Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The wind rustled through the calm river side. A mother and her two kids walked along the bank settling on a rock. The woman with fiery red hair and bright Lapis eyes draws out a old, weathered book. The spine was decorated with native flowers from Scotland and woodland creatures from the mother's homeland.

"My children. This book holds all of our legends and legacies. The creatures that protect us in our mother lands. Soon we visit the mother land again. Now which one shall we read about next?" Her thick accent was like a calming double bass.

"Uh.. well what ones haven't we gone over mama?" Her youngest asked midnight black hair out in a tight bun with decorative ribbons holding it together.

"Well Giyuu.." She pauses flipping through the pages to find something new. "Their are Kelpies.. have we gone over those yet?"

"The murders horses? Really?" Tsutako question staring at her mother.

"Oh? Is he still to young to learn about them? She asked seriously

Tsutako looked very displeased her mother was trying to teach her 7-year-old son about Kelpies. "When you told me about it when I was 8, I was scared of water for years. I'm 18 now and still scared of the water!"

"Then what should I tell him about then!? He needs to know to be weary of his surroundings!" The mother chirped back at her daughter getting up.

Whilst the two argued Giyuu noticed a figure in the woods. Slowly walking to it. Their stood a being with 6 eyes and a katana staring down at the small child.

"Who are you?" Giyuu asked quietly staring up at the man. "Are you one of the creatures in mama's book? They can be really scary sometimes. They always seem to enjoy eating people. Are you like that?" His lapis blue eyes didn't know which set of eyes to pick to keep eye contact with.

"Book? What book?" Kokushibo sighed softly" Nevertheless, I am Kokushibo. Not a creature from your mother's book. Though.." Kokushibo looks at the red headed mother her voice ringing out loudly along with her accent. "You seem to be from other lands. May I ask from where?"

"Scotland! In the North Sea! Mama said we'll visit our Motherland again sometime soon!" Giyuu said happily.

"And your name?" Kokushibo sits down so the child wouldn't strain his neck.

"Giyuu! Giyuu Tomioka! My mother gave me her funny accent and her pretty blue eyes! Aren't they pretty? I also have a big sister! Her names Tsutako! Papa is at home sleeping! He works really hard for us! He goes into the woods every day and gets us food and other trinkets! Ma is showing me how to weave! And and! Ah.. Oh right! To crave wood! It's really fun! I'm working on a flute!"

Kokushibo tried to keep up with the child's rambling as he listed off all if the things happening. Though one thing stun. A flute, it was purely coincidence put it still hurt hearing that word and it's what it meant to him.
"Yes, your eyes are pretty. Like the ocean deep rushing waves. Along with a sister, oh my, she must be nice. And what trinkets does you papa get you?

Giyuu takes a minute to respond and normal thing for a child to do when having to answer so much.
"Yes, my sister is really nice! She just turned 18! My papa always gets us hair pins, sweets and toys when he comes back!"

Kokushibo chuckles very amused at how fun it was to talk to this young child "Very nice, and what have you weaved with your moth-"

"GIYUU TOMIOKA! WHERE ARE YOU! IF YOU DONT COME BACK THE MONSTERS FROM MOM'S BOOKS WILL GET YOU!" Tsutako yelled out to figure out where her little brother went.

Giyuu looked very scared and sad that one a monster might get him and two he had to leave his new friend. Kokushibo saw the turmoil in the child's eyes and sighed softly. He drawed the kids into a hug, nicking the kid's neck causing a mark to form a sort of way to track the kid. Though the nick was so small the child couldn't feel it. Then giving the kid a hair pin. It looked like opal and diamond mixed together. "Now go back to your family young one. Don't tell anyone you saw me." Kokushibo stood as the child waved goodbye.

"Okay! Bye Mister! Hope to see you again soon!" Giyuu responded cheerfully tucking the hair pin away. With that Giyuu disappeared back to his family.

As Giyuu found his mother and sister, Tsutako seemed very displeased at her brother's disappearance. "I am going to beat your ass Giyuu." Tsutako said in a very calm voice that sent shivers down Giyuu's spine.

"B.but!" Giyuu shuddered out.

"Tsutako. Let the kid be. He needs to get used to being in these types of areas!" Giyuu's mother said happily.

"But Ma! He shouldn't be out there alone especially with the missing person cases rising!" Tsutako shouted back concerningly

"Oh! Shut your trap! Let's go." Grabs Giyuu and starts to walk back home in complete silence. After about and half an hour they make it back to there village. "BABE! WERE HOME!" Giyuu's father was in the kitchen cooking up a dessert.

"Hello dear! How was your walk with the kids?" Giyuu's father asked softly. Walking over to her hooking an arm around her waist and kissing her forehead lovingly.

"Your daughter thinks she's already a mother. And Giyuu ran off into the woods on his own. Nothing happened." Giyuu's mother replied blatantly.

"Oh is that so? Gee that sounds very interesting. Well I made us some caramels if you want any!" Giyuu's father replied happily

"Caramels? Those gooey things that stuck in your teeth papa?" Giyuu asked

"Yes then after that how about you go to bed?" He responded back

"Okay papa!" Giyuu said happily.

Soon after Eating some delicious caramels with his family. Giyuu got dressed in his night wear unaware of what his future had in store for him.

Chapter Text

Giyuu walked quietly to his mothers and fathers' graves. Camreon and Atuka Tomioka. He had never expected this to happen to him. His parents would've still been alive if his mother hadn't gone back for that dumb book. That book that had meant everything to her. All that she was in that damned book apparently. Tears threatened to break let loose and staining his face, but Giyuu schooled his emotions. Putting on a mask of solidarity that no one could break through. Looking back down at his mother's grave he only had one thought that being.

Was it was worth leaving her two kids orphans and to fend for themselves. He was well aware of why his mother had gone back for the book. His mother had been taken from her homeland forced to come here as a slave working as a woman of many deeds and father had bought her to save her. At that time mother was close to ending it all but father showed her true kindness, and they had fell in love the rest was history. During the beginning of the fire, father had made sure him and Tsutako were safe on to notice mother wasn't there and to run back after her.

The house had collapsed on top of them yet somehow that damned books still made it out. He could still remember the crackle of flames and stench of burning flesh. How Tsutako in fit of rage almost threw the book into the flames. Only reason it wasn't was because he stopped her. Clinging onto her arm crying "No! Big sis please don't throw all of her away.." He had remembered tightly holding to the book in a vice like grip trying to convince himself it was a nightmare just some cruel joke the world was playing on them and soon he would wake up. His mothering cooking in the kitchen yelling at food in her native tongue.

Holding it in his hands it felt thousands of tons heavier. Looking down at the intricate making of it was amazing yet terrifying. He didn't know how to feel about it he had just turned 11 and his sister's wedding was right around the corner. Though there was no one to give her away to kiss her forehead to wish her well. He would stand to next to her sister in place of their father. It only made him angrier, and he didn't know how to deal with it. None of it had ever made sense to him. Why was he the one to go through this?

This book was all he had left and the stories in it were bizarre why would she want to go back to a place that was so full of danger that could kill at every step it just didn't make sense, how could anyone believe that a nation like that was safe. Though mother always wanted to know every little thing going on in her son's mind, so he spoke it out.

"I hate you. If I could tear your guts out I would mother. I don't even know why I call you mother." Giyuu said his voice cooling into a deadly calm as he stared intently at the grave. "You left Tsutako and me here all on our own. Only after your death did we notice how everyone hates us. They. Hate. US." With that he slammed his hands down on the book veins popping through his skin as he gritted his teeth sharpy. "They call us mutts and that it was good that you died so you couldn't make any more mistakes." Giyuu started to feel his mind slip as he started getting louder and shakier like he was holding back a laugh. "Tsutako can barely hold a job because she tanks the image of every where she works. She is getting married the man can at least see past her eyes now that she's gotten rid of her accent." Giyuu softly laughs as tears slip down. "She tries making me to stop using it... But.." Giyuu chokes on his sobs as he stares at the grave. "It's the only way I remember how your voice sounds. Dammit." With that Giyuu got up leaving quickly after all he still had to help his sister plan a wedding.

Giyuu continues his walk holding the book close as he looks at their new house and how it was more Japanese then their old one how it meant to fit in with everything and was made to blend in with everything be absolutely normal. Maybe if they went back to their mother land... They would be excepted and loved? Giyuu stopped his train of thought when a wind chime sounded reminding him about the damned house. If he could tear it down and make it like their old one he would. He absolutely would.

Walking into the house he can smell the sweet aroma of a plentiful amount of sweets. It was a usual father had fostered a sweet tooth in his dear sister. Its not like he could deny that he didn't have one either not one bit. Look at the painting on the wall one stood out the last existing portrait of the family.

Mother's wild red hair and Father straight black hair really messed up Giyuu's and Tsutako's hair that was pitch black yet really wavy and all over the place. He didn't mind though. He'd always thought it was very pretty. Though Tsutako hated it using hot rocks to straighten her hair.

Giyuu walked over to his door opening it and slipping in. He started to get dressed while reading his mothers book about the scenery of Scotland. After finishing getting into his night time yukata. He picked the hair pin that weird man had gifted him years ago and slipped it into his hair. He sat down on his bed he heard the door to his room open hastily. Tsutako standing there panting worry etched onto her face. Her eyes looked around rapidly and were a little red.

"Hey! Ahh.. Giyuu, why don't we play a.. A game! Lets play a game!" Tsutako said with urgency and stumbled over her words.

"What do you mean? Its 9 at night. You get made at me from playing at this-!" Tsutako pushes him in to a closet in the hall. "Now! Stay here. Don't make a noise." She whispered softly. Then very loudly she says. "IM GOING TO THE LIVING ROOM!" With Tsutako went to the living room where Giyuu could see into with that.

Was the final moment of Tsutako Tomioka. Beautiful and caring woman killed and gutted. All on display for her baby brother to see. How he wished stayed outside and not witness anything. That he had fallen asleep in a tree like he always did. No he had to come back inside. He had to witness this pain, that was his fate. He shakily opened the closet door crawling to his sisters. Her eyes looked at him as she smiled slowly passing her warm flicking out like embers in rain. Giyuu didn't scream. He went to the garden dragging her body to where their parents were, buried her. Then went back into the house grabbing the book and a box of matches. "May we see each other again." With that he struck to match lighting the house ablaze. Running into the forest not caring if it was the middle of winter.

Though he was able to salvage his sister haori that was drying outside. He knew he couldn't stay. That just wasn't possible with that. He gripped onto it as he ran into the woods. The village would definitely blame him because of course the mutt, the demon would kill its sibling. They would never believe him that a creature of immeasurable strengthen killed his sister. He ran as far as he could. He could feel the cold nipping at his hands and nose. Causing his body to shiver and shake uncontrollably. He wouldn't die here he couldn't.

He picked the pace as he ran the snow only got heavier forcing him to be slowed down and stumbled. His legs soon got caught in the thick snow. He kept trying to through to get far away. Suddenly he got fully stuck. Great this is how he's die here. With his mothers book and his sister's haori. Wait what was he thinking. He couldn't die here. He had to the one survivor to pace of his mothers dreams, his fathers tenacity and his sisters generosity. Though he could feel his body slowly shutting down. His heart slowing as the snow slowly blinded him with how bright it was.

"Poor child. How did you ever get stuck here?" A person asked. Looking up Giyuu saw a boy with peach colored hair and a fox mask along side a older man with a weird looking mask.

"Too..to get away.." Giyuu replied softly as he felt his body shutting down. "Please save me.."

With that Giyuu fully passed out clutching onto that damned book and Haori.

Sabito looked back Urokodaki confused and worried as he picked up the book. "What is this book even Mister Urokodaki. It looks so weird? Scotland? Kelpies? Jeez.. those sound scary." Sabito was really scared to hold the book all of the sudden holding it far away from himself.

Urokodaki looked back over to Sabito as he held Giyuu close to himself trying to keep the poor child warm and out of the cold. Looking over to the book Sabito he know exactly what it is. "Its a legend and legacy book. It holds everything about a person's homeland if they come from a differing homeland. So this child must be what people call a "mutt". Sabito. Never shall you use the derogatory term. It's what's called a slur. An insult to people of mixed lineage. Got it?"

"Ofcourse!" Sabito replied hastily remembering to keep that information pinned down.

After a short walk back to there home. Giyuu was set down next to warm fire while Urokodaki made sure he was alright and was in critical health or just out of energy. Slowly Urokodaki worked with Giyuu too get his Yutaka off his upper body.

"Your name?" Urokodaki asked the barely concious boy. "Mine is Urokodaki"

"Giyuu.." Was all he was able to muster out before passing out. Going limp in the man's hands.

Whilst checking the area around Giyuu's collar bone he spotted the mark.

It was small about the size of mustard seed. A small cresent moon. A demons way of marking prey that they will eat. But a mark so small no demon would notice it unless looking closely and the presence of it was one of an Uppermoon.

This child had an encounter with an Uppermoon and survived this is long is very impressive. "I never believed such a thing could happen. Most Uppermoons eat their prey admittedly or just kidnap the poor person. Unless this demon has taken a liking to this child! That must be it. And knowing this child is mixed. The demon must've been interested and wanted to learn more." Urokodaki muttered to himself under his breath. "Truly amazing. You will make a great slayer I know it. Demon Marks in most cases have help human gain more durability and stamina. Depending on how long they've had it."

Urokodaki laughed to himself what a handful he now has as he gets Giyuu to warmer and softer clothing. Pulling a blanket on top of his sleeping body. Soon adding more wood to the fire. Looking out the window he felt the presence of demon staring at the home. Like it was making sure Giyuu was safe before disappearing.

"Definitely an Uppermoon" Urokodaki confirmed to himself as he starts a soup base knowing Giyuu will probably be hungry when he wakes up. He knows he would be. With that he started to make the base adding chicken bones and green onions in the boiling pot of water. Making sure it stayed at a rolling temperature. The smell curling around the room.

