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-3rd Person POV-

There were many things he could have said when he regained his composure.

Maybe ask how they were, worry over Muichiro's unconscious state, question if he knew anything about what had happened to them or even actually ask the man how he was. "You…how did you get here?" Nevertheless, his not so subtle distain of the man shone through in the end.

The wasn't much of a change in the small Tomioka's expression not bothered by the question, showing there was a difference with everything else in this place, they were genuine people ad it was really two of his comrades that were laid on the ground in front of him.

Seeing them only contrasted more with how fake the other people felt despite Tomioka not acting like a person sometimes.

Speaking of him, he was the only one awake unfortunately, so Iguro would have to interact with him.

It's not like he was petty enough to not do so when they weren't exactly safe nor ready for battle. "The…river?" The runaway couldn't believe the man had been carried by a current so much that he ended up here.

Then again Giyuu was soaked, so there was some truth to that statement. "Where are we?"

Obanai got closer now that he had more confidence in who they were. "We're going downstream and getting away from this place as fast as possible" The Hashira had no idea what the name of this place was, and he couldn't care less. "I'll carry Muichiro"

Once again Giyuu stared at him, then he rolled his haori, a light blue one far too different from his usual colors, looked at his own arms before staring at him, then he shook his head. "You don't look like you could carry him"

Obanai blinked, completely silenced by the man's actions. (This isn't the best time for you to be prideful you idiot!) believing himself stronger than him even now. "I can handle him"

It wasn't as if who carried him was important, yet this was the only person the serpent Hashira could not allow himself to be complacent with, his perception of the water Hashira would never allow him.

As it was usual there was no verbal reply, and yet Giyuu got of from the floor, handing the unconscious kid to the other raven haired male.

There was no fight with his complain, there was no disagreement, he simply let the matter go and handed the kid to him.

Obanai wouldn't put much more thought about that though, it was certainty better than having to argue with him over something so minor despite him being the instigator.

Once Muichiro was in his arms they could begin to move and…

…

As it turns out, a fourteen year old is much heavier for someone that has the body of a twelve year old than for an adult that spent most of his life training,

And since Iguro's body was the former he could not properly move the unconscious kid with ease, instead he almost couldn't even drag him.

"Do you want me to…?" Giyuu, noticing the struggle, implied that he could help of he wanted it, which there was no way he'd refuse when he couldn't do it.

Maybe Shinazugawa would have been stubborn enough to keep doing it but he was smart enough to recognize his current limit. "How the hell can you carry him if we look the same age?"

That was a valid concern, Tomioka didn't look much better than him in that regard.

And yet, his struggle to lift the boy was much less, eventually succeeding.

"What? How?" Asked again Iguro.

Giyuu pondered for a moment if he had to answer, it wasn't as if it was important information unlike his last two comments, but he conceded that it was better to say it for the sake of cooperation.

This was not a situation where he could allow his mentality to hinder him, he'd get enough time to mull over later when it's over. "I helped carry logs when I was little"

It lacked a lot of context, like it was for helping his sister's fiancée with his woodcarving workshop, but it conveyed enough.

"Let's not waste more time, there's a demon nearby here and we should leave" A demon would be detrimental to the both of them, neither having the strength nor the means to deal with one despite all of their combat experience.

A Nichirin blade was an absolute necessity to fight them at night even if they had the skill to match a normal demon even with the gap in power

Those thoughts aside, it was still a good idea to begin moving sooner than later, thus It didn't take long for them to begin traveling.

Leaves being crushed under their feet and the sound of walking was all noise that they made, conversation hadn't come forth as a product of the rift the two had with one another.

A rift created by two different ideas of the other.

As they walked the sky finally finished darkening over time, until the fated time arrived.

Night had come, the protection the sun held was now gone and the moment Obanai dreaded the most was upon them.

But that didn't stop them, only forced them to be more careful.

…

Only the sounds of their steps was heard, the silence remaining undisturbed even after half an hour of more walking.

Each moment was tense for the shorter of the two Hashira, he was the only one that knew what was coming, who would be coming for him.

While Tomioka was cautious Iguro was being paranoic…and it wasn't unfounded.

