Chapter Text
It felt like we had been fighting for forever and they still weren't here. I had sent Kanzaburo for back up, to get them.
Tanjiro and I had just finished a pretty intense battle with Upper three. Admittedly I was in a pretty bad shape and I used all my thread to stitch up Tanjiro. I'm not mad that I did, it would maybe just help right now, but that doesn't matter.
I had sent my old crow off with his message when I fist saw the master estate go up in flames. Yes I did stop to give him instructions before continuing on my path when I fist knew that we would be fighting Muzan Kibutsuji tonight.
I had know for a while, Oyakata-sama never did quite know when a room was empty. With the combination of my years of eavesdropping and two blind people talking it wasn't hard to find out his plans. I new that the master was dying. I knew that he was leuring the demon king out. I knew that we were going to have to fight him alone. Well, without his guidance, we wouldn't be alone if Kanzaburo just hurried up already.
I had sent him off with a message for Emma that we would be ending the demons tonight. So, either Kanzaburo couldn’t find the ginger air-head or something had happened. And knowing Emma she way be an idiot but she wasn't weak and wasn't going to let anything stop her once she had a target. Leaving only that they where either really far away or that the old bird haven't found any of them yet. I sigh internally.
"Let's go, Tanjiro. We must find the others." I lead the way, trying to hide my limp and how I was leaning on the wall a little to heavily.
Tanjiro followed behind, silent for only a small time. "You smell frustrated, are you okay." He had asked that genuinely but fuck I had forgotten he could do that.
I took a deep breath before standing up a little straighter and turning to Tanjiro who was standing slightly behind me. "I'm okay, just waiting for someone." It wasn't as lie, but if I did have to lie I doubt Tanjiro would be able to tell. "Let's just keep moving, wouldn't want to run into more demons."
Tanjiro took this answer and we continued our walk in relative silence other than the odd shuffling of feet. Suddenly there was a twang? Some kind of instrument had been used and then we where staring at him. "Shit," is the only thing my pain addled brain could come up with. "No, he's early." I thought to myself.
"Get behind me Tanjiro!" I instructed only to turn and see the idiot, charging at the Muzan Kibutsuji. Did this kid want to die? With Tanjiro's reckless movement it forced my hand. Guess we were fighting him here. I charge forward, using my broken sword to slice the tendrils that were coming for both of us.
Another set of foot steps? Could they finally be here? I turned my head away from the fight for one second to look.
No, it was Senami. I love the help but where the hell was Kanzaburo? And for that moment of useless looking away I was hit with one of the tendrils right in the stomach, sending me cascading into a wall again. Why did these demons have a thing against stable architecture?
I felt the woods splinter against my back as I went right through the wall, ow. I lied there for a only aomeny, before climbing to my feet, using the wall to help. Leaping back into the fight I yelled to Senami, "Where the fuck are the others?" If I can't get my guys here then I might as well see where the other hashira are.
"Fighting?" Was the only response that was yelled back. Very useful.
And he was gone again, yay. Time to focus in. If this was all the help we were going to get for the moment then we'll have to do the best possible. This entirely ment, charging in, weaving between Sanemi and Tanjiro once again batting away attacks with my broken katana.
Fight went on like this for minutes? Hours? I really couldn't tell. But eventually we heard more people coming and I know that it's wishful thinking to think that it was them. So, I turned, splitting my attention for only a second, nothing more. It wasn't. But at least the other hashira where finally joining the fight as well as some of Tanjiro's friends, the feral one and that loud blond. I could finally take a breath. Eight versus one? That couldn't be to hard, right? Even better if we could get him outside of this maze.
Though at least it was now Gyomei's job to conduct people. And he was. Yelling instructions to all of us, though he was mainly instructing the new arrivals, Mitsuri and Obanai plus the other two stragglers.
