Chapter Text
Tomioka Giyuu sat still. He was in the Butterfly Mansion.
His whole body was tense. The place smelled horribly of anesthetic.
He despised visiting. Kocho was not the problem, it was the disgusting, putrid smell. He hated it.
Right on time, she walked into the room, butterfly haori flowing behind her.
A size too big. Kanae was taller-
"Tomioka-san?"
He looked up. "Yes?"
"All done. I came with some more ointment and bandages. I trust that you'll use them properly?"
He gave her a nod.
Kocho smiled, it not quite reaching her eyes. "Please do make time to visit, Tomioka-san. Although we are hashira, we are not superhuman. Getting injured is nothing to be ashamed of."
I'm not.
"Mm." Was what he replied with.
The anesthetic was starting to seep into the room, it's stench wrapped around his body like a demon's claws. He tried not to flinch. No way would he let Kocho know about that.
However, outside wasn't much better. It was snowing, hard. But he would rather be out there, where time felt endless. Inside he was counting every second.
Putting on his shoes he took a step outside, the frozen wind blasting in his face. Quickly shoving his hands into his uniform pockets, he narrowed his eyes, looking forward. Kocho had offered to let him stay but there was already a load of patients in her mansion. How in the world did she sleep at night?
As he walked, memories started drifting through his mind. Snow, cold, and all of the hardships it had brought...
He finally made it to his estate after around fifteen minutes. The door rattled on its frame when he opened it, quickly lighting a fire in the other room.
The cycle repeated. He would do missions, sleep, eat, and once every three weeks, no more, no less, he would drop by the Butterfly Mansion to get a few bandages. He had actually started wrapping them around his hands when he was at home. Gloves were sold in the village, and that meant going to the village.
He had only gone before he was a "Hashira." Or before he had been forced into the status. Kagaya-sama was kind, but that had been too much.
You're a placeholder, Giyuu.
Indeed, he was.
But one day, as he visited the Mansion with dread in the air and (quite ironically) butterflies in his stomach. It felt like his chest was being squeezed. His heart- His heart-
That was the second time Tomioka Giyuu had a heart attack. And the worst.
ELEVEN YEARS AGO - (Age 8)
It was the summer, and Giyuu was feeling happy. Junpei was visiting Neesan again. The thought of them getting married did make him feel nervous, but Neesan said it was a good thing and Junpei was nice.
Junpei's mom had asked for their parent's blessing but it was kinda weird she didn't know. Mother and Father had passed away when Giyuu was...
He counted on his fingers.
Six, in January.
Junpei's mother didn't know because Junpei had been staying with his Grandparents and his parents had just come to town a few months ago.
Giyuu scrunched up his face.
Meanwhile, in the future, Giyuu could form no words. He was lying on the pathway of the Butterfly Mansion, a scene straight out of his past. Covered in snow, an arm outstretched.
It had only been a minute, and his brain was already replaying his best memories.