And It's not like he was scared of the creature, it was just that with their current strength it was better not to engage, especially with one downed ally and lacking any proper weapon.

Another tree had its leaves shaken by the wind, his instincts kicking him to respond to whatever was there even though he was looking at it, knowing full well there was nothing there.

(Damn, I'm being too paranoid) Originally he ran for as long as he could, even if his legs were to give up on him and that still lead to the demon catching up.

His misdirection would buy him some time sure, but eventually they would be found, he simply didn't know how fast that would be.

He looked towards his current companion, still carrying Muichiro despite looking awfully winded and tired, his arms shaking and sweat dripping from his temples.

It was a testament to the man's tenacity. (If only he was actually likable) despite whatever he may feel for him, Tomioka's work ethic was one of the best he'd seen and was somewhat admirable.

His way of dealing with things were effective to the point of contesting Sanemi's incredible body count even when the Wind Hashira went thrice as much when patrolling.

They also seemed to be way too convoluted and somewhat painful for most to keep up, the price of a better working ethic and method he supposed.

The noise made by both of them slowly became lower, taking Obanai by surprise as Giyuu had stopped walking completely, his muscles clearly tensed and his eyes were moving around rather fast.

He had noticed something. (Where?!)

And he'd be privy to that not long after as the distinct presence of a demon became more and more pronounced. "How?" he whispered, sprinting towards his comrade for as to not be separated on accident. "We're mostly a day away"

"This place isn't logical" It was the only explanation and as someone who'd arrived here through a river after jumping in a lake Tomioka could attest to that. (Wait, that's it, the river)

"Follow me" He sprang into action as a silhouette approached from the tree line, not giving any chance for the other Hashira to ask anything.

They had been following it for as long as they could, it would have led to a city eventually and it had all the water they needed.

Still, they were far enough from it that the demon had enough time to approach.

"OBANAII!" The giant serpent like demon jumped from the shadows when the two broke into a sprint, Her eyes bloodshot in rage. "You will DIE HERE!"

Her words of threat were a reminder of his choice when he was little, her rage so similar to the first time. "Like the rest of your pathetic family!" this time however, there was no Shinjuro to save him.

It lunged directly at him, much faster than he could run for whatever Tomioka tried to reach for.

The sharp claws reaching closer and closer towards him, their sharpness reflected by moonlight.

It got him, grabbing the neck of his clothes and pulling with their everything.

Obanai thought that might have been it.

Until the fabric teared itself from the strength of the monster, giving him enough time for one last step forward.

Where he fell into the water.

Thus, he sunk.

The sun shone brightly in the sky as Giyuu dragged two people out of the water.

In his defense, this may not be his brightest moment, but anything was better than being eaten by a snake like demon making it the better of the two options.

It was also a gamble the fact that the demon would not cross to this side of the river. (And so is assuming this sun would kill them actually) that was another precaution they'd need to take then.

They really couldn't trust their surroundings at all.

Giyuu emerged from the other side of a lake, his clothes, that had dried over time were once again completely soaked.

His eyes analyzed the area. (I'm back here) the lake near his village, under the tree where he had originally jumped off of. (It's a two way street then) And if everyone else was also in a place like this as he suspected then there may be more of these paths.

It was a desperate idea to guide Iguro towards the water, since it had worked as a portal for himself before thus he thought that it could work as a way back too, away from the creature.

Tomioka swiftly made sure both were still breathing, and afterwards attempted to wake them up.

Tokito was still out completely, it was worrying how his state didn't seem to be changing in any manner, but neither men had any expertise in treatment outside of minimal first aids.

That made him turn his attention to the other individual, Obanai had been turning ever since Giyuu laid him on the ground, murmurs that were unrecognizable escaping him.

His usual mask however, it was completely stained with red, with blood. (was he caught by it?!) Hastily he went to treat it, a wound in the face could be really dangerous.

But he stopped, Iguro was always wearing those bandages like a mask, clearly it was something he didn't want anyone to see, much less him, someone he clearly didn't like.

(But can I just leave him to bleed out like that…) He thought about it for a second, before simply taking them off.

Disliked as he was, it didn't matter to him, the value of Obanai's health was more than whatever chance he had of cordiality with him.

