Chapter 1: Vaccines
There was a sudden outbreak of a viral disease and to keep themseleves safe from it all the demon slayer corps was advised to get the vaccine . Just like that all the hashiras were also supposed to get the vaccine from the butterfly estate .
Shinobu smiled to herself . It was a perfect opportunity after all this time . Afterall she was the one injecting the vaccines to the hashiras .She needed answers from him . Nezuko might have been a demon that helps humans but she was still a demon. A demon , same species like the demon that killed her sister kanae . Same like the demon that killed her parents . same like those that killed many more . One could never be sure if nezuko wont eat anyone in future.
Shinobu was mad . Angry on how could tomioka let a demon live . What gave him the authority to let a man eating specie live . She still couldn't understand . And he never specified the reason either , never explained himself . He stood there with the same monotone expression . So she had to do this . She was ready to do this .
" Shinobu sama , tomioka kun is here " aoi informed her . shinobu smiled at aoi " ah thank you for letting me know aoi . take tomioka kun to the room and i shall be there in a moment . " she said . Aoi left the room to take tomioka to the room where the drugs were placed .
shinobu let out a deep breath . " you gotta do it. " she told herself and started walking towards the room . she knew what she was doing was a literal crime in corps rules but she cant keep herself calm anylonger .
Giyuu had left his estate a bit early today . Theres a hashira meeting today . But he still had to get the vaccine so he decided to leave early and go to butterfly estate before going for the meeting . he had written a note to shinobu to let her know of his arrival .
Upon reaching the butterfly estate he was greeted by aoi "Ah tomioka san are you here for the vaccine ?" . He nodded . " i ll inform kocho sama right away . I ll be back in a moment tomioka san " with that being said aoi left to look for shinobu .
kocho sama . kocho sama . back in the days it used to be kanae. He somehow drifted into the thoughts of the times when kanae used to be kocho sama .
"Tomioka san , kocho sama said she ll be there in a moment . now if you ll follow me , i am to take you to the room . " aoi said .
and Giyuu started following her .
the room had cupboards with various viles . yep people working with medicines always seemed like mad scientists to him . he smiled to himself with the thought . He sat down on a chair and waited for shinobu to come .
A few minutes later shinobu came to the room . " hello tomioka san . here at last . i had started thinking that you wont come at all . so how are you ? " she smiled at him . A bit too bright .
Giyuu had always thought that kanae had a gentle smile while shinobus smile always seemed like if were mocking him . " hello shinobu . " that was his only reply .
" ara ara tomioka san still so rude to even reply properly . well if thats how it is lets just get to business . roll your sleeve up . " she said and then started getting out a syringe and the vaccine .
Giyuu pulled his haori off from one arm and rolled his sleeve up . " this might sting a bit tomioka san . " she said and then injected the vaccine . A little sting was an understatement. it burned yet tomioka managed to keep a straight face .
shinobu threw away the syringe and the empty vile/glass bottle into the bin . " Now then we have a meeting why not go together tomioka san . " Giyuu pulled his sleeve down , wore his haori back and gave a slight nod .
the two left the estate and started walking towards the ubayashiki house .
On his way to there shinobu tried making a conversation but Giyuu always gave monotone short replies as if he didnt wanna talk . So she stopped making an effort too and they both walked in silence .
They were half way through when giyuu started feeling hot and his head hurt a bit . " must be the vaccine " he thought and kept walking . A few more minutes passed and giyuu was now feeling like if he were set on fire z every step seemed harder than the previous one . he considered opening a button or two of his uniform but didnt . " just get throught the meeting " he told himself . he didnt have any missions yoday so he can get back to his house after the meeting and get some rest .
At last they reached the ubayashiki estate . By now the headache had become severe . he felt hot and his limbs going weak . he really wanted to sit somehwere .
They went inside and after a short greeting giyuu sat on his usual spot while others started chatting . He did thanked the dear lord once he sat down . his legs were hurting afterall .
Lady Amane walked in and they all sat attentively . " Greetings everyone , today I would be presiding over this meeting as oyakata sama is not well today . i apologise for his absence . " she bowed down . and all the hashiras bowed too showing respect .
The meeting started . And everyone listened carefully and gave suggestions . while giyuu sat silently . he couldn't focus what was being said . he tried and tried but he just couldnt understand anything . his head hurt and now he was finding it hard to breathe too along with the nausea that was hitting him every few seonds .
The world seemed to be fading in and out . blood rushing to their ears muffling out the sounds . it hurts was all that giyuu could think of . The pain in his back and head was swnding spots dancing in his eyes . the world seemed too big for his semi-concious mind to understand .
Shinobu looked at giyuu . to say she was surprised . he looked sick ... like if the drug had already started taking affect . but it shouldnt have . she was really hoping that the poison wasnt taking affect right in the middle of the meeting .
Before she could call him tomioka bent down . his head touching the floor his arms at the side of his head . lady amane stopped talking . now everyone had their eyes on him .
" Oy tomioka what are you doing ? " shinazugawa asked in his usual rude tone . giyuu gave no reply . he was really exhausted . even just breathing seemed like a task now .
" shit i cant let them know . i need to take him out of here . " shinobu thought to herself. and she got up from her spot and knelt down next to tomioka . she gently nudged him on the shoulder and when he gave a small groan in response she knew she needed to take him out of here . she cant let the others know of this all .
" i think he is feeling unwell . lady amame please excuse us and continue the meeting . i ll take tomioka san out . " she said and then knelt down once again asking tomioka to get up with her .
he gave her a slight shake of head as if protesting no . but he knew he needed ro get out too ." tomioka san can you stand up ? " she asked him. even though he didnt think he could but he nodded . so he stood up on quivering legs . when he straightened up everyone noticed the paleness of his face , the heavy breathing and the sweat on his forehead . shinobu grabbed his arm and started walking towards the exit of the room . she hadnt even opened the door when she heard a loud thud behind her . she turned around so fast to see what it was . and there was tomioka on the ground , eyes closed and clearly very pale .
tomioka had fainted .
The loud thud had everyone stare towards the cause of it . tomioka was lying on the floor . " tomioka san " mitsuri called out to him but no response came . wveryone had a look of shock on their faces .