Sabito watched intently as he heard everything Urokodaki was mumbling under his breath. The boy beside them was really a sight. Like a moon goddess white porcelain skin. The snow in his wavy hair only added to the ethereal sense of the boy. "Mr. Urokodaki what is an Uppermoon mark?"

Urokodaki looked back at Sabito realizing how loud he was talking. "You see, Sabito. Uppermoon marks are like when cattle is branded. It's to show to other demons that a certain person is another's. Giyuu's is extremely small so Im assume the demon simply wanted to know where Giyuu is at all time ensure that he is safe."

"That's just wrong! Branding people like their cattle!? Thats just. Just, wrong!" Sabito yelled loudly accidentally waking up Giyuu from his deep slumber. As he sat up suddenly panting loudly.

"W.where is it!? Where is it!?" Giyuu searched frantically for something that Sabito couldn't quite peice together but Urokodaki easily could. Handing over the book.

"I assume this is what you were looking for?" Urokodaki asked softly supporting Giyuu so he wouldn't fall over.

"Thank you sir.. You are again?" Giyuu asked softly holding the book close tear pricking the corner of his eyes.

"Urokodaki Sakonji, call me Urokodaki. I am taking you as my student. I see that you will be a valuable asset to the Demon Slayer Corp. You have certain things that greatly add to your value." Urokodaki said telling Giyuu what was going to happen.

"I don't have a choice?" Giyuu asked begrudgingly looking straight at Urokodaki.

"I assume you lost someone to a demon that made you run away?" Urokodaki noted.

"You are correct." Giyuu said quietly.

"Then I'm glad to have you as my student, Tomioka Giyuu. You will learning Water Breathing from here on out. And here beside me is Sabito your brother in arms." Urokodaki said proudly.

"H.hi!" Giyuu said softly looking at Sabito.

"Hello! I'm so glad to have another person to train with me!"
With that Sabito hugs Giyuu tightly and firmly

"I'm also looking for my hair pin." Giyuu says touching his hair that was down and the pin was no where to be found. Sabito lit up and searched his pockets and pulls out the opal-diamond crescent moon hair pin.

Chapter Text

"Sabito.. I'm so sorry I couldn't be stronger." Giyuu says quietly. "I should've been strong enough! I have a demon mark by an Upper moon, yet I couldn't help you properly." Giyuu held Sabito's body in his hands looking at the boy he had barely saved from the hand demon.

They had gotten far enough that they would be safe, and they wouldn't need to worry about being caught by another demon anytime soon. The distressing thing was that Sabito almost had his head smashed in. If I weren't for Giyuu suddenly slicing the demon's forearm and grabbing his friend, he would've been, and he'd be damned if he let another person die under his watch. Like hell he ever would.

Plus, he had someone to prove he was doing well. Giyuu had selectively trained in cold climates to mimic his mother land. Meaning his leg strength was much better than most and launching himself forward at quick speeds was easy. Though by doing that total concentration semi-constant was instilled into himself to make sure he had the stamina to get through deep snows.

Giyuu also focused on the defensive side of water breathing while Sabito did offensive. Which meant Giyuu was slowly deviating from Water Breathing into Ocean Breathing. A much more defensive form of Water breathing. Which to demon the user seems to move slower when in actuality their moving so fast the eyes can't keep up. The style focused deepness of the ocean and dark and dreamy part of it Ocean. In Which Giyuu would soon become it's first user. Drawing inspiration from the water beasts of his Mother land.

Though outside of what the future had in store for Giyuu he still had to make it 3 more days with his barely alive friend in toe and safely at that.

"Hah.. Dammit Sabito.. Your! Heavy!" With that Giyuu fell to the forest floor with a soft thud. Giyuu just sat there trying to figure out what to do now. He had a 170 lbs. 5'7 friend on top of him. "This is just ridiculous.. Sabito. You know that right?"

"Mmm..." Sabito replied groggily looking around their surroundings. "Not your fault you focused on defensive stances."

Giyuu stared back at his dear friend, slowly getting back up on to his feet and adjusting Sabito on his back. "I swear when get back home I'm going to feed you to the kelpies." Giyuu hissed out threateningly

"Oh No! Not the Kelpies! There going to drag to a soppy watery grave! Someone save me!" Sabito yelped out sarcastically as he put his head on Giyuu's shoulder still exhausted from almost being killed. "Say what do think that demon meant by 'oh the foxes have returned once again how delightful!'" Sabito questioned looking at Giyuu intently

"He must have an occasion with Master Urokodaki. Maybe a demon he once fought and brought here? That's all I have to guess." Giyuu responded back to him as he walked. Ofcourse they had to have ribbons at the top of the mountain you had to grab to show you did make it to the top of this damned mountain.

"So How close are we?" Sabito looks around tiredly scanning to see if anyone else was coming. With that a sharp yell was heard echoing through the woods. "Dammit! Move your butt Giyuu we need to help those people!" Sabito shifted his weight trying to make Giyuu move towards the yelling

"Sabito. We can't I don't have the energy plus I need to protect you!" Giyuu yelled back at quickly as turned himself back around. No way would he do that. One life was hard enough to handle alone but 1 demon and 2 lives. Hell.

"Giyuu do you have any sense of humanity!?" Sabito yelled loudly pulling on Giyuu's hair. "You can't be selfish about this! Every life is valuable!"

Giyuu threw Sabito off. Staring at him furious. He took out his hair pin pointing it right at Sabito's eye as he pinned him to the floor. "You have killed every demon on this mountain already. That only leaves the one you haven't killed you idiot. If you couldn't kill it then how could I?" Giyuu starts laughing pulling the hair pin away. His body shaking fiercely. "Haven't I told you? I won't let you leave me right now. Infact." Giyuu looks around finding a dropped bandage kit. "I still need to properly patch up your wounds."

"Giyuu.. what's going on with you?" Still spooked with a hair pin almost being lodged in his eye. "Did you have a mental break?" He soon tries to sit up, to get a better look at Giyuu.

"Maybe, sorry... I don't know why I did that. But what I said holds true. The only demon here is the hand demon and your wounds need patch up." Takes off Sabito's shirt looking at the wounds on his upper arm and chest looking at the wound.

Just as Giyuu was patching up Sabito's wounds a loud crash was sounded. With that the smell of rotten flesh came with it. Crushing and Crunching of bones was audibly heard. The tearing of flesh and chewing organs was heard loudly.

"Shit. Sabito, I am going to go put you somewhere safe, I'll handle this guy.-" Giyuu said only to be cut off suddenly.

"Their's my little foxes~ Ah this is exciting two foxes one trap~" The hand demon licked his lips and let a gutt wrenching laugh. A fist came towards them in rapid speed. Some how Sabito had gotten up grabbing Giyuu's blade.

"Sabito!" Giyuu yelled out going after Sabito. Though Sabito had already started a fight. With it winding through the woods Giyuu following close behind. Saving him from here and their. If Giyuu felt Sabito was going to get hit he'd throw Sabito a few feet away. Outside of that following close beside them. Till he was too slow. Giyuu was getting ready to move Sabito back when the Demon nicked Sabito's vertebrae. Partially disabling Sabito.

"Sabito!" Giyuu yelled out as he grabbed Sabito hastily running off. "Everything will be okay! Just wait! We.we will get you better just you wait!" Giyuu continued sprinting away with Sabito.

"Mm.. I.. I feel so numb. Giyuu promise me after this you'll help me get better right?" Sabito said semi frantically. Trying to move his legs but they'd only twitch. "Giyuu tell me I'll be okay!"

Giyuu was completely silent as he continued onward. Never back down at Sabito he had too. It was no longer safe here. He could feel 'it'. The damn thing that marked him. He doesn't now how it got through the wisteria but it's here. Watching him. He can't bring attention that he knows that it is there. He can't be accused of conspiracy and not even be a demon slayer. He felt his hair pin switch and hum like it was resonating with the demon. Dammit, he really needs to pick up the pace if he wants to out run this thing. No way is it letting him go.

"I know you sense me. Giyuu, Tomioka child of the North Sea. Why do you deny that I am the one that marked you."

"I do not know you. Now go this isn't a safe place to talk if your so blind to see that." Giyuu responded quietly as he continued to walk Sabito had long sense passed out do to physical exhaustion. Laying limp in his arms and a steady pulse following after.

"Our Fates are very easily entangled. I assume you are well aware of this?"

Giyuu looked over his shoulder seeing the demon had taken a human form. "If you ever turn me into one of you, I will first kill you and the other Uppermoons before enjoying the warmth of a glittering dawn. I pray that would be my outcome." Giyuu continued to the mountains summit with the demon nearby. The walk was quite with the demon occasionally stepping closer to get a better look of Giyuu clearly fascinated with him.

"Say what was your father's legacy?" The demon questioned making small talk as they neared the top the moon high in the sky. Radiating the mountain in milk white coolness as small butterflies surrounded them.

"He was said to come from a moon goddess and a River spirit. In which I accept both of my parents' philosophes. I find both beautiful and enchanting and worthing of being thoroughly remember and not forgotten." Giyuu responded calmly. Grabbing two ribbons from the banister that held them. "Though I have been told I look much like a moon fae. I cannot blame them. My blue eyes seem to draw in people. Whether I like it or not. It is quite a lot for me to process myself to be honest.

"Even you find it hard to believe it? How interesting. Well. Your 'glimmering dawn' is almost here. Though I wish I could stay longer." The demon placed a thin necklace around Giyuu as he slipped back into the shadows. Giyuu gaze seemed to haze with irritation and exhaustion. 'What was with this guy and giving trinkets. The amount he had received was starting to get annoying.

"Okay Sabito.. lets... go to sleep now.." With that Giyuu layed against a cold tree that felt nice to his sweating body. Cradling his heavily injured friend that was peacefully sleeping. Though standing in that demon's presence without falling to your knees was always hard and nearly seemed impossible. How was he able to when he was only 7? Unless the demon was holding back to draw him in. Either way he was glad he was able to stand properly in front of him and have a semi normal conversation. He would normally just yap and the other would listen which was very... therapeutic.

Laying his head down Giyuu slowly felt himself slipping into a very deep slumber, probably for the better. By the time Giyuu had woken up dusk was mere glimpses away. The frosty purples and peaches blending together like sand kicked up in a storm. Such beauty was rare a fleeting in the eyes of the world. Though to himself it was something that would stain the world forever. "I forget such things exist though what for I wonder. To torment or to remind us of how things could've been?" Giyuu mumbled under his breath as he looked down at his still slumbering friend. "Don't worry we will get out of here together, Sabito.

Chapter Text

"Mmm.. 2 more days Sabito then we can go home. You can get properly healed." Giyuu said softly as he looked at his friend it wasn't going to be easy but bare able. "I really do not want to carry you Sabito. I do not understand why you had to go and get yourself even more hurt than you already were."

"Yeah? Gosh I really was being an idiot wasn't I?"

"Yes you were being an idiot at the time going against your 'Cherish your life fully and don't carelessly throw it away' memo." Though it seemed your majestic attempt at heroism had saved us some time in getting to the top of the mountain quicker as you were moving. Though I am starting to realize something. I believe I.. I am deviating from Water Breathing. I feel connected to it but disconnected at the same time." Giyuu admitted out sheepishly not really knowing how to explain it. Him and Sabito had always joked about how they would have to fight to see who would become Water Hashira first. Though what if Giyuu became a different styled breather.

"Deviating? You believe you are deviating from water breathing? That is very interesting. Though why do you believe that? If I had to guess you're just taking a more defensive form of.. oh wait you might actually be. Wait! That means we could both be Hashiras. We could be Hashira twins! I'm what and you'll be what ever you become! Sabito said cheerfully.

"You can be oddly joyful to my response of maybe no longer being a water Hashira. You really are weird. I don't understand you half the time." Giyuu responded quietly as he continued on their descent down the mountain. The descent down the mountain normally would take 1-2 days but caring for an injured it might be 2-3 days just enough to get back and leave at the correct time for final selection.

"Say Giyuu who was with us when we went up the mountain? I only remember a thick gruely voice that sounded like ocean depths. Along with why did you ignore him the whole time, at least when I was awake." Sabito questioned, looking up at Giyuu's ocean blue eyes. Those eyes never portrayed anything whether he liked it or not. Though Giyuu faced stilled as he stalled unsure of what he should do exactly.

"Oh him. Yes. He is something to say the least he is someone I've know a bit." Giyuu said quietly rolling his head over his mark. I silent yes to the person that he thinking about. That demon had some how gotten into here.

Looking at Giyuu's neck Sabito saw a new necklace a brand new crescent moon necklace on Giyuu's neck same as his hair pin. "He gave you that? Wait.. How did that demon even get in here?

"I wish I could give you an answer to why he is so attached me I would I really wish I could give you an answer." Giyuu responded disappointedly, as he continued on their long walk down the mountain. The roots of trees stuck up everywhere making it a bit harder to get through the area.

"Damned trees. I really hate these things they're everywhere. Ugh.." Giyuu groaned as he shifted Sabito on his back better, so it was easier on his back. He had been carrying Sabito for about 6 hours and they were about a quarter of the way down the mountain side. The steep slopes had almost had him over the edge to who knows where. Luckily Urokodaki had trained them to be able to get along those edges with uneven weight. That said it wasn't any easier than it would be normally without training just more bearable. "Sabito not to be mean but you really are a biggie."

"What. Dude really of all times you call me a biggie? You're the one that once eat 10 trays of Soba in one go. And you're the one calling me a biggie." Sabito to seriously looking at his dear friend who was looking very annoyed at the back handed call out.

"You are really a pain in my butt. Though my statement stays true. I'm only 2 inches shorter than you and I weigh 25 pounds less than you do." Giyuu said with a tone that was a mix of annoyance and anger. Then shifting Sabito so he was being carried bridal style just so Giyuu's back could get a break. He continued to wall every once in a while, asking Sabito to move his legs to make sure they were still moving and he still had movement in his legs. Giving both of them hope that Sabito would someday be able to go back to normal and make a full recovery.