What he saw underneath that mask however…yeah, it was no wonder why he became a demon slayer…and if he had to make a guess, that demon back there was most likely the responsible. (Their mouth would look the same)

A mental and physical scar, a mark permanent in him.

Maybe now he understood the man a little better than before.

Eventually the mask was replaced by a torn part of his own haori, after washing the world with some of the water from the lake, not the best option but what was available. (That place…he knew where we were and the demon was after him) His past most likely, much how he had found himself in a reflection of his own. (Is that where everyone is? Their past)

The places are connected with each other too, something they're now aware of thanks to the river and lake. (Then we must find our way out? This is a strange blood demon art)

It couldn't be anything else outside of one.

There was little time to waste then, they needed to be prepared for the future.

After leaving the others in a more or less secluded space Giyuu parted towards the village.

"We'll need food and clean water for the road" He spoke to himself, trying to think on whatever they might need as he walked down the empty streets of his home town. "Maybe an axe or a knife?"

The way to reach another of these planes was also completely unknow to them other than water, and even then it wasn't truly a hint as maybe this was just how it worked for him.

It was a river and a lake after all, not too different but something that can't be considered the same.

(We know nothing of this place, threading carefully is a priority) Maybe he should have gone off on his own, but this way he could be more innocuous when taking things.

And finally he had arrived at his home.

Tomioka steeled himself to see Tsutako once more, and yet what laid beyond his sight was a ruined door.

One he'd seen from the inside rather than the outside.

Inside the house laid one of his worst nightmares.

Someone was poking him.

It was an annoying attempt at getting him to wake up, however it was weirdly effective.

Wait…why was he unconscious?

Obanai basically jumped in place the moment his mind caught up with his body, the encounter they had just short of moments ago being completely overrunning any thoughts on the person touching his cheek.

And yet all the panic could only last a second, the clear sky and the shining sun were a sign of safety from the demon.

A voice came from beside him. "Calm now?" sitting on the floor was Muichiro, now actually conscious and bearing his usual inexpressive face. "Good, we shouldn't waste more time"

"You're awake now" Stated just to make sure he was actually completely lucid and didn't had any lingering dizziness from his previous unconsciousness. "And you look like a child"

"Yeah" as if he hadn't noticed that. "It wasn't exactly a voluntary choice"

(Now where exactly are we?) This place was nothing like where they'd been just a few moments ago, the forest around replaced by a lake in a clearing, much fewer trees surrounding it. (It was night a moment ago, where did Tomika take me?)

It was then when he realized something else was missing. "And Tomioka? Where is he?" He had to be the one that dragged them out of that lake, and the one who actually knew what jumping in the lake meant to begin with.

"He should have been here? It was just you and me when I got up" Absent mindedly asked the Mist Hashira. "Maybe he went there" He then spoke pointing towards a path that was behind the trees. "It's too nice to be a path in the middle of nowhere"

"Then it's a major road, probably near a town here" Iguro came to the same conclusion, thus there was really only one way the man would have gone too.

Tokito nodded he'd arrived at the same conclusion as he waited for him to wake up. "This whole place…it's weird" it was mostly something spoken to himself, but Iguro caught unto it. "We need to be quick, there's danger in separation here"

"Whatever brought us here controls this place sometimes" And they needed to be together before that, probably a demon, decided it was best for them to not see each other again.

With their minds made they decided to run for it, but also threading carefully in this place.

For all they knew demons might be able to go under the sun here as it was probably not real.

The sounds of their footsteps was the only thing that could be heard between the two of them, comrades as they might be, they never did spend any time getting to know one another. "How long have you been here?" But Iguro would take this over conversing with Tomioka any day.

"Hmm, I can't remember" But conversing with a sporadic amnesiac was also not an easy feat. "More than three days"

"I've been here six if you count the night at the other side of the lake" He told him despite not being asked for it.

Tokito hummed again, this time however more focused than he'd ever seen him. "Something weird happens when I try to remember, can you see the mist?" It was a weird statement, and one made with a clear day around them.

"There is nothing of the sort here"

(Only I can see it?) Strange, but not any more than anything else that has happened. "I understand" Maybe it was because it was him that he could see it.

