Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Giyu’s life was once like white water rapids.

A constant pummeling intensity that stopped for nothing and no one.

The cacophonous rush that created his normal would no doubt be chaotic and uncontrollable for others.

The push and pull of the tides, the battering of water against the shore, the unpredictability of what was next.

Until his life became abruptly stagnant.

Stagnant like a puddle after a rainstorm, filled with mud and debris. The type of runoff that sat still and murky, a physical reminder of a storm that had passed.

A type of water if observed the surface would remain calm and smooth like an off-putting unsettling mirror, providing a faintly translucent warped reflection. Until a breeze would come and disrupt the stagnant surface sheen, causing ripples and grooves in the surface.

Muzan was dead, the twelve moons were dead, the ultimate goal of demon slayers was achieved, yet Giyu could hardly even force himself to feel anything.

The tally was taken, and the death toll was monstrous. Corps members, kakushi, and hashira-his friends were lost. All except for him and Shinazugawa.

The months after the final battle flew past, most of his time spent healing from losing his right arm. The hazy disconnected memories of being brought to the butterfly estate to be treated.

He could still feel the dull ache of the recovery now and then. The sterile white walls of the butterfly mansion did nothing to distract him from his inner spiral.

The usual flurry of corps members was replaced with the sparse attendance of kakushi and medical staff. The halls were dull, the estate feeling disgustingly empty without the presence of Shinobu on the grounds.

A grim reminder of her, how he’ll never get the chance to see her, talk to her, thank her for everything.
___

Giyu hardly remembered cutting his hair. Doing it impulsively some time during his recovery to feel even the smallest bit in control.

The attendants watching over him objected when he was caught with a blade in his hand, deftly grasping at the tangled mess that hung around his shoulders. Taking proper care of it was the final straw that broke his resolve, unable to bottle the unwelcome anger any longer.

His attempt at cutting his hair came out jagged and sloppy, hardly the work of someone putting in the proper time and effort. After getting caught with a blade and the shoddy job he did himself, one of the attendants cut his hair properly, cropping it up to brush his ears.

The weight off his shoulders did nothing to dissuade the dread-laden heaviness that filled his bones.

Giyu did remember getting scolded by a worker who was also in the corps, believing her name to be Aoi. The young girl reprimanded him for attempting to wield a knife of any kind in his current state, for scaring the younger attendants and potentially getting himself injured.

His thoughts had a much easier time circling around all the instances of regret and reprimanding that Giyu had experienced throughout his life. Repeated until he could recount each instance to almost perfect accuracy.

Even still, he found himself grappling with his own thoughts, bargaining with them to think about anything else but the recent tragedy.
___

It would be selling it short to say that Giyu felt undeserving of any treatment or care for his injuries. His friends were dead. He didn’t deserve to survive fighting Muzan, not when the other hashira had more reason to live than he ever did.

Still, his life went on whether he liked it or not.

The rip-tide slowly stalled, currents changed, the tension calming and slipping away from him faster than Giyu realized.

As if dead calm could manifest in reality, an unknown series of blows and strikes buried under the still water’s surface. A type of calm that was unsettling at best, a fragmented leftover from the torrential downpour he was used to. The universe provided the cruel mercy of absence.
___

The final Hashira meeting was a stone skipping across that water's surface, the final disturbance in the unmoving waters.

That was the first time Giyu had truly seen Shinazugawa since before the final battle began. Even then it was surrounded by fire and the rubble of the Ubayashiki estate before being plummeted into the infinity castle.

The wind hashira looked tired, purple eyes now gray and dim compared to the fierce expression he used to wear. Giyu shuddered to think about the magnitude of what must’ve happened to change the notably stubborn headstrong pillar.

Neither of them dared to speak a word about what happened, what was lost, who was lost. Neither being close enough to speak that intimately with one another.

The meeting was brief. Giyu did his best to pay attention to what was being said, the silence in the air too palpable to hardly think about anything else. However, the bitter taste of gratitude from the Ubayashiki’s was enough to snap him back to reality enough to refute it.

Gratitude was far beyond what Giyu deserved.

Small subtle glances were all Giyu would allow himself, for his own good. His gaze traveled down the other’s form, a subtle loss of muscle tone, and the more noticeable absence of two of his fingers on his right hand.

A twinge of envy stung his thoughts for a mere moment as he felt an ache in what was left of his forearm.

Giyu knew he wasn’t the best at reading people, or communicating how he felt. However, the visible signs of discomfort from the former wind pillar whenever he would glance at Giyu’s empty sleeve was undeniable.

The last thing Giyu wanted, no, the last thing he deserved was pity. Especially not from the hashira he was trying and failing to get closer to before everything went to hell.

He knew the other male wouldn’t bring it up, a noticeable change in temperament had replaced the former anger. Giyu could only assume that something of Shinazugawa’s was also lost in that final battle, one so important to cause such a drastic change in behavior.
___

Before he left that day, an unwavering demanding drone of something lingered in the back of his mind at the message his crow relayed to him before attending the final meeting. His feet carried him back to the butterfly mansion.

The sweet smell of sakura blossoms did little to fill the emptiness of the grounds. An emptiness that traveled through the quiet in the courtyard, the silence of the halls, the unused rooms, practically suffocating Giyu as he deftly marched through the mansion. He maneuvered his way throughout the building with practiced ease with plenty of experience being under its care.

That was until he turned a corner, and every muscle in his body seized frozen in ice.

His crow had told him that Urokodaki would be visiting Tanjiro at the mansion today, he knew that he would see him if he also chose to visit, he thought he was prepared to see his master again.

Giyu was wrong.

Standing in a stalemate, eye contact locked Giyu in place. Neither of them made an effort to move, both remaining frozen in that moment. Giyu could feel the familiar eyes hidden behind the tengu mask. The familiarity of a moment like this played quietly in the back of his mind.

He felt like he couldn’t speak, he couldn’t articulate, he was supposed to be prepared to see him again.

In an instant, every ounce of firm resolve in Giyu’s body came crashing down the moment he saw his master’s arms begin to open outwards. Like waves rushing to shore he was running before his mind could even catch up to his body, practically throwing himself into the familiar embrace.