"Hey Giyuu if you were to make a new breathing style what would you call it? Let's think what you would if you did create a new form. I mean Urokodaki does think you have long term hypothermia. Which now that I am thinking about it what is that? Sabito tilts his head looking up a Giyuu. His eyes catching the new necklace around his neck. Wait you didn't have that before.." Sabito reaches up to touch it feeling the demonic power surging through it. "Is that from him? Giyuu why didn't you tell me? Sensei told you not to except anything from him that if he did it means he's... he is advancing on you that his powers can seep through the jewelry into you!"

"Sabito. He put of me himself I tried to take it off but. There is no clasp on the necklace. Even though it looks really loose it's just tight enough I can't slip it off of my head. I tried doing it before you woke up. It seems he is making sure I'm safe in away. Giyuu's body swayed softly as he continued to walk exhaustion getting to him, but Giyuu knew they need to get as far as they could. There was still the problem with the hand demon and that you absolutely needed to leave Final Selection on the 7 days to show that you could survive on your own and be a successful Demon Slayer. He kept his mind focused and aware.

"You can't get it off? What kind of crap are you trying to tell me now? You let that demon put a necklace on you with no clasp that you some how got on your head but You can't take off? You really are an idiot for letting that demon get so close to you." Sabito spat out trying to punch Giyuu but Sabito was still heavily exhausted and failed half way through his punch. His arm flaring weakly to his side. Sabito was surprised that his body was this weak he had thought he had a lot more energy that this. I stunned him quite thoroughly. He had always been a very strong person, was this how the weak felt? He hated it. He knew Giyuu wouldn't leave or hurt him but putting all his trust in one person was terrifying.

"Have a realization? That the weak are really just that? Weak." Giyuu responded calmly looking down at Sabito, sympathy curling in his eyes. "Though back to before you tried and failed to punch me. One, I would go with Ocean Breathing a style that would use my long term Hypothermia to my use as I am naturally colder and my heart beat is mildly slower that the normal human hearts. I would use it to my advantage. Maybe I'd call the first form.. "Dead Calm" When I've watched Urokodaki training I've seen that he doesn't have a heavily defense forced form. I'm not sure what it would be though.

Sabito looked up at Giyuu absolutely shocked. How could he notice that. He always seemed to be the better observer but apparently not because Giyuu had noticed a giant hole in the breathing Style that was one of the original breathing styles and hadn't had a new form in 300 years. Giyuu wasn't even a demon slayer yet and he was noticing these things. "Giyuu you are crazy how could you even notice that?" Sabito asked still very stunned at what was happening at this very moment.

"I am the crazy one? Well I don't really care. I'm focused on your previous questions that you had asked before your current rant. I would've moved away from Kokushibo if it didn't feel like I would fall to my knees every time I'm beside him. He it is very difficult for me to move. I do not have the strength to try to fend for myself when next him at least not yet. I will be able to move by him soon enough." Giyuu told Sabito as they continued on descent down the mountain. Though fatigue was slowly cling to Giyuu slowing him down more and more. Seeing the moon high in the sky looked around softly finding an open field with tall limbering grass they could hide in, a perfect spot to rest.

Giyuu slowly walked over to field. The feeling in his legs were going out he could feel, he had pushed himself to far. He need to no has to rest. He has to rest so he has energy to save Sabito. I found grass that was layed down and put together from were deer had bedded a perfect spot it would look completely natural. "Sabito... lets lay down." With that he felt his legs give out. Feeling himself fall backwards felt so relaxing.

"You really are to careless Giyuu." He felt hand soft grip his forearms. Sabito looked completely stunned his body shuddering as he looked at the person holding up him and Giyuu up.

"W.who are you?" Sabito was able to shudder out looking at the demon with multiple eyes, mostly focused on Giyuu. He felt the demon sit down Giyuu's head in his lap as he slept quietly. "What do you want from us?

"I am Kokushibo. The demon the marked your dear friend. I'm merely making sure that he is safe and doesn't die from exhaustion. Though what did he mean by he has long term Hypothermia? What happened to him?" Kokushibo growls out at Sabito staring at him intently.

"When we found him he was chest high in snow he was on the very edge of death. We were able to nurse him back to health but his body didn't seem to recover properly. Another thing for you to answer!" Sabito yells getting his confidence back. "Why did you mark Giyuu and why do you keep giving him jewelry? Are you planning on taking him? If you do you have to take me too!" Sabito yelled at him, his hands holding himself up.

"Are you offering yourself to be marked?" Kokushibo leans in breath close to Sabito's neck. Eyes looking back at him. Though he soon retreated and went back to making sure Giyuu was okay. Softly playing with hair and softly smiling. While for Sabito was completely stunned full body tremors shooting through his body as he tried to calm down desperately.

"I will.. kill you.." Sabito muttered out. trying to resist the power of Kokushibo's aura.

"Just go to sleep kid." With that Kokushibo knocked Sabito out tired of his senseless yapping. "Such reckless children Kokushibo said he adjusted then. Kokushibo was sitting crisscross with Giyuu's head in lap and Sabito was laying on top of Giyuu comfortably. "Hmm.. You two banter like siblings but you also care for each other like siblings. Sabito I will only protect you because Giyuu cares for you but the moment you two drift away from each other I will no longer protect you.

The next morning as expected Kokushibo was no where to be seen but in Giyuu's hair was a ribbon weaved into his hair the iridescent ribbon was another clear mark of Kokushibo.

"I hate that guy so much." Sabito said looking over to Giyuu very much annoyed as he tried to take out the ribbon. Suddenly Sabito pulls his hand away. The Fabric seemed to have micro needles in it like fiber glass shards. "Ow. F*cking ribbon. That Demon was aware I'd try to take it out."

"Hmm.. was he here?" Giyuu asked softly not knowing how to think of the predicament they are in now. Though now he was a lot more bubblier thanks to finally getting some proper sleep and feeling happy that Sabito is doing well. "We should be going now though today we should be able to make it to the bottom of the mountain without a worry!"

Sabito stared out Giyuu blank minded. "Are you sure you aren't messed up in the head. How do you go from almost stabbing my eye out to bubbly little kid in two days. I am seriously questioning my sanity and my friendship with you." He stated quietly as he stares into the thick grass surrounding them.

"You can evaluate my mental state when we get home." Giyuu got up and stretched before picking Sabito back up adjusting him on Giyuu's back. "Ready?" Giyuu asks happily as he starts a brisk jog

Sabito looked a Giyuu concerned for what may happen to him. How fragile was his mental state? Did he only make it worse by being so unreasonable? He had barely survived the Hand demon the first time. And now they don't have a sword because he had to have a round two. Now with no sense of protection... Dammit he really was an idiot. He had no concern for his best friends health. Yet he preached valuing every life yet he disvalued Giyuu's life. "Giyuu... Im sorry for being so... reckless."

Giyuu looked back at his best friend and smiled.

The rest of their travels were easy though when it came to picking ores for their swords Sabito was very confused and started touching them while Giyuu looked at them intently seeing how in the sun the color changed in the sun light. Then he saw one with a deep blue hue and pointed it.

"This one please." Giyuu said softly to the lady that was handling the ore gifting. "What about you Sabito? Which one will you pick?"

Sabito looked up starled as he looks back the ore in his hand. It felt hard put also soft like it could easily flex yet be sturdy enough maybe this time it wouldn't snap!

"Yeah I think I did actually Giyuu." He looked at the lady handing her the ore. "This is the one I want."

The woman looked at the two boys as Sabito heavily relied on Giyuu to even stand.

"I wish you luck home." The woman replied softly.
"I see great things happening in your lives Sirs.

With that it was back to their home with their father figure Urokodaki.

Walking back was rough as Giyuu still had to carry Sabito the whole way home. Though they chatted most of the way. Doing little stops here and there. Though at one of their stops Giyuu had tried to take out the braid in his hair only to feel the fabric move weaving deeper into his hair to much of his despair.

"It's like a snake. No matter how hard to you try to grab it, it just slithers some where else... ugh." Giyuu whined as the fabric just seemed to continue as he tried pulling it out. "Why do I have to be the one stuck with this damn thing in my hair?..."

"You're the one that got involved with a demon that seems obsessed with you. You could use that the Corps advantage in knowing where Upper 1 may be at all times." Sabito retorted back.

"I... presume we can but are you willing to lose me if that back fires. He very well might kidnap me. I can never sense the intent to kill when he is by me." Giyuu looks at Sabito dead pan. "Are you willing to lose me?"

Sabito looked at Giyuu stilling he hadn't thought that far. Was he really willing to loose Giyuu. The two had become inseparable, plus there was Upper 1 saying that as long as he meant something to Giyuu he was safe. Though regardless he can't stand the thought of loosing Giyuu. "No I couldn't"

"Then we tell no one. No will ever have to know about him." Giyuu responded picking up Sabito again. "Lets go home now."

"Home." Sabito responded back cheerfully as the continued.

By dusk they had made it home to see their teacher waiting for the surprised that both of his students had made it home though it seemed like one was more injured than the other. Giyuu was ecstatic to see Urokodaki running over to him Sabito on his back.

"Urokodaki! Were home! See we both made it out!" Giyuu said happily looking up at Urokodaki.

"What happened to you Sabito." Urokodaki asked.

"Got my spine nicked by a pretty powerful demon that seemed to have a vendetta against you which spread to us." Sabito admitted. Which hearing that snapped Giyuu out of something and he still his eyes darkening. Tears welling in his eyes. "I failed in the one thing i told you. I told you I wouldn't you get hurt.."

"Hmm.. How long ago did this happen Sabito?" Urokodaki questioned softly picking him up. "What happened out their why is this reaction of Giyuu's so delayed.

"We had 2 run ins with upper 1 for one of the occasions I fell asleep as it was after I had gotten into the fight with that demon and Giyuu might have had a mental break. He took out his hair pin tried to stab me then snapped out of it, then Upper 1 visited and Giyuu was still acting the same maybe a little happier trying to brighten the mood He also had a new necklace from it. Then the 2 time Upper 1 found us in the middle of a field were we were taking refuge in for the night. Giyuu was fast asleep and He told me that as long as I made Giyuu happy he would protect me then knocked me out. When we woke up he braided a ribbon in Giyuu's hair that when you touch it feels like fiber glass is going into your hand but it doesn't effect Giyuu but it only gets more stuck in his hair and after that he's been really happy." Sabito tried summarizing

"The ribbon must've been Upper 1 calming Giyuu. It might have demonic traces that feed on negatively in which Giyuu hadn't realized how badly you were hurt." Urokodaki stated calmly while drawing Giyuu in close as Giyuu cried in to him.

"He also believes be may be deviating smally from Water breathing.." Sabito muttered out.

"That's okay with me Sabito as long as you come back I'll be happy." Urokodaki said voice softening as he holds his kids closer. "Now you have get back to training how to use those legs again. You should be able to walk again if you work hard enough."

"Can I train too? I want to become stronger make sure that Sabito can never be hurt again. Ill never let him be hurt again. I also want to be able to defend myself from Kokushibo properly. I've heard only Hashira's are able to do that properly so I'll become one to keep everyone I love safe!" Giyuu stated loudly and with full sureness.

The next few weeks were hard and grueling Sabito often stayed walking/shuffling around while holding onto walls as he relearned how to walk all the while Giyuu became hyperfocused on trained spending hours deep in the woods praticing. As the diverged further and further from Water breathing into what he named Ocean breathing. It's forms required the slowing of the heart and stillness of the mind like the depth of the Ocean. Each form slowly started to come together as he trained. He would never let himself deviate from his goal. As he went on he wrote down the forms.

Ocean Breathing 1st Form: Dead calm
-ceases any body movements and enter a state of complete defense, deflect and block\ any incoming attacks with imperceptible speed. effectiveness is limited as fast and numerous attacks can breakthrough.

Ocean Breathing 2nd Form: Sea Floor Marieda
-User moves around at speeds that seem incredibly slow causing an array of a multitude of attacks to hit a demon all at once

Ocean Breathing 3rd Form: Kelpies Feast
-Involves the person drawing in a demon by staying still then once in range jumping into the air and at High speeds like a Kelpie downing its prey.

The forms all require stillness and rapid movement that happen in a blink the eyes so the heart has to be significantly slowed down meaning it could possibly lead to heart failure if not trained properly in which that is what Giyuu did. He has slowly slowed is heart beat day to day and practices his normal training with it teaching his body how to be in this constant state of having a slowed heart beat. He knows it is dangerous but he can never have another person he cares about so deeply hurt again. He will not allow that to happen. He will never loose someone again even if meant almost killing himself to do it. And if that was the consequence for keeping people safe he would doit over and over again no matter how painful. He hadn't even tried out all of his plans yet too. He was going to become someone great he will get rid of the mark on his neck that a blasted demon left and the pieces of its jewelry on his body will be gone finally then would he rest and no longer worry.

Chapter Text

Giyuu couldn't believe how he could be late to this mission! He didn't even want to think about if he was late to save those he needed too. He vowed he wouldn't let that happen again after what had happened to Sabito. Though he also didn't want to get overly attached to someone ever again. So even though he had been a Hashira since he was 15 in a half he hadn't gotten close to any of the other Hashiras outside of Sabito. Which Giyuu had become the Ocean Hashira and Sabito, the Water Hashira.

Everyone always said he was like a distant tidal wave waiting to crash down. Someone that seemed harmless but was incredibly powerful. He had often visited Kanae before death, which was still very recent. That demon was extremely strong; he had accidently stumbled upon her when Shinobu had found her due to Kanzaburo, guiding him in the wrong direction for a mission. Seeing the tears flood Shinobu’s eyes, he truly felt bad for her. Reminding him how he felt when Tsutako died.