He was the only hashira with severe brain issues that were medical in nature, maybe that was what messed with this place? That's one of the few thing that could make a difference.

Beside every Demon Slayer had to be a bit crazy to even consider fighting the creatures of the night so being off his rails wasn't it.

It was suspicious to the older of the two but since Tokito's words didn't seem to have any coherence he let another silence form between themselves. (God why did I have to find these two)

Literally anyone else and he could have perfectly gotten along with them, but no, it had to be the aloof kid and the arrogant asshole. (Not that Tokito is bad, it's just difficult to get a read on him)

Fortune seemed to be on his side however as the village they were looking for was soon into view.

"Don't separate yourself from me" It would be bad enough that they got lost when trying to find someone else.

They wandered the streets for a while, looking for any kind of sign of the Water Hashira.

The streets were strangely empty, not a single soul in sight, making any immersion of this being a real village fade drastically.

And yet the feeling of being observed didn't disappear either.

Lowering their guard would be a mistake.

Obanai opened another door, hiding behind it's frame not to be jumped from inside, at the emptiness, he called to the kid. "Anything over there?" They had gone through the various passages and little streets looking for the right place, whether they were stores or houses they checked wherever.

"Yes…I think I did" He was outside of another home, one relatively smaller than most others, but one with a beautiful garden in front.

Adorning the entrance was a little wooden plate that wrote 'Tomioka'

It was his house…or what I used to be his house. "Good, let's get him quickly" With Haste the two made their way inside, not noticing a relatively small patch of red staining one of the many flowers in this entrance.

A few steps in and the atmosphere changed in a moment, no longer it was the two of them looking for someone carefully, no.

A torn door by what looked like claws, the shape of which was too big for an animal to have done.

Experience spoke of one creature alone, demons.

Obanai and Muichiro didn't hesitate, an instinct born from struggle against the monsters and honed over the years drove them to jump in.

An instinct developed to kill the demons before they could harm anyone, and instinct that didn't take into account their current state of weakness.

The inside was a mess.

From the floor to the ceiling, all was covered by slashes and holes, the furniture by the entrance was little more than broken wood and splinters.

From the moment the two ran inside blood covered large areas of their path.

Until they arrived at the entrance of the main room.

There laid a body, a girl with long black hair all painted red.

Calling it a body however, it would be calling the rests of an eaten apple an apple.

Her entire face was missing, eaten if the rest of a brain that poked out told them anything.

The same could be said about her chest and stomach, where once there probably was an intrinsic and important organ cluster with a heart, lungs, bones, and a digestive system, now it was a hollow casket.

Just an external layer before the skin from the other side with one singular eye laid inside.

She also was missing one arm and a foot.

Normally demons tended to eat everything to the point of leaving nothing behind…this was a demon that was killed as it feasted on this woman.

There was no jumping from the sight, nor a very outward extreme reaction as dead human was a rather common area on their job.

Just a more subtle feeling in them.

"Fuck" Obanai couldn't help but whisper to himself, even if this was not real it was a reality for some of the victims of demons.

And was one of the worst cases he'd found, corpses either don't last or have just a simple killing blow and were stored for later consumption.

Tokito could agree with Iguro's little comment. "I agree, it's disgusting" A stranger as this woman might be, there was probably someone related to her who they knew. "Maybe Tomioka isn't here"

Who'd walk around with the body of what he assumed was a family member nearby.

Specially in a state like this.

"I'd rather not spent more time here, we need to find him" Obanai agreed in his own way, quickly turning a heel, tired from staring at this bloody scene.

The door suddenly creaked slightly, sliding to the side in an opening motion.

The house wasn't as empty as they had believed.

Grouping together and grabbing whatever was at hand worked well enough for the two to have some confidence in their chances, their skills weren't gone after all and Tokito could take on a demon with his current body.

They stayed motionless as the figured finally entered the room.

He wore a red haori with some blood stains, his black haired was spiky and long, but most of all, it was familiar.

Much like those blue eyes.

"Tomioka?!" He had to contain himself not to shout, but how could he not when he seemed to just walk in when he most likely knew there was a corpse here.

"Iguro…Tokito" And yet here he stood, looking at them…no, he wasn't looking at them.

