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Obanai walks the path, already tired of Sanemi's bickering towards Giyuu, who walks with the other two like a ghost.
'-And why the f--- do you keep saying s--- like that, eh? Why? ANSWER ME, TOMIOKA-'
'Shut up, Shinazugawa.' Obanai says, turning abruptly.
'Why the fu-?'
'Shinazugawa, there's a demon.' Giyuu says, touching his shoulders absentmindedly.
Sanemi sighs. 'Stop touching me, idiot.' but he doesn't pull away.
Obanai watches with the most amused look ever.
_Just kiss already._
Obanai pulls out his katana and slashes the air next to him. A yell from right next to them starts and stops as abruptly as it came, making birds scatter.
Sanemi turns. 'Didn't the mission describe a hive of demons? It's suspiciously quiet.'
'Some demons are smarter than they look, unlike certain people I've met.' Giyuu says, turning away. 'Plus, it's daytime.'
Sanemi clicks his tongue impatiently.
'OI, DEMON S---. COME OUT.'
Giyuu lifts his hand from Sanemi's shoulder.
'They are... very smart, maybe. They must see the gold on our uniforms.'
'You really are a pain in the a--.' Obanai sighs.
The bushes rustle wildly.
Giyuu shifts his weight.
He lifts his arm, and then a cut appears.
'The demon has been above us all along. Would you look at that?'
｡:ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡Giyuu's POV...
'Sheesh, you didn't have to cut your arm.' Shinazugawa says. My eyes look down at his exposed chest involuntary, but I shift it back to his face.
'Be happy we found a demon. Just... A thousand more to go.' Obanai says, squinting up.
'You're Hashira.' Giyuu states bluntly.
'We know.' Sanemi says roughly.
'LOOK OUT-' Obanai roars.
I feel a sharp pain in my side and crash to the ground.
Something cold rushes down my side.
No, it's warm. Cold?
It's shifting. I look down. It's my blood.
Sanemi says something, sounds like a slur or a curse, but I can't hear. I'm losing consciousness. I'm dying.
All because of Sanemi and his d-mn stupid six-pack.
A chuckle escapes my mouth.
I'm on the verge of consciousness, and sleep pulls me in. Almost a thread, welcoming me to death. But no. If I fall, I die.
'Sanemi...' I murmur. 'Obanai...'
Both of them turn to me. 'I've always wanted to be your friend... Please forgive me...' I pass out.
--
💧-A few minutes of darkness later-💧
I wake up in a place I don't recognize. There are moving photos everywhere. All of us Hashira lay on futons supported by shining wooden beams. Where am I?
I sit up and look around. I'm in a white room tiled with soft-looking marble squares.
'Hello.' a kind voice says, familiar. I look around. 'K-Kanae?-' my composure drops, and I steady myself. 'Kanae... What are you doing here? And why are the others lying on those.. things with wheels on them?'
Kanae stands at the door. Wearing foreign clothes. A white coat, gray shirt and white pants. Her clip is gone.
'You're just disoriented, Giyuu. Your sister is waiting outside.' she says fondly. 'And Sabito. You remember him, right?'
My eyes widen. 'Am I.. dead?'
She laughs. Her laugh is light, friendly, containing an amused tone. 'Of course not, you've just awoken from the simulation.' she smiles at me.
'Simulation? What?'
Kanae's eyes become pitiful as she says 'Giyuu, this is a new movie-making method. You signed up for this, remember? Now come, be with your family again. You can check Tanjiro and his friends, they're in another room.'
My eyes widen as the pieces click together. 'Oh yeah. Thanks for reminding me.' I smile.
'Don't worry about it.' she says, grabbing my hand. 'Let's go.' she pulls me out.
I glance at the others, then the door slams.