Though as he traveled up the mountain the smell of blood became very noticeable. The scent seemed to lay heavy on the mountain like a veil of despair. There was no doubt in his mind that this was a demon attack with how far it was from any towns. He quickened his pace as his sister's haori blew in the wind elegantly. That ribbon was still in his hair that Kokushibo had braided into his hair around 5 years ago, though at this point it acted more like an actual strand of his hair than a ribbon. He still wore the hairpin by choice but not the necklace. He would often have delayed reactions thanks to the gifts as they partially absorbed his emotions.

Which also made him a little colder as his normal emotions would be completely absorbed. Sabito had to retrain Giyuu on looking at facial structures to see if someone was feeling something. That was very useful, though Giyuu could tell the slightest twitch in someone's face and know how they feel. Which Sabito greatly regretted as Giyuu would ask if he was okay because his face twitched this way or another. It became very creepy at times.

As for Sabito, he had made a full recovery from his partial paralysis though sometimes he has terrible back pains if he moved wrong or forgot his meds. Which also allowed the master to accept that both Giyuu and Sabito had dual missions in case Sabito’s injury acted up but this mission was a one-person job that Giyuu could take care of.

Though centering his mind back to where it mattered most we looked into the snow. He had long since gotten over his fear of snow. That doesn't mean he fully trusts it all the time though. He had made it to a home near the top of the mountain. Whole family slain. 5 people. 1 mother, 4 kids, brutal. Their bodies were obviously killed just for entertainment by the demon. Not a single body was eaten, just cruelly slain. Rot was yet to set in so he should be able to quickly bury these bodies. Or at least cover their faces, there are footprints in the snow. Survivors that he had to go hunt down.

Sure, it wouldn't be hard, just more annoying than anything as the tracks will soon fade. Giyuu quickly adjusted the deads' bodies in a respectful way before running down the mountain following the trail.

When he finally got to the end of the trail he saw that they had slipped off the edge into the snow. He looked around spotting two people, one of them was trying to hold the other back. One had obviously become a demon. Great now he has to kill this demon.

Jumping off the cliff he grabbed the girl by the scruff of her Kimono, throwing her into the air and off of the person she was attacking, who luckily had a hatchet on them to protect themselves. He was doing the initial start for Ocean Breathing 3rd Form: Kelpies Feast. Just as he was about to jump up the boy had grabbed his leg. Causing him to trip into the snow face first.

"You damn brat. Can't you see she is a demon!?" Giyuu yelled angrily as round house kicked the boy as he got up. Sending the boy rolling into a tree "Serves you right."

The boy gasped as he was hit square in the chest. He felt the air leave his lungs, eyes tearing up as he watched his mysterious trying to kill his sister right in front of him. What did he mean by demon? His sister wasn't a demon, she just needed help! Tanjiro got up as fast he could, running back to protect his sister once more.

"Why do you protect her?" Giyuu sneered out as they circled them slowly drawing closer. "4th Form Oceans Abundant Mirage." The form he was using was a winding form that was used for getting around certain opponents to the target. Giyuu slowly got into the correct stance as he waited to see what the boy would say.

"S-Sister! She's my little sister!" Tanjiro yelled out back at holding her back with a hatchet he had on himself. He felt Nezuko squirming and growling and this mysterious guy losing faith in him.

"That is your little sister?" Giyuu stared back at him, getting out of stance to seem a little less threatening. Though he never took his eyes off of the siblings he couldn't trust what they might do.

"GRAH!!! RAAGH!!" The girl started yelling out as she started to hiss and growl trying to escape her brother's grasp desperately.

Giyuu saw the situation and launched himself forward swiftly, snatching the girl from her brother's grasp. Though he tried to block him he was much too slow to even stand a chance of protecting his sister from him. He watched as the boy looked around desperately for where he had gone as Giyuu firmly held her wrists in his clutch and far from the brother.

Tanjiro realizing this guy had his sister he yelled out "Nezuko!" He was in extreme panic as he noticed how dire the situation was.

Giyuu responded softly though still with some sternness remembering how Sabito told him softening your voice makes people calm down better. "Don't move."

He saw how the boy only tensed up more. Was this the wrong time to use a softer tone? He was just trying to calm his boy; he did just lose his whole family.

"Killing demons is my job" Giyuu said plainly as he felt the girl squirm in grasp only getting more irritated and growly. To which he responded with tightening his grip harshly. "So of course, I'll take your little sister's head too." Giyuu said plainly and absent mindedly not really putting much thought into how it might affect the young boy. Good or bad.

“WAIT! Nezuko hasn’t killed anyone!” Tanjiro yelled out desperately trying to make a valid case for his sister. Hoping that maybe he could convince this guy to spare his sister. “There was a scent at my house…” Tanjiro stuttered out his brain, not successfully putting his words together as he wanted didn’t help. “...From someone I’ve never smelled before!” He yelled out feeling the adrenalin flow though his veins rapidly. “That must be who killed everyone!” Tanjiro yelled out desperately “Not Nezuko! I don’t know what’s making her act like this…” He shuddered out, his breathing tensing. “But…” He said about to continue.

“That’s easy. Demon blood got in her wound, so she’s transformed into a demon” Giyuu stated plainly not listening to the girl's growls as she tried to rear back into him in a way to escape. “That is how man-eating demons multiply.” Giyuu started staring right into Tanjiro, his face seemed devoid of emotions as he spoke.

“Nezuko would never eat anyone!” Tanjiro yelled out the anger on his face that was really starting to show along with his desperation. As his breathing got heavier sweat dripping down his face.

Giyuu looked very confused at this kid. To think Sabito called him delusion then this kid had gone headfirst into the looney bin. "A moment ago, she almost ate you!" Stated blandly really questioning this kid's mental state.

"No! I'm sure she knows who I am!" Tanjiro yelled back, sure of what he saw happen. Knowing that his sister was still good she had even shed tears looking at him! “I won't let her hurt anyone!” Tanjiro yelled out desperately. “I'll find a way to cure her! I'll make her human again!” Tanjiro looked at this man's eyes trying to see a change in his expression that his pleading was working.

Giyuu looked at him quietly and said, “She won't get better.” He looked at the boy as he fell deeper into despair. “A human who becomes a demon cannot go back.” He stated like it was a simple truth.

“I’ll find a way! I swear! Please don’t kill her! Tanjiro yelled out he could feel the cold weather bit as his body the air entering his lungs felt like needles as his face flushed trying to warm itself.

The snow only seemed to grow heavier very close to causing snow blindness if not careful enough. Though both people stood at a standstill one trying to convince the other that he should spare his sister.

“I’ll also find the one that killed my family!” Tanjiro shouted more urgently. “I’ll do all that so…” He stumbled over his words. “...so…” shoot he didn’t know what to say.

“...So…” Tanjiro tried to say. “SHNNG” The brandishing of a sword was very distinct as Giyuu drew his sword pointing it at Nezuko. Nezuko stilled looking at the sword fangs still bared.

“Stop!” Tanjiro yelled out, moving a step forward without hesitation.

Giyuu saw the boy was obviously going through some sort of turmoil and wasn’t sure what to do next. He was also starting to get irritated at this kid. He should’ve killed this girl a long time ago but for some reason he hadn’t. Maybe he wanted to see what kind of case this boy could argue for his sister.

Tanjiro fell to the ground head buried into the snow in a deep bow. “Please, stop.” The fear in his voice was like the ocean crashing on rocks. “Please don’t kill my little sister!” His voice was very evidently shaky, “please…”

Giyuu looked at the kid as he let out another “please…” All interest he had in this kid was now gone. He was being even more stupid than he was when he got ticked off at Sabito that one time during Final Selection. He felt the rage burning in his heart overriding the powers of the jewelry that was meant to calm him. “Never leave yourself so Defenseless in front of an enemy!” He yelled with a deep ferocity he felt all of his rage surfacing to yell at this stupid kid.

Tanjiro flinched instinctively as he didn’t know this stoic man could blow up like this and become so ferocious.

“Stop bowing so pitifully!” Giyuu yelled out loudly as he glared at the boy. His body tensing up a little. “If that worked, your family would still be alive!” He yelled out he could feel the cooling effect of Kokushibo’s jewelry trying to absorb his emotions quick enough to calm him down to no avail. “How can a weakling like you, who bows down when it’s time to fight, to kill or be killed… How can such a man…” Giyuu heaved out “...Cure his little sister? Or even find his enemy?” Tanjiro could only stare in silence as the man continued on. “If you want something…” He tightened his grip on the girl as his voice started to rise. “...You must fight for it!” Giyuu could feel as his body tensed further, his body heating up rapidly and his heart started racing.

“The meek have no power and no options! Giyuu stated as the boy gave him a blank stare no longer bowing “The strong will crush them in every way! Demons might know how to cure your little sister…” Giyuu sighed “...but..” He tightened his grip further. “... No demon will respect whining and begging!” He didn’t care that he was absolutely destroying this kid, with his words.

“And for that matter I don’t respect you either!” Giyuu yelled, shifting Nezuko so she couldn’t get a stable footing. “That’s reality! Before…” He felt Nezuko trying to rear up again as he dodged her. “Why did you cover your sister? Did you think that would protect her?!” Giyuu continued to break down Tanjiro, making him into a blank slate with Giyuu’s own anger. “Why didn’t you throw your hatchet? Why did you show me your back?!” Giyuu held his sword toward Tanjiro. The shimmering blue blade gleamed with how sharp it was. “That’s how I was able to take her! I should have skewered you both!” He didn’t give Nezuko any mind as she threw herself around.

Tanjiro didn’t know what to think as his mind raced. This man had a point he needed to be strong but how could he? Tears started to prick his eyes and blur his vision

‘Don’t cry. Don’t despair.’ Giyuu felt himself finally calm down. ‘Those things will do you no good. Your family is dead and your sister has become a demon. Your heart is crushed. I know your pain, how you must want to cry out. If I’d come half a day sooner…” He felt his heart clench as look down at the necklace around his neck remembering his end goal. To kill the demon whose necklace was around his neck yet comforted him so much the one that caused so much turmoil in his life.

‘Your family might have survived. But there is no turning back time. Fill your heart with anger. Strong, pure, anger…’ He lowered his sword as he stared intently at the boy. ‘...That gives no quarter. Anger that becomes the unwavering force that drives your limbs. Weakness and empty promises..’ He lifted his sword pointing it to the demon beside him in his grasp. ‘...Cannot protect your sister or find her a cure. And they certainly cannot avenge your family.’ With that he hardened his resolve charging his sword forward into the demon with a crisp ‘SHNK’ right into her shoulder. The girl let out a high-pitched yell as the pain shot through her body.

“Nooo!” Tanjiro yelled out, digging his hand into the snow, finding a stone firmly in his hand and launching it at the man to stall him from harming his sister in any shape or form. To this Giyuu was a little surprised that the boy completely stalled by shock had so quickly gotten over it.. Though it didn’t stop is as he blocked it with the handle of his sword with a light ‘KTAK’

Tanjir then ran behind a tree with his hatchet with mild swiftness to Giyuu at most. His motivation was now firm; he was going to take down this man and save his sister.
Right as he was about to go behind another tree he threw another rock at the man. Though the man dodged it, the rock went between him and Nezuko. Meanwhile Nezuko had bitten Giyuu’s haori, pulling at it roughly though never tearing it.

Giyuu saw the boy running at him yelling loudly with his arms back as he was probably getting ready to swing his hatchet at him. He pulled the girl off of him and turned her away, focused on the boy. ‘A simple head-on attack relying on pure emotion. What a fool!’ Giyuu was really starting to get annoyed at this boy. Using the bottom of his sword to hit him in on a pressure point on his neck knocking him out, with a loud ‘THOK’.

He watched as the boy fell face first into the snow. When he looked at the demon he saw an expression of stun on her face and a hint of worry. Though looking back at the boy he had realized something crucial ‘Where is his hatchet?’ With that Giyuu looked up quickly out of instinct. He saw a hatchet coming towards him about 4 feet away spinning. As his senses realized the danger it was only a few feet away thinking quickly he moved his head out of the way, the hatchet cutting off a bit of his hair. Dammit, Sabito is going to be furious at his negligence of the situation and almost getting himself hurt.

Though he thought ‘Just before passing behind the tree, he threw a rock…’ He slowly moved away from the tree looking at the hatchet. ‘... And while hidden by the tree he threw his hatchet. He hid his hand so I wouldn’t see he was unarmed. He knew he couldn’t win against me, so his plan was to strike me down after I killed him. This kid…’

Before he was able to finish that train of thought he felt the girl suddenly gain a firm footing, kicking him away and going for the boy. He readied himself quickly after stumbling back a few steps ‘No! I’m too late!’ Giyuu thought as he ran toward the boy though right as he was about to attack. ‘She’s about to eat him!’

Though when he looked at the demon he saw something that struck him at the core. The boy's voice echoed in his head ‘Nezuko, Nezuko would never eat anyone! Not Nezuko!’ This demon was protecting the boy and only had hostility to Giyuu, not her brother. Was this the breakthrough Kanae prayed for?

‘He wouldn’t be the first to say that and then get eaten anyway’ Giyuu muttered as he dodged Nezuko’s attacks. It has reminded him of two brothers where one ended up devouring the other. ‘Starving demons will kill and eat their own parents and siblings. Because they need the energy. I’ve seen it countless times. This girl is injured. It costs her strength…’ He saw the girl back away to go back to brother’s side like the attack she did was to scare him off. ‘And focusing her anger on me.’ Giyuu put his hands on the scaber and hilt of his sword drawing in out. ‘These two may be different’ With that he got into the proper stance to attack as the girl launched herself at him. With a swift motion he used a flat hand to hit her right below the ear to knock her out.

Now he had two unconscious children in the snow. Just the situation he wanted to be in. Though looking around he spotted an area where some bamboo was growing. Maybe using some fabric and a piece of bamboo could work as a muzzle? He walked over the patch of bamboo cutting down a stock and cutting it so it would fit in the girl's mouth. He then thought it would be best to get her some warmer clothing as their trip to Urokodaki’s won’t be easy. Knowing Sabito he will want to see Urokodaki’s soon to be new student. Another fox joining the pack. Along with wanting to spare probably.