And god Iguro would have given a lot of things to have never looked at his eyes in that moment.

There was nothing but darkness behind the blue, nothing was left behind the mask that was Giyuu Tomioka.

Dull, it's a word one could normally use to describe him from afar, it was definitively how he was perceived by the others.

But now he simply looked dead.

"I got some supplies, we should leave while the sun's still up" His monotone was worse than usual, at least before there was a somewhat soothing calmness to his tone.

This was just empty.

And he was perfectly happy not talking about the dead body in the room. (I'm sorry to you, but I cannot let myself care for his turmoil) In his eyes Tomioka was not deserving of sympathy, not when he was clearly avoiding that.

It's not like anyone would be glad to talk about something clearly personal like this, and Iguro would not know what to do if he decided to do so.

"you're just going to ignore the corpse in the room?" Tokito however, had no tact nor any reservations when it came to it. "You two look similar"

"She's my sister" Tomioka also didn't hesitate when speaking, resigning himself to whatever interrogatory they may do. "But this one's not real…her hair was pulled out when it ate her and the demon didn't leave any limb"

If they didn't feel nauseous with that information before then now both were affected by it.

Even the uncanny resistance of the Mist Hashira was completely shattered by Tomioka's sick comment.

"Why the fuck would you say that?!" And so was Obanai's temper. "I expected you to be an asshole but to be this numb to your sister's death to be able to say such a thing!" It was an unexpected anger even for himself, but he really felt angry at him.

Having a family that most likely loved him and showing zero love nor guilt like this, was Tomioka so far gone up his own ego that he didn't care anymore?

And still there was not a shred of offence on his face, if he felt insulted or something at him throwing these accusations at his face, he didn't show nothing.

After a few moments of silence, where he mostly moved out three full bags out of the room behind him, Giyuu finally spoke.

"Ne-san died a long time ago, this place is not real and that is not her body" He explained, voice as dead as the beginning. "There wasn't even a demon when I arrived here, just the body"

"I watched her being eaten as she protected me, and that image will never leave me" Finally some frustration as palpable within his tone, one so scarce that it might as well be unnoticeable. "I carry it because it was my failure that I didn't protect her while she did do the same for me, and I kill demons so no child becomes like me as I am not strong enough for revenge"

"I cannot grieve a false Tsutako, I already do for the real one every day" And it was just for a moment, a singular instance, where his face showed anger, real anger. "All I can promise is that I will slay the demon who tried tainting her memory"

As fast as it appeared, it vanished under the dead looking eyes again.

"Take one, there are some supplies here" He handed the other one of the bags he brought out, completely ignoring their faces and stares. "We need to find the others and a way out of here"

He was trying to avoid the conversation again, but for the first time they wouldn't just let him get away without saying anything.

Not when they may have seen the real Tomioka for the first time ever.

And specially not now when they would be all the others have for the time being.

"We'll talk once we're out of here"

"I don't want to do this" She cried.

Meiyami had come to him in the middle of the night, as the lower apprentice of the family she had most likely received a task out of her capabilities to cull the numbers.

A tactic their father used as a motivator for the doubtful on their ways.

And with how she was acting, there was a good chance she was being forced to end the life of someone in their own family.

Most likely himself.

(Smart girl, lowering my own guard by being vulnerable and seeking solace) It was a good strategy to deal with most, and if anyone else had been their objective she might have succeeded. (Unfortunately, humans can be as bad as demons when hiding their intentions…no matter how real her sadness over the action might be)

"You don't have to" He attempted to console her once more. "We might be able to make father reconsider this objective" It was a lie, he knew so, their old man would never back off from his order nor he would give them any chance to escape.

Meiyami's life or his, Tengen knew this would be how things would end.

After all, his own mission was one of horrid implications too. (Chose those who will survive. Quell, and silence the rest) Basically asking him to kill half of his siblings and let live the other half to complete their task.

It had been Kyoya's original duty, one he carried without hesitation.

And that now laid in his hands.

"Just sleep for now Mei, we'll figure it out by tomorrow" He urged her, knowing full well the second he puts his head in the pillow a knife would be drawn toward his neck.

The older brother's responsibility he supposed.

—END—