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“Himejima-san? Himejima-san, where are you?”
It was already seven o’clock in the morning and Genya knew Himejima-san was always awake by five o’clock sharp. But here Genya was, politely knocking on her master’s door waiting for a response. But to no avail, the only noises Genya received were the scratches of various different cats.
Genya huffed and decided to open the shoji. “Himejima-san, I’m coming in,” she says, heart racing. Genya always respected her master and his property despite her also living with him, so going into his own private room felt invasive on her part, like she was stepping on sacred ground.
Genya slowly slid the door open, and as sudden as she opened it, three, four, five cats ran out, mewling loudly and rapidly. Genya decided to wait until all of the cats piled out before she stepped in, glancing around.
Her master’s room is very tidy. His futon layed against a wall, crisp and cleaned with not a wrinkle in sight. His desk and drawers were properly closed, the only things in sight on them were various buddhist statues, candles and beads.
Finally, the cat corner. There were a few beds and many blankets. With a water bowl insight too. But not a drop of water was spilled onto the tatami mats.
Genya slowly walked back out of the room, concluding that Himejima-san was at the temple and did not want to disrupt Genya.
Genya noticed the cats grazing at their food bowls, which were full. ‘Master fed the cats already it seems…’
Genya let out a sigh and decided to make some breakfast for herself. Genya enjoyed cooking for both her and Himejima-san-more or so her master- so trying to figure out the proper proportions for only her was a bit tricky. In the end though, she decided to make enough for both her and her the Hashira, in case he came back soon. Himejima-san was a large and powerful man, so he had a large appetite. And while Genya was tall and well-built for a woman, she never had an appetite. From the starvation as a child or from her diet of demon, she didn’t know.
But habits were habits and she was in the mood to cook before she went to train.
Genya poured in lukewarm water over the stovetop to boil and went over to the counter to cut up a few chunks of tofu and wakame. When the water was boiled she took the steaming pot and poured a fourth of the bubbling water in a smaller sized bowl and the rest in another, larger bowl. She then took chunks of chopped tofu and wakame and slid those into the bowls as well, mixing the concoction. Lastly, she sprinkled in the miso, coughing at the slightly pungent scent, and stirred the mixture. Once both bowls were ready, she took a cloth and laid in on top of the larger bowl and wrote a note for Himejima-san. She gently carried the bowl through the room, trying to avoid any cats in the process.
But one of the cats seemed to have had another plan. Nomi, a calico cat with large green eyes, butted her heads against Genya, startling her and almost knocking the bowls over. “Nomi! Get out the way, dumb cat!” Genya snapped, Nomi only peeking up at her with her big green eyes.
Genya scoffed and ate her meal over the counter in silence. Well, as silent as it could be with a numerous amount of cats in the same room.
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
After Genya finished her breakfast and cleaned up, she got dressed for the day. She clasped the final button of her uniform and threw over her purple and black yukata. She smoothed out the wrinkles, brushed her hair, brushed her teeth, and grabbed her shotgun and nichirin wakizashi to tie them down on her thighs under her skirt.
Before she would leave, Genya decided to check up on the cats one last time. So she popped her head in the main room and noticed them all asleep, each one curled up silently. Two particular cats caught her eyes though: Sana and Gomako.
Sana and Gomako were brother and sister- and no matter where Genya saw them, she noticed that they were never separated from each other. Sana was a big fluffy white cat with black paws and Gomako was a small and smooth black cat with white paws. While they slept, Sana was curled around Gomako, as if to protect her from something or from someone. Genya always felt warmth fill her heart when she saw them together.
When Genya was ready, she locked up and walked out, automatically feeling a icy breeze against her nose despite the roof overhead of her.
It was early January. Which meant that it was always on the icier side of the season, powdery white snow would go on for miles for months on end. It was beautiful, but so so cold. Genya had always hated the cold ever since she was a child. With nine people crammed in one small shack of a home without any source of heat or money, body heat would have to had suffice to survive winter. But even then it was horrible.
If you were cold, you would be sick. And if you were sick, you were contaminated and were prone to get the other babies sick. And if being near homeless wasn’t bad enough, Genya was a sickly girl. She would get cold easier than her other siblings and was always more likely to get pneumonia. She would always keep her distance when she was sick, worrying her mother and making her little siblings sad she couldn’t play.
