The Silent Signs

Pain

Obanai regretted it. He shouldn't have gone back. He shouldn't have listened to the conversation. He shouldn't have known.

Tomioka was sick and dying? Why the hell didn't he say anything? This could bring his work down! His rage was nearing the boiling point until the sentence came out.

"I have two months left." the rage was replaced with the deep, deep regret. He had treated the man so horridly. While he was dying. He shook his head and sped off, needing to process the information.

Giyuu left the estate at last and returned home, rushing to his bathroom and vomiting a large amount of blood. He choked a wheezed as his throat began to burn. He sat there until midnight before choosing to sleep it off. He slipped his clothing off to changed and grimaced at the sight in the mirror. His ribs were poking out, he was thin on a whole new level, he was deathly pale, bruising easily. Dark eyebags as well.

How had no one seen this? Had they just ignored the signs? He hesitantly pulled on a shirt and slipped into bed, wincing at the stabbing pains in his chest as he took a deep breath. His energy had already been drained by the tedious coughing and vomiting. He fell asleep in seconds.

He woke with a groan and cringed, seeing that he had been coughing in his sleep. There was a small pool of blood below him, directly on his pillow. He sighed and grabbed it, tossing into a bin and walking into the bathroom, brushing his teeth to remove as much of the blood as possible. He stared at the water that was in droplets around the edge of the sink. There was blood in most of them.

It was getting worse, more frequent. In another week or so, he would no longer be able to hide it. Not around Kocho, who tended to get missions with him every time he left his home.

He cursed as he sank to his knees, letting out a choked sob. It hurt like hell. His head was pounding, his chest felt like it had been stabbed. It was hot as hell(he knew it was actually cold and he probably had a fever) and it was much harder to breathe. He crawled back to his bed, seeing the sun already out and hearing the passing kakushi.

"May one of you come here?" He called out weakly, hearing a pause in footsteps before his door was pushed open. A kakushi stepped inside, eyes widening at his frail state. She dropped the basket of towels she had been holding and rushed over, helping him up and forcing him to lay back on the bed.

"Are you alright Tomioka-sama?!" She asked in clear concern. He winced.

"It's just a fever. May you please bring me some of the pain killers? I would get them myself but I can hardly stand." She nodded and rushed out, coming back with the bottle of painkillers and a few little towels with a large bowl of icy water.

She let him take two painkillers before placing the cold towel on his forehead, pulling the blanket up over him. She looked down in concern. "I have a few chores but I'll try to check on you every twenty minutes."

He nodded weakly and she left, taking the painkillers with her.