Our attacks started to coordinate two or three would attack and then another three would attack. An unrelenting assault. Round after round. A slice here, a stab there. As the fight continued it seemed like the tables where turning in our favour. Another girl even joined us at some point, one of rhe buterfly girls. Was that Shinobu's hair clip?
A sudden yell through the chaos caught my attention and it seemed at everyone else heard. "Let's take this outside!" It was Gyomei. But how do we get out? Though that question was answerethrowd before I could even ask it. Gyomei launched himself forward, his spiked ball, landing right infront of Muzan. Muzan the scared little man he is jumped back, hitting his back against the wall and effectively cornering himself.
Our time to strike. Sanemi, figure and I ran forward to strike when that same twang sounded. And before I knew it we were out on a street. The moon still high in the air. Maybe he was waiting for this? But why?
Either way, my own plan could finally be put in motion. Just a few minutes hopefully and they'll finally find us. For now, it's time to fight and try kill this shitbag.
"They're here," is all that I thought as I say the arrow fly through the air. And Kanzaburo's caw from over head, watching the fight rage on. "Get back!" I bellowed out to the others, wouldn't want one of the beloved hashiras taken down by friendly fire.
By now, muzan was distracted by all the arrows stuck in him. It raining by now, arrows from all sides, the others where still trying to fight him, but it's not as easy to get in close to firing practice without ending up with something lodged in you.
"We need to behead him. It's what he deserves." Was all I was thinking as I scrambled my way up the side of one of the building.
Once my eye level was above the roof I could see them. They liked the streets. The skull children. Scrambling over to the closed cloaked figure I grabbed the back of there hood to drive there attention straight to me. Before they could even speak I had already interrupt them. "You need to make a break for me. Distract him and them let me run in."
I couldn't remember off the top of my head who exactly was behind the mask, but they clearly weren't new. They knew that it wasn't a time to questions so all they did was nod, before focusing back in on the fight, yelling to the other archers. "Ray need to get in close, watch out for him!" I watched the arrow storm for a moment more, seeing the patern they were making to let me through, it was a wave, right to left. Now, I just needed to stay focused and avoid being hit.
Diving down from the roof, rolling as I hit the ground. "Let's see if we can do this with half a blade." I thought to myself as I waited for the brake - and there it was. It took seconds, milliseconds for the break to pass and now I was in it, running with the arrows. Praying that the kids I helped train had half decent aim.
In no time I was infront of the demon kind. His face looked like a porcupine, arrows on every side. His regeneration must not be fast enough to eject them all as more stab into him.
It was in the blink of an eye. Not a eternity like I though it would be. A blink of an eye. That's all it was before it was over. Muzan's head on the floor, his body hitting the floor. It wasn't a moment later when my body was hitting the floor right next to him, "Fuck, that hurt." I muttered as I landed awkwardly. My right leg crumbling awkwardly underneath myself. The last thing I remember before I closed my eyes was, someone yelling, "Mr Tomioka!"
-
As I opened my eyes I was met with the wooden roof I had met only when sick or otherwise injured. Ah, yes. The butterfly mansion. I sat up expecting to see my favorite annoying ass buterfly. Odd. I only say a kakushi but that's fine. They'll probably just go tell Shinobu I'm awake, she's probably busy with the other's figured during the battle.
And now we've been staring at each other for too long. "Hey.... can you go get Kocho?" The silence was awkward and as much as I hate breaking a good silence I really needed to talk to her.
At that the kakushi ran off, probably to go get the insect hashira's attention.
Okay... this is weird, I've been sitting here too long. As much as my legs hated my for this I got out of bed. Slow as a snail as I leaned off of the wall as I walked into the corridor. I was abruptly met by Aoi. Someone to help, finally. "Aoi, could you please tell me where Kocho is currently." It wasn't that weird a question, was it? Because as soon as they words had slipped my lips she looked confused, slightly offended and then... sad? So, that wasn't an answer, at all. "Is it a Bad time? Is she busy?"
