Chapter Text
Peace was never a thing, not when you work in the demon slayer corps. Now frustration, that exists, along with mourning and maybe even guilt. Everyone had experienced these emotions at least once. But love? Love was out-of-the-question when fighting demons for a living. Hell, I'd even say that they’re selling away their lives. After all, in this world, affection and attachment was for the weak, and it will always be. In order to acquire strength, you must be devoid from what makes you weak.
But one cannot control the way their blood flows, no matter how hard they try.
The sound of metal clanking and swords screeching in the distance was audible even from the water estate, a familiar sound that the water pillar– Giyuu Tomioka– was accustomed to.
Upon waking up, the sun barely peeked through his closed curtains, yet the light still landed on his eyes. He stayed laid on his futon, staring at the ceiling for a good moment before he got up, his bare feet landing on the cold, wooden floor as he made his way to get changed. Buttoning up his uniform and slipping on his haori which was split into two designs down the center, one side a simple crimson red and the other a unique arrangement of green, orange, and yellow rhombi shapes– both fabrics remnants of those special to him. He grabbed the hair tie he always kept beside his bed and tied up his long, black hair. Sometimes, it’d shine with distinct navy-blue highlights, but Giyuu didn't pay much attention, and honestly– he didn't care. The only reason he was growing his hair was to look like him– like Sabito, the one who really deserved the title of Water Hashira. And also partly because he didn't have the energy to cut it.
Soon enough, with his sword sheathed at his belt, Giyuu made his way to the meeting grounds where all the other Hashira were gathered as well. Rocks crunched beneath his feet as he stared into the distance, the same sight that he was comfortably familiar with. Wisteria surrounds them, acting as a sort of barrier– protecting them and Master Kagayama from the sight of demons. The atmosphere seemed to adapt to the purple flower, the sky almost had a purple hue to it. Bonsai trees were planted on each side of the platform where Master was supposed to appear soon.
Giyuu stood silently in his spot, waiting for Master Ubuyashiki to start the meeting. But of course, his nice, silent, and calm morning was instantly ruined the moment Sanemi Shinazugawa, the wind pillar, opened his mouth.
“Hey Tomioka, anyone ever told you how ugly your haori is?” he snickered, Obanai’s shoulders shaking slightly as he stifled a laugh, watching the interaction from on his tree. The Serpent Hashira, more of Sanemi’s best friend– and Mitsuri’s number-one fan.
Giyuu let out a soft sigh that wasn't exaggerated enough for the others to hear it, but just enough to express his annoyance to himself. His hand, still resting on the hilt of his sword, tightened slightly. He wasn't fond of talking to anyone so early in the morning.
“I never asked you to appreciate it, Shinazugawa,” he murmured back, not meeting the wind pillar’s burning gaze which turned more fiery.
“Huh?!” Sanemi’s violet eyes seemed to turn a deeper shade as he moved closer, rocks crunching beneath his sandals as he stood right in front of Giyuu.
“Don’t fuck with me, Tomioka,” he snarled, leaning closer to grip Giyuu’s collar. The latter paused for a moment, his calm gaze finally meeting Sanemi’s incensed one. His fist clenched in the water pillar’s uniform tightened when no response was heard,
“You got something to say or you gonna stay mute?” Sanemi’s breath was hot on Giyuu’s face, it made him feel tingly. Maybe Sanemi really had fiery-breath, like a dragon, or a lizard, perhaps.
“I never really ‘fuck with you’, Shinazugawa, you just rile yourself up.” He finally responded, his voice calm and placid, that same attitude Sanemi hated. It made him want to strangle the man, or maybe–
“Thats enough, Master will be here any moment.” Gyomei interrupted Sanemi’s train of thought, his prayer beads gently clinking together. He grunted under his breath, giving Giyuu one last warning-glance before roughly letting go and walking back to his spot. Giyuu’s gaze lingered on the white-haired slayer for a moment before Ubuyashiki started the meeting, everyone kneeled down in unison, greeting their Master.
—
The meeting wasn't really about anything important. To be honest, Giyuu zoned out halfway through it and couldn't remember anything that had happened. It was mostly just a check-in, he guessed. Once he arrived at the gate of his estate, he noticed that a piece of paper was peeking out from the box that was set against the wall, a mailbox. He stopped right at the gates, pulling the messily folded letter out and taking it inside with him.
