Chapter Text
For the past few years Giyuu has been forced to go on medical leave when winter days are harsh; a mark left from his experience with hypothermia as a child. He had to have additional checkups at the butterfly mansion; enforced by Ubuyashiki of course, giyuu would never put effort in taking care of his body unless forced to.
When the cold was harsh, not only did his tremors worsen and body weaken, but he experienced frequent nightmares and night terrors. Possibly because of the rest; Giyuu was accustomed to being active, after his sister was killed by a demon it was training, training, and training. After his best friend died; Giyuu did the same, except with no regard for himself. He only lived to fight and try to repay his debt to his sister and old friend. Giyuu had never grieved his loved ones properly.
It was the middle of winter at the water estate, giyuu being at home for the 3rd day in a row, wanting to go on missions but the master and his body not letting him. Not only this but kocho scolded him for even thinking of such a thing. She knew of his… medical history but not where these issues came from. He appreciated that.
(Nightmare)
Giyuu still remembered the vivid view of his sisters corpse laying in a pool of her own blood, flesh missing and eyes empty. She had hid him in a cupboard and was left with the smallest crack, unable to see anything.
“Don’t come out!” Tsutako yelled, giyuu unfamiliar with the fear in her voice.
“No, Nee-San! TSUTAKO!” Giyuu had tried stopping her but she already closed it with her back to giyuu making sure the cupboard didn’t open. No matter how hard he cried and banged the door, how loud he screamed and begged, she wouldn’t budge.
However, he heard everything; every blood-curdling scream from his sister, every growl from the demon, every bone cracking and the deafening silence which came after.
Right before she was killed, she slumped against the cupboard, right before the demons finally strike she said
“Giyuu, I love you always”, right after, the loud slash giyuu heard and waited for a sign of his sister. There was none, no sound, just the demon chewing on her flesh, the crunching of her bones made bile rise in his throat. Giyuu covered his ears and pulled his knees to his chest. Trying to block all senses for all long as possible.
Giyuu wasn’t sure how long he’d been hiding. The sun had now risen and Giyuu was suffocating from the tiny cupboard but was even more afraid of leaving. It had been hours until he opened the cupboard and peaked out, not seeing the wild animal who slaughtered his sister. He felt something wet and cold under his feet. Her blood, his sisters blood. The view of her half eaten corpse was enough for him to vomit.
It was past midnight when giyuu woke up, cold sweat sticking to his back and tears burning his eyes, breath heavy. This nightmare…was far too real.. he sat up in his futon, moonlight peaking through the screen panel doors of his engawa. The silence surrounding him was too loud, hearing the same grotesque sounds he heard that night. So Giyuu had done what he had always done after having this nightmare, he covered his ears and pulled his knees to his chest. Waiting for his senses to reset and body to regulate again.