Tears pricked at his azure eyes as he thought back to the atrocities his “friends” had done to him.

Raped.

Whipped.

Burnt.

Tied up.

He counted himself lucky that you had come along, though.

He had saved you from a demon in the past and the other Hashira's had unknowingly left him on display in their village, in front of their house.

They’d came out of their home to see what the commotion was about to find the gruesome sight before them.

He’d seen them come up to him but it’d all been a dizzy blur until now and he was still rather dazed.

Now here he sat, in your bathhouse along the side of your home where you said they were getting medicine and cooking him Tokoyaki.

The warm water stung his back where he’d been whipped mercilessly as he soaked himself.

He quickly mopped away any tears that threatened to spill forth once he’d heard your footsteps, signaling your return.

“Thank you for helping me.”

He murmured as he watched them kneel down next to the bathtub, turning away to hide his tearful gaze.