Hidden In Moonlight

Chapter One - Emotions Nobody Can Witness

quick A/N: So before you continue reading please let me know of any major mistakes you find. This is my first piece so please keep that in mind. Constructive criticism is also welcome ^^  Happy Reading!

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Tomioka lay awake wrapped in the comfortable sheets of his futon. At this point sleep seems impossible. Maybe he's just so used to being up day after day and night after night, it wouldn't come as a surprise. It's a slayer's job to slay demons no matter how sleep deprived or injured they are. You have to keep going. Being a Hashira only makes that pressure come ten fold. Hashira are supposed to be the strongest, fastest, most worthy slayers. Tomioka didn't fit into any of those categories. He's weak and slow and the others are all better than him. He knows Sabito would have made a better Hashira, he would have been stronger, faster, better, and the other Hashira would have liked him.

Another tear slips from his eye at the thought of Sabito. He hadn't realized he'd been crying. How long had he been crying? "It doesn't matter anyways," he thinks. "It's not like crying will fix anything now."

His thoughts continued to torture him. Thoughts of Sabito, Tsutako, and all the people who he failed to save. His tears still hadn't stopped and all the accusing voices in his head were left to scream at him. "You let me die" "You're a disgrace" "PLEASE YOU HAVE TO SAVE ME" "You disappoint me" The voices wouldn't stop, wouldn't let him have a moment's rest. They were relentless demons that lived in his head that could not be slain by nichirin swords. They stayed and screeched like vengeful monsters. The mental pain from these words is far worse than any wound bestowed upon flesh.

His tears returned, much more than before. Salty blobs of water ran down his face. It took longer to get rid of the tears this time and the voices only ceased when the sun broke the horizon. Shades of orange, pink, and yellow covering a fraction of the sky had started to light up the room. Tomioka stared at the little spots of light that now decorated the ceiling. It had been yet another sleepless night.

His eyes stung from crying. Fatigue was starting to get to him. Everything felt like too much. He has probably been awake for 3 days. And with the scattered demon slaying throughout them, it hits twice as hard.

Grunting as he lifts himself up and peels off the warm sheets, a little upset about not sleeping and having to get up. It takes a few minutes before Giyuu finds his uniform and haori. Stretching out his stiff body and taming his messy hair.

Just as he's about to make a food as Kanzaburo flaps his way over to him squawking.

"Tomioka Giyuu!!! Hashira meeting in 15! 10! 15! Minutes!" The bird kept squawking about whether or not the meeting was in 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Poor thing was so old trying to remember times was difficult. Kanzaburo gave up on figuring out when it was and thought that Tomioka's hair was a perfect resting spot. It was fluffy and he had just enough of it to make a comfortable temporary nest.

"At least one of us can get some rest," was all Giyuu said before nuzzling the sleepy bird with his hand and starting his journey to the master's mansion.

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Getting there without starting Kanzaburo awake was easy enough. That was until he got into the courtyard where all his fellow Hashira stood around waiting. Most of them were talking to each other, like Mitsuri and Shinobu. Mitsuri was the first one to notice him, and when she turned to face him she squealed!

"Kyyyaaaaa! Tomioka-san!!! That's so cute, Shinobu look!!" Kanroji had brought everyone's gaze over to Giyuu. Where they saw the now very much awake Kanzaburo still happily resting in his hair.

"My my, Tomioka-san. I never would have guessed that something would like you. Especially when you are disliked by everyone." Shinobu had replied to the scene with her typical teasing. Something that was expected whenever Giyuu stepped foot inside her line of sight. "Hey Hey, Tomioka-san! Did you not hear me? You know it's quite rude to ignore people."

"Ya, Tomioka. You should answer her, but you won't because you're so arrogant. You think you're better than everyone here, don't you?" This time it was Shinazugawa who said something. Giyuu rolled his eyes and had to bite his tongue before he said something out of pocket. However the comment made Mitsuri frown at the white haired male, which led Iguro to start up his own little argument with him. Everyone knows that those two are dumbly in love with each other, they're just to blind to see it.

There was still about five minutes until master would show up. Kanzaburo had left the makeshift nest in favor of basking in the sun along a near by pond. Giyuu decided to walk over to where Muichiro was sitting, they had always gotten along better. It was nice to have someone who didn't question him about everything and would rather just sit in a comfortable silence. He sat down next to the younger boy without sharing any words. Muichiro turned his head to make sure it was him before he leaned back. Giyuu's lips quirked up at the edges to allow a soft smile to rest on his face. The younger boy just stared at him with misty eyes. Almost in awe, but that quickly faded as he forgot what he was doing. Still the silence was calming for the both of them, aside from the somewhat distant yelling in the background. Five minutes passed like no time and the shoji doors to Mater Ubuyashiki's mansion had opened.

The nine Hashira leaped into a line bowing respectively. The sound of carefully placed steps on soft tatami mats was the only sound made until Master spoke. "Good Morning my Children. Lovely day isn't it?" His voice was steady and calming, just as it always was. Just what Giyuu needed to start off his day.

"Good Morning Master, we're glad to see you in good health. And yes, the day is incredibly beautiful." Shinobu greeted him first today, much to Kanroji's obvious disappointment. Shinobu let out a quiet giggle and gave her a smile as if to say, "sorry Mitsuri, you can greet him next time." It made Mitsuri brighten right back up as if nothing happened.

Master took in the fresh morning air as he sat on his knees. It was quite the peaceful morning so far, and he hates that he is going to be the one to ruin it. The information he had received prior to the meeting was not of peace and tranquility. Even so, he still had to relay the message and send the respected Hashira on the mission. The message he had received was quite concerning, it claimed that many of the low ranking slayers had perished after being sent on this mission along with young villagers in the area. He had decided after being informed that he would send a Hashira that had strong defensive skills. It would be a good to get an honest read on the situation while also keeping the battle somewhat at bay. That way back up would have enough time to get there or the Hashira could behead the demon on their own.