Just like that he was thirteen again, grasping desperately to the fabric of his master's kimono, angry at the world and only able to ask ‘why’. The last time he could remember being comforted like this was after his final selection, after his entire world was ripped away from him.

Though he may be taller than Urokodaki now, the comforting hold that settled around his shoulders felt the same as it always had, like home.

Giyu almost didn't realize he’d started crying, but like a flood it was near impossible to stop. Thick heavy sobs poured from him, tears wetting the fabric now pressed against his face. Pouring everything he didn’t have the strength to say into his embrace, choking on it all.

He could only breathe his way through it, the warbled shaky inhales providing brief reprieve from the grief stricken cries that were wrenched from his body. The recognizable smell of Mount Sagiri brought him back to memories he’d clung to.

An old calloused hand worked its way gently up and down his back, providing a comfort Giyu had so devotedly starved himself of.

“I know son, I know.” Urokodaki’s voice came out strained, a vague attempt of masking his own emotions. “You did good, Giyu. I know they’d all agree with me.”

His whole body now shook as the weight of what was spoken sunk in. The words were simple, yet bursting with thousands left unsaid. Urokodaki knew more about him than any other living person in the corps. His sister, Sabito, his family, his friends.

Every ounce of work he’d poured into his training being acknowledged, everything and everyone he’s lost, the patterns he carried with him every day, everything he’d bottled up spilled out.

He couldn’t even pinpoint what it was that was causing him to cry, too much had happened, too much he’d put off until the water boiled over. Washed with grief for his fallen friends, his family, people who he’d never get back, all he could do was cry.

It could’ve been an eternity or just mere moments that he spent in that hug, too out of his own body to tell. The smallest shred of the rope keeping everything tied together inside him fell away. Giyu refused to let anything else break in the delicate mess of knots at this moment.

When Giyu pulled away to right himself, he could’ve sworn he saw a flash of strikingly peach pink hair in the window. Quickly rubbing the tears from his eyes with his sleeve, hoping to clear his vision before looking again.

He found the window to be empty. There couldn’t have been anyone out there, just the pale pink gusts of sakura petals being carried away by the wind.

He stood still for a moment, feeling the thick blanket of nothingness smother any residual rainstorms of emotion inside him. He felt raw, like someone sliced him open and left him there. It’d been too long since Giyu made any effort at truly expressing himself, that this interaction shook his world off its axis.

As if sensing the inner turmoil he was currently experiencing, the same calloused hand fell gently against his shoulder. A small act of reassurance that felt like the only thing that was keeping him tethered in place. Giyu placed his remaining hand over it, mustering up the courage to speak.

“Thank you.”
___

Giyu returned to the water estate after being cleared to be on his own again. Having spent months recovering before attending the final meeting and getting back some physicality in the remains of his right arm. A layer of dust covered the walls and floors with the months of absence, not that he ever took particular notice before.

Giyu was used to his estate being quiet, even before Muzan’s defeat, he used his estate for the bare necessity of sleeping, bathing, and eating. Now the silence of the halls was deafening, doing nothing to ward off the cacophony of thoughts in his mind.

The thoughts of his own worth were ever present, loudly interrupting his day to day routine. Giyu would wake, get dressed, cook and eat a simple meal, exist within his estate, and eventually return to sleep. His routine remained relatively the same, just slower, quieter.

The days droned on, after the corps was no longer needed he had nothing left. His original plan, to join, fight, and eventually die hadn’t come to fruition. In his mind, Giyu could only blame himself for being unable to do something as easy as dying correctly.

Giyu did have to admit that these thoughts were easier to understand and parse through after his conversation with Tanjiro all those months ago. It was almost shocking how someone that young could help him that much. Knowing now it was better for him to honor Sabito by living than it ever would’ve been if he focused on his own death.

However easy that might’ve sounded, it was near impossible when he felt constant pangs of memories and glimpses of his dead friends. Almost unknowingly, Giyu cut off the majority of his interactions with others to avoid seeing their memories played by the features of strangers.

He would see kids playing with kites and paper planes of warm breezy days, he would hear the rattle of beads wrapped around strangers hands, he would see long braided hair wrapped with pink ribbons always joined by dual tones and stripes, he would hear the crackling of fire and the smell of spices on the air, and when the seasons changed for the warmer the butterflies would flit through the courtyard of his estate.

Each reminder would rip his nerves raw, choking bitter feelings down his throat, with the dull blade of grief ravaging him to pieces. Giyu knew this was a step in the process, to feel his way through these horrid reminders of the past.

He couldn’t. He could only bury them layer under layer of distraction and dissociation. Choosing rather to drift alongside the tide of everyday, than swim back to shore.

The residual feelings regret from the isolation that he had all but forced himself into during his time as the water pillar would probably never go away. He could never get back the time with those who he lost. With his grief and regret layered he felt scraped out empty, as if he had been carved out hollow.

Some days were harder than others, which he fully expected living alone back at his estate. Days where he would do nothing but nod in and out of sleep for the inability to lift his body from his futon.

Giyu knew that there were people who he could talk to who would at least understand the basics of demon slaying, who could grasp onto a fraction of the loss that he had experienced.

But Giyu was stubborn, he would rather drift solemnly through the rest of his life like a leaf on a still pond than work at trying to change it.
___

Occasionally Giyu would hear word from the Kamados. Both siblings moved back to their hometown with the other two teenagers. The letters contained multitudes of stories and questions, usually with different anecdotes in notably different handwriting in the margins.

It gave him a little piece of mind knowing that the one who had essentially saved him from himself had people there for him. Should he have someone as well?

Giyu would do his best to respond to the letters he did receive as a way to have some outlet, even if his letters weren’t nearly as exciting as the ones he received.

As if slight rainfall was causing ripples on the surface of the puddle, he truly did look forward to hearing from them. Outside of the letters, his days were an endless cycle.
___

One afternoon he caught a glimpse of a familiar crow landing his his courtyard. He’d gotten used to seeing Tanjiro’s crow and the less familiar sparrow, but this particular bird he hadn’t seen in many months. The small headband glinted in the light of the sun, a clear indicator of its owner, this was Uzui’s crow.