" shit " shinobu knelt down . she patted his face . no response. " tomioka san tomioka san tomioka san . " she called out to him repeatedly patting his cheek but he gave no response . it was enough concering that even shinazugawa and obanai looked confused . shinobu quickly grabbed his wrist and checked for his pulse . at first she didnt feel any pulse but he was breathing . and then a very feeble pulse could be felt . what was going on . that wasnt supposed to happen at all . the drug was just supposed to make him delirious enough for him to answer her questions . moreover it was a slow acting drug . so it should have worked hours later . she has planned on going to his estate at night to ask the questions and then give him yhe actual vaccine . this wasnt supposed to happen at all.
shinazugawa moved forward and shook tomioka . " oy tomioka . tomioka can you hear me . tomioka " he just wasnt responding .
" what is going on ? is he alright ? " mitsuri was panicking . " shinobu what is wrong with him ? " shinazugawa asked . she gave him a look ( internally panicking ) amd said " i dont know . but we gotta take him to my estate so i can treat him . Cmon shinazugawa san pick him up and bring him to the estate with me . lady amane excuse us please . " she said while writting a letter and sending her crow away and then and started hurrying up knowing that shinazugawa would bring tomioka over to her estate . sanemi cursed and then picked tomioka up and dashed behind shinobu . they ran fast as fast their legs could take them .
shinobu had sent a message to aoi telling her to set a bed up for tomioka .
It took them 20 mins to reach the butterfly estate . shinobu and shinazugawa rushing past the workers and into the rooms allotted for hashiras . shinazugawa placed giyuu on the bed and sat aside . staring at giyuus plae face .
shinobu worked her arms fast . this was not supposed to happen.
she had prepared a antidote for the drug as she planned on giving it him after questioning him but this wasnt the time . she injected the antidote . and sat down next to shinazugawa .
seeing that shinobu only gave him an injection shinazugawa made a face . " so whats wrong with him ? " he asked
" i think poison? or drugged i suppose . dont worry i gave him the antidote . he ll be fine . " she said . shinazugawa raised an eyebrow . Okay so he was drugged but shinobu didnt even check what drug it was and gave him an injection . that was not how things should go she should have checked what drug it was . Then again he let it slide because she was the p expert here .
Moments passed and tomioka gave no sign of waking up . But his breaths became more shallow and fast . " uh shinobu " said shinazugawa while pointing onto giyuu .
giyuu seemed even more pale , his lips had started turning a bit blue and his breaths were fast . " what the hell . " Now shinobu was really panicking because THIS WASNT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN EITHER. she ran to his side and checked his pulse again . it had gone from a feeble pulse to a very fast pulse . she listened for his heart beats and it felt like his heart would break his rib cage . it was beating too fast . fuck . she ran out of the room and into the room of drugs . checking for something that would slow his heart beat down .
she Checked vile after vile . labels after label as fast as she could when suddenly one vile she held had her suck in a deep breath . This was the drug she was supposed to give tomioka . but if she was holding it in her hand then what did she give him . and if she gave him the wrong drug than she gave him the wrong antidote too . she sneaked a side look at the cupboard noticing the wrack beside this vile case was empty . she had accidently grabbed the wrong drug . she gave him the wrong drug . shit .
she dumped the contents of the bin and grabbed the vile she had thrown away this morning . servinile it read . Oh fuck . oh hell no . she gave him a very toxic drug . this could kill him overnight . shit . it had already been atleast 2 hours since she gave him that . His heart and his lungs could be fatally affected and lets not forget that it could affect his brain too . she threw the vile down and ran around the room . grabbing several viles , a scapel some bandages , alcohol swabs and finally the antidote for the drug .
she ran into the room . tears in her eyes . what had she done . she opened the door to find shinazugawa all panicked by tomiokas side . tomioka was breathing hard .
" shinobu you are back . do something . " shinazugawa said . his voice was for once filled with worry . she rushed to tomiokas side and she started setting the things up . " shinazugawa san , pls remove the upper half of his clothes . hurry . " she said as she worked and wore gloves .
he took off giyuus clothes . Amd shinobu took the scapel and viped his abdomen and lower part of chest with alcohol . And then made a deep incision with the scapel . blood trickeled down from there . she pulled open his abdomen as she started looking.
shinazugawa who had never seen someone alive getting split open like that stood there shocked . he watched as shinobu his organs . Gosh tomioka was alive and shinobu had his body open .he didnt know what she was looking for . then she picked the scapel again and made a slash on his chest . " Shi-shinobu ...what are you looking for ? " he finally asked her . " sanemi i am looking to see if any of his vital organs have changed colors . i will be giving the medicine accordingly . " she replied withput looking up .
she was still checking when giyuu gave a pained gasp . she knew he could feel it . she hadnt given him amesthesia . he was just out because of the initial drug . And if giyuu gets any more concious it would get very hard for her to look and very painful for giyuu to get through .
one side effect of the drug was that it makes a person 3-4 times more susceptable to pain than normal . She looked and looked and noticed it . his lungs had a blusish tint at the very bottom . she cursed herself .
She then hurridly grabbed the desired bottles of antidotes and injected them one in the arm and other in the vein between his liver and IVC
. she then hurried to stitch him up . she was trying to be fast but suddenly she stopped when she noticed giyuu moving his head . she placed a hand on the open wound on his abdomen and called out to shinazugawa.
" shinazugawa san cmon lift him to the side with me please and please apply pressure here . hurry " .she saidand gave him gloves . shinazugawa helped her pick him up and she then held giyuus head to the side while shinazugawa placed pressure on his incised stomach to prevent bleeding . 30 secs must have passed and tomioka woke up . he groaned on obvious pain and the next thing shinazugawa knew was that tomioka was throwing up ... blood .
shinobu held his head up while he threw up poison , blood and even whatever he had eaten that day . And when he was done the two of them lowered him down on the bed gently .
Shinobu removed shinazugawas hand and started stitching tomioka again.
Giyuu couldnt pin point what was going on . he just knew that he felt terrible. he was in a lot of pain for some reason . his whole body was hurting but his stomach and his chest were the main points of pain right now .and he couldnt move to even see what was going on. He noticed shinazugawa and he noticed that he was saying something to him but he couldnt hear him .
So he kept staring .trying to figure out what was being said to him .
" tomioka are you okay ? tomioka can you answer me how you are feeling ? " shinazugqwa was asking him ... calmly ... in a gentle tone .
