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Pain
That’s all Shinazugawa Genya could feel as he clutched his arm. It was definitely broken, there was no doubt about that. His entire body hurt, legs shaking as the adrenaline from his recent demon encounter began to leave his body. The injuries he sustained where more serious than he thought. As he tried to catch his breath, a voice echoed in his head.
Sanemi… I need Sanemi
Almost as if his brain was working on autopilot, he felt his legs begin to move. He was walking to the wind estate. Was this an effect of the demon blood art? Emotional manipulation? If he thought hard enough, the youngest Shinazugawa boy knew he should be going to the butterfly estate for treatment, not to his brother’s estate when he didn’t even know if he was there or not.
It took the boy a while, but he eventually found himself at the gates of the wind estate. He was a wreck– bruises beginning to show themselves littered all over his body, cuts bleeding, and his arm was still dangling down with his good hand clutching it. It didn’t even matter to him. All Genya knew, for whatever reason, that he needed to see his brother.
Walking to the first door he saw, he opened it shakily and slowly with his good hand. Luck must be on his side tonight, because behind the door was his brother kneeling while polishing his sword. The older Shinazugawa looked up, about to make a smart remark until he saw the state his little brother was in.
“Sanemi… help me..” Genya said, voice breaking from the high emotions his body was experiencing right now.
Without warning, Genya’s legs gave out, his knees hitting the ground with a resounding thump. Sanemi, in a bit of a daze, managed to snap up and run to his brother’s side. Despite all the rage in his body, Sanemi was quite gentle as he grabbed his brother, trying to observe all of his wounds.
“You idiot! What the hell are you doing here!? You should be at the butterfly estate!” Sanemi scolded.
The only thing Sanemi heard after that were choked sobs and his brother’s call for him. Despite how tough he was on his little brother, he still loved him dearly. He never wanted this life for Genya. Genya deserved to live a normal and happy life, not endure the pain and suffering it took to be a demon slayer. Gritting his teeth, he picked the younger Shinazugawa up, making sure not to irritate any of his wounds further. With his speed, it wouldn’t take the pair all too long to reach the butterfly estate.
Carrying a crying teenager on your back while you’re trying to run was not easy, the wind hashira found out. He still wasn’t fully sure what was going on, but dammit, his baby brother came to his estate, crying and begging for him. Facade be damned, he needed to make sure Genya was okay.
After a few minutes, the brotherly pair made it to the butterfly estate. One of the butterfly girls immediately led them to a room seeing the state that Genya was in. He was a shaking, sobbing mess. Sanemi was still a bit unnerved– I mean, how else are you supposed to react when your baby brother, the person who yells at you constantly that he’s strong and capable, shows up to your house in the middle of the night crying for you? He was about to leave the room so the butterfly girls could do their work when he felt a hand grab weakly at his white haori sleeve.
“Please.. Don’t go!” Genya called out, voice laced with pain and a sadness the older Shinazugawa couldn’t quite place.
How was he supposed to say no to that? Sighing, he returned to his previous spot right next to Genya. Sanemi felt himself fall into a daze as the butterfly girls did their job fixing up his brother. They managed to cast up his arm and patch up all the cuts. Despite this, his brother was still crying and shaking horribly. Sanemi wanted to snap at them, tell them to do more because Genya was still a mess, but he held his tongue. Yelling at some teenagers doing their best wasn’t going to change anything.
After a while, the butterfly girls left the room. They could sense that the brother’s needed to be alone, and they’d already done everything they could for Genya’s injuries. Once they were gone, the younger Shinazugawa lifted his good arm, nonverbally asking for a hug. Making sure no one was around, Sanemi begrudgingly leaned down to hug his brother gently.
“I’m sorry..” Genya mumbled into his brother’s shoulder.
“What?”
“I said I’m sorry!” Genya repeated, a bit louder.
Pulling away from his brother, Sanemi gave him a confused and slightly irritated look. What the hell was this brat going on about now?
“L-Look..” He started, trying to wipe away some of his tears.
“I-I shouldn’t have said what I did to you.. As a kid.” Genya added, looking up at his older brother, fresh tears welling up.
Sanemi froze. He didn’t want to think about that night, he didn’t want to remember that night. The night his entire family besides Genya perished, and had to kill his own mother in defense. On top of all of that, he had to hear his only surviving brother call him a monster . It had driven the pair apart. He didn’t say anything, wanting to see if his younger brother would continue his statement.
“I shouldn’t have said what I said. I was so young– I didn’t know what even happened for so long! I thought it was a wolf that came and killed everyone! And then I had to ruin the only relationship I had with my last family member! I didn’t want to hurt you like that, Sanemi!”
Sanemi’s eyes widened at the statement. He knew that Genya had tried to apologize for that a couple of times, but actually hearing the full thing.. It made his heart ache. He stood there frozen still, just looking at his little brother as he sobbed out his apology.
“You’re not a monster! You’re my fucking hero!”
That’s what it took to have the older Shinazugawa boy lean down, encapsulating his brother in a strong embrace. He didn’t know he needed to hear those words, but gods did it heal a part of his childhood self to hear that. Staying close to his brother, he said only one thing in response.
“ I forgive you .”