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“Tsukako, Giyuu, I have someone to show you.” A man speaks to them. Is that his father? The man tries to lure something out of the corner.
It’s a girl. She’s tiny. Why is she here?
“This is Aoi. She’s the daughter of your new mother. I hope you guys get along.” His sister tenses at the words ‘new mother’. Her eyebrows furrow.
The next few days were uncomfortable. His sister was distancing away from their dad and refused to talk to the other two. The man then tried to make Giyuu and Aoi talk. Now they’re standing awkwardly, neither willing to start a conversation. Aoi was too nervous by his gaze and Giyuu wasn’t trying that much but it was him who started talking.
“So- how old are you?” Giyuu doesn’t know a thing about the girl except for her name.
She mumbles a bit first before answering, “I’m five years old.” Giyuu is ten, so they have a 5 year difference, hm.
The two started talking to each other, and even more once they realized they both liked flowers. Tsukako looking for Giyuu so he can go to bed found two kids cuddling in his room holding picture books of flowers.
It was a surprise for their father when he found that his eldest daughter started warming up to the youngest. She still didn’t like his new partner but that was alright, he himself was still grieving. Giyuu had lost a mother but gained a new sister.
The new change disappeared just as it arrived. It only lasted five months, this time it took their father too. Their new sister was inconsolable when she found out her mother, who had done everything to make sure she’s safe and loved, had died, and the other two mourned their last parent. Isamu, a friend of Tsukako, had helped them bury the bodies and the mourning.
Aoi had resorted back to her quiet nature, she was always at the corner of her room. No matter if Tsukako tried to lure her to eat with them. She had grown attached to the little girl, she had no bond to Aoi’s mother but she knows what it feels to lose one. Giyuu had sat by her, taking the initiative of being the one who talked, blabbered about the books he read given by Isamu.
It took her three months. Three months to finally have the energy to laugh and talk as if she hadn’t lost the most important person in her life, she felt bad for making the two do everything in the house as she sulked. She had lost a mother and the two lost their father yet they still managed to smile and sustain their lifestyle.
They had maneuvered through the sorrow as they adapted like water from a stream. Tsukako, being the only adult, had taken up doing part-time jobs and was still a full-time healer. Giyuu took the household chores and helped Tsukako with herb management.
Aoi can’t stay being useless anymore. She insisted on helping Giyuu with the chores and she would accompany Tsukako as she checked up on the villagers. She and Giyuu would listen as Tsukako taught them how to apply medicine and to treat injuries. The two youngest mostly had each other for comfort as the eldest was working her ass off to provide for them. Giyuu and Aoi promised to each other that once they’re older, they’ll take care of her just like how she did to them.
They couldn’t. A demon had attacked their house. Aoi was at Isamu’s house, and the about to be married couple went to fetch Giyuu as he insisted on staying at home. They wanted to bring him since it’s dangerous to have a child alone in a house in the middle of the woods. They died before they could return. Isamu was battling with a demon as Tsukako ran to hide Giyuu.
He was the only one to survive that night. Giyuu was then mumbling when they got him to the village, he cried hysterically and screamed about demons. Aoi was at the house sleeping soundly as her remaining family got broken to pieces. When she woke up she had found out her last motherly figure was dead and that her brother who had cared for her was accused of murder and insanity. They didn’t even get her a chance to talk to him.
She was sent to an orphanage since no one wanted her. She was there for almost 5 years. She was eleven, about to be twelve, when a demon had killed everyone in the orphanage; there were only five of them who had survived because someone had come and slaughtered the demon. She looks at their savior and sees a familiar face, it’s her brother. He had gotten stronger and taller but he had lost the light in his eyes like he had before, his smile was replaced with a placid frown.
Before she knew it, she had wrapped her skinny arms around him screaming his name. The latter only widened his eyes and unclasped his mouth. He’ll take her back right? They’ll go home to where he lives and they’ll be together just like old times?
She woke up to white room. There was no sign of her brother. She wept as her new family comforted her.
Why is he mad at me? Was it because I didn’t say goodbye? I’m so sorry for not being there, please…brother. Talk to me again.