A pained moan escaped giyuus lips as he tried to move away from the pain but shinobu held him in place as she kept stitching up . He didnt get why he was in so much pain but he knew thtat it was becoming unbearable .
giyuu turned his head to the other side . he really couldnt understand what was going on . By now shinobu was done with stitching. and she looked at him with teary eyes . he saw her face before everything went black once again .
Sanemi sat outside . Staring at the grass , thinking about all that had happened . He was too shocked to even say something anymore . " i need to report to oyakata sama about what has happened . " he thought . He got up to leave but somehow he started walking towards tomiokas room .
" tomioka ? " Sanemi watched as tomiokas eyes closed once again . He was asleep ? unconcious ? it was hard to tell . He stared at his face . The face that was always stoic now held expressions of pain . Yea it always looked pale but right now it was almost as if tomioka didnt have blood in him .Blood . crimson red blood . Sanemi lookee down at his hands , now covered in tomiokas blood . It made him think of all he had held close . Those who died bleeding in his arms and even if he hated how tomioka acted , he wasnt one bit happy about having his blood on his hands .
Scanning his surroundings , the bed covers filled with tomiokas blood came into his view .
Finally he looked up to see shinobu . She was almosy done with stitching tomiokas abdomen up . So he stood there , waiting fo shinobu to finish ." Alright thats it . All good now . " shinobu sad with a relief . She looked at sanemi . He was a sight . quiet and shock struck . Well she couldn't say tha she wasnt shaken . But she was shaken for a totally different reason . he is okay now . she told herself ." shinazugawa san , if you could call someone from outside to help move tomioka san that would be very nice of you . " she said in a low tone. she couldnt actually muster up enough energy to speak as of right now ." i ll do it . " He replied and shinobu sighed . " ah well You are covered in blood . i mean it is his blood but still . earlier you and i touched him with gloves . picking him up to move would lead to more bodily contact . He got stitches now , you know ... injured , stitches ... more prone to infection , germs on our clothes Which wasnt appropriatefor us at all . " she finished and he nodded . she was right .So he walked out to call someone . Shinobu looked at giyuu . Once sanemi was out she felt her body tremble . seriously what has she done . " I did that to my fellow hashira . Gosh what was I thinking ? why did i do that ? Is my hatred for demon that big that i would hurt humans to get wat i want ? nee san what is wrong with me. "
" tomioka ? " Sanemi watched as tomiokas eyes closed once again . He was asleep ? unconcious ? it was hard to tell . He stared at his face . The face that was always stoic now held expressions of pain . Yea it always looked pale but right now it was almost as if tomioka didnt have blood in him .
Blood . crimson red blood . Sanemi lookee down at his hands , now covered in tomiokas blood . It made him think of all he had held close . Those who died bleeding in his arms and even if he hated how tomioka acted , he wasnt one bit happy about having his blood on his hands .
Scanning his surroundings , the bed covers filled with tomiokas blood came into his view .
Finally he looked up to see shinobu . She was almosy done with stitching tomiokas abdomen up . So he stood there , waiting fo shinobu to finish ." Alright thats it . All good now . " shinobu sad with a relief . She looked at sanemi . He was a sight . quiet and shock struck . Well she couldn't say tha she wasnt shaken . But she was shaken for a totally different reason . he is okay now . she told herself .
" shinazugawa san , if you could call someone from outside to help move tomioka san that would be very nice of you . " she said in a low tone. she couldnt actually muster up enough energy to speak as of right now ." i ll do it . " He replied and shinobu sighed . " ah well You are covered in blood . i mean it is his blood but still . earlier you and i touched him with gloves . picking him up to move would lead to more bodily contact . He got stitches now , you know ... injured , stitches ... more prone to infection , germs on our clothes Which wasnt appropriatefor us at all . " she finished and he nodded . she was right
.So he walked out to call someone . Shinobu looked at giyuu . Once sanemi was out she felt her body tremble . seriously what has she done . " I did that to my fellow hashira . Gosh what was I thinking ? why did i do that ? Is my hatred for demon that big that i would hurt humans to get wat i want ? nee san what is wrong with me. "
she was lost in her thoughts that she didnt hear Aoi calling out to her . When she disnt reply sanemi went and touched her shoulder . Shinobu turner her head abruptly , she was about to cry . not now . She told herself and then looked at aoi ." Aoi , clean the blood off him . put proper bandages on him and get him moved to a different room . Oh and get him a pair of clothing as well . We kinda tore this one . " She said and she walked out with sanemi following her
. She knew sanemi was going to question her . And she was scared of how she is gonna explain it all . obviously she cant keep it a secret . They would all realise it once tomioka gains coonciousness . He did get the vaccine shot , as per his belief . Once the reacheethe house sitting room , shinobu sat with her head lowered . She could fell her heart thumping in her ears . The chills down her spine but the heat due to anger and embarrassment of what she had done did nothing to help her case . she was on verge of tears .
" What happened to him shinobu ? " Sanemi wasted no time to get to the point . She took a deep breath . " Poisoned shinazugawa . he was poisoned ... a deadly one . " she said . Sanemi just nodded . Why didnt he say anything else was confusing shinobu . Did sanemi really had no other questions ? But that thought lived shortly .
" shinobu . Now i am not the poison expert here but i have a question . " he said and shinobu raised a hand . " i know . i know . you wanna know how can he get poisoned so easily , with such a deadly poi- " she didnt complete her sentence because sanemi spoke up . " no . maybe a blood demon art or whatever . but that was not my question . He ... he had .. idk what symptoms he had or how good you are but how exactly did you know what poison he was given ? We came here and you gave him a shot right away . and then again you gave him another shot and you had his whole body opened up . "Shinobu was shocked that sanemi noticed that all in such a panicking situation . Maybe she was the only one panicking here . " Normally people dont open up bodies to check poison . and Even if they did open .."
why .. she couldnt breathe ." how did you know so quick wat to give him . You brought only two injections with you- " with shinobus raised up hand sanemi stopped . She looked miserable . Tears were now streaming down her face . she was stating down at her lap . Her shoulders stiff and herhands trembling , she couldnt even face sanemi . Goodness how would she face giyuu after all that she hadput him through .