Going back to the house he decided to remove the snow from an area beside the house so the boy could more quickly bury his family. Walking through the home he could feel all the warm memories that resonated through the area. This family truly was a happy one, if only he gotten here quicker. Looking around he found a blue-ish gray haori that could keep the girl warm.

Heading back down to where the siblings were they both were out cold which was good. He put the haori on the girl as he adjusted the girl bringing her over to her brother as he found a nice tree rest against. Looking up Giyuu spotted Kanzaburo, he softly called over the old crow as he reached out his arm so he could perch. Kanzaburo hearing the call flew down landing on Giyuu's head. Giyuu laughed as he gently took the old crow off his arm and cradled the crow in his arms. Gently helping him preen any pin feathers he couldn't get, along with giving him soft kisses and whispering to Kanzaburo about much of a good bird he was.

After some time, the siblings finally woke up at least the older brother. He quickly reached for his sister making sure she was there and started crying a bit seeing that his sister was spared and safe. Though he swiftly sat up looking Giyuu who was standing among the trees looking at them with a blank stare. He woke up Kanzaburo and used his arm to give him some momentum to fly away.

Giyuu looked back the siblings stating, "Go see an old man named Sakonji Urokodaki who lives at the foot of Mount. Sagiri. Tell him the Giyuu Tomioka sent you. Your sister should be fine because the sun isn't out today, but don't let her into direct sunlight." With that he vanished into the snowy weather leaving the older brother confused.

After Giyuu had gotten some ways away he slowed his pace. He looked down at the necklace on his neck it had slowly started to turn purple to magenta hue. Giving him a clear sign of who was coming. The one thing that could have people thinking he was a traitor.

"Kokushibo. Why are you here?" Giyuu asked as he turned around looking up. There stood the ever feared Upper 1, holding a new piece of jewelry. A crescent moon earing. Giyuu slowly backed up trying to get away. He had vowed he wouldn't let this demon add another piece of jewelry to him. Plus, his ears weren't even pierced.

"You never used to be this resistant to me tell me why you are now?", He walked closer pinning Giyuu against a tree his body restrained in grasp though his touch wasn't rough it was and loving Giyuu hated it. Why had this demon fallen in love with him.

Though for Kokushibo he had only fallen in love with Giyuu a few months ago. It had started out as interest then into a more protective nature then into a kind of weird twisted love. He had also sensed a huge amount of stress from Giyuu so he just wanted to make sure was safe and not having a mental break. With that he pushed the earing into Giyuu's ear blood slowly dripping down and a response to that Kokushibo gently licked it up as Giyuu struggled in his grasp then letting go a disappearing leaving Giyuu shaking on his knees in the snow.

Chapter Text

Okay so this isn't an actually chapter just a review on what is going on and for any questions that you guys have.

First of all please read my chapter reviews/notes they are very important as I state were my brain is going for this story and I'm being serious. I will add Warnings if you guys want when
A. Giyuu has his mental breaks
B. Kokushibo forces himself upon Giyuu
C. Any other sensitive subjects that may come up like Sabito have paralysis episodes

I really just want to get this a crossed. When I say this is an enemies to lovers it is. I write Giyuu in away were he deeply hates Kokushibo and this will last for a long time as this is a slow burn and I want to write about the mental anguish Giyuu will go through and the tole it takes on him. I also stay true to how characters are in the manga and In the manga Kokushibo is a very selfish man that does things that only fuel is motives no matter whom that may be.

Second of all I will be drawing at adding little pictures of what is going on just so guys have little visuals.
{{This is also kind of a lead in to my other story "The Fall of Eyan" which is in very early production and I have finally gotten a concept I like down. So for anyone who likes my writing style and the work I do Chapter 1 is in the works and my half finish story line is posted.}}
Though going back to why I am writing this update. I want to make this story 350k ish words long and with the amount I am writing every chapter which I will be trying to increase significantly. I am happy to announce there will be

45 chapters to this!

*REVIEW TIME*

-Giyuu has deviated from Water breathing to Ocean Breathing.
-Giyuu is an arsonists who set his childhood home on fire
-Giyuu does have long term Hypothermia
-Sabito has episodes where if he moves wrong or forgets to take his meds his body will go into paralysis which is why Giyuu is almost always with him, Though Sabito is still a very strong do not think either wise.
-The jewelry on Giyuu's body is from Kokushibo and drains his emotions to 'keep him safe and stable'
-Sabito did have to reteach Giyuu how to re-feel emotions and how to read peoples faces to see how they feel a little to well.
-Giyuu is mentally unstable and at times snap
-Kokushibo believes what he does to Giyuu doesn't hurt him.
-Kokushibo ONLY fell in love with Giyuu when he turns 18 as he was truly starting to see how strong Giyuu was becoming forming a twisted love for him.
-Both Giyuu and Sabito are Hashiras
-Yes at times Kokushibo will depicted as violent and manipulative toward both Giyuu and Sabito
-No one outside of Urokodaki and Sabito know about Kokushibo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next Chapter (5)
Will include a direct follow up of chapter 4 and Giyuu will have a mental break for sure is all I will say

I also think every 4-5 chapters I will have a review of what is going on and a place to ask qusestions!

Chapter Text

I hope you guys are ready for Giyuu to have an 2k+ word long Auditory and Visual Hallucination
The chapters will also now hopefully be 5k+ words long which might take me a little longer to take but the chapters will become much more detailed :}

I may also rework Chapters 1 and 2 but I think they are a good starter length to get into the story

Chapter Text

Giyuu sat on the floor stunned that the demon was so close. He felt his coldness against his skin. The way that his claw dug into his skin. Pain still pulsed through his ear as he felt the earring. It had small jewels that dangled down with a crescent moon at the top. Why couldn’t he get away? He felt utterly trapped with no hope of getting out. It was like a wild fox being trapped and toyed with by a hunter. Being freed only to be caught again and toyed with more it felt like he could never be free. He was an animal of prey being toyed with. Softly bitten and licked to be confused then let go.

Why did he have to be the one that a demon desired? He needed to get home back to Sabito. He could feel his body having a mental break as he desperately tried to pull out the earring, though as he tried to take out the earring he could feel tendrils going into his ear holding it fully in place. He could feel his body starting to react viscerally. A small tremor started in his hand and he couldn’t quite keep his eyes focused. He reached out for his haori that had fallen off during the tussle. He could still vividly feel the way his gut churned and twisted as Kokushibo licked his ear. With a swift motion he grabbed his haori.

Giyuu held tightly onto it. The feeling of bile building up in his throat felt like he was being burned from the inside out. Though no matter how much he tried to swallow or puke it up, it’d just stayed there tormenting him. He had no clue how he was going to get through this. Will this blissful snow actually be his death? Was he just doomed to die in a field of snow. He should’ve tried to defend himself! Why did he back away like a coward, He could’ve drawn his sword and put up a fight. No, what was he thinking that was Upper 1. His sword would’ve just been snapped if he tried anything. It might have even made things worse for him. Kokushibo probably would've done two piercings instead of one.

He was just like that boy he had just saved. Useless and unprotected. He couldn’t even think straight. Every thought was on Kokushibo and what he might do next. The thought terrified him and he had no clue how to stop it. The jewelry wasn’t doing anything. Did these emotions bypass the senses of jewelry or was it because these emotions were directed at Kokushibo so they didn’t react. Either way he hated everything to do with that demon. He hated how every time he thought of his past he was there. It was like he was planting seeds of deception in his heart, to make him question everything he thought of as true.

Giyuu was still in the snow, his hand grasping for something to hold onto but all there was. Was snow. The cold feeling in his hands only sent him into a deeper panic that he didn't know how to get out of. He still remembers that night. The night of his sister's death where he had almost died of hypothermia, though at some point he had started hallucinating. He saw all sorts of things approaching him. He could somehow hear how their bones cracked as they moved and how they waited in the trees watching, waiting for him to die like vultures. He could hear their murmured whispers that he was just a poor confused child and that he didn’t need to worry about anything other than if he could keep his own life. The voices said they would take him into their warm embrace. He knew that was a lie he could hear the way their muscles rippled like a snake coiling around its prey.

In the midst of all of it was Kokushibo. He looked more like a human than his 6 eyed self. He looked jealous. He could see it curl in his eyes as he stared at him. Watching waiting for this poor boy to succumb to the hypothermia. Wanting him to die so no one else could have him. The hallucination only got worse. He felt someone touching his hair, moving it out of his face and whispering into his ear about something that was bound to happen, that they were born to be together and no one will separate them no matter how hard they could try. The thing slowly moved to his ear whispering something that sounded a gibberish of words and numbers.

Giyuu slowly stood still going through a visual and auditory hallucination. He looked around and braced himself against a tree. He partially knew what was happening and that he would have to wait this out no matter how long it took for him to get out of this hallucination. He could still feel his hand shaking as he dug his sword into a tree holding into the handle for support. It was getting harder to tell what was real. He had just had that flash back of his first auditory and visual hallucination and they had only gotten worse from there. Normally Sabito would be here to help him but now he was in the middle of nowhere having a hallucination which meant if an actual demon attacked, he wouldn’t be able to tell though.

Would that be so bad? Wait, what was he thinking!? He was a demon slayer; he couldn't just die here to a demon; it was his job to protect humanity. Though everything seemed so calm right now. Giyuu could feel as his head throbbed harder. He leaned over his sword, throwing up bile. He hadn’t eaten anything, so it was pure stomach acid that burned at his throat. “F*ck.” Giyuu mutters out as he goes back to being on his knees. He felt his body finally give out as he fell backwards into the snow. He looked up into the sky he saw a small black blob in the sky circling him. Seemingly calling out for him. Was that thing a hallucination or was that thing actually there?

“CAW TOMIOKA CAW! GET UP! I..I’LL GET HELP! STAY WARM! CAW”

What a weird blob. It knew his name. That was very laughable. Why was a blob so worried about, little old him? He wasn’t even worth remembering. Plus, whom would be able to find him here? The snow is picking up and soon I will be buried in it! I will long be dead before I could be found. Haha how funny… He thought back to his current episode he was having right now. He could feel all of his senses being dulled. The way that he couldn’t get a handle on his body, the way his ears buzzed with a strange ringing. The way he felt like he was being watched from afar. The sounds that weren’t there at all.

Giyuu looked around, he knew his hallucinations would start up sooner than later and he just wanted to go to sleep and sleep it out. He was able to slow his breathing to induce tiredness in the body. That is one thing he had learned that worked for him. As he was doing that he could hear his auditory hallucinations getting worse. The twisted murmurs of voices mixed with yelling was interesting. There was a mix of yelling and curses at him about who knows what. Then the other side was whispering sweet nothings that he hated even more than the cursing. The fact that two sides of his mind were fighting was driving him insane. Knowing that his hallucinations were normally caused by a trigger or specific thing he needed to figure out that trigger to understand what his brain is doing at this moment in time. The only person he could think of was. Kokushibo. No that can’t be right, he hated Kokushibo with his gut that the damned demon had ruined his life thoroughly. Was it the earring? Is it trying to get into his mind? To change it so he was more lenient to his affections.

“That b*st*rd.” Giyuu muttered out softly, keeping a hand firmly over his eyes so he wouldn’t open them on accident and see what his visual hallucinations were. He would hate if the hallucination was Kokushibo doing gods knows what. Giyuu just layed there in the snow heaving as felt so much fear in himself and his current situation. He also hated the way sweat would get in his eyes a little like his body was trying to force his eyes open. He felt the way it stung in his eyes; it was an agonizing feeling. He has to open his eyes. It's too agonizing and horrendous to keep them closed. He bared his teeth in the pain he was feeling. His hand dug into his face trying to force his eyes to stay closed. He felt the way his body was heating up again he knew his body was going back into hypothermia.

Once he finally opened his eyes, he saw the one person he dreaded seeing. Kokushibo stood there grimly smiling. He slowly approached, sometimes glitching out and appearing farther then closer. The outline of him was fuzzy though looking at him. He seemed to be more human than he actually was. His hair and body were full of little accessories. Ribbons, clips, hair pins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. They seemed to be a physical representation of everyone that meant something in his life. Most of the accessories were water themed. Was that how much Giyuu meant to him? He could feel him grasp him in a tight hug. His maroon eyes looking at him lovingly were nothing like those yellow eyes that held nothing but jealousy. They were so soft, like he was going to cry. It was such a beautiful sight. Was this how he looked as a human? If so he would gladly accept his affections. Wait what was he thinking!? This is the demon that had caused this whole matter. Though this Kokushibo seemed nothing like the other one so how bad could it be?

Giyuu felt how warm Kokushibo was instead of his normally cold temperature. He could truly feel how comforting this Kokushibo was and truly made him think how he was then he was a human. Was he nice like this or was he the same selfish person he saw? He wasn’t going to worry about that right now all he wanted to do was enjoy this warmth. He was so cold that feeling the warmth of this delusion was absolute bliss to his aching body. He didn’t care if this made him become even more delusional. He could feel the way Kokushibo’s hand rubbed comfortingly over his knuckles. The warmth of his breath on his skin. All the while he was still in the snow trembling.

How could he have fallen this far? How did he deserve to be a demon slayer when he was this weak to a simple hallucination? Though how bad could it be to indulge in a delusion once in a while. After all, the real Kokushibo was the one that had gotten him into this mess, so he was going to enjoy this Hallucinated version of him. Which was much nicer and sweeter to him than the actual one. He slowly closed his eyes enjoying the imaginary feeling of having another comforting him.

With that he opened his eyes. Standing there was Sabito looking at him very concerned for his very close friend that was on the ground trembling in the snow. His eyes hazy sweat gleaming on his face. He harshly let out breaths. All of these were signs that Giyuu was going through a deep hallucination.