And then that's when it started. It was a painful conversation. Nothing new to hear that a friend was dead but it still hurt. It hadn't happened in a while, I guess I was out of practice.
After our conversation she lead me back to my room. The air felt lighter on our walk back. Yes it was weighed down by grief but knowing helped. We could morn together.
Once back in my room she explained that, Mitsuri and Obanai had been here as well as Sanemi. Though I had been out for a while and they weren't in too bad a shape so they where already back to there normal lifes minus the late night hunting for the demons.
Gyomei had been here too... he had unlocked his mark... he had died from it a couple days after the fight only a couple doors down from where I was fast asleep, oblivious.
It was alot of information to take in at once. Of now, I just needed to heal as much as I hate to admit it, we can't do anything for the already dead. The most we can do is remember them and I don't think any of us will ever forget what they accomplished during there lifes.
-
It was only a few more days sitting around waiting to heal before I was allowed to leave. My legs still felt a little sluggish as I walked out of there. The hill didn't help at all. I may or may not have gracefully stumbled and fallen face first into a bush after about ten minutes of walking. I quickly righted myself, hopping that no one say. But just as always I had my usual luck, I heard laughing coming from the woods. It was a laugh I was well acquainted with.
With a quick turn on heel I did stumbled slightly but I was also met with Emma's brilliant smile. She had her usual blood red disguise on. "Where have you been? It's been like forever." She hadn't changed since I last say her like three weeks ago.
"Nowhere important." I shrugged off the question because no I don't need to explain why I had my leg in a cast days ago. "Can you help me back to my place? Plus, if you want to stay somewhere a little more fancy you can come stay with my." I offer up because much like the others Emma would never pass up an opportunity to bug me around the clock.
Emma took walked over to my, allowing my to slug an arm over her shoulderas her arm came round to grab me under the arm to steady my as we started to walk together. "Sure, have you even decorated it yet?"
"Not really, in all fairness I didn't think I'd be there that long. Though it'd be maybe a year not four."
"I'm always happy to help decorate." The conversation from there flowed easily. We had made it back before I had even realised it, Emma helping me up the three awkward steps I had always intended on getting rid of right infront of my house. I suppose Norman knows someone to help with that. No way in he'll am I going to try figure that out.
It was no time before I was sitting at my table as Emma fussed around making us tea. This was always the fun part, I always kept a packet of the tea she loves in the kitchen but every time she'd leave I'd hide it somewhere else. It was the funnies thing seeing her trying to find it.
It was a while later when our tea was cold and almost gone when I heard someone knock on the door. Assuming it was one of my siblings I just called out facing away from the door. "Come in!" I still had a smile on my face when I saw Emma's confused expression, my smile slipping off of my face. So it wasn't someone Emma knows, who the hell was at my front door.
It was Sanemi. Why was Sanemi here? "Yes?" Is all I got out cause like, it's not like we're friends, why is he at my house?
"That buterfly girl told me you were place home, just wanted to see it for myself."
"Oh my God. Is this Sanemi?" Emma butted in because yes, of course I spoke about him to her. I guy needed to vent sometimes about the idiots he works with. "You're so right he looks like he has rabies." Well, shit. Sanemi was never meant to hear that comment.
"Who the hell are you?" As tactful as always, Sanemi.
"I'm Emma. What are you doing here?" Yes she did say what I was thinking but there is a reason I was thinking it instead of saying it.
Sanemi went slightly red at this and stuck his for once clothed chest out a little. I though he was about to start yelling but instead he just... deflated? One thing Aoi had told me during my stay with her is that Genya had passed during his fight against upper one, along side Muichiro. Maybe that had changed Sanemi. It did do alot to lose a sibling especially if they were a younger one. I'd know, I've lost both.
