The flowing beauties of time(GiyuShino)

Deterioration of self-preservation

One week later

Kanae made her way to the Hashira meeting with Shinobu knowing what the meeting was about beforehand. When the two made it to the gates of the Ubuyashiki they listened in close trying to hear the conversations everyone was having but they noticed that someone's voice wasn't there. For some reason, they couldn't hear Giyu talking. While he still wasn't the most social he still did talk to the other Hashira as they did somewhat become friends with him and even helped him break out of his shell the only thing Kanae and Shinobu could hear everyone say was "Where is Tomioka" as the two then entered.

"Ara ara~ how has your day been Sanemi, dear" Kanae asked walking over to Sanemi and Obanai as Shinobu snuck her way into Kagaya's estate. "I'm doing good and how are you... Shit, Tomioka the fuck happened to you" Sanemi asked as everyone turned in Giyu's direction, they saw Giyu limping into the estate as he held his left arm. "Nothing... just a demon" Giyu said as he leaned against a tree for support. Mitsuri, Kyojuro, and Tengen walked over to Giyu to get a clearer answer from him. "Tomioka seriously what's wrong with you? I mean you limp in here you clearly fractured your arm you are heavily bandaged and you are winded. If I remember correctly no demon has ever done damage like this to you not even a Lower Moon. So unless you are being very unflashy and not telling us about a fight you had with an Upper Moon, then I think you are lying about all of your injuries coming from a demon" Tengen said as Giyu sighed he doesn't want to lie to Rengoku but he also doesn't want to tell the two biggest gossipers amongst the corps. "If I tell you guys you'll have to promise me with your lives that you won't tell a soul" Giyu said as the three nodded in agreement.

"This past week I've tortured myself starting the day after I find the remains of my daughter on her birthday after she ran away. The day after her birthday I trained until I couldn't feel my arms anymore and I got enraged so I punched a tree with full force, I kept punching the tree until the extreme amount of pain went away. The day after I slashed myself across my chest, sides, stomach, back, and arms as painfully as possible after I bandaged my wounds I drank until I couldn't even remember my name. The day after I wasn't able to even walk three feet before I felt the urge to vomit and that day was spent in the bathroom. The next day I continued to slash at my chest and back. And the last day I trained until my legs almost collapsed under the pressure and I began to lose my grip on my sword with my good arm, so I stabbed myself in the leg until the adrenaline came and I regained my grip on my sword and then trained for another hour and then I stitched the mangled mess of my leg" Giyu explained leaving Mitsuri in tears.

"Tomioka... This is something that isn't safe... We shou-" Kyojuro tried to say something but was cut off by Giyu. "I know Rengoku, but you don't get it. You never had to live with the guilt that you were worthless, that the only thing you are good for is those you care about dying. This is something I deserve the pain and suffering of those you thought I deserved anything good. I don't deserve happiness, I don't deserve love, I don't deserve my friends, I don't even deserve my life" Giyu continued. "Tomioka-San w-we can he-help you through this" Mitsuri said. "No you can't, it would be better if you three just leave an-" Giyu tried to speak but was cut "Tomioka  I don't want to hear it me, Kyojuro, and Mitsuri will always be here for you. Don't worry we won't say anything to anyone just explain why you thought to do this. What led you to do this?" Tengen asked. 

"When my sister died, it was to protect me from a demon she died a day before her wedding and when I tried to tell everyone... they thought I killed her and they tried to kill me. Her fiance protected me and told me to run as the town killed him thinking he was a part of it. After a few years during my Final Selection, me and my first best friend Sabito participated in it. Sabito was supposed to be the Water Hashira he was everything I wasn't he was strong, skilled, and brave. He saved everyone who was faced with a demon and then he saved me. His blade was dull due to all of the demons he killed and he told me to survive for him and my sister as the demon crushed his skull. And just last week my Utsukushi Musume died the night before her birthday, and all that remained of her was parts of her haori a broken piece of her blade, and a box with the ribbon my sister had that I gave her in a puddle of blood. She died because I argued with her worried about her safety and she ran away to join the Final Selection. When I saw what was left of her I fell on my knees and began to tear through the flesh on my back slowly ready to join them until I remembered how she would always get sad when I was hurt worrying that I didn't care about myself. So I made her a grave and decided that I will die fighting just like they, and finally have some worth" Giyu explained.