Sanemi never seemed to mind though. He would always hold her even if she was all snotty and dribbly and whiny. Force feed her the medicine Genya always rejected (“the younger kids and mama need it more, Nemi!”). He would wrap her in his yukata and hold her tightly in his skinny arms for hours on end. Sanemi was always so warm and strong for someone as young as he…
Genya twitched her nose, already feeling a runny nose and a small sneeze come on as she began to take steps over the wooden floor. ‘Damn. Im barely even outside and Im going to get sick. 'Talk about luck.’
Genya continued walking for a few minutes until she reached the Butterfly Mansion’s entrance. She heard footsteps and whispering from inside as she got closer to it. She pressed her ear against the shoji. She heard a thud and small voices.
“SHHH! She’s coming!”A squeaky voice snapped. Genya reached out to the door and slid it open, but no one was there.
“Hello?” Genya called,voice echoing as she turned her head side to side a few times before stepping in with silent steps despite her shivering from the frosty air. “Is anyone here?” No one answered. ‘Strange. There’s always some sort of commotion from someone.’
Genya took off her shoes and continued walking around. It was really warm and Genya barely contained her thanks for any sort of god. Surely someone was around, they can’t just leave an entire hospital alone.
But even as she strided along the mansion the silence only grew louder. The place was spotless too, floor still shiny from a fresh polish of cleaning supplies. The caterpillar girls had to have been here just before Genya arrived.
‘The hospital wing!’ She thought. Genya began to walk faster, turning down the hallways at the possibility of someone being here (why was she so dependent on finding human contact? Genya didnt know either. She never liked people that much. (Kanao, Tanjirou, Himejima-san, Mitsuri-San, and Muichirou were exceptions.))
When she arrived at the hospital wing, she bursted in, accidentally slamming the shoji a bit too hard making her wince. She looked around the room, noticing the heavy scent of bleach and fresh linens. Each bed was neatly made and crisp, no signs of gunk or wrinkles. No one was here too.
“What the actual fuck?!” Genya exclaimed, astonished by the fact that there was not even one slayer moaning on the bed in pain. And as quickly as she busted in, Genya left. She checked the kitchens, gardens, training grounds, and even Kanao’s room, but not a singular soul. Genya sighed and began to exit the Butterfly Mansion, mulling over different possibilities and reasons on everyone’s disappearance.
Genya paused for a second, coming to a conclusion about everyone’s avoidance: ‘Are they avoiding me on purpose?’
Genya stood silent for a few seconds before glancing back at the shoji and noiselessly slide it close.
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
“Hashibami you son of a bitch!”
Genya was frustrated. No, frustrated wasn’t the right word. Genya was pissed.
Genya was never a social person. She was always shy, along with the fact that she had a major case of Resting Bitch Face, scaring off people more easily. But after the incident at the Swordsmith Village, other slayers grew to find her more tolerable, quite the opposite of the Wind Hashira.
Genya even gained the attention of the Mist Hashira with the effects of fighting two UpperMoon Demons, but even he was no where to be found.
But as said before, Genya was always shy. But there were times where she wanted to fill the lonely void in her heart, and after failing to find anyone at the mansions, main estate (how the actual hell was there no one there?! The master can barely move let alone blink and even he was nowhere to be found!) and training grounds, Genya decided to find an empty quarter in the forest to kick around a rock or two and slash her wakizashi against a tree.
As she arrived though, she noticed a crow perched upon a boulder. ‘Hashibami!’
“Hashibami? What are you doing here?” Genya asked as he flew and landed himself on Genya’s shoulder, nuzzling her neck. Genya scratched his neck gently with a smile. The crow only ignored her question.
“What? Not going to talk to me know?” Genya huffed sarcastically. Hashi continued to ignore her, fully focused in on his pets. Genya sighed and continued to softly ruffle his feathers until she felt a sharp pinch on her fingers. “Ow!” She pulled back her fingers, shaking it to relieve some of the pain. Hashibami flew into the air, staring down at Genya.
Genya hissed and looked at her fingers, noticing the fresh blood slowly ooze out of her, and drip down on the soft powder of fresh snow. She licked her finger, making a popping noise as she sucked the blood away. She turned her attention to the crow. “What was that for?!”