Now much more alert, he quickly walked over to where the crow had landed.

“Message for tomioka” the crow barked, the beads on its small headband clinking with the movement.

Gently untying the paper from the bird's foot, it flew up to perch on a branch not too far away. He figured the message was sensitive as he had never heard from Uzui before. Funny how the bird was better at social cues than Giyu himself.

Fumbling with the paper for a moment before opening it one handed, he quickly realized the letter wasn’t from the retired sound hashira at all.

The hand writing, the dents and folds in the paper, Uzui would never send a letter on a paper as crumpled up as this.

Before even looking at the contents of the letter, he glanced down to who the real sender was. As clear as day, no smudges, no tears, was the name he least expected.

Shinazugawa Sanemi

The handwriting was a bit wonky in some places, some letters being crooked or misshapen, but perfectly legible nonetheless.

Tomioka,
I’m going to be in your area within the next two weeks.
I will be visiting you at your estate.
Shinazugawa Sanemi

Within two weeks? That was about as vague of a time frame as any.

Still, the firm bluntness of his words left no room for discussion. He felt a wash of relief, seeing that the other pillar was behaving like he used to.

A huge question hung over his head.

Why was Shinazugawa with Uzui?

If he and Uzui… no the shinobi was married, and Shinazugawa didn’t have the same persuasion as Giyu. Still, why was it Uzui’s crow who delivered this message?

If Tanjiro had heard from Sanemi it certainly would be in a letter that he received from the boy, so maybe he is reaching out for other reasons.

Giyu would be lying if he said he didn’t feel a buzz of excitement at the thought of the visit. Unconsciously his hand gripped at the patterned side of his haori, his body moving on its own accord to do so.

The moment was short lived before his thoughts began to circle around the current state of his estate, himself, everything about his small bubble of reality he wasn’t sure if he was ready to burst.

Giyu didn’t know how to host, his estate was still dirty from when he moved back in, he had hardly spoken to another person besides the limited interactions he had in the marketplace, nor had he dealt with his overt isolation and grief.

Culminating these into one ball of bitterness made Giyu’s brain start to spin. Especially since it was the wind hashira that Giyu originally tried to get closer to before everything.

Giyu had been staring at the words on the paper for longer than he’d realized. The hand holding the letter was trembling, leaving the paper to shake like a leaf in his grasp.

Taking a deep breath, he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. If he remembered correctly, Uzui was about a week and a half’s worth of travel time from his estate, meaning Shinazugawa must already be on his way. Righting himself, a stilled expression steeled over his face.

Looking back over to the crow, it hopped this way and that, taking the occasional moment to preen its shiny wings and caw at other birds around his courtyard. It was shocking how similar the crow was to its designated hashira.

His own crow was somewhere around his estate, probably resting somewhere instead of joining in conversation with the other.

Bidding farewell to the crow, he headed back indoors. The setting sun illuminated the house in an orange glow. Cobwebs being illuminated by the sun’s light made his skin prickle, knowing there was cleaning that had to be done before he even considered having a guest.

That task felt far too big for Giyu to tackle. An all too familiar ache of exhaustion settled into his very being. Every task felt too overwhelming, as if it would take years to complete. The urgency provided by the time frame given did nothing to help the energy currently being sapped from his body.

It was hardly close to the time he’d usually get to bed, but the weight settled into his bones caused each of his steps to feel heavier and heavier. It’s not as if Giyu didn’t want to see the other male, but the sudden news of his arrival just felt a little too much.

Laying on his futon, feeling the dissonant exhaustion flood his body. As his eyes began to slip shut, he could feel the beat of his heart in his chest. A mix of excitement and anxiety swarmed his nerves as he drifted off to sleep.
___

The next week passed by in a blur. Much too fast for Giyu’s liking.

Instead of the days feeling as monotonous, they were rife with anxiety and stress with the looming visit of the other surviving hashira.

Before everything happened the most they interacted was through sparring or the occasional not so pleasant run in on the grounds. Despite the encouragement from Tanjiro, he was still unable to breach the level of friendship with the other slayer. Not for lack of trying on the water pillar’s behalf.

The only other visitors he’d had at his estate were the Kamado’s, which was highlighted by Tanjiro essentially begging him to open up. Some silver lined sour memories filled his thoughts as that memory was quickly followed by the flood of death and loss.

Shaking those thoughts out of his mind, he figured it would be best to settle his nerves even the slightest amount before he arrived. The frantic energy that buzzed under his skin was a stark contrast to the usual melancholy that filled his days before. Deciding it would be best to make use of what energy he had into making at least some of his house presentable.

He picked a room further away from his own, closer to the opposite side of the house. Clearing away cobwebs and dust as best he could and setting out the necessities he would need if he chose to spend the night. Not that Giyu was assuming that he was planning on staying the night, more hopeful that he would if anything.

Next he cleared out his kitchen, not that it had much if any mess in it with its lack of use, as well as the general common room. Even if the work was monotonous and draining, having a task greatly took his mind off things.

With the lack of any visible dust or dirt, Giyu felt much better about the prospect of having a visitor. The physical toll of this was becoming more apparent. His body felt tired without the supplied energy coursing through his muscles.
___

Giyu was made aware of the encroaching visit by the unfamiliar cry of the wind hashira’s crow. Sorai was no doubt flying around to find and bother Kanzaburou wherever he was settled on the grounds of his estate.

Sanemi found his way to the water estate the same way (winf metaphor). They had introductions filled with the well mannered pleasantries expected of anybody who came to visit. Sanemi hadn’t changed much since he had last seen him, which provided Giyu with at least a feeling or normalcy from before.

Giyu hadn’t seen the way that Shinazugawa’s eyes wandered over his form, taking into account the distinct change of how thin Giyu became. Nor had he seen the passive worried and frustrated glanced at his surroundings.

It was clear that Sanemi wasn’t exactly thrilled to spend time with Giyu, but he would never ask why it was that he decided to visit him in fear of appearing ungrateful for the company. Along with the lack of reasoning behind his visit, Shinazugawa also did not provide a timeframe for his visit.

