The early morning fog settled around the distant mountains. Giyuu Tomioka, the quiet yet skilled Water Hashira, had just finished his patrol, moving through the dense forest with practiced ease. His eyes, sharp as ever, scanned the surrounding area, but his focus was interrupted when a rustling sound drew his attention.
Tomioka's gaze narrowed, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his katana. Out of the mist emerged a young slayer—no older than sixteen, perhaps, and yet her stance was one of someone much more experienced. Her eyes were fierce, determined, though something about her presence felt heavy, weighed down by a past that was only just beginning to unfold.
Tomioka: (She mastered techniques other new recruites struggle with.)
Tomioka spoke, his voice as calm and steady as ever, but there was a hint of curiosity in the way he assessed her.
"What's your name?"
He studied her, trying to gauge her experience. Her skill was undeniable, but something lingered in her aura, a sorrow he knew well from his own battles. Yet, he said nothing more, waiting for her to speak of her past if she wished. He was no one to pry, yet if she were to be a part of the Demon Slayer Corps, she would need to overcome it.
But she moved pass through him, as if she's chasing something.
"It doesn't matter, Water Hashira." She said flatly as she disappears.
Tomioka watched her figure blend into the mist as she moved past him, her steps quick, like she was hunting something or running from it. His gaze remained steady, unwavering, but a quiet thought tugged at him.
Tomioka: (Chasing something...)
He didn't follow her immediately, instead pausing, considering her words. The way she said "Water Hashira," with a mix of indifference and determination, unsettled him slightly. It wasn't often that a slayer spoke so casually to a Hashira. Most were respectful, or perhaps a bit intimidated by his presence. She clearly wasn't.
But the way she disappeared into the mist, like something was urging her forward, made him wonder. There was a quiet intensity about her that reminded him of his own struggles—a darkness that drove her.
After a long moment, Tomioka finally moved, his body gliding through the trees with practiced silence, keeping just enough distance to observe. He would not intervene unless necessary, but there was something about this young slayer that compelled him to follow.
"You're not alone in your pain. Remember that."
His voice was barely a whisper in the wind, a sentiment he couldn't shake, though he knew it would go unheard. For now, he would simply watch and wait.
Little did he know, she heard him, and she's aware that he's following her. She just acts like she doesn't, but she has to "get rid of him" —make him stop following.
"I've known that bullshit way too well." She thought.
Then out of the blue, with calculated persition and old dead tree falls towards him. Dodging the tree, he slips on the wet mud, he was saved from falling of the edge by sticking his katana on the ground, preventing him from falling... And yeah, he lost her.
~ ~
The moment the tree fell, Giyuu's instincts kicked in. His body moved quickly, dodging the heavy wood with ease, but the muddy ground beneath him betrayed his footing. He slipped, and in a fluid motion, he drove his katana into the earth, halting his fall just inches from the jagged edge of the cliff.
For a brief moment, Giyuu hung there, his muscles straining as he balanced himself. He could feel the slight tremor in the air, the weight of her presence now gone. She had escaped, once again.
Tomioka: (She's skilled... too skilled.)
His thoughts were steady, though a rare flicker of frustration tugged at the edges of his mind. He had expected some resistance, but she had evaded him with such precision. There was no doubt now—He didn't need to be told. He understood the weight of that kind of escape.
He carefully withdrew his katana from the ground, rising to his feet. The mist hung thick in the air, but his focus was clear now—he wasn't just chasing after a slayer. He was chasing after someone who carried a burden heavier than most.
For a brief moment, he stood still, listening to the silence where her footsteps once were. Giyuu's eyes narrowed, but his expression remained calm. He wasn't going to push her further. Not yet.
Tomioka: "If you need help... you know where to find me."
His voice was low, carried away by the wind as he turned back toward the path he'd been following. He would wait for her to come to him—when she was ready.