“Giyuu, it’s me Sabito. I am going to pick you up. Focus on my voice. If you hear any other voices, those are not real.” Sabito started approaching his friend.

“You're not the real Sabito, Kokushibo. Get away.” Giyuu stated calmly looking at Sabito. His body tensed as he pulled himself up, stumbling back a little.

“I am not Kokushibo, Giyuu.” Sabito stated a little confused on what Giyuu was trying to get at. Though as he looked at his friend's behavior, he noticed how dazed Giyuu looked. “Is that who you are seeing me as?” Sabito then fitted the pieces together. Giyuu is going through a hallucination.

“Shut it! Stop saying your Sabito, I won't let you tarnish that name!” Giyuu got up grabbing his sword trying to pull it out of the tree. Seems like still conscious Giyuu knew he might get aggressive and had lodged his sword stuck into a tree.

“You were smart to lodge that sword before going into this delusion” Sabito chuckled as he picked up Giyuu who was struggling to pull the sword out. He was badly trembling and panting, even drooling even at this point.

Sabito grabbed Giyuu’s hand holding it, checking for signs of hypothermia. “We need to get you home.” Looking at his fingertips, they were slowly becoming almost white. Looking at Giyuu’s face, his eyes were drawn to his ear. There lay a brand-new piercing.

Sabito’s face stilled as he felt anger build up in throat. Has this damned demon caused this? Had he ambushed Giyuu and tag him once more? How could such a vile creature exist? Let alone prey on his best friend. That being is truly one that he wishes to destroy.

“Mm... Let me go!” Giyuu yelled as he tried to thrash around though it was more like holding a tired puppy. Giyuu continued to whine about something before slowly falling asleep against Sabito. Giyuu slowly leaned against Sabito, nuzzling his shoulder. Sabito looked down softly and chuckled at how tired Giyuu was.

The walk back to their shared estate took a bit though along the way there was a run in with a certain Wind Hashira who seemed concerned with the passed-out Hashira.

“What the hell happened to him?” Sanemi questioned as he got closer to Sabito. He looked down at Giyuu who was still sometimes shaking. Along with looking overly pale. “Shit, who did he run into?” Sanemi looked over to Giyuu’s ear. “Did they forcefully pierce his ear?”

“I believe it was an Uppermoon, probably 3 and up. It looks like he was ambushed as there is no scarring on him. The demon was just toying with him then pierced his ear. They also seemed to...,” Sabito didn’t know how to explain it without giving off too much of their personal lives. “... Have caused a mental break in Giyuu. Which I can only assume he’s had a run in with this demon before and has been tormented by this demon over and over again causing a break.”

“Hmm. I understand. I won’t push any further.” Sanemi said as he walked away noticing how uncomfortable Sabito looked when talking about what had been happening to Giyuu.

Sabito continued his walk with Giyuu. He needed to get Giyuu warm slowly which his own body heat was doing but a hot bath you do much better than anything else. Sabito slowly picked up his pace to get back to their Estate. He could feel the way Giyuu stirred. During these hallucinations Giyuu could easily be confused as a demon with how weird he acted. It was like he was possessed. As his body will move on its own, when really it was muscle memory and Giyuu’s body identifying everything and one as enemies, so it starts attacking everything. He won’t be surprised if Giyuu tries fighting him when he wakes up as seeing the severity of this hallucination Sabito can only assume that this one will last for a bit, maybe even a full day. It didn’t help that Giyuu was seeing him as Kokushibo.

Sabito opens the door to their shared estate. It was very lavishly furnished thanks to Sabito wanting it to be that way so it would be prettier. The Water Estate was rather huge to say the least. There was even a natural hot spring attached to the estate which Giyuu would normally soak in. It was actually Giyuu’s favorite spot to stay.

So, when Sabito had brought Giyuu to the said hot springs, Giyuu seemed to recognize it even though his eyes were still very hazy.

“Hey Giyuu, let's get you into the hot spring, okay? I'm sure you will feel a lot better once you get in.” Sabito said softly as he respectfully helped Giyuu out of his soaking wet clothes. Wrapping him in a hot towel around his body to slowly warm him up and to respect him. Sabito also got ready to go into the hot springs as he knew Giyuu may be a little disorientated and stumble a bit and the last thing that he wanted was for Giyuu to hurt himself. I would pretty hard bring a person having a hallucination to the doctors and all the stress that would come with that.

Looking back over to Giyuu, he was just staring at Kanzaburo curiously. “You're weird.” Giyuu had refused to fully open his eyes so as to spare himself from some visual hallucinations. Though he could still hear voices in his ears. He still heard that ‘other Kokushibo whispering in his ear and laughing at him about something though it was very jumbled and weary. He knew this hallucination had died down greatly after his nap and in like one or two hours it should be done.

“Hey, Giyuu.” Sabito gently touched Giyuu’s arm so as to not scare him too terribly. “Are you ready to go in the springs?”

Sabito waited for Giyuu to respond knowing he might be a little while longer. Giyuu had described that during his hallucinations he was conscious yet not conscious at the same time. Like there was a disconnect from subconscious to actual consciousness-cognitive motion. Giyuu said it’s like being in a blood demon art but no demon.

“Y.Yeah I think I am ready to go into the water. You’ll be with me, right?” Giyuu turned to him, his eyes barely open. He held onto the towel tightly, seemingly embarrassed. “I should’ve listened to you when you said we should’ve gone together for this mission.”

“Ah, so I’m not Kokushibo anymore? That’s good.” Sabito said as softly grabbed Giyuu’s forearm to give more support. “Plus, I’m always right!” He stated loudly laughing a little. “Come on, let's go and relax for a bit, though don’t think I’m going to let you go on missions on your own again. I also think it would be best if we slept in the same room since Kokushibo did decide to show up again. I would be damned if I was asleep in another room while he was in your bedroom. I can promise you that Giyuu. I mean it.” Sabito said this with the utmost care he could.

Giyuu looked over at Sabito and smiled. His voice was really the one clear one out of the murmurs, so it had to be the real one. He was so lucky that Sabito was there for him. It was really a blessing that he had Sabito for so long. “Thank you. It means a lot knowing how much you care about me.”

“Good I’m happy you are able to tell I’m real.” Sabito said as he guided Giyuu into the water helping him step by step into the warm spring water. “It’s going to get warmer as we go deeper, okay?”

“I’m good with the water getting warmer” Giyuu took a tentative step forward, not scared of what may happen as Sabito was right there ready to catch him when he needed it.

“Woah! Slow down your body isn’t quite ready to move as quickly as you want to move.” Sabito slowed down Giyuu’s movement as he could already see how his body was starting to tremor again.

“Oh, okay. I’ll take it slow.” He was mainly focusing on Sabito trying to ignore the other voices that were becoming more and more muddled. It really was an interesting scenario to be going through at the moment. He felt okay but from what Sabito said his body wasn’t able to move properly.

Sabito slowly brought Giyuu into the water a little deeper. Letting him get used to the water as Giyuu took tentative steps in the warm water.

“Do you want to go by the waterfall?” Sabito asked softly as he sat Giyuu on to a ledge that allowed him to be chest deep in water. Giyuu was starting to get comfy in the water. He was finally starting to open his eyes fully. Looking into the water he was the way the moon reflected off of the surface. He saw a few lilies floating around. There was a variety of colors the lilies had, from white, pink, coral and magenta.

“Sure? Though when did we ever get these lilies? They look so pretty, did we plant these together?” Giyuu asked as he looked down at the lilies again, picking one of them up. Bringing it closer to his eyes and smelling the flower.”

Sabito looked back over to Giyuu holding a lily to his lips. “Hey! Put that down they aren’t meant to be picked up! An.. ah.. don’t you dare think about trying eating that lily!”

“Why would I eat it?” Giyuu questioned as he sat down the lily carefully, now fully opening his eyes and looking toward Sabito, he slowly scooted off of the ledge and held onto the side of the hot springs as he moved closer to Sabito.

Sabito chuckled as he also moved closer to Giyuu, putting an arm over his shoulder laughing happily. “Here I thought you’d be much more aggressive toward me!” Sabito tried to keep himself shaking as he laughed out.

“Wasn’t there some sort of party happening today?” Giyuu asked as his eyes looked over the entrance of the springs. His body up against Sabito’s for support.

“I do not believe so? And…” Sabito looked over to the entrance of the hot springs seeing that no one was there. Though there was a small box there. “Hey Giyuu can you stay here for one minute?

“Sure? Is something actually there? Is someone there? I see someone there.” Giyuu asked softly, tilting his head to the side.

“There is not a person there, but something there. I'll go check it out to see what it is.” Sabito wades through the water as he gets to the box. Opening it there layed a moon themed bracelet. Sabito’s face sours as he throws the box away.

“It was nothing Giyuu, just a box that fell off of a shelf!” Sabito smiled widely, hiding how irritated it was that Kokushibo somehow left a gift here. He had only looked away for a minute but there it was again, a strange bracelet or hand cuff in a neat box.

“Say how about we go by the waterfall like we were going to do earlier now?” Sabito stated as he waded back over to where Giyuu was. Holding out a hand to Giyuu for him to grab. Giyuu tentatively grabbed his hand, holding on tightly as Sabito led them over to the waterfall. Right behind the waterfall was a gorgeous crystal cave that Giyuu and Sabito had found.

“I always forget something like this is hidden behind such a plain looking waterfall Sabito.” Giyuu said though he was absolutely dazed at how the water reflected off of the cave walls and crystals. The cave was halfway submerged in the warm spring waters. “Man, it really is beautiful. To think that we are lucky enough to have this all to ourselves. Isn’t it Sabito?” Giyuu still couldn’t understand how wonderful this spot was. He was finally getting over the visual part of his hallucination but the auditory part of it was still continuing. Sometimes Giyuu would look in a direction thinking he had heard something that wasn’t actually there.

“It is very pretty Giyuu, though if we ever get the chance. Let’s kill Uppermoon 1 together, okay? That would be the one thing I would want to do with you even if we died trying.” Sabito had brought up this topic out of nowhere at least for Giyuu. Which greatly confused the raven-haired man.

“Of course, I would want to do that with you even if it did cause our demise.” Giyuu responded heartfeltly. His sapphire eyes looked straight into Sabito’s lavender eyes, and he smiled lightly.

Though unbeknownst to both of them someone else was listening and was becoming greatly irritated at the two of them being so close to each other and sharing such an ‘intimate’ moment with each other.

“So Sabito, what room would we sleep in? Your room or mine? Maybe an entirely newer bigger room? How would we adjust the Kakushi so they can still live here comfortably? I mean we do allow them to live here as live in maids, if they wish so and we have 15 Kakushi living here.” Giyuu asked a little concerned for how they would be setting up everything so that everybody was comfortable and not worried about if they weren't getting enough space.

Sabito looked over at his best friend and laughed at how worried he was for the sake of others. That was one thing the jewelry couldn’t stop. Giyuu’s empathy, the one thing that made Giyuu, Giyuu. His heart was so big when with Sabito. "Of course, there'll be enough room for everyone you don't have to worry about if the Kakushi will be cramped. If they are, we can clean out some of the older rooms and remodel them. But don't worry about anyone being upset.

“Good because if any would be I’d rather them have my room and I’d just stay in your room. Plus, your room is much warmer than mine is. How do you get it to be so warm?” Giyuu questioned as he leans against Sabito enjoying the warm water.

“I actually open my windows when the sun is out that warms my room, duh” Sabito replies making a jab at Giyuu for his supposed idiotism. “Though how are you feeling? Still hearing anything right now?”

“Yes, I keep thinking there is someone behind me talking but I don’t see anyone, plus I am sitting up against a wall so no one could be behind me even if I thought so. Which I guess is good? Though that is just the main voice that I am hearing at the moment there are smaller voices going on at the moment too.” Giyuu responded softly as he looked up at Sabito, seeing the way that his faced moved in slight amusement and concern.

“Well.. I” Sabito started not sure what to say.

“You don’t need to respond to that, Sabito. I know you were just checking in on me and what my mind is doing right now at the moment.” Giyuu said as he looked down at the water and a few lilies that had somehow made it from the other side over. “Hey, how do you think these lilies got over here?” Giyuu question as he looked back up into Sabito’s eyes. “Don’t try to hide your emotions, you know I can easily tell how you feel.”

“I really taught you well at reading people huh? Gosh to be honest, at times it can be a little creepy.” Sabito admitted as he looked over to Giyuu who was giving him a blank stare.

“I’m glad I seem a little creepy. It means that people won’t mess with me, maybe even intimidate some demons!” Giyuu replied happily as he leaned in closer before pulling back. “Say once all the demons are gone, what do you think will happen to humanity? Sure we can blame a lot of things on demons, but humans are still questionable creatures.” Giyuu's voice seemed to lower as he asked that question, the question he asked dawning on himself even.*

“There will always be good and bad in this world whether than be demons or humans. Which means there will always be some people that will take justice into their own hands to keep the world safe. Even if that would be just one person. The world will have a shining hope, from something that will let truth and freedom prevail.” Sabito responded confidently as he grabbed Giyuu’s hand giving it a comforting squeeze.

“Yeah, you're right. Hope will always prevail one way or another. Even if we aren’t the ones to end the war. There will be others that will. I actually met a boy before my run in with ‘it’. His sister was turned into a demon but. She never attacked in fact she actually started to attack me in an attempt to protect her brother. The brother might have also thrown an axe at my face.” Giyuu confessed to Sabito, looking away and started to mess with his hair.

“He did what? Someone tried to throw an axe in your face?” Sabito asked, his voice rising to a higher volume. “You also let his sister live?”

I have faith in them, Sabito. The girl showed no aggression to a brother she should’ve already eaten. We both know Kanae’s dream. Should we not honor a girl's dying dreams? If that sister is the start of a new hope, why should I cut it down? You said it yourself new hope will bloom in times of need. I believe this 1000-year war will be coming to a close sooner than later.” Giyuu admitted as he looked at Sabito dead on. No emotions on his face, only the simple truth that something new is happening and they cannot stop it.