She opened her mouth and closed it several times but didnt know how to answer ." because i ... " she sniffed , wipping tears with her haori . " because i did that ... to ...to him . " She spoke finally with a cry . She couldnt see anymore . the tears had clouded her vision . she felr miserable and horrible. this wasnt right. why dd she do it
. To say sanemi was shocked would be an understatement .This was a joke right . It had to be ." Shinobu i want the truth not some lame arse "" Shinazugawa san , it is the truth . i did that . else why would i know what antidote to give him . " She was crying screaming now .
.
Sanemi sat there staring at her for a good few moments . What as she just saying . how can this be . " Shinobu what ? why ? i mean what , why , how ... i i dont get it . " he was speechless .She looked at him . Guilt was so evident in her eyes . " because i wanted to know why he let nezuko live . She is ...a demon afterall . i .. after nee san i don't know why but i cant ... shinazugawa san .i didnt mean for it to happen . i only wanted to get him intoxicated to get answers from him . but i accidentally gave him the wrong drug . i i didnt mean for it to happen . im so sorry . " she said whilst crying .
WhHAT the fuck . she gave him a drug ? she drugged him for answers ? They all wanted that answer but going to this extent was just dangerous . And how did tomioka let that happen just ." And he just randomly let to drug him ? or did you give him a tea .. or food that was poisoned ? he asked , keeping his temper and shock in check ."
He came to get the viral vaccine . " she replied in a low tone .
His eyes widened . She drugged him ... he was here for th vaccine and she drugged him . Seriously what the bloody fuck ." YOU WHAT ? SHINOBU . what have you done ? How could you do that to your fellow hashira ? he yelled . His body was shaking ith anger right now . " i i am sorry shinazugawa san . i didnt mean for it to happen . " shinobu cried out .God this was ridiculous . very ridiculous .
Sanemi got up and walked out slamming the door behind him . This was messed up . Was he mad ? scared ? did he feel bad ? was he worried about tomioka ? was he disgusted with what shinobu had done ? did he feel tht asnt enough justifictaion ? well all those questions had one answer and that was yes .
bloody hell just .
Sanemi was walking to tomiokas room when he stopped abruptly . no ..not like this . He turnee on his heels , straight to where shinobu was . He slammed the door open . The loud thud made shinobu turn around in fear and shock . The fury in sanemis eyes was murderous . she had never seen it before .
" What now ? " he angrily asked her . she was confused . what did he mean . " what ? " she questioned him . somehow her confusion seemed to anger sanemi even more . He walked up to her and grabber the front of her collar and pulled her closer .
" what happens now ? is he going to be alright shinobu ? what happened to him ? what exactly does thag fucking drug do ? He barked in her face and then dropped her collar .
oh thats what he meant . " well its a neurotoxic drug . it ... it would .. i meam taken in the time of infusion and uptill the antidote and side effects . He might get ...hallucinations . and and it effecfs ones pain receptors ...making it .. i mea the person way more susceptible to pain . He could get fever and you the usual nausea , vomiting , pain... " she stopped looking down .
it was alot just .
" And what else ? " he said with such a rude tone that shinobu felt shivers go down her spine . " breathing issues . the blood loss and stitches would probably make him weak . his immunity would fall low amd possible a bad headache . " she finished .
Sanemi felt the blood in his body boil . How dare she do that to her colleague . He could feel himself breathing hard . He hated tomioka . but this was too much . She had caused quite a damage . This was really too much . he wanted to smash her head somewhere but he cant do that .
" Heal him . anyhow . no matter how . just get him back on his feet . We have one less person on the duty now . imagine how many people ypu haveput in jeopardy . so you better heal him shinobu and start praying that he does get better . " saying that he walked out of the butterfly estate .
shinobu crashed on the floor crying . She deserved that . For real she had gone to far . even if it were an accident , it was a horrible one . and He was right , she needed to get him back on his feet no matter what
. So she wipped up her tears and went to the room tomioka was shifted into . She placed a hand on his forehead . it was too warm . He had caught fever afterall . she picked up his right hand , placed a brenula on it , cinneted th iV and sat down next o him on a stool .
Sanemi reached the ubayashiki mansion . He took in a deep breath . He needed to inform them . With dee breaths and while controlling his rambling emotions he went to the room he had left , hoping to find lady amane alone there .
But when he opened the door , he found all the hashiras still sitting there with lady amane . He bowed and greeted her .
All of them , including lady amane couldnt look away from the blood on his clothes . She breathed and then asked about tomioka . Sanemi raised his head , and lookedat her with a very serious expression .
" lady amane , he was poisoned by shinobu on ...purpose . " he said . His very statement left everyone staring at him in shock . They all must have heard wrong . " oi shinazugawa , dont talk shit and tell us what is exactly going on . " it was uzui .
sanemi looked at him . " i am not lying . she said so herself . she drugged him . he was there for vaccine shot but she on purpose gave him another drug ... however she accidentally gave him the wrong drug . what i mean is she was going to give him the wrong drug but that drug shojld only have made him delirius , however she accidentally gave him a deadly poison . She said she wanted answers for keeping nezuko kamado alive . " he finished and everyone syill had shock all over their faces .
" And ... how is tomioka san now? " mitsuri asked . she was staring at the blood on hi clothes . sanemi noticed it . " its his blood . and he aint good . out of danger but not good . " and so he explained he explained it alk to them .
mitsuri and gyomei were crying silently ( as they always do ) , uzui and rengoku shared worried looks . evn muichiro had a worried expression . iguro was too shocked to even utter a single word .
lady amane sucked in q huge breath . " oyakata sama would decide what to di with shinobu . for now ask her to take care of him as she poisoned him . that would be all for today . everyone take care. " she said and got uo and left .
Shinobu was sitting by giyuu . watching him sleep . His short rapid gasping breaths and flushed face were enough to tell her that he was in pain . His fever wasnt going down . Every once in a while he would move his head as if stuck in a nightmare .
She really didnt know ho to face him . She was hoping that he would wwake uo soon . It had been an hour after all .
" Sa-sabito " giyuu spoke someonee name . Sabito . Who was sabito ? washe his family ? or is his family ? is he alive ? she had so many questions . Yet at times giyuu would moan in his sleep . A very pained moan .
Just like that it became hours . The door to the room opened and she found sanemi standing there with rengoku . The two of them simply walked in and sat beside giyuu on chairs .
none said anything .
