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Giyuu just killed a demon. It was a long, drawn out affair due to its blood demon art. It could create copies of itself, there was no way to tell which one was which unless he cut its head off, which Giyuu had to do several times. By the time it died he was mostly fine, a few cuts and bruises but nothing more. At least that's what he thought.
Just as its body was disintegrating the demon swiped. Giyuu had let his guard down for a moment, assuming the thing wasn't able to attack anymore. He now had a claw mark running from his shoulder to his neck, bleeding profusely. Nobody was around. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘸?
He didn't have first aid supplies on him. He usually carried them but he was running low on basically everything he actually needed and had forgotten to restock. He needed to act fast, he was using his haori and hands to put pressure on the wound and stop the bleeding a bit, but there was only so much that would do for him. There was only one place close enough that he might make it alive. The Ubuyashiki Mansion.
“Kanzaburo” Giyuu panted, already starting to feel a bit light headed. “Send a message to the master. Tell him that he is the only person I can get to currently without succumbing to my injuries and that I'm sorry for the inconvenience.”
The bird flew off in a hurry, wanting Giyuu to live more than Giyuu did. He started running, trying his best to not think about how much he really wouldn't mind finding a nice place to sit and just wait for his final moments to arrive. He didn't want to think like that. He didn't have a right to.
Giyuu ran after the old bird, trying to get there as fast as he could. His time was limited.
After maybe 25 minutes, he didn't know, he was losing track of time, he could see it. He ran, as fast as he could, leaving a trail of his own blood behind him. Just as he got sight of the master everything started to get blurry, and before he knew it he was heading toward the ground. That's the last thing he remembered before it all went dark.
The next thing he knew he was in a bed. He awoke with a pounding in his head. Bandages around his neck and chest as far as he can tell. It was still hazy. He was tired, tired in a way that seeped into your bones and into your thoughts. He knows that he should know what this place was, but he couldn't recall quite yet.
He found the strength in him to look around, and next to him was his master. Why was he here? He wasn't supposed to leave, his health was at risk by being here. Wherever here even was. Giyuu managed to push himself up onto his elbows. He turned and spoke, wincing at the pain in his throat. “M-master.” Giyuu coughed. “What happened?”
His master grabbed his hand and began to run his thumb over his knuckles, feeling around for a moment first. “My child, you were injured on a mission. I was the nearest to help you. My wife bandaged you up enough that we could make the journey, and we took a carriage to the butterfly mansion. I'm thankful you thought to come to me. It's the next day now.”
Despite the struggle, Giyuu bowed his head as far as he could. “Thank you, Master. You didn't need to risk being here. I apologize for the inconvenience I've caused you.”
His master looked at him with pity. “You are never an inconvenience to me Giyuu. None of my children are or will ever be.”
Giyuu didn't believe that, but he appreciated the sentiment.
Before Giyuu could do anything, his master reached down and hugged him. “You will never, 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, be a bother to me Giyuu.”