He doesn’t fully understand why Shinazugawa would willingly choose to spend his time at the water estate, especially with the two fighting and disagreein in the past. With a lack of a rebuttal, Giyu chose to sit and weather the storm of change.
___

The days seemed to drone on less and less with the presence of the other male. They often didn’t speak during the day, always staying near but keeping to themselves. That was perfectly acceptable for Giyu.

Still, Giyu was adjusting to the ebb and flow of creating a routine with another person, as he was more used to his own company at the estate than sharing it with anyone else. The only person recently that disturbed the unnervingly calm waters was Tanjiro, as he all but forced Giyu to finally open up to him.

The time they spent the most together was preparing and eating meals. He had heard Shinazugawa mutter under his breath about ‘not eating enough’ during the first few days he had been at his estate..

After that, meals became much more frequent for Giyu. Not that he wasn't eating before, as a hashira he needed to keep his strength up for his patrols and fights with demons. That being said, his estate was used as the bare minimum which reflected in his diet. That appeared to be something that Shinazugawa was determined to change, as he began to cook meals for the two of them.

It was odd to see Shinazugawa doing something considered ‘domestic’. He wasn’t a bad cook either, seemingly used to cooking and preparing meals for others.

No matter how many times Giyu offered to help, he would be quickly told off. Something about it being the least Shinazugawa could do to make up for his extended stay. Eventually he relented, no doubt worn down by Giyu’s constant offers.

Initially he worried if it was due to his current physical condition and lack of arm, not that he would ever voice this to the other. That concern quickly faded away when he was included in the process.

Giyu did have to admit that it was difficult to get used to cutting and preparing things for meals with only one arm, but he refused to allow that frustration to be known by anyone other than himself. He was sure that no one in his life would ever consider him ‘weak’, but the nagging whisper in the back of his head was hard to ignore.

Giyu had more extensive injuries compared to the wind hashira who had only lost a few fingers. Some days the whisper became a shout, yelling at him for his own inability to do something as simple as cook a meal for himself, or that the other man was taking pity on him for his physical state.

To avoid accusing Shinagawa of something he might not even be aware of, Giyu didn’t mention his own turmoil. The former pillar did always thank Giyu for whatever the preparation was, which did help dissuade the voice's beliefs.

Whenever Giyu offered to help further he was usually met with a similar sentiment to ‘No you’ll burn it.’ or ‘No, I got it’. Giyu figured not to press further, opting to enjoy the collaborative meal instead of making a fuss about it.

Their routine slowly settled into place, the gentle rocking of waves reintroduced into his lake.
___

A new routine for Giyu now that he was eating regularly and eating actual meals, was now frequenting the market. Giyu was used to buying very little, but now there were two people living at his estate and eating two people’s worth of food.

Before, Giyu would usually buy what he needed and leave quickly, with Shinazugawa that was no longer the case.

It became commonplace for Shinazugawa to either accompany him on a trip, or for Shinazugawa to go on his own. When it was two of them, it was always Shinazugawa who told Giyu what to buy, how much to buy, and offering to cover financially for a majority of any purchase.

On top of that, Giyu got to observe the other in an entirely different light. Instead of the old abrasive nature, Shinazugawa was much quieter and very polite. Not as quiet as Giyu, who was used to speaking only when necessary when visiting the market.

It was odd seeing Shinazugawa interact with the public outside of a crisis scenario, not bad, just different. Especially wearing plain clothes. Seeing Shinazugawa out of his corps uniform made Giyu think.

The clothes he wore in public covered more of his skin, closed around his chest and neck unlike his open front corps uniform. Giyu wondered if he was self conscious of the scars that were plastered against his skin, or if he used to cover them up outside of uniform before the final battle.

The colors the wind Hashira wore were similar to his uniform, mainly whites and blacks with the occasional dash of green. The clothes he wore did suit him well, often tailored and well fitting, not that Giyu knew anything about clothes. Giyu often had to steer his thoughts away from the other male, as he would find himself distracted with the figure of the other male.

Giyu was no stranger to the looks thrown his way by others. With the infrequency that he was actually at his estate, his corps uniform, among other things were often murmured between townsfolk. The occasional compliment or oggling would often fall on deaf ears, as Giyu found it much easier to pay them no mind.

However, there were new looks this time. Drenched in curiosity and intrigue at the new presence next to him. No one directly would ask Giyu about him, where he came from or who he was, in turn Giyu would keep that information between the two of them. Figuring that if Shinagawa wanted that information to be known he would have said so by now, not that Giyu would ever ask.

If Giyu was being honest, having that information be a secret kept just between them made him feel just a bit closer to the other.

Each visit was kept comfortably quiet, with not very much to talk to each other about. It took a few trips for Giyu to realize something crucial. Instead of trailing behind the other, they walked in parallel. Never too close, but side by side nonetheless.

Did Shinazugawa fall backward or did Giyu move forward?

___

“Tomioka, your estate is fucking disgusting.” Sanemi said plainly.

It was after they had finished eating breakfast, bringing dishes back into the kitchen trailing behind the other. Shinazugawa was setting the main cookware aside to be cleaned. Giyu was used to how the wind hashira spoke, usually leaving no room for argument.

“Oh, I’m sorry?” Giyu didn’t know what to say to that. Yeah he cleaned the room his guest would be staying in and the communal places, but why would he clean anywhere else? Should he be apologizing? Is it his fault?

Shinazugawa scoffed in response. His body tensed from where he stood in front of the counter, holding himself back from saying something. Moments later his shoulders slumped with a sharp exhale.

“It’s fine.” Shinazugawa said through gritted teeth, taking a deep breath, “We’re cleaning today.”

The way he easily referred to the two of them as a unit was not lost on Giyu. Feeling a long forgotten curl ripple across his water’s surface.

Almost flinching at the feeling. It was probably an unconscious sentiment, said in passing as there are only two of them. Yet he couldn’t help himself from feeling a small spark of elation light in his mind.

It wasn’t something that he had ever heard before everything happened. He did have to admit that he hadn’t realized his cycle of subconscious self isolation until Tanjiro had made him aware of his actions. By the time he tried to connect with the wind hashira, he was met with storm clouds of distaste from the other.