Giyuu woke up at last . He was so disoriented . everything hurt . The dull pain was starting to become a fiery agony and breathing seemed like a insurmountable task . The pain wanted him to roll upon himself and the blurred vision didnt help much .
Slowly very slowly the vision became clear . He looked around and found sanemi speaking something . He didnt know that sanemi was actually making silent prayers . reguko was sitting by the bed talking to uzui .
He wanted to move to make sure that he wasnt just hallucinating but the pain just wanted him to roll in himself . And the nausea was terrific . ohhhh and the headache . it made his ears ring . But yet he wanted to move and touch them all .
Giyuu looked around and didnt find shinobu there. He was in so much pain . Enough pain that he wanted a painkiller . Non had noticed tht giyuu was awake . He was about to call out to one of them as he didnt underatan what was going on but then his started coughing . His throat was so dry .
Th coughing mde everyone look at giyuu. With each cough came a terrible wave of pain . Uzui hurridly grabbed glass of water and placed th glass near his mouth .One sip and giyuu spat it all out . His eyes wide open and they seemed as if they were ...trembling ?
No no no not again noooo . His thoughts went wild but when uzui placed the glass close to his mouth again hit the glass aside , damaging the brenula in this hand , pushing it at am odd angle in the process .
flashback
They had him all tied up . his back was sore and definitely covered in whip marks . and he could feel the leeches drainning his blood . His head spun . he was too thirsty . water " he mumbled and the guard laughed at him .
" hey guys he wants water . Get him some . Now we arent that cruel . " he said mocking .another guard came with a glass of water . He placed it close to him mouth and giyuu drank it . Whole . he was too thirsty to even think what it was .
he drank it but his throat burned and he felt even more thirsty . A moment passed and then it came hitting , he was throwing up . everything that he had eaten just . all of it . making him even more dizzy . tears streaming down his face as he threw up .the guards laughed at him .Thats how it always was the water made him sick .
They beat him , Made him do chores , the burn him , and never fed him .He was too exhausted and collapsed a number of times . And everytime they forced him to drink ... water . salt water .it made him sick and he would always throw up right afterwards . Thats just how salt water worked , it makes you throw up and leaves you even more dehydrated .
Everytime he fainted there was a glass close to his mouth . SUPER SALTED WATER .Giyuu was fidgeting and saying no to water. He kept saying " no more water . no please no " giyuu was almost begging , Tears streaming down his face .
They all werenow evn more confused . why did giyuu not want water . It was a thing about giyuu tht he never drank waterthat others gave him . He always got it himself . When giyuu finqlly relaxed a few minutes later he looked at them all .
Their faces . oh no . Giyuu looked terrified . " im sorry . " he said and tried to sit up but the pain had him gasping . " ahnnn ahhhhh " an involuntry series pained moan escaped his mouth . why was he in so much pain . he just didnt get what was happening .
his world was spining now . Sanemi was saying something . there was heat in his stomach , making its way up in his throat . Ears ringing and extra salivation in mouth . he really was disoriented .
A moment and two . And he threw up .
shinobu entered the room just then . Finding him awake she started crying . She went to him and helped him lie down properly once again . Through blurred vision giyuu couldnt make what was happening anymore and he let the darkness take over
Shinobu felt his forehead . His Fever still hadnt gone down . She replaced the brenula and keft the room .
Now it was a series of tomioka waking up all delirus in pain . crying in pain and unaware of what was going on around him . He wohld wake up and still be out of it . He was awakemost of the timebut the back nd headaches and nausea and pain in general were too much to make sense of anything
Many people came to meet him but giyuus mind was getting foggy . his back hurt and his eyes felt heavy . He wasnt used to lying down so long . His back was tired and he didnt hide his annoyance about it whenever he was concious enough .he was trying to sit up .
He didnt want to sleep . He couldnt . Their voices were too prominent. The darkness was too known . Sabito , tsutako . Their voices telling him that its his fault for them dying . Them in dream telling him that he should have died instead .
Everything was too new yet too deep in his soul .Everytime he closed his eyes , the darkness made him gasp and sent him in panic attack .He would be back in the cell of that mental hospital or he would be baack in the cupboard of his house where he would hear the screams of his sister as the deon shreds her to pieces .
Or the voice of sabito and tht demon that attacked him . He could hear the laughs of the guards . He could feel the sword being dragged against his skin . The burn of the skin being cut open .
Thus he cant sleep . No he wouldnt just .
They had to sedate him everytime they wanted him to be asleep . And he was scared of it .
Every needle , every mouth mask for oxygen . He was scared of it .The first time the mask was put on giyuu mustered up all his strength and snatched the mask and threw it away .
it was a part of torture . Another drug . They are trying to make him suseptible again . But no he wont give in ." no no please no more . " he had begged them .
God before he hated to beg . But now the humiliation matters less than being hurt and in pain . He would still hate himself when its all over but right now he wanted to save himself for a little pain. just a little bit of it .
IT took a lot of trial and error to find the balance between stuttering and oathetic crying , bound to annoy the guards .No now he knew how to stop the guards to stop from reaching the swords or the burning rods . so He would beg . Its easier . pitying but easier.
One and a half day and all the hashiras were shocked to see how giyuu was . He was screaming in pain . Literally crying . Calling out to people they had never even heardthe names of . what was going on . what cell does giyuu keep talkinh about ?
who is sabito ? who us tsutako ? just what is going on .
It was just as shinobu had predicted giyuu seemed in extreme pain for the first two days . She wasnt aware of how long it would take for the drug to wear off but now it seemed it was wearing off at last . Two days of hell . Not only for giyuu who was in and out due to pain and fever but also for many others .
For shinobu it was the guilt . For obanai it was the reality check that maybe tomioka wasnt an aloof person afterall . Seeing an expression other than boredom and words more that what giyuu normally used to say was enough for it and it felt too much . If anything obanai was enough shaken that he actually didnt seem mad when mitsuri held tomiokas hand in his sleep .
For sanemi .. he wasnt sure what it was anymore . He had been going on solo missions for so long now that he had put the memory of human blood on his hands in the past pasges of his mind ... he hadnt forgotten , it was how ... he cooped up things . He hadnt forgotten the blood on his body , the blood of his siblings when he went back home that night . The blood of his fellow corp members . He just never thought he would see tomioka like that .