"Tomioka... after the meeting, I'm taking you back to my estate so I can properly treat you. There will be no negotiation about this" Tengen said and Giyu nodded. "Okay, it'll be best if you three left I don't want my luck killing you guys in the future" Giyu said.

When Mitsuri, Kyojuro, and Tengen walked over to the others everyone became concerned as Mitsuri was still tearing up. "Mitsuri are you okay?" Obanai asked. "Y-Yes I'm okay Obanai-San. Tomioka-San just explained what happened to us" Mitsuri said. "Well, what happened?" Sanemi asked. "He was protecting some children from a den of demons, though the demons targeted the kids so he used his body to protect them. After he returned to his estate his Musume was mad. He's trying to find out how to make it up to her" Tengen lied. "How did he know a demon den was there we didn't have any missions last week" Gyomei said. "He was helping families find their kids since he was in the area" Rengoku lied. "That was a very nice thing for him to do" Kanae said. "Everyone the master is here" the girls said in unison.

"Hello my children how are you doing today" Kagaya asked. "We're doing good Oyakata-Sama, and we pray for your health and your longevity" they said in unison. "There are two things I want to talk about in this meeting. The first thing is that we have a new Hashira. You can come out now" Kagaya said as a short person step out from behind him. "Shinobu/Shinobu-San/Kocho?!?" all of the Hashira but Gyomei and Kanae exclaimed. "Hi I'm the new Insect Pillar" Shinobu said as she then moved over to the group and began to bow. "The second thing is that the Final Selection is coming up in five months. This means that you all will only have two months' worth of missions that your Kasugai crows will give you. You all may go back to what you were doing before" Kagaya said ending the meeting.

"Hey Tomioka-San you proud of me, that I became a Hashira" Shinobu asked Giyu. "Yeah, I'm proud of you Kocho. You know you're an amazing person. I mean you managed to become a Hashira even though you can't cut off a demon's head you still managed to find a way" Giyu said complementing Shinobu as she started to blush at his words. Why am I blushing? He just gave me a compliment like he always does. After all were best friends so why do I feel hot around him? Shinobu thought hiding her face as Giyu began to leave. "Tomioka wait. Remember I'm taking you to my estate after all after what those demons did to you, you must have messed up on bandaging yourself. Want to come too Mitsuri, Kyojuro?" Tengen said and asked. The two nodded and followed Tengen and Giyu, while Shinobu asked Kanae if they could talk in private.

"Nee-San. Why do I feel hot when I'm around Tomioka-San? I never felt like this before while I hung out with him so why do I feel like this now?" Shinobu asked and Kanae giggled confusing Shinobu. "What? What's so funny?" Shinobu asked. "It's only natural. You're growing up and it seems like you have a crush on Tomioka. It's nothing to worry about" Kanae said turning Shinobu's face into a bright shade of crimson. "E-eh. N-no it's no-nothing like that" Shinobu said as Kanae laughed at her more. "A-and even if that was the case. It's not like I could da-date him, he has a kid and probably a wife" Shinobu said saddening a little. "Actually Tomioka adopted his Musume after a demon killed everyone in her town" Kanae said as Shinobu's eyes lit up.

Three hours later

When the four of them made it to the Uzui estate, they were greeted by Tengen's wives. "Welcome back Lord Tengen" they said in unison. "Hello Makio, Suma, Hinatsuru. If you three don't mind can you do me a favor and treat Tomioka, please? You won't have to worry about making dinner I'll do it" Tengen said. "Uzui-San let me and Kyojuro-San help you"Mitsuri exclaimed. "Okay Lord Tengen we'll do it," Hinatsuru said as Makio took Giyu in and Suma went to get the medical supplies. "Thank you Hinatsuru" Tengen said as he went to the kitchen and make lunch with Mitsuri and Kyojuro.