this time to do just that.
Tomioka's face was always impassive, and most of his features were sharp but surprisingly harmonic, but his eyes were so inexpressive and of such a rich blue that one could get lost in after just a few moments and he started wondering if maybe there was a time when he didn't look half dead most of the time.
Maybe in another life he wouldn't be like this, then Sanemi wouldn't really have a reason to hate him. He should forget that thought though they had a job to do and a dangerous one at that.
He finished eating and left the plate on the ground then he stood up and started stretching his muscles. They had to prepare for a fight after all. Tomioka followed suit and soon they started walking towards the forest, they were both silent and for now that was alright, they needed to be stealthy.
After an entire hour of walking Sanemi was starting to get impatient, they hadn't found anything until they arrived at the biggest tree in the forest and there was something sinister there he could feel it. Tomioka grabbed his arm and stopped him dead in his tracks from continuing to walk towards the tree.
“Don’t”
What?
He turned towards Tomioka ready to punch him square in the face for grabbing him like that only to find him staring straight ahead.
“What now?”
“We attack" One second Tomioka was still holding his hand and the next one the tree was already falling and the demon was already trying to get away.
His body finally caught up to his mind, he started running after the demon and Tomicka who was already fighting it again. He got close enough to hit it several times before it managed to push him away. And just then Tomioka went flying so now it was up to him to keep the demon at bay until the other hashira returned.
Everything was going well until Tomioka came back and they were both attacking at the same time and the idiot got his leg with one of his attacks. Thankfully his blood distracted the demon enough for Sanemi, to behead it,
And just as quickly as the fight had started it had finished.
He tried to just leave because if not he would actually kill Tomioka, it was so dumb he was a Hashira for goodness sake he shouldn't be making such mistakes.
Just as he turned around he came face to face with the largest tree trunk he had ever seen except it was cut right in the middle and he was there, in between the two pieces.
The bastard had saved him at the cost of a cut on his leg.
Sanemi grumbled his thanks and started speed walking towards the village so he could just forget about whatever had happened.
However, his leg was not cooperating at all.
"Do you need help?"
"NO" And the bastard just left.
Fine he had been alright on his own with worse injuries this was nothing.
It hurt more than it had any right to also it had taken way too long but in the end he was back in the village.
Now he only had to get back to his estate.
Great.
Just great.
"Are you going to accept my help now?"
He walked towards Tomioka while grumbling.
"Fine"
He expected Tomioka to help him walk, not to swoop him from the ground in a bridal style carry. But what surprised him more was that it hadn't made him mad.
It had stirred some feelings but anger wasn't among them
“I'm sorry"
“At least you have the decency to be embarrassed”