Oyakata sama hadnt said anything till now . Shinobu wasnt kicked out of the corps either . Th silence of their master on such matter was deafening . It was an itch in their minds . At times it felt like an itch around the eyes while other times it was a sting in their chests... a sting of a needle prick ...which isnt too big ... but ofcourse it it is too uncomfortable .
The third day was somewhat peaceful . Tomioka wasnt stiring in his sleep . He was sound asleep . The only sign on his face was of slight discomfort but that was probably due to fever . The past two days whenever mitsuri held tomiokas hand , he would hold it back , clearly still unaware of whose hand he held , for everytime he called out to tsutako Or sabito or ...just once it was keith .
Today however his hands were relaxed . sanemi and mitsuri were waiting for shinobu to say something . She was doing a check up on him . Sanemi and shinobu hadnt talked after their last outbursts .
" Theres no sign of infection around the stitches , no redness , he doesnt seem to be in that much pain and his fever is finally down to 100F . i say he is finally doing good . He will be good to go with enough care and proper rest . He is gonna be fine . " She said and finally after two days of hell shinobu breathed in relief . he was going to make it . She was so glad . Enough glad that she felt the lump in her throat return .
She placed ber hand on his head and caressed his hair . " im so sorry ... i really am . " she whispered as she kept caressing . To her dismay tomioka made a sound of annoyance . one that clearly felt like dont wanna wake up . This made mitsuri smile and she finally plaved his hand on the bed and got up . " i think i am gonna leave now . i have a mission tomorrow . " she said and then left jut like that . Normally she would have said a proper goodbye but it all changed in these two days .
Shinobu hadnt looked back to see mitsuri leave . She had kept her eyes on tomioka . At last she stopped and left too .
Giyuu woke up with a start . He ignored the pain in his body . Tsutako . He needed to find her .that demon thingy would kill her . he needee to ...he needer to get-
oh wait , she was already gone . She was gone while trying to save Him . HIM , of all people . So he sat up straight and let the tears fall . Good thing he was alone in the room . He was cold , the haori wasnt made of that warm material . it was just a normal haori .
He didnt know how long he had cried but now his silent tears were frozen on his face . Now he just felt helpless . Finally taking in the surrounding properly he realised he was in the infirmary . So he sat quietly , watching the hours tick by .
The door opened and in walked a girl . She was surprised to see tomioka awake . Her surprise was evident on her face and then she finally smiled at him . " oh good you are awake . You were out of it . How do you feel tomioka san . " she asked . " i am ... just cold . but i am fine . " he replied honestly .
This got him a hand pressed to his forehead . " your fever is almost down , it not time for medicine yet but how about i get you another blanket . and i shall inform the others that you are awake . " she said and then left him in the room .
The nexttime the door opened shinobu walked in . She looked tired and a bit sick and somewhat apologetic . She smiled and then stood aside . There in the doorway stood ... Keith .
He smiled at giyuu and walked over and hughed him . " its been a while man . how are you ? " he asked giyuu . However giyuu was a bit overwhelmed . " They said they had been looking for me for ... you . so i thought i should visit . " Giyuu finally relaxed and shinobu had left though she seemed off .
The others were on missions . giyuu and keith had talked for hours . and then the same girl from before walked in with food . She placed it on the bed and gave giyuu chopsticks . He thanked her and she sat aside saying she was to take the dishes back after he was done eating .
She had gotten food for keith too . Giyuu lifted the covers . Meat and meat ... yea too much meat . " Shinobu san says you need to eat to replenish your strength tomioka san . "
He nodded and then took a bite . oh it good . it tastes so good . so familiar but so good . He thought and took a few more bites . It just tasted so good so he ate .
He never thought he would ask for seconds but he wanted more food . The girl happily got him more food . And so he just sat there savouring each bite . and then one piece of meat he just couldnt cut . he tried and tried but it felt hard . there was too much bone in it . so he decided to lift it uo and just bite off the meat .
He lifted it up and was about to eat when he stopped . He stared at it ,felt the bile rise in hi throat He placed it back . And very slightly had a look at the girl next to him . She was smiling . And then he looked back down at his plate . the pieces now looking clearer . He stared at the piece he had placed back and swallowed the vomit that had made its way in his mouth .
He just couldnt take another bite . Just then shinobu walked in . And keith was no longer next to him . The girl was outside his window practicing her sword skills . how long had he stared at the food just .
And then shinobu spoke . " The master wants you to meet him tonight . " why . why again . why did he wanna meet him again at night . why him just . " You didnt finish the food tomioka " she had said in a monotone voice and he just shook his head .
why was this happening ? what just . giyuu . giyuu " Giyuuuuuu " keith shook him out of his thoughts . and giyuu looked at him surprised . he had the piece of meet in his hand and he ate it . " keith why would you just eat it . " giyuu was scared . keith gave him a look that said what just .
giyuu grabbed his collar and pulled him down . " Why would you EAT THAT " he yelled in his face and keith just stared at him . Giyuu looked down and then keith was tackling him . " seriously you asked for more food so eat it . "
giyuu struggled and struggled but keith was strong . She could hear shinobu telling him not to waste food . but how could he ? how could he just eat that .
keith forcefully forced the meat down his throat an it didnt take much time before gwas throwing up all the food he ate ... but in intact form . ALL THE BODY PARTS that he ate and at last he threw up the piece that he had been staring at . A finger . a human finger .
And seeing this shinobu screamed .
Giyuu jolted awake . His breathing hard and in gasps .someone was calling out to him but who . He looked around . The blurred vision making the world a bit too uncertain . And then he felt it a heartbeat Then another and then another .
" its okay . its okay i have got you . " he heard those words . And when his vision cleared up he looked up to see sanemi . Giyuu stared at him for a second and then longer .
wait . " a dream . it was a dream " he heard himself say . Ofcourse it had to be . he finally remembered that girl . She used to work here before she was killed on a mission . and keith ... He cant be here . And those body pa-
the thought was enough and giyuu bent to the side and threw up . Sanemi held him while he threw up . and when he was done he lowered him down on the bed . He felt giyuus forehead and then carefully placed a wet cloth on his forehead . Even though the fever was way down then before but sanemi knew that tomioka must be feeling week right now .
