Chapter Text
Tomioka was gone.
The demon had kicked him past the cliff’s edge and he’d disappeared over the side in an instant. Sanemi felt his blood run with ice, not fully realizing what had happened as he stared at the empty spot where his comrade had just been standing.
The adrenaline and horror pumping through his veins pushed him forward, pushed him back as the demon tried to pull the same trick twice. It worked his legs, moving him to the side as he drew his sword back, the muscles in his arms taut before he swung at the demon’s neck; the dark green blade slicing through the flesh easily.
Sanemi stumbled, his lungs heaving as he gasped for air. His sword slipped from his hand and dropped heavily to the ground. Sanemi didn’t notice, his chest constricting as he tried to breath and run over to Tomioka’s sword, the weapon left in the snow. He stumbled slightly and slid to his knees, gazing over the cliff’s edge; his heart squeezing so tight it hurt to breathe.
Sanemi prayed to see Tomioka clinging onto a rock with an everlasting grip or even worst case scenario, curled at the bottom of the cliff, clutching a broken arm.
Prayed to just see him alive
But instead he saw his comrade laying crumpled at the bottom, a small patch of red spreading around his head.
Sanemi’s hands dug into the snow, his fingers catching on the frozen soil, “Tomioka!” he cried, his lungs burning.
“Tomioka!” Sanemi kept screaming, his throat running raw as he tried to reach the other hashira.
Sanemi felt his eyes sting as he panicked, what was he supposed to do? In situations like this he would send a crow to retrieve a group of Kakushi; but that would take too long. But he couldn’t rush down either, that process would be even more time consuming. Assuming Tomioka was still even alive right now.
Sanemi pressed himself close to the ground, his knees pushed against his chest. He felt the warmth of hot tears run down his cheeks, letting out a small breath.
He was crying.
He was crying over someone he constantly fought, someone he repeatedly scrutinized; mentally and vocally. If another slayer were here, Sanemi would’ve been quiet; he wouldn’t have even collapsed by the cliff’s edge in the first place.
But there wasn’t anyone here, and this pain was more than Sanemi could comprehend.
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Sanemi had gotten back from his mission an hour ago. He’d been checked over by Kanzaki and the caterpillar triplets, ignoring their numerous questions.
Now he sat with the other hashira in a large room at the Ubuyashki Manor, the air warm and comforting compared to the winter chill outside.
They all sat quietly, swords at their sides, as they waited for Ubuyashiki; though he noticed Kocho eyeing Tomioka’s empty spot.
Ubuyashiki was eventually helped into the room by his two eldest daughters, their white hair an eerie reflection of their mother’s. He smiled and addressed them, his voice so soft and gentle it made the dread in Sanemi’s chest even worse.
Their weak master eventually turned his head slightly, his pale eyes gazing past in a vacant stare as he smiled again. “Shinazugawa, I am delighted to have the opportunity to receive a mission report directly. If you would, please inform us on what happened, and maybe provide a reason as to Tomioka’s current absence?”
Sanemi clenched his jaw as he felt the rest of the hashira’s gazes fall onto him, eyes full of curiosity zeroed in on his face.
The wind pillar swallowed, his brow furrowing as he spoke. “Tomioka and I successfully eradicated the demon… unfortunately Tomioka was thrown off a cliff by the demon… he succumbed to his injuries..”
A heavy silence fell over the room, Sanemi’s words hanging in the air like a cluster of heavy rocks. He carefully took in the other hashira’s reactions, Kocho’s eyes wide and full of shock, Kanroji, who looked on the verge of tears, had her hand pressed over her mouth.
Uzui’s expression was a frozen cast of distant surprise, of disbelief and spiraling thoughts.
Ubuyashiki’s expression was sad, but much calmer compared to the other pillar’s, “Oh… We will all mourn this unexpected loss… but I must ask, why were no Kakushi called to the area?”
Sanemi paused, his stomach twisting as guilt and regret weighed on his lungs.
“I-,”
What was he meant to say? I didn’t call for any Kakushi because of the gripping fear I felt in my heart?
Sanemi stuttered, his mind searching for some sort of reasonable answer. But it was clear. He’d been selfish, he hadn’t called for any Kakushi because he didn’t want them to say it, say that he was dead. Gone, forever. Because despite the constant bickering and fighting between the two, it was painful to imagine Tomioka dead; the feeling fueled by a heavy emotion he couldn’t quite grasp.
“I..“ Sanemi repeated, swallowing thickly as he scrambled to word together a competent explanation; the hashira staring at him with expectant gazes.
He wetted his lips and prepared to speak when a Kakushi burst into the room, breathing heavily. They looked around frantically, words falling from their mouth in a panicked jumble.
Ubuyashiki held up his hand, speaking calmly, “Please, breathe for a moment and repeat yourself.”
The Kakushi leaned against the door, their chest rising and falling as they quickly tried to catch their breath, “The Water Pillar- he’s outside. He needs immediate medical attention.”
The Kakushi looked over at Kocho, who was momentarily stunned.
Chaos erupted in the room, Kocho had stood from her spot, hurrying past the Kakushi in a blur, The other Hashira, Sanemi amongst them, were throwing a thousand questions a minute at the Kakushi, who looked overwhelmed.
Ubuyashiki cleared his throat, the cacophony of voices and questions falling silent.
He turned his head towards the Kakushi, his brow furrowing. “you say that Tomioka needs medical attention? My children and I were under the assumption he had passed on the mission,”
The Kakushi shook their head, their own brow furrowing as confusion spread across their face, “He’s alive, just in really bad condition,”
They glanced down the hall as the sounds of shouting and and panic riled from outside, standing straighter, “I must excuse myself.”
The room was silent as the Kakushi hurried away, Ubuyashiki turning his blank gaze back towards the hashira.
Sanemi just stared at the doorway, his chest tight.
Alive. He was alive.
Relief filled his chest, his lungs relaxing as he released a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
Tomioka was alive.