Hearing that, even if it was something simple and plain, created ripples of forgotten emotions stir within him.

Giyu almost forgot that the other still didn’t know where anything really was in his house. He grabbed what they needed to clean from a hallway closet, bringing them to the other.

Shinazugawa took charge of cleaning out the other unused rooms as well as the engawa. Giyu took the kitchen, the main room, as well as his own room. The action reminded him of how he had attempted to prepare for Shinazugawa’s visit, now being more apparent that he hadn’t done enough. Not that he was upset with the other for calling attention to the buildup of dust and dirt, as he did have to agree that it was gross.

Despite the twinge of embarrassment, Giyu carried on clearing away corners and surfaces. He did have to admit that it was strange to get used to doing everything one handed, and this was no exception.

As time went on Giyu noticed Shinazugawa coming to check on Giyu. At first it felt harmless, eventually Giyu felt a familiar twist of frustration everytime he would hear the approaching footsteps coming to ‘make sure he was doing it right’.

The next time he had heard the other approaching, the twist changed into a boil under his skin. He stilled as he heard the footsteps stop closeby.

“I don’t need help I’m fine, you don't have to keep checking in on me.” It was impossible to mask the anger that laced his words.

Even while recovering in the butterfly mansion, he was never treated in a way that indicated he was less capable. Even if it wasn’t Shinazugawa’s intent, he couldn’t help but feel condescension thread its way through each interaction.

Shinazugawa stiffly nodded his head, eyes clearly displaying surprise at his sudden outburst. Promptly turning and leaving the room. No rebuttal or discussion to what was said. Worried that he somehow fumbled through another social interaction, he focused once again on his task.

….

For the remainder of the day they remained a few rooms apart. Giyu found himself unable to ignore listening to the sounds of Shinazugawa throughout his estate. Occasional muttering and slamming of whatever he’d been holding paired with intermittent cursing.

By the time the sun started to set Giyu had begun to tackle his own room. Clearing away cobwebs and dust from his living space was sapping the remaining bit of his energy. The dynamic swell of high seas had turned into a slight flutter against rocks of a shore.

He slowly sorted through his belongings, although he owned very little it still felt difficult. Although he hadn’t taken offense to what Shinazugawa said about that condition his estate found itself in.

The more the dirt and grime was cleared away the more he came to realize his estate had become manifest to his inner turmoil. The clouded murky waters churning inside him had begun to spill out around him, flooding his surroundings and coating them with all the debris he carried with him.

It was simple, a menial task of cleaning, but he could feel something begin to thaw. Something that had been frozen ever since his final selection.

A quiet knock at the outside of his door shook him out of his thoughts. He was so far into a daze that he hadn’t heard the footsteps through the halls, or taken notice of the new soft lighting of the lanterns around his property.

Slowly getting up from his seated position, he felt his legs prickle with the feeling of his blood returning. Having lost track of time since he returned to his room, his body began to remind him of just how much time had passed. Giyu felt hunger begin to eat away at his stomach, his muscles ached with his movement, exhaustion hung heavy along his body.

He opened his door to Shinazugawa standing quietly in the hall.

“I made dinner,” subtly glancing into Giyu’s room behind him, “Figured you’d probably be hungry.”

“I didn't realize how much time had passed.” Giyu stepped into his hallway, closing his door behind him, wanting to keep some semblance of privacy in his own home. “Thank you.”

Dinner was relatively simple, not that Shinazugawa necessarily needed his help with preparing dinner. However, the content of the meal was what caught his attention.

“How did you know I like salmon?”

“Cause I pay attention, and your gloomy pompous ass is hard to ignore.”

Giyu wasn’t expecting a direct apology, or for what happened to be referenced at all. So this came as a bit of a surprise to him. By the time night had fallen anyways he had already felt his anger simmer down to nothing. They ate their meal in silence. Even without words being exchanged, Giyu swore he could feel something give way.
___

Sleep was a common stranger to Giyu, some nights it would avoid him entirely, other nights it would linger just under the surface waiting to drag him under.

Some night sleep felt more like the torrent of storm laden waves, capsizing ships, crashing against the rocks of the shore. These nights found Giyu reduced to a shivering mess, nightmares ravaging what little sleep he had.

Visions of Tanjiro being corrupted before his head hit pavement, the pressure of being trapped underneath rubber as he heard the sounds of death echoing in his skull.

When sleep avoided him, plagued with images of pale pink hair, Giyu found himself sitting in his courtyard. The moonlight provided enough glow to not feel like some form of company.

It still felt off not having to be on guard after nightfall, no territories to patrol, no more demons to hunt. Although he was sure his crow relished in not having to speed around late into the night. Yet there was still a part of him, held in the comfort of those he’s lost, made a point of enjoying these nights.

Even as sleep evaded him, even if he would see distinct flashes of a fox mask out of the corner of his eye, or deep lapis eyes flashing each time his own shut, or gnashing snarling teeth echoing inside his skull, he still tried his best to find a silver lining.

Looking for the positives in any situation had been something Giyu struggled with ever since his experience at the final selection. A memory that would eat through his peace if he lingered on it for too long.

The former water pillar found that the concept of living came easier as of late. The conversation he and Tanjiro had before the final batter was just the beginning of figuring out his mentality surrounding everything.

Giyu noticed that having another body around him, helping him, providing company, everything that Shinazugawa did for Giyu was making living easier. Even if they weren’t around each other always, just knowing there was another person there with him made it a little easier.

It was on a sleepless night that Giyu found himself sitting underneath the small maple tree on his property. He had retired to his room after helping the other clear up after their shared dinner. It was common for the two of them to part after finishing meals, even though it was Giyu’s estate, it was understood that space was needed for the two of them.

However, upon attempting to rest, his brain and body felt far too restless. The old memories circled around his thoughts like buzzards. The fidgeting anxiety of delving too deep into his memories, into his feelings, had him on edge. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t tired, he was and had been exhausted for a while, but his brain wouldn’t allow him to slip into the security of sleep.

Instead of festering in his room, waiting for exhaustion to take over and drown him in unconsciousness, he sat out in the cool night air. With the spring season in bloom, the nights weren’t nearly as cold as winter. The slight chill brought back memories from his training, way before he even knew anything about being a hashira.