Giyuu finally looked at sanemi . If he werent that tired and hadnt felt how weak he was feeking at the moment he would have sat up but he didnt have the strength and he was feeling some pain around his abdomen .
" Tomioka ... how are you feeling ? " the lack of anger in his voice made giyuu stare at him . Was shinazugawa actually asking him nicely how he was feeling ? wait what ? hold it hold it hold it just . what was going on ? Why washe in a bed and whats with the pain and what is with shinazugawa .
no no no no . he must be dreaming . But then that meanswhat he was seeing before wasnt a dream . That means he ate human parts ...again . But but that girl she ... she was really dead . why...what just .
sanemi watched giyuus expression change . He lookd too confused ...too scared . It seemed clear that tomioka dint have the memory of what was going on . " tomioka can you hear me out ? " he had asked so gently and wait was shinazugawa Actually holding his hand . Giyuu looked at him and then nodded .
" You remember the meeting ? amane san ? " he asked and giyuu nodded to that . " Do you remember that you were not feeling well ? " another nod from giyuu . " Well you collapsee in the meeting tomioka . Kochou and i brought you here . You ... were in bad shape . kochou can tell you the whole thing but um ... you have stitches on you body and fever of course . " he stopped to let tomioka process what he was saying and prepare him for what was to come . so he had stopped .
And when he didnt get a reply . " everyone is worried about you . You ... were bad just . it , it was bad but i am glad you are awake now ... rest . " he finshed .
" So i take it as you know what happened to me ? " shinazugawa gave no reply to him right away . " can you atleast tell me what happened because i ... i dont know why i am here . " he started again but got no answer .
Jist the the door slid open and obanai came . Giyuu looked af him . He was shocked to see toimioa awake . " Awake at last huh . two and a half day . thata too much sleeping . " he said and giyuu nearly jolted up . two and a half day . he was asleep this long ?
now he was really confused as to what happened .Waking up in the butterfly infirmary wasn't on tomiokas bucket list . Never would be . But life is not really fun so here he was in the infirmary , with shinazugawa and obanai , the two hashiras that openly hated him and never showed signs of tolerating him one bit . He stared at the two for a moment , noticing them sharing glances with eachother , the way they obviously wanted to say something but were not doing so . This is awkward . Waking up in infirmary is a different thing . Having these two here in the room with you , telling you that they are glad that you are alright is weird as fuck and totally unnatural . Yep he was dreaming . That's the only answer giyu could come up with . Why would these two , of all the hashiras , even care ?
Giyu wasn't sure if it were a dream or reality but he was tired . His back was hurting and now that he was more aware of his surroundings , the pain made itself known again . He found it hard to breathe at a normal pace and he felt cold , really cold . So he took shorth quick breaths in an attempt of stabilise himself and tried moving his legs but everytime he moved his body hurt . Especially his stomach and his chest felt weird. Like ...delicate . As if he wouldn't want to move too much or breath too much because it felt raw... He couldn't place his feelings into proper words .
" Tomioka to earth ... " Sanemi waved his hand Infront of tomioka . He had been calling out his name for some seconds but he probably did it like 5 times now and tomioka didn't answer . The hand shaking got tomioka to look at him . " I ... I wanted to ask ... If you are feeling alright ? You- " sanemi spoke " you seem rather exhausted " . Tomioka gave him one look . " Yes ofc I am fine . " He said . There isn't another answer . The only answer that can be given in such situations . Obanai gave sanemi a nod and then walked out . Sanemi on the other hand shook his head in defeat . Honestly? Tomioka said that after shaking like a leaf in strong wind . Was he not aware of his shivering . He took a hold of the blanket and despite tomiokas protest he pulled it up to his chin . Then he grabbed the cloth from the bowl , twisted it to remove the excess water and placed it over tomiokas forehead . The cool cloth sent shivers down giyus spine and he tried shaking it off but sanemi placed it back on . He was going to tell tomioka not to shake him head to drop it but the door slid open .
Obanai had seen tomioka these past days and now hating him seemed wrong . Tomioka in those moments of pain looked like a child . Tomiokas closed eyes and tears running down his face , His trembling hands and uneven breaths , His flushed face and his pained groans , all of it in feverish sleep , made obanai realise that perhaps he is capable of caring about tomioka after all . He got used to finding tomioka asleep everytime he went to seem . And when he finally found him awake he didn't know how to address him properly . What was more worrying was that tomioka got silent after one or two questions . It was as if the whole energy was drained outta him like a vampire drains humans of blood . He looked so pale and so small and sick . And the way he was unaware of sanemi calling him , showed him that tomioka was clearly still under the affects of poison or he was just really sick .
Well right now he was on his way to call shinobu . Nobody had talked to her properly after that incident . He wondered if they were wrong ? Because letting nezuko live is like letting a lion live in a hut of hens . What are odds that the lion would let the hens live ? Very little ofc and that would be when the lion is bred in captivity . But then he was at cross roads because tomioka was a hashira . Surely he must have a valid reason of letting her live . Ughh he hated how it was all so stupid . Oyakata Sama had approved of nezuko so they all pretended to be fine but harming tomioka like that ? He never wanted tomioka to get hurt like this .
Obanai now stood outside shinobus room . He took a deep breath and knocked the door twice before entering . Shinobu was looking at the door expecting Aoi but obanai being there surprised her . " Iguro San how are you ? " She greeted him with a slight smile . Obanai thought for just a second before giving her answer. " Fine . Tomioka is awake . Have a look at him would you ? " He wasn't sure why he made it a question . He was supposed to take her with him . " He is awake ? Oh yes yes right away . " Shinobu got up and washed her hands and then hurriedly made her way to the infirmary with obanai following her right behind .
" I wonder . Oh god he must be so mad at me . What do I even say to him ? Should I apologize right away ? I mean I have to but should I first check him or apologise first ? I really hurt him bad . " She had an ocean of thoughts swirling One after the other in her head . The guilt staining her heart and occupying her thoughts as she walked towards the infirmary . When the door to the infirmary came in view she took deep breaths . " You have to face it " she told her herself and finally opened the door .
