Chapter Text
Giyu’s mission had just ended. In a small town, he was to slay a demon whom he heard reports of. As Giyu was walking through the forest to go back to his estate, he thought to himself.
It was difficult. There was more than one demon. I handled them all, but…
Giyu looks down at his stomach with a pained expression. He looks at where one of the demon's claws had slashed across his stomach.
I'm still too weak… I got hurt. It's nothing too bad though. I get hurt all the time.
Thankfully, his haori didn't rip. However, the Gakuran uniform underneath did. He looks down at the rip and sees blood flowing down his chest. He starts to feel light-headed and his vision blurs. He clutches his hands to his wound, trying to apply pressure to it. Panic washes over him as he realizes the seriousness of his injury, and he struggles to stay upright, leaning against a nearby tree for assistance. Luckily for him, his vision comes back into focus. He manages to take deep breaths and stop himself from losing consciousness.
That was too close. I'm weak… Sabito would have beat those demons easily.
He grits his teeth.
I should never have been placed as a Hashira.
Giyu sighs and continues towards his estate. Suddenly, a thought crosses his mind.
I can't let the other Hashira see my wound. I already made everything worse by just becoming a Hashira, but today… I got hurt, and against regular demons too.
The Water Hashira, now slightly panicked, decides to do first aid on himself.
As Giyu gets home, he grabs his medical equipment and heads to his bed. Taking off his haori (and making sure it's not damaged in the slightest) he folds it up neatly and puts it away. He then takes off his Gakuran uniform.
This is extremely ripped up… I need to get it fixed. But I can’t go to Kocho. She would know that it got ripped from a demon. No, I’ll just sew it up myself.
Setting his uniform to the side, he decides to fix it after he heals himself. He opens his medkit and finds supplies.
Bandages… Rubbing alcohol… Wipes…
Giyu looks through his stuff, grabbing what is needed for his injury. After cleansing it with alcohol, he wraps it up carefully. Next, he starts sewing up his uniform.
It's not nearly as good as Kocho would sew it, however, this will do.
He finishes sewing and puts back on his uniform and haori. Just as he's done, he hears a crow outside his window.
Oh, is that Kanzaburo? I wonder what message he has for me.
“Caw! Caw! Giyu Tomioka, please report to the Ubuyashiki mansion in one hour for a Hashira meeting! I repeat, Giyu Tomioka, please report to the Ubuyashiki mansion in one hour for a Hashira meeting!”
A Hashira meeting? I wonder why.
“Thank you Kanzaburo. I will arrive shortly.”
As Giyu approaches the Ubuyashiki mansion, he sees several of the other Hashira, also confused. He takes his kneeling position and glances at them.
Not everyone is here yet… Currently, I only see Kocho, Shinazugawa, Uzui, Himejima, and Tokito. I hope the others are alright.
Right on cue, Obanai, Mitsuri, and Rengoku walk in and take their stances. However, they continue to wait in silence for their master to present himself. They all seem slightly confused as to why a meeting was called. Giyu decides to take his hands off the matter, and instead, he glances at Shinobu.
She's growing paler day by day… I wonder why. I hope Kocho is all right. She's smiling, just like usual. However, I know this means nothing. I can see through her facade. Though I doubt anyone else can.
Shinobu glances up at Giyu, and their eyes meet. Shinobu scans him, checking him for any injuries, as she knows he went on a mission recently. Her eyes wander across his face, looking for any sign of discomfort. Giyu masks his pain well under his usual stoic expression. After a minute, she looks away, satisfied that he's likely not hurt.
She didn't notice anything. Good. I hope to keep it that way.
Suddenly, the doors of the Ubuyashiki mansion open. Kagaya steps outside. All the Hashira bow their heads even lower. This time, Tengen was the first to greet the Master.
“Oyakata-sama, I'm pleased to see you in good health. I fervently pray for your continued good fortune.”
“Thank you, Tengen,” Kagaya states, “I hope that all of my children are in fine health.”
The Hashira nod in confirmation of his hope.
“The reason I have brought you here today is to announce a new protocol,”
The Hashira expectantly look up at him, eyebrows raised. Why would there be a need for a new protocol?
Kagaya continues “In these past years, we have been through trial after trial of our strength and resolve as a demon slayer. However, you Hashira have been through a lot. I believe that you may be needing not only physical health checkups but mental ones as well.”
The Hashira's eyes widen. Giyu thinks to himself.
Health checkups? Mental and physical? Wait. But they can find my wound… It's only bandaged, and I'm still injured. I don't need them too know... I don't want them to know...
The Master raises his hand to regain the shocked Pillars's attention.
“These checkups will be starting tomorrow and will be going on for a week, ending on Sunday. Please note that Shinobu will be conducting these checkups. You are required to visit her at least once, within the time period previously stated, at the Butterfly Mansion. That is all, you may be excused.”
The Hashira’s bow again, then get up. Each of them heading their respective ways, other than Giyu and Shinobu. Shinobu talks to Kagaya about her position in this ordeal, while Giyu thinks the whole situation over.
“Tomioka?” Shinobu’s voice calls out to him. She standing right over him, a look of concern in her eyes.
Oh, shoot. I've been spaced out for too long… Alright. Act natural.
“Oh, I’m sorry Kocho… I was... Thinking.”
“Ara ara~ It's rude to ignore people, you know.” Shinobu flashes a fake smile.
Giyu looks at her, directly in the eyes.
“Hey… Kocho? You are looking a bit pale, are you alright?”
He watches her face. Her eyes rise in shock, but she quickly masks it under another smile.
“I- I don't know what you're talking about.”
She's lying… I know she is. Why would she lie about being pale? What is she up to? Although... It's not like I can talk. I'm hiding my injury.
“So Tomioka,” Shinobu asks Giyu the very question he didn't want to hear “Want to do the checkup now and get it over with?”
Giyu starts to panic a bit but attempts to play it off.
“No thanks, Kocho. I have some things I need to do. Goodbye.”
And with that, he leaves to his estate, leaving Shinobu alone.