Muichiro raced through the halls of the wind estate. He was searching. He had waited for Giyuu all day yesterday to come out of the master's home but he never had.
He learned that he had used a different exit and was staying at the wind estate for the time being. His eyes picked up on a familiar haori hanging on a door and he knocked rapidly.
The door opened after a second and Muichiro all but flung himself into a hug from Giyuu. He got a startled yelp followed by a short chuckle.
"Hey Mui. What're you doing here?" He asked softly. Muichiro looked up and Giyuu frowned before he sighed.
"Come on Mui." He led the child into the room and both sat on the bed as Muichiro began to sob. Giyuu comforted him with little whispers and apologies.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were sick?" Muichiro asked as his tears fell faster. He nuzzled his face into Giyuu's neck.
"I know. And I'm sorry Mui. I-I couldn't. I wanted to but everytime I tried, the words got stuck in my throat and-"
The door slid open and Sanemi walked in with a lunch tray before pausing and turning on his heel.
Giyuu sighed and just hugged Muichiro tighter. "I'm sorry."
Muichiro let out a hiccup. "I don't want to forget you." He cried softly. Tears pricked at Giyuu's eyes.
He began to gently hum and rock the child side to side while running his hands through his hair.
"I know. But something tells me you won't forget." He mumbled as Muichiro stopped crying, falling into a light, exhausted sleep.
His mind flickered to Rengoku. He hadn't been close to the man but he considered him a friend. He sighed and laid Muichiro down gently, getting up to go speak to Sanemi.
He made his way to the kitchen, seeing Sanemi sitting at the table and eating. He looked up.
"Where is Muichiro?" He asked quietly.
"He fell asleep so I came to talk and eat." Giyuu answered, sitting beside him and resting his head on Sanemi's shoulder.
Sanemi slid some food in front of him. He ate slowly as Sanemi talked about how the others had reacted when he had left.
Shinobu was calling him a liar until she got evidence while Mitsuri had broken down and cried for half an hour. Rengoku before he had left had said he wanted to talk later.
He never got that chance.
Gyomei had sent flowers to the wind estate. They now sat in a beautiful vase on the table. Everyone else already knew or was too shocked to say anything.
Giyuu finsihed his food and let Sanemi take the plate to go wash it. He lowered his gaze. "Why?" He asked abruptly.
Sanemi paused. "Why what?" He set the plate on the drying rack.
"Why are you taking care of me? I'm just burdening you." Giyuu asked as tears welled up in his eyes.
"You are not a burden." A hand lifted his chin gently. "I care about you Giyuu. If I'm going to lose you, I'm going to make it as comfortable as possible. I want to make sure my friend doesn't suffer this time."
The tears fell as Giyuu hugged Sanemi weakly. "Thank you..... you're one of the best people I think I'll ever know."
Sanemi smiled as he hugged back. "I'm glad."
'He's even thinner than before.' Sanemi thought, hiding a tear.
YOU ARE READING
The Silent Signs
FanfictionHe never told them. Giyuu was always so silent, so quiet. He never wanted to burden the others. But had they known about his illness, he would have made them worry. If only he had told them. If only he had told him.
