Demon Slayer: Like Shards of Glass (Giyu Tomioka x OC)

6

When Giyu had said "training", he seems to have meant it.

Immediately after stepping into the training hall, he turns to face you with his wooden sword raised, apparently quite ready to fight you. You can't say the same, unfortunately. "Uh, Tomioka-san? Can you give me a thorough explanation about what we're doing before we start fighting?" you say, turning your sword in your hands nervously.

"We are not fighting, we're sparring," Giyu corrects you, angling his sword towards you as if he's trying to decide how to take you down. "So that I can gauge your skills, as well as your strengths and weaknesses in battle."

"...And why do you need to do that?"

Giyu suddenly lunges toward you, and you react just in time to sidestep his attack. As he spins around to face you again, you leap back to stand at a safe distance away. What is his problem? Then Giyu speaks, his answer catching you by surprise. "You told me that I should look after you, since I hold part of the responsibility for you becoming a Hashira, so I am. I will be helping you train from now on," he says in a matter-of-fact tone.

Your face twitches with disbelief. "I was joking. You don't need to take any responsibility-"

He doesn't seem to be listening to you, since another one of his slashes cuts the air close to your neck. Just by glancing at his eyes, you can tell he's not going to budge on this decision. He seems strangely committed to fulfilling his "responsibility".

Well, I'm not one to turn down a free training session. If he wants a fight, I'll give him one. Narrowing your eyes, you follow Giyu's movements with your eyes as he draws close once more. This time, you're ready for him. He swings his sword, aiming at your side, and you use yours to parry it, following it up with an attack of your own. Your thrust is blocked then returned, and you twist your body to avoid his slice. Your swords clash over and over again, and the pattern continues as the spar continues.

Between your attacks, you can't help but be impressed by his wide range of motion and the fluidity in his movements. Not a single movement is wasted- each motion flows together to form a flexible and interconnected technique that he uses to perfectly both attack and defend. How fitting for the Water Hashira. It's amazingly difficult to land a hit on Giyu, and he reacts to each one of your attacks with deadly calm.

In contrast, your movements are sharp and precise, your feet lightly dancing across the smooth wooden floor as the match continues. Even though your attacks don't have nearly as much power as his do, you're definitely faster than he is. Your slashes are quicker, your reaction time slightly faster, and you're able to predict his movements to an extent. Your agility, along with your smaller size, allows you to freely dodge his attacks- you slip away at the last second before his blows can land, counter attacking a split second later.

Although the only indicator is his slightly widened eyes, you can tell he's impressed, or at least surprised, by your level of skill, especially your speed. Your suspicions are confirmed when you both break away for a moment to catch your breaths. "Your attacks are fast enough to match Kocho's. Perhaps even faster." he muses out loud, eyeing you with interest. "Your stamina and strength are lacking, but that can be improved through training. You're doing well to hold your own against me."

"I should at least be able to do that much, in order to stand with you and the rest of the Hashira." you shrug, curling your lips. "And you're not so bad yourself."

Giyu blinks at you silently before putting down his sword and turning away. "Let's end it here for today."

"So suddenly?" you ask with a twinge of disappointment, wanting to continue the training. You can't help feeling that the man in front of you is too unpredictable.

He nods, brushing off any dust that landed on his haori during the spar and heading toward the door without so much as a second glance at you. "It's getting late, and I need to prepare for my next mission."

You turn away for a moment to stare out the window, confirming that, yes, the sun has almost completely set outside. "Then I'll see you next time, Tomio-" you start to say, but stop when you realize that the Water Hashira has already left. He just comes and goes like the wind, you shake your head as you stare at the empty doorway.

***

It turns out that training with Giyu isn't just a one-time thing, like you had thought.

To your, and Shinobu's, surprise, the Water Hashira visits the Butterfly Mansion quite often now. You see him a few times a week, with him showing up at random times of the day. You get used to the sight of the raven-haired swordsman standing outside in the courtyard when you return from missions.

As if that isn't perplexing enough, Shinobu, for some reason, takes it upon herself to notify you whenever he arrives, knocking at your door with that mischievous smile of hers. Just like today. "Oh, Hikaru-san!" she chirps after you open your door- she circles you like the butterflies in the gardens do. "Tomioka-san is here again."

You simply hum in response, quite used to this by now. It's been nearly a month since your training sessions have begun, so you end up expecting his visits.

When you don't say anything, Shinobu blinks up at you, stopping in front of your face. "You know, it really is unusual for him to seek someone out like this, even willingly coming to the Butterfly Mansion. Are you sure there's nothing going on between you two?"

"It's just training, really." You think back to what happens during the training sessions. They're usually just sparring matches that span an indefinite amount of time- sometimes one hour, sometime five. Sometimes you fight using training swords, other times with real swords, and other times with bare hands. It's been helping you sharpen your swordsmanship and improve your stamina, but the talking is kept to a minimum. You and Giyu mostly converse through clashes of your blades, and he always leaves straight after.

Well, it's not like you mind the fact that he's quiet. That just makes him easier to be around, compared to others who try to force conversations.

"But it looks like you two are getting closer, no?" Shinobu refuses to let up, her violet eyes teasing. "I'm sure there's something more to this than 'just training'."

You roll your eyes, which you're sure is disrespectful to do to a pillar, but whatever. "You're mistaken. There's nothing else. He's just helping me train because of his strange sense of responsibility. Let's stop talking about this."

As you hurriedly leave the room, you hear Shinobu call out behind you. "Both of you are so difficult to hold a conversation with! It's no wonder you get along!"

Giyu is waiting in the training hall when you walk inside. His raised eyebrow indicates that you must still be wearing a bemused expression on your face. "It's just Kocho-san again," you feel the need to explain. "She seems overly curious about our training sessions. If she wants to know so much, she could just come down and watch."

Giyu shrugs. "Kocho has always been tenaciously inquisitive." is all he says before he raises his sword, motioning for you to do the same. Seriously, you think as the training begins. It's ridiculous that Shinobu thinks there's something going on when all he cares about is training. And isn't she closer to him than I am?

It's true that Giyu is rather unapproachable- at times, speaking to him is like talking to a brick wall- but you'd rather he be quiet than obnoxious when training, because you don't want to be distracted, after all.

But... I wouldn't mind knowing more about him. You find yourself thinking. Not that it looks like he'll willingly talk about himself. That's fine too. I plan to keep myself at a distance, anyway.

Since nothing good comes from getting attached.