Hashibami only cawed and flew away in a rush, leaving Genya with her bleeding finger and shoulder feeling suspisciously wet. She side-eyed it, noticing a peculiar white- no. He didn’t…
He took a shit on her shoulder.
He SHIT on her shoulder…
Her FUCKING stupid FUCKING bird FUCKING took a FUCKING SHIT on her FUCKING shoulder.
“Hashibami you son of a bitch!”
Great. This was fucking perfect. Her day barely even reaching nine o’clock and she was alone to the point her bird pooped on her and decided that even he didn’t have an interest in her. Great.
Genya huffed, frost coming out of her nose as she did so and lifted her skirt to unsheathe her wakizashi and shotgun. She threw down the shotgun and gripped onto her wakizashi with enough force to break someone’s neck.
Next thing she knew she was slicing into a large boulder, her blade shattering as she cut into it.
‘Damn.’
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
“Hello mama. Hello Sumi, Teiko, Hiroshi, Shuuya, Koto. I’m here again.”
Genya visited her families graves once every three months. This time though, she was visiting for the second time in two months.
Genya was the one to bury her family. Except for her mother. Her mother turned into a demon and her body burned in the sunlight. Despite that and the fact that she killed Genya’s little siblings, she layed a precious stone to commemorate her memory and to have her share a spot with her children in the afterlife. Where they went. Genya even made sure to bury her mama’s kimono, hoping that would increase the chances of her finding a peaceful aftermath of the hellish life they all had to face. Genya personally hoped and wished that her mother was in heaven but she would never know until she passed away too.
“I know I already visted you guys a couple of weeks ago but I…I miss you a lot,” Genya murmured. “I’m having a bad day so far. Everyone is avoiding me. Even my crow, Hashibami. He shi- pooped on my shoulder and bit me before he left and I haven’t seen him since.”
Genya silenced again, a swift breeze hitting Genya and sweeping some of her hair in her face. She shivered again, but she didn’t care. She was talking to her family and that’s all she needed right now.
Genya took a breath and continued, “I know that it’s still pretty early on in the day. It’s only a couple of hours in the afternoon but- but I just-” Genya broke off, eyes silently filling with tears.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered, lowering her head and digging her fingers into her yukata. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I don’t even know why I’m upset,” she cried. “I just feel so…lonely. Ever since I made friends it’s been the happiest I’ve ever been since…I don't even know when.”
“Ne- Sanemi still doesn’t talk to me but I’m starting to make peace with that. He has every right to hate me. And for a while it hurt, but now I can’t find it in my heart to feel bad because what I said to him was wrong of me,” Genya said, tears still pouring down her cheeks as she spoke. Her voice stopped wavering, and she spoke with an unspoken level of peace.
“I’m sorry for venting. I don’t really know if what I am saying is making any sense to you. I just…Im happy. Now. Joining the Corps is something I cannot regret. Despite the near death experiences, I feel like I am at peace. Making friends has helped me with my anger problems and I’ve told you all about and my master still helps keep me in check,” Genya said, waiting for a response she will never receive. Another ice cold breeze hit her and tickled her nose. She sniffled again.
Genya wiped her eyes and looked down at the stones, taking in notice the dried, crusty old blood still splotched onto some spots. She remembers how cold their corpses were when she buried them. How light their tiny baby bodies were, both with blood loss and hunger. Genya remembers the ache in her frail arms after digging six individual holes and carrying five bodies to reburry. The stench of them already rotting mixing in with the stench of leftover alcohol permeating in the walls of their home.
Genya remembers it all. The only thing she doesn’t remember is her mother scarring her face, ironically. At that time, Genya was holding Koto in her arms, holding him tight to her chest, and the next thing she knew, Genya felt an awful sting in her face, hands instinctively reaching her face and dropping her little brother.
Sanemi was in their home in a split second, telling Genya to run while he tackled their mother through the thin walls and then he was gone. Genya, scared and surrounded by bodies, ran after her older brother, and when she caught up to him, the only thing she could see was him covered in blood and their mother on the ground, eyes closed and bloodied. She screamed.
“Murderer! You killed mama!”
The words still haunted Genya to this day. Whether it was a flashback, or a dream she memorized the words, tone, and volume of her voice repeating these lines.