“If that is what you believe I will stand by you. I assume you sent them to Urokodaki? Tomorrow, we will go visit him. I might even take him as my Tsukago!” Sabito said with a start of seriousness to joy.

“Deal.” Giyuu stated happily.

Chapter Text

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Heres some KokuGiyuu being absolutely savages to each other and some leaks for what will go on in this fanfic!

Chapter Text

"So what does it feel like?" Sabito asked as he cleaned around the piercing in Giyuu's ear. He was still concerned with the piercing that didn't even seem to be able to twist without causing pain to Giyuu.

“Weird, like I could pull it out but I can’t. They don't catch on anything or get tangled in my hair even though it should. I really hate it to be honest. It feels so uncomfortable. I can’t over how I constantly feel my ear being weighed down. I just want to cut that part of my ear off.” Giyuu admitted as he looked at the Koi pond they were sitting at. His hand went up to hair playing with a strand of it as he talked his worries away. Never truly looking at Sabito as he talked absent mindly.

Sabito could sense Giyuu wanted to change the subject but was unsure of what. “How about your motherland? You always seem entranced with it.” He said innocently but the meaning of it didn’t go over Giyuu’s head as Giyuu easily caught on to what Sabito was saying. A small smile spread across his face as he got into the topic of his homeland. Giyuu couldn’t seem to stop himself from talking as the sun slowly set as Giyuu continued to talking about how his mother had described their home land and how wonderful it was. Hearing it made the place sound like a complete dream from who knows where. One where he would like to visit. “It sounds wonderful Giyuu.Though how can you say all that even though your breathing style says different?”

“I…” Giyuu suddenly became very flustered at the notion of being called out so harshly and not even having any time to explain the stories and folklore of his mother land. SUre the stories of his home land could be really scary and the woods could be dense and uncertain but overall it was a beautiful place. He had actually gone to go visit a year after he had become Hashira. He had somehow found his grandparents. They were very sweet people with their accents just like his mothers. Though they did have some slang he couldn’t get a hang of. They were also very vulgar in their words, that was one huge difference between his grandparents and mother. “ Yeah my Breathing Style really does bring my homeland a bad wrap. Though most of those stories are meant to scare kids from doing stupid things. Just so you know.”

Sabito tried to hold back a laugh as he looked away tears pricking his eyes, along with firmly having a hand other his mouth to make sure he stayed quiet. “H.hey so did you ever get scared of an imaginary horse that could drown you?” Sabito was almost keeling over in laughter.

“I really do not understand you sometimes though I guess I could give you some grace in that sense. Though to answer you no I did not get scared of the water. I actually was more interested into it.” Giyuu answered honestly as he looked over at Sabito. “So…” Giyuu started as he looked up at the full moon “... You are wanting to take that boy as your Tsukago? You are gonna have to fight Dad for him.”

“I am aware.” Sabito answered as he pulled himself together properly. “ I’m sure as hell not afraid to fight him! From what you told me that kid has determination and wit! What a rare find these days! I mean the new slayers are not the best to be honest.”

“Muzan is getting desperate is what. He knows overwhelming us is a good solution to bring us down. It’s a matter of if we will falter when it matters most.” Giyuu responded as he looked at Sabito trying to remember every bit of him. They never really know how soon they will die so having these moments was something that Giyuu wished he could trap in a bottle and relive every single day. It truly was a wonderful moment. The way the moon shone over them and comforted them. Even though at other times the moon was an awful reminder of a certain someone Giyuu won’t let ruin this moment. “How do you plan on training this kid? What would you do if he was more aligned with my breathing style?”

“We both know your style can never be replicated unless someone was always in a state of having a slowed heart rate, and willing enough to almost have a heart attack every single day. Though I do have to say I hate how you are always so willing to die. How did you even figure out that your heart beat is in between 55 - 85 beats per minute when using that form?” Sabito asked quietly as he subconsciously checked Giyuu’s pulse.

“Kocho… Kocho Shinobu. When she was doing a routine check-up on me and wanted to know how my body changed while in form. So when I was doing my first form and she got quite startled and told me. My heart rate drastically dropped when I had started the form. I got a severe scolding from her. She also said if I did any training I’d need someone by me. Which is why I normally meditate when you are around to meet Shinobu’s requirements. Of always needing to be someone when training my first form of Ocean Breathing and its subsequent forms.

“Damn, how badly did she get on your ass after that? I know I would’ve been dead.” Sabito admitted laughing a bit as he thought of how badly Shinobu would’ve beaten him up. “ You should be glad you only got yelled at and not beaten to an absolute pulp by that little butterfly if I am being honest. She really could’ve.”

“I am aware of that Sabito, doesn't mean that will stop me from using this form plus if I were to switch to a different form it would be back to Water Breathing and we both know what that means, Right?” Giyuu asked as he ran his hand over a Koi’s scales, feeling the soothing sensation of their scales.

Sabito watched as Giyuu petted their Koi making sure to be extra delicate when petting them. “Why are you always so gentle with those fishes? I know you are well aware of how short and delicate their lives are.”

“I know and I don’t care that much. Every life should be valued even if it is an animal. I assume you are already aware of that?” Giyuu responded as he withdrew his hand from the water, flicking it into Sabito’s face laughing a little afterwards. “Hehe”, with that Giyuu quickly got up and ran into the estate.

Sabito sat their stunned as he slowly wiped the water off of his face. A smile slowly making its way onto his face. His hand firmly planted on the floor as he launched himself forward in the direction Giyuu ran off to. “Giyuu! Get your ass back over here!”

Giyuu had already hidden himself way in his room, softly laughing as he looked at Sabito trying to open the door. He saw as Sabito tried opening the door through Giyuu had lodged the door shut and even moved a block in front of it to stall Sabito even more.

“Giyuu! Why are you doing this all of the sudden!?” Sabito eventually opened the door to reveal a block he subsequently tripped over, falling flat on his face. Giyuu let out a barky laugh as he tried to pull himself together unsure of how his plan had worked so well. It wasn’t everyday that Sabito fell for a trick that simple.

“I. I really didn’t expect you to fall for a trick that simple! Haha. Sabito, you've fallen for this trick every time I’ve done this. It's been 7 years of me doing this yet you still fall for it. Or are you pitying me and falling for it on purpose?” Giyuu questioned as he stood up and walked over to Sabito who was slowly sitting up rubbing his forehead as he slowly looked over to Giyuu.

“You make the same mistake every time too!” Sabito lunged at Giyuu, tackling him to the ground. He admittedly put Giyuu in a headlock as he tussles his hair laughing. “Everytime you come to check on me, you give me the perfect opening to tackle you.”

“Ugh… Fine you got me know, let me go!” Giyuu squirmed in Sabito’s grasp, clawing at Sabito’s arm that was around his neck all the while trying to push off of the floor to headbutt Sabito. “Why won’t you let me go!” Giyuu questioned as he slowly calmed down, tilting his head up looking at Sabito with deep sapphire eyes.

“Because I was waiting until you calmed down because I do not feel like getting into a wrestling match the moment I let you go.” Sabito said as he playfully tightened his grip on Giyuu before letting him go.

Giyuu quickly backs away as he looks at Sabito as if he had betrayed Giyuu in the worst way possible. He massaged his neck as his neck felt a little sore after being put in a headlock for no absolute reason in his mind. Giyuu looked back over to Sabito resisting the urge to yell at him about being so petty over a little joke that he had always played.

“I should really kick you out right now. I really should” Giyuu muttered under his breath as he looked up at Sabito properly. He calmed himself as he slowly stood up lending a hand to Sabito. In return Sabito gladly took Giyuu’s hand playfully pushing him back a little. Giyuu quickly restabilized, not even paying any mind to the small push.

“So you wanted to go meet that boy right?” Giyuu mentioned as he moved toward the door. While purposefully stepping over Sabito’s foot knowing full well Sabito would try to trip as a final tick off to Giyuu.

“Sure am! So to Urokodaki’s?” Sabito asked as he followed behind Giyuu.

“Why do you call him Urokodaki? We both know we call him dad or father.” Giyuu questioned looking back at him, his hand resting on the door frame as he turned to his head back at Sabito.

“I know it’s just easier that way. Though you know we can’t be calling him father in front of that kid. Knowing that Fa- Urokodaki will want respect from the kid.” Sabito responded with reason laced into his words.

Giyuu thought for a moment Sabito did make a good point that they couldn’t be calling Urokodaki. Dad. Especially if Sabito does not take the boy as his tsukago. “I guess you are right but it is going to be hard not to call him dad after calling him that for 3 years at this point right Sabito?”

“You have but I have been calling him dad since I was 9 when he had first adopted me. Though I doubt you can remember such a small detail about me that was mentioned on an off note.” Sabito responded as he took a step closer to Giyuu as he messed with the tassel on his fox mask.

“Gonna put that on and be all mysterious around the kid? I guess that is one way to draw respect out.” Giyuu responded as he stared at the mask, the way there was that scar that was perfectly aligned with Sabito’s actual scar. The red tasseled headband that was meant to hold it to Sabito’s face, the way the thread was lightly frayed and burned to try to keep away the said fraying.

“Why not? It will make sure he fears me and respects me!” Sabito said out resting a hand on his chest. He then adjusted the mask to be on side of his face. His light indigo eyes glinted with how proud he was.

“The other Hashira were not kidding when they joked about you being Sanemi’s and Rengoku’s love child” Giyuu said words rolling off his tongue that he didn’t mean to say out loud.

“They say what?” Sabito's eyes went dull as his hands cupped Giyuu’s face, his expression blank. His face cracked into a small smile as his body shook with how hard he was laughing. “Really funny joke Giyuu! Haha! Man me being Kyojiro’s and Sanemi’s love child! Haha!”

“I am being honest. Ask Obanai and Uzui, they will tell you everything about it.” Giyuu said as he slowly called Sabito down knowing that even though he and Sanemi acted a lot alike. Sanemi had deeply reminded Sabito of his abusive father and often acted very cold to the white haired men. He didn’t mind being compared to Kyojiro in fact they acted like they were blood brothers.

“I’ll have to go have a proper talk with them then. I don’t mind being compared to Kyojiro, not one bit. Though for Shinizugawa. I’d rather not say.” Sabito said as he ran a hand through his hair, picking out certain knots that had slowly begun to happen. “We really should be going though if you are not ready to leave yet we can stay here. I know you are trying to stall. Are you unsure about seeing that kid?”

“I guess so. Though I am more worried about how dad will react once he sees ‘this’” Giyuu flicks the earring, a soft song humming out as soft crystal pieces hit against each other. He slowly moves over to the futon, kneeling down softly then adjusting to sit down. “How will he react knowing I am still being antagonized by that very same demon for over a decade. I can’t help but feel increasingly weak.” He curls up his legs to his chest, resting his head on his knees. His eyes starting to dew at the edges as his hand messes with the edge of the futon. “I am a Hashira. Someone that is meant to be strong for the weak. If I am so easily played with by a demon, how can I be that ‘hope’? Just how can I be that?” Giyuu pondered as he pulled out his handkerchief that was tucked away in his haori, dabbing it to the corner of his eyes.

“Don’t get caught up in your emotions.” Sabito walked over, kneeling down forcing Giyuu to look at without touching Giyuu. Sabito could easily tell the self doubt had in himself, how he felt so defenseless. Giyuu couldn’t blame himself; he was up against Upper One, a monster with inhuman strength and an appetite that only hungered for Giyuu’s attention. Not saying that Sabito didn’t have his fair share of encounters with Kokushibo. His hand subconsciously brushed against a moonstone bracelet on his wrist. It seems Kokushibo was starting to take interest in him too. Probably because he was a Hashira. Knowing the location of two Hashiras is good to know.

“I guess you are right. Though I am not so sure how though. It just seems like we are two deer that are being messed with by a wolf. It is tiring, it makes you want to give up.” Giyuu’s hand fell to his side helplessly, he could feel the way his hair ever so slightly fell out of the bun he had in. His eyes glanced over to what Sabito was messing with seeing the bracelet on his left wrist. “When?”, was all Giyuu had to ask.

“Hm.. About 2 weeks ago. I had a run in with him when I was in the courtyard. He seemed to be planting moon flowers in the flower garden. I drawn my sword toward him and told him to get out. That he wasn’t welcomed here and that he shouldn’t have come to this estate. He didn’t even care to reason with me. He simply finished planting the flower he was planting. As soon as he was done he walked over to me. He specifically asked where you were. I told him that it was not his right to know. Which had ticked him off and before I was able to react he threw me over the garden wall. I of course asked him why which he had responded that ‘I don’t wish to ruin the garden’. After that we had a short fight which at some point he grabbed my arm slipping the bracelet on before disappearing. He clearly had no interest in staying with me any longer than needed.”

Giyuu looked at him with shock and disgruntledness. “You really did not think this was valuable information to know? If I had known Kokushibo had turned up again I would’ve been prepared if he came for me. What happened to me could’ve been avoided. I would've been more understanding why you wanted to go with me.” Giyuu said coldly as he looked into Sabito's eyes. “We could’ve not gone through my hallucination episode.”

Sabito was stunned at how brutal Giyuu was being but also understood what he meant. If he had known Kokushibo had a recent appearance there was no doubt Kokushibo was scooping out his reaction to see if Giyuu had his own estate or if they shared one. He had played into right into Kokushibo's elaborate plan to get the information he needed. If Sabito had just not paid him any mind Kokushibo would’ve just felt but he had gotten defensive. “I’m sorry”

“He still knew I was in the house because of his mark on me. I think he was checking to see if I was just staying with you till I got my own estate. Which he was confirmed not, because of your aggression and uneasiness. You would’ve been a bit more docile if you knew I’d be at a new place that he didn’t know of.” Giyuu replied softly as he rubbed Sabito’s knuckles trying to comfort him in some sort of way. “Please do not blame yourself.”