In his room, Giyuu unfolded the letter carefully, the handwriting was messy, almost as if written in a rush, slightly smudged towards the end. To summarize it, Tanjiro was sent on a mission suddenly, and he couldn't bring Nezuko, that demon sister of his, with him. So, he sent Giyuu a letter in hopes that the pillar would check in on her.
Giyuu let out a hearty sigh, he had a hell of an argument with Sanemi this morning, and he wasn't ready to do anything but stay in his room. But he owed Tanjiro, and he couldn't really deny the kids' offer. As much as he hated to fulfill favors, Tanjiro was a good kid, he barely asks for help, and when he does, it's the bare minimum. So, after staring at the letter and considering to ignore it, Giyuu got up, adjusted his haori, and headed out the gates.
~
At the butterfly mansion, it smelled familiar– like fresh laundry, and something herbal. The atmosphere was comfy, homey, and a little uncomfortable to Giyuu. He wasn't used to feeling like he belonged somewhere. He shook the thought out of his head and focused on the task at hand– Nezuko. He needed to check-in on the Kamado sister. Just as Giyuu was about to go and find Aoi– one of the butterfly girls– who was probably folding laundry right now, he was gonna get directions from her. But not today, since he had to get double annoyed.
“Poke-poke~ tomioka-san~ are you here to see me? How sweet,”
That voice, that irritating, gut-wrenching, acid enhancing voice. He hated it. It made his arteries want to burst. With a soft breath, he turned around, feeling Kocho Shinobu, the Insect Hashira, poking his shoulder. He hated her with every bone in his body, and he was almost 100% sure that she reciprocated it, it was obvious, with the way a vein bulged in her forehead every time she talked to him.
“Im here to see Kamado’s sister,” he stated flatly, pushing her hand off his shoulder.
Shinbou’s brow furrowed a bit in disappointment, but reluctantly, she pulled her hand back, leaning closer, “so you aren't here for me? What a pity, and here I thought you were opening up to socializing,” she teased, her smile barely reaching her eyes as always.
Giyuu sighed softly, looking away dismissively, “if you’ll excuse me, I have to fulfill a favor.” His voice was the same– that same authentic cold and detached Giyuu. But something about that made Shinbou want to tease him more. To see him crack, even if it was just a slight narrow of his deep, blue eyes.
“Come on, Tomioka-san, don't be so rude,” she said, her hand landing on top of Giyuu’s to stop him from opening the door to the resting rooms, “you are on my property, after all.” She whispered, her voice lowering just enough, something only meant to reach Giyuu’s ears. He paused for a moment, gaze lingering on their hands which were touching, the warmth was fiery, and the tension was crushing. For a moment, he was unsure of what Shinobu’s motive was here, and he was frozen. His chest rising and falling slightly with each breath. Finally, he pulled his hand away from Shinbou and the door handle as if he had been burned.
“What is it you want, Kocho?” he asked, his tone more dismissive, something deeper hidden behind it.
“I want you to smile more often,” She said, her own lips twitched up, but her eyes told Giyuu that she was upset at him for pulling away and acting dismissive.
Giyuu didn't respond, instead, he pressed his lips into a thin line, glancing back at the handle,
“A few hours of silence is all I ask,” he murmured before ignoring Shinobu’s persistent teasing, grabbing the handle, and entering the room. Upon seeing Giyuu ignore her, Shinbou decided to give up for today.
Giyuu stared at the small form underneath a blanket for a moment, in the dark room, nothing was visible except for Nezuko’s dark hair and her pink kimono. He let out a soft breath, closing the door behind him and pausing awkwardly. He found a spot to sit, a table. On the floor, he watched over Nezuko’s peaceful sleeping, he really envied her for being able to sleep so long. Taking out a scroll and a feather pen, he started writing back to Kamado with a faint pang in his heart, he wasn't sure what it was from. Maybe Sanemi’s harsh words. Maybe Shinobu’s lingering irritation. But he shook it off, ignoring it for now, and continued writing back to Tanjiro.