Giyuu had just accepted being the water hashira. He wasn’t worthy of the title but his master would not accept any water breathers that weren’t him. He had been late to his mission. His crow had forgotten to tell him about the mission, he won’t put the blame at Kanzaburou no matter who says it is. It’s Giyuu’s fault for not arriving fast enough and not asking if his crow had given him a mission.
He stood in shock as he was attacked by a little girl. No, he wasn’t attacked, he’s getting hugged by…Aoi. His only remaining sister. She looked so skinny and unhealthy. His heart bursts in his chest, that’s right, he never figured out what happened to her. The town people had never told him where she was, they were afraid he might hurt her too. He was so infused to his grief he had thought she was with them that night.
When the young one passed out of exhaustion of crying and fear. He took the kids and carried her to the butterfly mansion. Kanae was a new hashira. She was introduced at the same time Giyuu was. She looked at him, shocked to see a girl in his arms.
He had briefed her about the mission, asking if she was able to house the kids. She kindly agreed. Before he left, he had told her to not say his name to the kids. He didn’t want her to be with a bad omen such as himself.
If he wasn’t at home that night, they wouldn’t have come. If he was stronger, Sabito would have lived. He’s not failing the only remaining family he has. Even if it means having the burning guilt drag him to the fiery ground.
Kanae had noticed the fire burning in one of the kid’s eyes. Aoi, she had thought it was from anger but no, it was from determination. She would ask to be trained, as she realized the manor was a healing place she immediately asked if she could help. The butterfly sisters was skeptical at first but they relented when Aoi had mentioned her sister had taught her about medicine.
Giyuu Tomioka had refused Kanae’s letter if he could train the kids he brought in. Shinobu was livid about it, he was the one who dumped them onto their doorstep and he didn’t even want to help them. She had half a mind to storm up to him and scold him to death. She had relented when her sister tried to understand, he didn’t want them around so why would he want to train them?
Fortunately, they had found a relatively young woman who was looking to train more water breathers. Aoi was most ecstatic to find out the teacher she had was a water breather, the same breathing style she was told her brother was using. The only information she got from the sisters was that the man who saved them was the water pillar.
She trained her heart out. She wanted to be strong so hopefully her brother can finally look at her and want to be her family again.
She trained so hard that the teacher had to fetch her every time to eat. She didn’t care if it was unhealthy, she had to rise up quickly!
When the teacher had told her that she was ready to embark on the final selection, she let out a sigh of relief, if she survives…perhaps her brother can love her again.
She’s a failure. Why would she even think of being strong? God. Why couldn’t she be helpful? Why is she so useless? How can she look up to her brother when she’s this weak? She was hardly a week in the demon slayer corps. and she had already resigned her fate to being a weak little girl.
Giyuu was mortified when Kanae informed him that Aoi went to the final selection. His heartbeat was beating more than it ever had, not even when he was fighting demons was it this bad. His little sister…could die right now and he wouldn’t have a clue. He had thought that Kanae would give her a job at the butterfly mansion, she was quick and neat when it came to medicine and other sorts, she would be a wonderful asset to the kocho’s.
He had asked her to keep him informed, and she lovingly agreed. Later that day, he went to a temple, praying for every god asking them to let his sister live.
It broke her heart when Aoi, after a year working in the bufferfly mansion, finally realized her brother wanted nothing to do with her. Inside she hoped he would one day come and talk with her, even just one small conversation.
Whenever she hears the other slayers bash the water pillar for whatever reason, she would sneakly put some chilis in their foods and act like it was an accident. She never liked it when people bashed him, she heard them say he’s cold, heartless, has a superiority complex, and a lot of other awful things, he would never. Her brother showered her with love, even when all she could do was nothing, he always reassured her that she’s doing fine and he was grateful for her.
He’s wrong on one thing though. It wasn’t enough, she was too weak to do anything to help him. If she had woken up early perhaps the villagers wouldn’t take him away. If she could fight demons she would be helping him lessen his workload. It’s her fault for being like this. Why would he want her as family?
Why would he want a weak little girl, who makes water breathing look like a joke, to be his sister? She isn’t like Tsukako, she saw her lift logs as if it was nothing, she was really strong. Why would he want her as a sister when they aren’t even blood related? Aoi stays at the butterfly manor. She later asks Shinobu if she could expand more flowers in the garden.