Giyuu's child

•Beginnings•

~Giyuu POV~

I darted through the thick snow each step I made piercing into the freezing mass as I carried myself with precision and grace, with my katana in hand I continued to dash through the difficult terrain to a clearing in the forest. The forest was dark, the trees towering above towards the sky as snow continued to fall obscuring everything around it. I took a moment to observe the clearing, it felt strange, like something was off. Quite suddenly there was a sound of faint rustling. I looked around now on guard from this sound as I continued to carefully explore the clearing until there was a new scent. The scent of blood. I draw my katana almost instantly taking a fighting stance, tracking the scent of the blood.

The scent of blood took me to a rather large tree. I took a deep breath bracing myself for what I was about to see, but shrug it off almost instantly. I was a demon slayer, a hashira nonetheless. I have no time to feel sympathy for trivial matters. I slowly peek behind the snow-covered tree to see the lifeless bodies of a man and women with a foul, ugly creature sinking it's teeth into the woman's limp arm. I immediately jumped into action leaping to the scene lifting my blade up to the monsters neck.

SLASH...

The foul looking demons head fell to the floor as it's body turned to ash within a couple of seconds. Once I was sure that the demon had been decapitated , I turned my attention to the mangled bodies of the two innocent people below him. I looked at the corpses indifferently. My life always harboured death from the very beginning . Tsutako, Sabito. Countless thousands of people losing their lives everyday to demons across of Japan everyday. It was my job to erase them, I would do so no matter the cost. I will fulfill my promise.

I knelt down carefully handling the two bodies and begin a burial ceremony. I spent a little while burying the two bodies under the heaps of snow, covering them up. Once they were buried to a suitable standard I stood up, closing my eyes whispering a small prayer before sheathing my sword back into it's scabbard. My job was done, I slayed the demon, there was nothing else to do. I turned on my heels marching through the snow back the way I came before I faintly heard another sound...

I couldn't immediately identify the sound, it definitely wasn't the sounds of a demon. I kept one of my hands hilt of my katana being cautious of the sound, ready to strike at any given moment. I carefully menouvered myself to the source of the noise making sure the crunch of the snow can't be heard beneath my feet. I followed the sound leading me to a large patch of shrubs and greenery, just a few metres by the burial I just conducted.

As I got closer to the bushes, I felt this presence was indeed not a demon, Infact, it was the presence of a human. A child. I carefully but quickly move to the other side of the shrubs to see a small child laying in the snow clutching onto her leg she was in a pained state, quivering. She had medium-length raven hair and sapphire blue eyes. The child's leg had a big gash wound and claw marks all over her small form. Her whole body was shaking from the cold and pain of her injuries. Slowly the child looks up to see the me, a man adorning mismatched haori. I stare down at the pitiful child silently assessing her condition. The child mustered up her last remaining strength to back towards the bush as tears started streaming down her cheeks. She seemed terrified.

I took notice of the child's pure terror so I sigh sheathing my sword back into it's scabbard lowering myself down to her level, kneeling down into the snow. I took a moment to process the situation. For some reason this child made me feel something I couldn't quite identify. I felt a twinge of sympathy in my chest. The child reminded me of myself, my past. Shunned and deemed psychotic, in a dark place. I slowly spoke up for the first time speaking in a smooth but apathetic tone.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

The child's shaken form unsurely looks up at me through her glassy eyes which from which tears continue to fall. She seemed to be about 3 or 4 years in age. Through her tears she spoke up speaking in a terribly shaky voice but she managed to choke out.

"W-where is mommy... where is daddy..."

I paused for a moments my mint immediately flashing back to the two bodies of the mangled people I buried prior. My heart quenches for a moment realising these Infact weren't random people. These were the poor girl's parents. I had a big situation on my hands. I had an injured child to deal with, I couldn't just say that her parents were dead. I had to come up with something and quick, but I shove all thoughts out of my mind focusing on what needs to be done in the present adverting the child's focus from her parents to something else. I speak up again in a resigned tone not revealing anything with my body language or tone, not wanting to alarm her.

"Your mother and father are alright, but first we need to get treatment for your wounds."

The small girl looked up at me with a shaky nod , tears still streamed from her eyes but at least she agreed. She slowly reached out her arms making small grabbing motions with her hands.

I was puzzled for a moment, I never dealt with children. Hardly ever infact but a realisation comes over me that she wouldn't be able to walk , especially not with a leg wound as large as that . I sigh cursing myself mentally for not realising that as I very carefully pick up the small girl resting her on the side of my hip supporting her against me taking great care not to aggravate the wound futher. Once she was settled I add on

"I'm going to take you to somewhere called the butterfly mansion for treatment. You'll be safe there"

The child clung to my side her small hands clasping my shoulder, she must be in a lot of pain. On top of those wounds she has no idea that her parents are dead , I thought.

I kept my secure hold on the child during the journey. I tried to be quick in order to minimise bleeding on her leg but it was getting increasingly hard to walk in the snow due to the flakes still plummeting to the ground. It didn't seem like the snow would stop anytime soon. After a little while the girl in my arms started to get pretty cold and snuggled herself into my side even further covering herself in my haori.

The small action from the girl made me feel a strange. Usually people move away from me, fearful of my emotionless, stoic look on the surface, but this young girl. She continues to cling to me for comfort. Something i never thought would happen , it made me feel different. I felt almost a sense of protectiveness for the child in my arms, of course I shoved this feeling aside. I can't grow close to anyone , not again. It only sends in pain and sorrow. I won't let that happen. Never again.