Even as she was sitting on the snow in front of her families graves (Genya had to kick some of the snow away for the stones to show more; her hands went numb for a few seconds) she couldn’t help but think about everything. The loneliness Genya was feeling today felt similar to the loneliness felt after the massacre of her family. Which was a cruel and selfish thing Genya knew, but she was finally happy and she didn’t want that to go away for a second.
For a few minutes, Genya stayed silent, trying to think of something else to talk about. Something that wouldn’t make her feel sad or lonely again. That’s when a certain cerulean eyed boy showed up in her mind.
Genya placed her hand on top of Sumi’s stone and gave a smile. “I forgot to mention, but I think I like a boy. Remember the Mist Hashira that I mentioned? He’s a year or so younger, but he’s really strong and mature. He helps me out with my form and he even took me on a date once. Stargazing in the Wisteria Forest,” Genya blushed at the thought. “He even brought me a large bouquet of flowers. Blue, white and purple. The bouquet was so big I nearly fell,” she giggled.
Genya never really thought about dating when she first joined the Corps. She never gave a shit about the boys around her. She only ever saw them as competition. Ever since puberty though, approaching boys was even scarier than killing a demon in her mind.
She continued to look at Sumi’s stone but she placed both of her hands back into her lap. “I know you and Teiko would care the most about my romance life, Sumi. I really like him, y’know? You’d like him too. You all would,” Genya said.
“I’ve talked a lot today, I’m sorry. I’m sorry about getting all sad too, I’m not making much sense am I?” Genya asked. The breeze was starting to get stronger. Genya stood up and wiped the gunk off her skirt.
“Thank you for listening anyways. I’ll make sure to visit again when I can,” Genya said, bowing one last time before turning around and starting her journey back home.
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
“What can I get you young lady?”
“Can I get a bowl of tsukimi udon?”
“Anything else?”
“No that would be it, thank you,” Genya paid for her meal and sat on a bench waiting for her meal. It was nighttime now. For the first time in a while, Genya was able to notice the moon peaking through. It was a crescent moon.
“Hear you go, young lady,” Genya jumped hearing the older man’s voice, but she grabbed the hot bowl from him and thanked him. She slowly began to take small bites, slurping on the thick noodles and egg.
Genya wasn’t really hungry, but she needed something to do before heading back to the Corps. She didn’t have any missions to go on, and she was afraid that she would go home to see only the cats.
‘This is stupid. I’m just being overdramatic. Himejima-san’s probably back by now. He either had a mission and didn’t let me know or he was at the temple longer than usual. I’m being stupid.’
She finished her meal, thanked the man at the food stand one last time and left.
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
“Himejima-san? Are you home?” She called as she entered the Stone Estate, clumsily taking off her shoes and turning on a light. The only noises she received back were the cats snoring away again.
Genya yet again noticed that the food bowls still had food in them, meaning that Himejima-san did come home to feed them.
“Himejima-san?” She called again, this time sliding the shoji but it was dark and no one was there. Genya stood silent for a second before sliding the door shut again and going into her room to lay on her futon.
She began to strip out of her yukata and uniform and put on her lavender nemaki (Himejima-san gave it to her for her 15th birthday, and while it was too short and too tight for her chest, she still wore it. And no she never attempted to sew it to better fit her.).
She folder her soiled uniform and yukata and put them in a corner, and as she began to make her way to her futon, she noticed a small folded up piece of paper, tied by a purple ribbon. She sat down, grabbed it and unwrapped the ribbon and paper.
Meet at the Butterfly Mansion
Genya, confused decided to listen to the message and got back up. She looked at her uniform for a few seconds, debating whether to put it back on or not but she decided against it. She’d rather show up in her sleeping outfit than a crap littered uniform.
Genya found a pair of fresh linen socks and a pair of geta and put those on.
She looked at the cats one last time, noticing Sana and Gomako curled up with each other in the same exact position and place she saw them earlier. The only difference was that they appeared to be smiling.
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Genya arrived at the mansion. She could tell that the lights were off inside, which made her hesitant. She carried her shotgun with her under her nemaki just in case something bad would happen.
Genya took a deep breath and opened the shoji door and a sudden flash of lights and noise hit her.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENYA!”
Genya blinked a few times, eyes still not adjusted to the explosion of lights but when she recovered, she noticed that all of her friends were there, along with other slayers and even the master and his wife.