Giyu was doing his best to clear his mind before returning to his futon. The chirping and clicking of bugs dulled the quiet. Attempting to redirect his thoughts away from the heavier content his brain was dead set on supplying, he allowed himself to focus in on the songs from the emerging cicadas. The dull drone provided a backdrop to the silence of the night, white noise that blocked out any intrusive thoughts.

Until his ears picked up on the faint sounds of crying.

It was still jarring to hear sounds of human life that weren’t his own, even after the amount of time passed since Shinazugawa began his stay. What Giyu was hearing was undoubtedly the sounds of muted muffled sobs originating from the room given to the former wind pillar.

In that moment he felt a heated bolt of shame drive through his very core, knowing this moment of vulnerability wasn’t meant for his ears. Giyu had never heard or seen the other hashira express emotions other than anger or frustration, or the sadistic joy he expressed while fighting.

Giyu felt heat rise up the back of his neck up to his ears, quickly and quietly making his way back inside his estate. The gravel under his feet made it hard to stay silent and unnoticed, the last thing he wanted was to be misconstrued as eavesdropping on the other.

One poorly placed footfall caused the sound of shifting stones to tear through the silence in the courtyard. Followed immediately by unwavering silence from inside Shinazugawa’s room. Without thinking he rushed back inside, opting to spend the rest of his evening back in the quiet solitude of his own room.

Sitting on his futon, he couldn't’ help his brain from rushing into unwarranted conclusions and ideas. He definitely heard Shinazugawa crying, that wasn’t something he could somehow create in his imagination.

Should he have done something? Asked him if he was ok? If he needed anything? No, probably not. Thinking back to before, whenever he would try to approach the other it often resulted in sparring and yelling instead of actually having a conversation.

Giyu could accurately guess why Shinazugawa was crying, but should he have offered time or support instead of immediately retiring after dinner?

Was it unusual that he himself hadn’t shed any tears except for when he ran into Urokodaki?

The electric buzz of these frantic thoughts and emotions was exhausting, bringing a newfound fatigue to his body. He hadn’t noticed the physical and emotional toll that having a guest at his estate took on his body.

Somehow, he was exhausted, excited, and elated to have another person close to him, yet there were still difficulties he couldn’t quite parse through. That night proved to be an example of just how hard it was for him to manage his own emotions as well as consider others'.

Had Giyu really ever been considering his own emotions?

The sudden burst of adrenaline had long since worn off, finding himself laid back on his futon. His eyelids felt as if they were weighed down with rocks.

All of the frantic frenzied energy that filled his thoughts from before had melted away. Leaving his muscles heavy with sleep. He had many questions for Shinazugawa that he doubt he would ever ask, but they circled his thoughts. Creating a dull drone of uncertainty right behind his eyes.
….

“Shinazugawa, do you want to stay here?” with me.

The last two words remained unspoken, with Giyu presenting the question over breakfast the next day. If he noticed the faint red around the others violet eyes, he wouldn’t dare mention it.

“Not forever or anything just, for now?”

Shinazugawa took a few moments to think it over

“I don’t see why not, I already am.”
___

It’d been three months since Shinazugawa had started his extended stay at Giyu’s estate. The two retired pillars had settled into the comfortable push and pull of living together. Instead of the dead calm of a still water surface, his life was now a lake filled with gentle waves that lapped at the shores.

Giyu had to admit that he had gotten used to cooking and eating regular meals that always tasted much better than if he made them on his own, got used to the clean conditions of his estate, and especially got used to the now more than welcome company.

The two of them sat quietly, the screens of his estate were open to accommodate for the heat of the summer. The air was sticky and humid, the type of weather that made discomfort inevitable.

Giyu had little to say, knowing Shinazugawa didn’t either. Neither of them appeared to be bothered by the silence that lingered in the air between them. They ate dinner in silence, something light and cool to combat the heat.

The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden haze over everything, allowing the cool night air to fight for control over the heat. It had been long enough for the beginnings of nightfall not to trigger his brain into getting ready for patrolling, instead finding it easier to sit and observe the moments he’d been missing.

A slight breeze eased the oppressive heat ever so slightly, causing the trees to sway in the skyline.

“Your hair is getting long again.”

Giyu looked over at the sudden break in the quiet to find the wind hashira looking at him. His gaze wasn’t saturated with the familiar scrutiny he was used to seeing from the white haired male.

He couldn’t help but scan the other’s gentle expression, the golden light painted a new picture he hadn’t allowed himself to see before. Shinazugawa’s hair was illuminated, almost glowing, by the light, his purple eyes held their color once again, the scars provided a depth and a history he wasn’t sure if he’d ever know.

Giyu hadn’t realized his lack of response before purple eyes squinted in his direction.

“I suppose it has.” Giyu’s hand traveled to weave into his hair, now brushing his shoulders instead of having it cropped to his ears, “I haven't had the chance to cut it.”

Giyu didn’t miss how Shinazugawa’s eyes followed his fingers as he mussed with his inky black hair. He had to admit that the summer heat was proving his hair to be a burden when attempting to keep cool. Back then it would’ve been thrown up hastily into his regular ponytail. However, having only one arm and shorter hair than before made that task extremely difficult.

If he felt any more comfortable with the former hashira, he would’ve asked for help putting his hair up, or even cutting it. That felt like too big of an ask for himself and for the former wind pillar.

“I could cut it for you.” Light eyebrows raised in Giyu’s direction with his offer with a startling amount of confidence. “It’s hot as fuck and I can’t imagine that’s comfortable. God knows you’d rather rot than actually ask me for my help so I guess I’m gonna have to offer it instead huh?”

”If you want to cut my hair you can. I think it would be nice to have it short again.”

So they prepared to do just that. Clearing away the dishes from dinner, setting a few aside for later as it was already getting dark. Giyu made himself busy lighting a few lanterns through the halls of his estate.

An unfamiliar bubble of excitement stirred within him whether it was because of getting a much needed haircut or if it was because of the prospect of getting closer to the other hashira.