He let out a heavy sigh before walking further in and closing the door. No, he didn't ask. But he looked like he needed this so, fuck it. If he was an ass Emma would get him out. "I dunno... just. With all the changes and all, just wanted to see my favorite pain in the ass. Wanted to make sure that you where still breathing and all." Though he said this straigh to the table Emma and I were sitting at I had a sneaking suspicion that he was talking to me. It took a minute of silence but during it he came and sat with us.
The silence stretched on and I felt I needed to say something to help. "How are the others?"
"They're good. Iguro finally got the balls to ask Mitsuri out. I wasn't there to see it but Tengen did, said that Obanai just crumbled when he first saw her once they where both better and just begged, of course, pinky pie accepted." As Sanemi spoke his expression shifted to a softer one to an almost smile.
Sanemi's voice was calmer this time when he spoke, pointing at Emma."So, what's that's deal?"
Why he didn't just talk to her? No one knows. "Me and Emma grew up together."
"Yeah!" She pumped a fist into the air as she leaned over, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "That's my bro."
"What's with the cloths."
"It's the style." Emma and I said in unison too used to giving the same response.
"No, it's not." Sanemi just gave us a weird look.
"Is to." Emma retorted back childishly.
The conversation continued like this until Sanemi got fed up and left ever the short tempered man.
-
It continued on like this every few days as I would have guests, mostly the other kids from Grace field house. With spending so much time with them my old disguise had even made it back to me, sometimes even finding myself walking around with the others dressed up in the our disguises whilst walking though the woods, just spooking the random people they came across.
But just as all things do, all good things must come to an end. That even includes messing with the surrounding towns. It had been Tengen this time. Mitsuri and Iguro had moved away not long after getting engaged. So, now it was just Sanemi, Tengen, his wifes and I left in town.
Tengen had stumbled across us in the woods whilst we were making dumb traps to catch each other in. And to my surprise he had a training sword on him. Why? I have no clue.
Withough a moment of hesitation he had hit me in the stomach and sent my tumbling. The only thing I had gotten out was a gasped, "Wait."
That had actually made him pause, stare at me like I'd grown three heads. ".... Giyuu?"
I pushed my mask up, revealing my face as I stood. "Ray, are you okay." Gilda jogged over, helping me up.
"I'm okay." I reassured her as I stood.
Tengen just tood there, confused. It was like he was trying to catch us. "Ray? Who's Ray. Are you not Giyuu?" He had heard that name before, but when.
"It's me, Giyuu. It's a long story." I sighed our wearily, hoping that I wouldn't have to explain it.
Tengen didn't get the hint. Or he just didn't care. "Well, good news for you I have only time. Go ahead, explain." He smiled as he spoke. "How about over tea?"
Looked away for a moment, thinking beforeturning back with another sigh. "Fine."
"Let's bring Sanemi along." Tengen said. And now he was pushing it.
"Tengen, no."
"Tengen, yes."
And that was that. Tengen was leading that way, first to Sanemi's where I could see her had started a garden, I definitely did not see that coming. After the little stop there our little group walked to my place, Tengen still leading the way Sanemi, Gilda and I following.
It took about five minutes to find the tea that I always hid from Emma, turns out that it was also Tengen's favorite. Once we were all seated at my table that was made for two by design and now there where four crowding around it the awkward silence started, all eyes on me. Though I suppose Gilda didn't count because she was just thriving in my suffering.
Tengen eventually had enough of the wait and spoke up, always the one to start conversations, "Dude, I'm not here for a staring contest I'm here for answers. Spit it out." I suppose he wasn't wrong.
I took a log sip from my cup before I started talking. "You've met Emma." I say to Sanemi before continuing to walk to the two of them. "This is Gilda, we all grew up in Grace field house."
The conversation was lig and by the time they two of them were walking out of my house, it was dark out and I needed new tea. It was esear to tell them than I thought, both of them having lost quiet a few siblings.
Soon enough the two idiots had met everyone and they had joined in our little trapping ritual. It was a fun pass of time when we didn't have anything to stay vigilant for.