Sanemi turned to look at the door and giyu took the opportunity to pull the cloth off his forehead. Only then he noticed that it was shinobu with obanai that had come . Sanemi gave her a serious look and shinobu felt the daggers he wanted to throw at her . She nodded slightly before walking up to to giyu . " How are you tomioka San ? " She asked and giyu noticed the tone change . She seemed serious right now . Giyu slightly tilted his head to the side before speaking " fine . I am good but why am I here ? Shinazugawa said you would tell me . " His simple confusion was a nightmare for shinobu . She has been thinking of ways how to tell him everything but hasn't come up with one . And she wasn't ready for the confrontation , especially not Infront of shinazugawa and obanai . She gave him a weary smile . Oh god how to put it . " Well tomioka San ... You see .. I made a mistake , which I am very ashamed of and and-and I never meant for it to happen . I am truly sorry , I never - what I mean is , I don't hate you , I just... I never- " she was not making sense and the shame of what she had done wouldn't let her state the obvious .
Giyu stared at her and her weird answer did nothing but add more to his already throbbing headache . She was still going on , rounds bouts but never to a proper answer . Her face red and eyes moving about , her clenched hands and tensed shoulders and obanai and shinazugawas exchanging looks . giyu could sense the tension in the surroundings and all this was triggering him . He never liked being in the centre and being in bed was making him uneasy . He had always put up a thick wall to hide his flaws and now being on a bed all tired and weak made him wanna run out . So he tried to sit up only to meet with pain in his body . " Oh god it really hurts . " Giyu couldn't understand why he felt that weak . But good thing the others were busy in stating at shinobu and didn't see his unsuccessful attempt to sit up . " Tomioka I am really sorry . " She said and giyu looked up at her . What was shinobu saying sorry about .
" What are you sorry for ? " He asked in pure confusion . Was whatever he was suffering from incurable ? Is he going to die ? Gotta be the case . Doctors only said that when the case is helpless. I am gonna die ? Giyuu thought . Little did he know he was way off from what she was actually sorry about " Shinobu give him a straight answer . Your stammering isn't helpful . " Obanai said rudely . Shinobu gave obanai a helpless look and he scoffed at her . Wait obanai is mad her shinobu but about what just . Giyu couldn't make out what was going on but what he did know damn the pain , he needs to sit . He can't lie down in a room full of people . So he put his hands on both sides of himself and pushed himself up . The immediate pain that shot through him was terrible . Sanemi turned to him . Oh shit . " Tomioka what are you doing . You should probably lie down . " He said and Giyu shook his head right away . He wanted up . He can't be weak . Not with the hashiras present . He can't show weakness . He is not as strong as them but he can't be useless and weak lying in the bed here .
Shinazugawas statement made shinobu and obanai look at tomioka . He really was trying to sit up . For a moment obanai thought that tomioka is stupid but considering how tomioka is more silence than words and how he never shows emotions , he got it that tomioka wasn't comfortable with him lying in bed . So he walked to the opposite side and placed his hand under tomiokas back and helped him sit up and then looked at him . The way he was breathing and his slightly pained expression said more than obanai needed to know . He walked to shinobu and in a low tone said something to her and left .
shinazugawa handed giyu a glass of water . Giyuu stared at the water , examining it and then finally took a sip , then two and then handed the glass back . Shinobu looked at tomioka sadly . She had brought it on herself and she now knew how wrong it was . She needed answers but violence shouldn't have been the answer . She should apologise properly like obanai said . She knew that she deserved to be punished but right now obanai was right , her task was to heal him. She made up her mind . " Shinazugawa San , please leave . I need to talk to him alone . " She spoke firm and shinazugawa gave her a serious look . Unintentionally he grabbed tomiokas shoulder a bit tightly and this made giyu look at him and then at shinobu . Okay weird . Shinobu didn't break the eye contact and shinazugawa wasn't ready to leave . " I know you don't trust me but I am the only one here that can help him . I know what I did and I know how wrong it was but I need to talk to him alone . " She stressed on the last word hoping that he would leave . But shinazugawa could only remember tomioka , and his open body with blood dripping . The paleness that was still there , a clear reminder of what had happened . His blood filled hands and the deep red spatter from tomiokas mouth trailing down his face . Shinazugawa didn't move . He couldn't . The wall of trust between them was broken . He feared how much shinobu could do because she was a doctor . He now knew a dark side to the doctors . How they could kill you and make it look like an accident . A murder entitled as accident . How could shinobu be sure that the drug she intended to give him wouldn't kill him . Everyone has a different tolerance and a different body , so how could she assume that .
" Just tell him . I already know . What's there to hide ?" He said and sat down on the chair next to tomioka . " Because I don't believe I can do it with you being here . " She said and shinazugawa rolled his eyes at her . " Everyone knows it , and it happened Infront of everyone , so face it just . " He barked at her and shinobu flinched . They both were at cross roads . And giyu could do nothing but stare at them while trying to hide the pain and nausea that was hitting him . He really wanted to just lie down . His back was killing him , his stomach had a weird ache to it and his chest felt too delicate . And the cold . The room felt too cold . The constant bickering between the two hashiras were causing the headache to increase . He really wanted it all to stop . Water he wanted more water. He tried to grab the glass but it was a bit away from his reach . He moved to the side a bit and felt pain again . So he stopped and placed a hand on his stomach . It hurts . It hurts on touching so he did the only thing he could think of . He pulled the blanket to the side and pulled his shirt up .
Bandages , he was covered in them . " Did I get injured or something ? I thought I had collapsed . Shinazugawa said I had collapsed but I don't remember being hurt before the meeting . Then why am I bandaged ? " He thought. He looked at shinobu again and tried to call out to her but shinazugawa and shinobu seemed to be in a heated argument . " Okay no Big deal I ...should just ... Shinobu would be mad but ...it hurts so much . " He thought and opened the tape from the side of the bandage . Ouch he mentally cursed at how much it hurt him but he finally pulled off the bandage . Giyuu couldn't look away . " How just ? " He couldn't understand . Why indeed . What has he done to be in this state ? What was going on . He had stitches on his stomach .well obviously he knew because shinazugawa had told him earlier but he didn't think he would have that many stitches . Why does he even have them ? Shinazugawa didn't tell him . Why did he not tell him . Giyu traced the stitches with his finger . " WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING TO THE POINT . " shinazugawa yelling got him to look up . And giyu found shinobu crying . what the- . " Uhhhhh Fine I POISONED YOU TOMIOKA " she yelled crying and the world froze around giyu .