It could just be an act to reciprocate being housed for the past few months, his brain supplied, always determined to undermine any excitement. Even if it was just some reciprocal action, Giyu was still grateful at the small step in closeness with the other.

He grabbed a pair of scissors, a brush, and retrieved a towel from a closet, waiting for the other to finish his task with the dishes.

He sat out facing his courtyard, watching as the sun fully set behind the surrounding mass of trees on his horizon. His thoughts circled back to a saying Urokodaki told him nearly a decade prior, about the sunset being representative of transition or change in one’s life.

Before he could fully remember what exactly it was that his master told him, the presence of another body next to his startled him out of his thoughts.

“You done spacing out? I’m not cutting your hair out here, it's too damn dark.” Shinazugawa was crouched down beside him, gaze settled on the same horizon he’d been watching.

Nodding, Giyu stood from his spot on the engawa. Both making their way back inside the estate. Settling back down just beyond the doors, basking in the cool night air that filled the room. He was acutely aware of the presence of the other male beside him.

If not for this awareness, he surely would’ve jumped the moment he felt scarred hands comb through his hair. Taking the time to feel through the knots with his left hand, following his path with the brush in his right. Though barely noticeable, the slightest amount of trepidation was still there with using his right hand.

It felt almost alien for Giyu to receive this comfort, anxiety settled quietly throughout his body before sinking away from the surface. The subtle twinge that came from snagging through a knot grounded him in the moment, without it he was sure he’d dissociate with the gentle touch.

“Why’d you cut it in the first place? Finally got sick of that rat's nest?” It was clear that whatever moment was created between the two of them felt more intimate than the standard silence, making more reason for Shinazugawa trying to lighten the energy.

“Oh, it was during my recovery. I got tired of having to deal with it on top of my injury, I just needed to feel in control I guess.”

“So you can cut it yourself.”

“No I did a shitty job, one of the staff cleaned it up to look nicer after I got yelled at.”

“I used to be the one who cut my siblings' hair, but it’s been a while.”

The weight of what was spoken by Shinazugawa seemed to hit both of them at once. With Giyu realizing the vulnerability being shared with him, and Sanemi feeling the panic of being that vulnerable. Before Giyu could respond, the other continued speaking.

“Why didn’t you ask me why I was at Uzui's?”

”I figured if it were truly important you’d tell me. I’ve learned not to press for information.” From you.

It was a sentiment that went unspoken, but heard by the both of them. Neither had been able to forget the animosity that rooted itself deep in their relationship from the start.

“I was with Uzui to help deal with what happened. He, uh, lost siblings, felt like he would be able to help me with all that. He kinda kicked me out after a while.”

Shinazugawa huffed out a laugh as he continued to comb through Giyu’s hair, the brush snagging on the occasional knot. Giyu sat as still as he could, learning quickly that if his head moved it would be roughly shoved back into position.

It was relaxing in a way, even if the man doing it wasn’t the gentlest. The repetition of the sensation and the noise of the brush felt like waves lapping against the shore. Something as simple as this, a small favor, a comfort, filled with care wasn’t something Giyu had allowed himself in years.

He thought more about what the wind hashira said, he had a vague idea of the loss each hashira experienced. Feeling like it was not the time for him to ask further questions on it, considering the proximity of scissors to his neck.

The sudden sharp sound of the scissors cutting his hair broke through the silence. Feeling the slight brush of hair fall against his neck sent a shiver down his spine, the hand that followed to brush it away almost made him jump.

The hands were large and rough, in comparison to his own more slender hands. Giyu remembered hearing years ago about the body representing the breath style. He couldn’t accurately recall what each signifier was, simply too focused on the other presence in the room with him.

Still that didn’t stop him from wondering. He knew his form was much more lithe, flexible, but strong, like water itself. He wondered for a moment how Shinazugawa’s body manifested wind breathing, what that would feel like.

Giyu noticed his thoughts drifting in and around the scars that plastered themselves along the skin of the other. They trailed across his skin like the path of a violent storm marks the earth. How his old uniform was worn purposely to display them with unabashed pride. Even still there were probably so many more kept hidden by the fabric.

Quickly interrupted by the now much too familiar wash of shame that seemed to manifest more often than not when Giyu thought of the other male. Though it wasn’t causing any personal revelations that Giyu wasn’t already aware of, it was who these thoughts were about that was distressing.

In comparison the only scar that remained on Giyu’s pale skin was up near his hairline, kept hidden by his hair. He refused to let anyone see it, knowing he’d freeze if asked the question of how he got it. A quick thought flashed through his skull, does Shinazugawa feel the same about his scars now that everything’s done?

That was certainly a much too personal question to ask the other, still not ready to try and break down that wall that’s been slowly fracturing between them. Like a dam crumbling overtime, he could notice the cracks in the foundation letting him seep slowly into his space.

Yet in this intimate atmosphere, it felt like Giyu could ask him anything without expecting animosity in return.

“Why did you agree to stay here?” With me.

“Well Uzui kicked me out, but besides that we’re the only two left who’ve been through the same shit. I also figured, and was proven right, that you were isolating yourself on purpose.” Giyu heard a short intake of breath from the man sitting behind him. “I also couldn’t let your depressed ass rot away to nothing, it would hang over my consciousness or whatever. Someone uh- changed my mindset.”

“Well, thank you.”

It was noticeably quieter in the space between them, the atmosphere becoming frigid despite the summer heat. Fearing that he had misread the cues in yet another social situation, he remained silent. Opting to just enjoy the feeling of the faint touches against his shoulders and neck.

The conversation seemed to tread warily around divulging things too personal for either of their liking. Despite craving to know more about the other, the last thing Giyu wanted was to be the one to break that seal.

Through the slight implications and throw away sentiments shared by Shinazugawa, Giyu knew that he had experienced loss not too far off from his own. That’s not all that he wanted to know, that he needed to know.

Giyu felt starved for closeness with the other, yes he did currently live with him in his house, but that wasn’t enough. So starved that he felt almost nauseous at his own desire to learn more about him. He needed to know what he thought, how he felt, what he hates, what he likes, loves.

