Whispers of Water and Wind

Chapter 4 Giyuu in Pain

A dimly lit meeting room at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. Recent missions are being discussed by the Hashira who are gathered. The silence of Giyuu Tomioka has drew Sanemi Shinazugawa's attention.

**Today is Giyuu's sister's death anniversary. Giyuu is feeling extremely down. Giyuu had come to hate this day every year. Giyuu has always found this day particularly difficult. She felt the same pain of losing her sister as she did on that fateful night. The regret that Giyuu carried was a persistent shadow. In order to prevent others from suffering like her sister, she had dedicated herself to training tirelessly, fighting countless demons, and dedicating her life to the Demon Slayer Corps. The wound in her heart was still open, raw, and bleeding despite her efforts. She felt she had never truly lived up to the promise she made to herself.**

"What's the deal with you, Tomioka? You're just sitting there like a statue!" Sanemi snapped, his impatience boiling over.

Giyuu, calm as ever, didn't flinch. She met his gaze for only a second before looking away. "If you have something to say, Tomioka, just say it. We're not here for your silence," Iguro chimed in, his snake coiling around his shoulders as he narrowed his eyes.

Giyuu's expression remained stoic. "I thought we were here to talk about slaying demons, not hold a concert of complaints," she said, her voice flat, but the slight edge in her tone was enough to provoke Sanemi further.

"You think you're above us just because you're quiet? Speak up!" Sanemi demanded, his voice rising with frustration.

"I didn't realize silence was a crime," Giyuu replied, her eyes drifting away as if the conversation bored her.

Mitsuri, always the peacemaker, spoke softly. "Maybe we just want to hear your thoughts on the mission, Tomioka-san," she said, trying to diffuse the situation with her gentle tone.
"Why do you always act so aloof? You're a Hashira, you know!" Iguro snapped, his tone accusatory.

"I'm just conserving my energy for when it actually matters," Giyuu replied without missing a beat, her voice cool. "Unlike some people who seem to waste it on petty arguments."

Sanemi scoffed, crossing his arms tighter. "You think you're so smart, huh? Just because you're quiet doesn't mean you're deep."

Giyuu's eyes flickered with a hint of irritation. "And just because you shout doesn't mean you're making a valid point."

"Why do you have that stupid expression on your face all the time?" Iguro growled, his anger bubbling over at her indifference.

Giyuu didn't respond, her silence speaking louder than words.

"Tomioka, I said something. You should show some emotion!" Iguro insisted, his frustration mounting.

Giyuu's eyes narrowed slightly as she finally turned to him. "Look who's talking. A shorty who can't even show his face, talking about showing emotions."

Iguro's face flushed with anger. "💢 What did you just say?" His snake tensed around his neck as his glare bore into her.

"Clean your ears. I said look who's talking—shorty, who can't even show his face, talking about showing emotions," Giyuu repeated, her tone steady, almost mocking.

Tengen, watching the exchange, rolled his eyes. "Tomioka, that's so unflashy. You're crossing the line."

Giyuu's eyes flickered with a hint of irritation. "Where's that line, Tengen-sama? I don't see it."

Tengen's expression soured. "You never take your Hashira position seriously. You run away from your responsibilities. In every meeting, you stay silent. You never offer your opinion."

"And who told you that?" Giyuu shot back, her voice sharper now. "I run away from your stupid face and way to flashy ass, not from my responsibilities."

Tengen bristled, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "You—"

Shinobu, who had been observing quietly, finally spoke up, her voice soft but pointed. "Tomioka-san... this isn't like you. What's going on?"

"Excuse me, Tomioka-san..." Mitsuri began, trying to calm the growing tension, but before she could continue, the door slid open.

Two girls entered and announced, "Oyakata-sama has arrived."

The room fell into silence as Oyakata-sama stepped in, his presence instantly commanding respect.

"Good afternoon, my children. I hope you are all well," Oyakata-sama greeted them warmly, his voice calm yet filled with authority.

For a moment, no one spoke. They were all stunned by Giyuu's unusual behavior. It was Tengen who broke the silence.

"Good afternoon, Oyakata-sama," Tengen said, his voice steady but frustrated. "I think we should remove Tomioka from the Hashira. She doesn't deserve the position."

Oyakata-sama's serene gaze shifted to Tengen. "Why do you think Giyuu does not deserve to be Hashira?"

Tengen didn't hesitate. "She's already broken the Demon Slayer Corps rules, and now she's disrespecting all of us."

The room tensed again as Oyakata-sama turned to Giyuu. "Giyuu, what is your opinion on Tengen's statement?"

Giyuu, still seated, glanced at the others before answering calmly. "He's right. I don't deserve to be a Hashira. I didn't become a Demon Slayer for titles or recognition. I came here to slay demons. I'm content with that."

The room was stunned into silence. No one had expected her to say that, not Giyuu, who was always so quiet, so withdrawn. For her to give up her position so easily left the others speechless.

"If you don't mind, Oyakata-sama, I'd like to excuse myself," Giyuu said quietly, her voice steady but firm.

Oyakata-sama raised a hand, his expression unreadable. "Giyuu, wait. You cannot leave the Hashira position like this. You deserve to be here."

"You know that I don't," Giyuu replied, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "Please, don't try to stop me. I'm tired of this... this endless drama in every meeting. I don't feel at ease with the other Hashira. It's as if just by being silent, I've committed some kind of crime."

The others listened in stunned silence as she continued, her voice unwavering. "And if Nezuko ever harms a human, I'll do what I have to. I want to leave this position, not the Corps."

With that, Giyuu stood, her movements slow but purposeful, and she left the room without another word. Oyakata-sama called after her, but she didn't stop. The others watched as she walked away, leaving behind the title so many others had worked so hard to obtain, leaving it as if it meant nothing.

Oyakata-sama turned to the remaining Hashira, his tone firm yet gentle. "I would like to hear what happened here in detail. This behavior is not acceptable from any of you."

The weight of his words hung in the air, the gravity of the moment sinking in. They had just witnessed a side of Giyuu they had never seen before—one that defied their expectations, their assumptions, and left them questioning everything they thought they knew about her.

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Next Chapter : Giyuu Leaving the Hashira Position