“I know, it is just really stupid of me looking back at the situation. I could’ve taken it a different way. I could’ve told you to keep you safe.” Sabito stated quietly not really sure what more to say. He had betrayed his best friend's trust and the belief Giyuu had in him to keep him safe. He had so shamelessly thrown it out of the window. No way that could even make sense. They always told everything to each other. When it had counted most to share things, he had decided against it to assure the comfort of another.

“Snap out of it.” Giyuu's voice cut through the silence like a sword through a demon's neck, swift yet silent. “I will not let you fall into the despair that is brewing in your heart. You can not change the past though you can change your present and future decisions because of this incident. I hope you will listen to what I am saying this time around.” Giyuu said quietly, unsure if Sabito will really listen.

“I know. Though I am ready to get to bed.” Sabito admitted lying in Giyuu bed got giving a damn about it being Giyuu’s bed. Giyuu just looked over confused and tried to get Sabito up to go to his bed.

“Come on you old man get up!” Giyuu yelled out as he hooked an arm under Sabito’s shoulder trying to pull him up.

“I am not old.” Sabito groaned out as he looked up at Giyuu purposely squirming out of his grip and rolled up into Giyuu’s blankets.

Giyuu sighed loudly as he just opened the door that had led outside and into the garden. Watching the moon flowers bloom and knowing where they came from. A seething anger roiled in his heart. Why had he never questioned why these things were even planted? Was he really that dumb not to notice the faint scent that drifted from them? His eyes drifted to the wood of the patio. The deep spirals that curled like smoke, tracing where they went helped him calm down. The soft patter of his feet against the wood echoed softly, it reminded him of how he and Sabito had done the same thing when they had become hashiras.

The two of them were attached at the hip, never leaving each other's side. It was something they could never think of to be absolutely honest. Their bond was so strong that it felt like they had always been like this, not just two friends that had only met when they were 11. His finger traced the engravings on the railing feeling parts of the wood that need to be smoothed out once again. I felt like it had been years since he let down his mask. Though it wasn’t much, it was simple enough that it felt nice to do. Feeling the way the wood almost caused splitters but didn’t.

The way he was able to peacefully admire the bright moon light without the fear of the glow reminding him. He had never told anyone but being under the moon light it felt like it made him colder. It felt nice compared to the blazing warmth of the sun in early summer. Summer nights were his favorite time of year. It wasn’t too cold but just enough to be relaxing.

As he finished his partial patrol of the estate he peaked into his and Sabito’s shared room seeing how he was still sleeping on his futon wrapped up like chrysalis. Giyuu tried to hold back a laugh seeing how silly Sabito looked. His hair was all over the place and drool mixed in with it too. Giyuu slowly pulled himself together as he pulled out Sabito’s futon and some of his blankets. Afterwards he got into a soft silk yukuta, he made sure it wasn’t too tight around the neck. He softly got into bed with his eyes looking at Sabito making sure he was safe though as time went on his eyes slowly got heavier and heavier before he fully gave into sleep.

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Giyuu slowly opened his eyes as the sun’s warm sunlight shone into the room. He could already feel the way his hair warmed up as it soaked up the sun. Looking around he spotted Sabito was still out cold, a puddle of drool on the futon, Giyuu’s futon. That was going to be fun to clean up later, not. He slowly rolled onto his back sitting up. He could already tell that the top part of his yukata was off. He must’ve gotten too warm last night. Sabito did sleep with a wool blanket while he slept with silk.

With that Giyuu started packing some of their stuff to go to Urokodaki’s place knowing they would probably be staying at their father’s place a little bit. It would be nice to have a break and to mess with a beginning demon slayer. Knowing Urokodaki he’s probably almost killed the kid multiple times with training him. That old geezer really knew how to make his students strong and capable though.

He made sure to grab some more casual looking outfits so they could go into the nearby village without being stared at along with some extra demon slayer uniforms in case one or more got torn or stained. He just knew it would be embarrassing to fight a demon with a dirty shirt, no way the demon would even take him seriously.

As he was finishing packing a few things he saw Yuna, Sabito’s crow, land on the railing in front of their room. Yuna was a very prim and proper crow, she was always preening herself though she would never hesitate to absolutely insult someone’s family lineage just because they breathed wrong around her.

“Ah, Yuna. I am surprised you are here this early in the morning. You normally roost for longer.” Giyuu commented, still focused on packing their clothing into a bag.

“Well I was just getting restless is all! Anyways I overheard last night that you and Sabito have had a recent run in with Upper One. I won’t tell but I do have to ask. How long will you keep this from the master?” Yuna asked seriously, flying into the room resting on Giyuu’s shoulder.

“Oh, you heard that? Well you see, if they find out both me and Sabito could be tried for being traitors. I am not sure we could survive that. You know, knowing that we have been involved with Upper One before ever becoming slayers. I can’t risk his safety. That is something I won’t do.” Giyuu sternly stated looking at the crow.

“As long as Sabito is safe I don’t really care what you do I was just curious and needed to know what your plan was.” Yuna said as she nuzzled Giyuu’s hair.

“You are such a weird crow, and here I thought Kanzaburo was weird.” Giyuu responded as he went looking for where his crow was. He then let Yuna fly off to who knows where. After searching in his roosting spots, he finally found Kanzaburo who was roosting in a peach tree.
“Kanza! Wake up!”

The old crow slowly woke up and simply glided down resting on Giyuu’s head roosting again. Kanzaburo softly nested in his hair happily.

Giyuu chuckled softly as he picked the old crow cradling the old bird in his arms carefully. He felt the way his feathers were a little greasy and messed up. Yuna must have forgotten to help Kanzaburo preen the other day. Great now he will have to yell at that crow. She really couldn’t help her fellow crow take good care of himself in his old age.

“Mmm” Giyuu grumbled softly as helped Kanzaburo preen himself, finding the ready pin feathers. He carefully twisted the keratin off of the feathers seeing the bright new feathers finally being shown in their glory.

“Giyuu? Ah, there you are!” Sabito slowly walked very much half asleep and leans against Giyuu arm on his shoulder. “Say I just had the weirdest dream, that I took over your bed and then stole all of your blankets, even you weighed one.”

“Sabito, that was real. You did steal all of my blankets much to my dismay.” Giyuu said as he adjusted Sabito to be more comfortable against him as he held Kanzaburo closer. “Are you sure you got enough sleep?”

“Why exactly does that matter to you Giyuu? Is it really that much of an issue to you?” Sabito spat out as he looked over at Giyuu with a serious look. His body language greatly changed from relaxed to irritated.

Giyuu looked at him exhausted. He then set Kanzaburo on a railing letting him go back to sleep. Though as he went back to Sabito he didn’t allow that to be the reason for him to be rude to Sabito in his tired state. “Remember the boy I saved? The one you want to make your Tsukago? You’ve been pretty excited about it.” Giyuu said with a syrupy sweet tone to make sure Sabito didn’t get snappy at him because that was the last thing he wanted to deal with.

“Oh right! I totally forgot! You really sold that boy’s talent to me! He seems to have great fighting prowess! I am more than ready to have a Tsukago too! Though he better be ready to train with you occasionally too!” Sabito said loudly as he leaned more into Giyuu, before letting out a deep echoing laugh.

“Why would he train with me? He won’t be my Tsukago.” Giyuu asked confused

“What if I am sick and unable to train him that day or if I am busy with other such things?” Sabito whined as he pushed against Giyuu, whining looking up at him with sad puppy dog eyes.

“Let's just get going, I don't feel like dealing with your whining anymore.” Giyuu sighed as he dragged Sabito along who was constantly messing with Giyuu and laughing about it like it was the funniest thing to ever happen.

Giyuu on the other side was starting to get entirely fed up with Sabito but he was also understanding of Sabito’s unseriousness. It was a way that he coped with everything going on which was my pretending everything going on at this moment was all a big joke that would be other very soon. Feeling in his pocket Giyuu was glad to know he had remembered to grab Sabito’s medication.

Sabito looked over at what Giyuu had pulled out seeing his meds. The one thing that kept his life semi - normal. He still couldn’t believe he had wrecked his back so badly when he was 13. If only he had a little consciousness back then and he wouldn’t have his back problems. As he looked ahead he saw Mount Sagiri. There they had first met his home, the one place he could always turn back too whenever he needed it. A place that held so many emotions both good and bad. I truly was a sight to behold. It was even where he met the man he vowed to protect.

“Are you ready? I am sure we can make it through Urokodaki pestering us on why we haven’t been around.” Giyuu asked in a joking manner trying to make light of the situation that would be them meeting their father figure after 3 years.

“Yeah I think so Giyuu. Ha… Da- uh Urokodaki is going to kill us.” Sabito said with semi seriousness as their situation suddenly dawned on him and what was happening at this very moment.

“I’m sure we will survive, Sabito. We always seem too.” Giyuu said as they walked to the entrance of the mountain seeing their parental figure’s house that was small yet spacious.

As they followed the path down the house a boy was suddenly thrown out of the house. The same boy that Giyuu had saved at that Giyuu remembered that he had never gotten the boy’s name. How stupid was he to get his brother figure to take up a new Tsugako without even telling him the boy’s name.

The boy slowly got up rubbing his head. He slowly turned their way sense that some people were staring at him. As he looked up his eyes brightened greatly as he happily greeted them being more interested in Giyuu.

“Hi! You're the one that saved me that day! I didn’t know you would come around!” The boy commented excitedly as he seemed to blabber on at lighting speed. Giyuu could barely wrap his head around what the boy was saying. This boy really felt like a living ray of sunshine that could never be burned out.

“You must be the boy Giyuu saved? So I haven’t gotten your name, mind giving it to me?” Sabito asked smoothing cutting through the boy’s rabble to get the bases of their soon to be mentorship down.

“Ah! Of course that would be the proper thing to start off with wouldn’t it? I am Tanjiro! Kamado, Tanjiro!” Tanjiro then turned to Giyuu, “My sister Nezuko is the girl you decided to spare.” He stared right at Giyuu with an unwavering smile.

“That I did. What she did while you were asleep greatly impressed me and it was also to fulfill a different Hashira’s dying wish. I did not save her because I wanted to just to do the final wishes of a dead girl. I hope you understand that.” Giyuu stated as he looked at Tanjiro with a dead pan voice not giving off any sense of emotion to demand respect.

“I fully understand Sir! I am just glad you saw my sister as the person that could fulfill that lady’s dream!” Tanjiro replied happily, not letting Giyuu’s straight forwardness break him down one bit. “I do have to ask through who is this man standing next to you?”

“Wow, okay kid that’s one way to ask. I am Sabito, Urokodaki! The Water Pillar! The person beside me is Tomioka, Giyuu. The Ocean Pillar! Mind you, don't you ever think about calling him Giyuu, as I have decided I may take you as my Tsukago if you prove yourself worthy enough to be trained by me! I still let you stay here as we have some… problems at our personal estate and that Mr. Urokodaki is still a great teacher and will help you grow in ways even I can’t!” Sabito stated loudly at Tanjiro, holding out a hand.

Tanjiro seemed to have found his match when it came to talking and gladly took Sabito’s hand and they soon started talking about who knows what.

Giyuu looked back over to the hut spotting Urokodaki. The old man seemed very surprised to see his only living disciples right in front of him visiting. His shoulders tensed but then relaxed as he gave a curt nod to Giyuu.

Giyuu let a small simple play at his lips as he walked over to his father figure. As he trailed closer he could feel how happy Urokodaki was. Once he was in arms reach Urokodaki ensnared Giyuu in a tight hug. “You two really came back. Yet here I was worrying you two were on the lesser side of the corps. I can’t believe both of you are Hashira. His hands shifted to hold Giyuu’s face. “You still look like a 13 year old.” Urokodaki said out of the blue.

“I do not! I am 18 now! A Hashira at that!” Giyuu yelled back he could feel the way his cheeks slowly heated up. His mind not thinking properly as yelled back at his dad

“Doesn’t change the fact you have a youthful expression.” Urokodaki laughed out loud. As he then let go of Giyuu's face to really get a good look at his son. He had really grown a lot the last he saw him he was 5'4 and now he was probably 5’8- 5’9.

“I do have to ask. I told Sabito about Tanjiro and he is considering taking him as his Tsugako though as we both know with his back he will need help occasionally and he also knows you can break in someone better than anyone can. I want to formally ask if you are okay with co-training Tanjiro?” Giyuu bowed toward Urokodaki politely.

Urokodaki looked down at his son as he lifted the boy's face. “What reason do I have to deny you of that privilege? If you need my help just know I’ll always be here when ever you need it.”

“Thank you, Thank you so much dad.” Giyuu whispered as he full stood up looking at his dad.

“Now where is Sabito? Is he already bonding with that boy?” Urokodaki questioned as he looked toward Sabito and Tanjiro. His shoulders shake as he laughs.

“Urokodaki! How are you doing?” Sabito yelled as he noticed that he was being stared at. A bright smile spreading across his face, eyes slightly squinting.

“I am doing just fine, Sabito. I see you have met young Kamado? Giyuu has already informed me of your plan. I am excited to see how this boy turns out under both of our wings.

Chapter Text

This is for Chapter 6 {A New Tsukago} if that chapter is already out you can skip

Hey guys sorry It is taking me so long to get this next chapter out.

1. I want to avoid burn out

2. I am still working on character pictures/ flushing out my story

3. I have been thinking about how I want the story to go down. I know their will be a huge fight between Giyuu and Kokushibo.

4. I am in the arts. So I'm really busy as my busy season is coming to a close which means being extra busy.

5. I also value other things before this

6. I have been trying to find music that fits this story so I'll be releasing a Playlist so you guys know what I listen to write this story.

~ Sincerely Your Creator Wanning_Yuanna
P.S. I am so thankful for all the love you guys have given this story! I promise I am not on hiatus just comfortably passing myself!