Tanjirou, Nezuko, Kanao, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Aoi, Muichirou and even the little caterpillar girls were in the very front. Tanjirou was holding what seemed to be a present while Nezuko stood next to him, mouth full of fangs, but even then she was adorable. Her hair was braided similar to the Love Hashira’s. Zenitsu was mainly focused on Nezuko, but he looked happy. Inosuke was Inosuke.
Muichirou was looking at Genya. He appeared like he was zoning out, but Genya could tell that he was focused. Aoi was scolding Inosuke while Kanao had a shy expression on her face and she looked between Genya and Aoi.
Genya also noticed the hashiras sprawled around. Mitsuri-san and Obanai-san stood next to each other. Mitsuri-san had a large smile on her face while Obanai-san only looked at her with a mix of admiration and exasperation.
Shinbou-san stood next to Giyuu-san. Shinobu-san had her usual smile, but Genya was surprised that Giyuu-san had a slight upturn on his lips.
Himejima-san stood at the very back, hands in prayer position and tears falling down his face, but he had a smile still.
“Yooo Mini Shinazugawa! Are you just gonna stand there in your pajamas or are you gonna come inside!” Genya yelped and jumped slightly hearing the booming voice from behind her. She turned around to see the former Sound Hashira behind on the porch, holding fireworks in one arm while his wives stood next to him.
“Tengen-sama, use your inside voice,” the wife with the sleek ponytail (Hinatsuru? Was that her name?) said, sweat beading down her forehead. Makio only snorted while Suma ran to Genya and pulled her into a hug, shocking Genya, considering that she didn’t know her.
“We almost ruined the surprise! We’re so sorry Genya!” Suma cried, Makio yelling at her to hush.
“No no- its fine- wait- you all threw me a birthday party..?” Genya asked hesitantly as Suma let go. She turned back around finding everyone inside looking at her.
Tanjirou smiled. “Of course we did Genya! Why wouldn’t we?”
Genya only stared, bewildered. “Well, everyone was gone today. I just thought that you all were avoiding me.” Genya finally entered the estate, the Uzui’s trailing behind her.
Mitsuri frowned, “We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings Genya-chan but we wanted to make sure we had everything to set up for your birthday! We’re so sorry.”
Genya stiffened. The Hashira was apologizing for her? “No no no! It’s fine! I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions!”
“Enough apologies geez, its a party!” Uzui said. He hooked his other arm around Genya’s shoulder, nearly knocking her over. “We should celebrate already, dammit!”
𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Genya never expected a birthday party to be so loud. Between the Hashira (Uzui) and her friends (Inosuke) it was a miracle no one got hurt.
Genya though, was having the time of her life. While she was a bit uncomfortable with the spotlight all on her, she felt a sense of relief that everyone there wanted to be with her. They liked her and she wasn’t burdening her.
Well, mainly everyone. The only person that wasn’t there was Sanemi. It stung but Genya wouldn’t say anything.
So after eating sweets and receiving her gifts, she decided to get some fresh air. Muichirou offered to go with her, but she declined saying that she would be back in a few minutes.
Genya opened and closed the shoji and she gasped when she saw a mess of white hair and the white haori with the kanji of “kill” on the back of it. Her brother was here. She noticed him glance at her, and turned around fully.
“Happy Birthday Genya,” he said quietly, his thin lips upturning ever so slight and slow.
Genya gaped at him, eyes slowly filling with tears. “N-Nemi?”
Sanemi looked at her disconsolately, and he opened his arms. “I’m here Genya.”
Genya could only run to him and wrap her arms around him, as tightly as she could and cry. He was here. He was actually here. Genya closed her eyes shut as she cried, seeing nothing but black but she still could hear her brother’s voice, fading away quietly as he spoke.
“I’m here, Genya.”
.
..
…
….
…..
……
Genya opened her eye. Her vision was blurry and bright and the air around her was warm and humid and smelled heavily of rotting flesh and iron, but she could still make out to peculiar location around her: the Infinity Castle.
‘I was just with Nemi though- what am I-’
It was just a dream. Everything she saw was just a dream.
Now she remembered. Muichirou, Himejima-san, Nemi and her were fighting the UpperMoon One. Genya’s body was sliced.
She must have passed out. It wasn’t her birthday.
Today was her deathday.