The riptide of his inner dialogue made sitting still difficult, as he felt unjust in taking such satisfaction out of this interaction that was seemingly meant to be in good faith. He steeled himself still, making sure that nothing circling in his head

The resounding ‘thunk’ of the scissors being placed on the ground snapped him back in place. The now familiar hands brushed away stray hairs that settled on his clothes. Even though the touch was noticeably light, especially through the fabric, it was commanding enough to understand he shouldn’t move.

It was a fleeting moment however, the touch quickly faded, leaving Giyu sitting quietly in front of Shinazugawa. He didn’t feel quite ready to move yet, but decided it would be impolite if anything not to thank the other.

Slowly beginning to turn to thank the other, he was abruptly stopped by a firm grip on his shoulders. Not before he caught a glimpse of Shinazugawa hunched over with his head low. He picked up on a few shaky inhales as he turned his attention in front of him once again.

“I’ve- I’ve lost a lot of people in my lifetime.” The usual confidence was completely absent from his words. “Not just in that final battle. It was my family, all of them now.”

At that Giyu’s blood ran cold, fully understanding which family member he had lost in that battle.

“My dad was a piece of shit to my siblings, to my mother, to me. Most of the time it was just my siblings and me, I had six younger siblings. When it wasn’t my mother getting hit, it was us getting the brunt of my father’s anger. It was mainly up to me to keep them safe from the damn bastard.”

The familiar bold cadence began to seep into his words, despite being choked and warbled with emotion. All Giyu could do was listen quietly.

“He got killed by someone who had a grudge against him, leaving just us and my mother. Which was hard, having one parent trying to provide for seven kids. I was too young to know the full extent of what that entailed, I can only imagine what that was like for her. That day, the day the bastard died, Genya and I made a pact to always look out for our family no matter what. We were the two oldest after all.”

A pause filled with shaky breath.

“My mother got turned into a demon, I don’t know how, I don’t know by who, but she ended up attacking us. I know it wasn’t her fault, but she ah- she killed my five youngest siblings. I-I had to be the one that killed her, I had to look out for my family like I promised Genya.”

Shinazugawa kept his voice as even as possible, resulting in choking on words that threatened to spill out from his lips.

“By the time Genya found me again, my mother was dead, I watched as she turned into dust with the sun. I know he saw her crumble away to nothing. He-he said things I know he didn’t mean, he was a kid for fuck’s sake how the hell was he supposed to understand what happened?”

His voice trailed off to something quiet, a tone Giyu had never heard from the other. Laden with regret and murky with despair. The hands that were on his shoulders fell away.

“I lost him in that final battle, I was the one who fell short on my promise. He was the only family I had left. I did all I could to protect him from this life, I tried to scare him away from it. Some good that did. His final sentiment was that he wanted me to be happy, that he didn’t want me to die, fuck’s sake he thanked me before he-“

“I know what it’s like to lose a family.” Giyu began, attempting to sound as sympathetic as possible through his sudden interruption.

“Listen Tomioka, you don’t have to just cause I did.”

“Giyu is fine.” He shifted uncomfortably for a moment, not knowing where to start. “I had a sister, my older sister. People always used to say we looked almost perfectly alike, I’d like to think so even if I don’t have the perfect memory of her. I know we have the same blue eyes. My parents weren't alive for very long after I was born, so it was really just me and her.”

“Her name was Tsutako, she was about our age now when she sacrificed herself to save me. She hid me away to keep me safe. A demon killed her on the night before she was supposed to get married. I didn’t know about demons yet, I had no real way of protecting her, but she still protected me with her life.”

Giyu took a deep breath before continuing, feeling his eyes begin to well up with the emotions he desperately tried to keep tied down. He hadn’t heard any movement from Shinazugawa at all, taking it as a means to continue speaking.

“Anyways, I tried to tell people that it was a demon that killed her, that it was a monster. They didn’t believe me, called me mentally ill and shipped me off to some relatives far away. With my sister gone they were technically all I had left, but I never met them. Before I was to be sent away, master Ubayashiki heard about my experience and sent me to train under the previous water hashira. It wasn’t just me doing the training, there was another boy, Sabito.”

It had been a long time since he had spoken his name out loud, choking on it as it spilled from his lips. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a scarred hand reach forward into his space, opting to ignore it and continue on.

“He was my age at the time, we were both thirteen. Me and him, well I uh- well I loved him… During that year's final selection, I was unable to protect him. I got injured towards the beginning, I fell unconscious for days. That’s the only reason why I passed final selection”

He rubbed his hands uncomfortably against his folded legs, feeling too open and vulnerable in the quiet space created between the two of them.

“I wasn’t supposed to become a hashira, I was supposed to be the one who died on that mountain, I was supposed to die instead of my sister. I was just the stand in pillar until someone more suited for the position took it over. It wasn’t until Tanjro knocked sense into me, that living just to survive would be shameful to those that I’ve lost. It still hurts me that I haven’t been able to thank them, any of them, for what they’ve done to help me.”

Giyu had been staring into space for so long he almost didn't take notice of the body coming into his field of vision. Shinazugawa settled into a crouch in front of his sitting form, providing a glimpse of the scarred flesh of his chest.

He reached out to press a gentle hand onto Giyu’s remaining arm.The warm weight settled his nerves, grounding him out of his memories. This tenderness wasn’t something that Giyu ever considered with the other male, it was almost enough to flood him til he drowned.

Shinazugawa opened his mouth to speak, and was again cut off by words spilling past Giyu’s lips.

“With you here with me, I actually feel ‘okay’. You’re helping me eat more, I’m caring for myself, I’m caring for you. I know we only have a few years left since the marks manifested, but I’m certain I want to spend them with you.”

The hand that settled gently along his arm quickly pulled him forward. Giyu felt his eyes widen at the sudden embrace. The gentleness from the other was still jarring, used to expecting a punch or a training sword following after.

The position they were in was awkward, Giyu being pulled forward somewhat uncomfortably and Shinazugawa crouching in front of him. Giyu couldn’t bring himself to care, throwing his arm around the others shoulders.

He felt the two arms around him tighten as he returned the embrace. He was acutely aware of each point of contact between them.

Tears that he hadn’t realized were pooling at his lashes finally began to spill. He didn’t sob, he didn’t cry, he only felt relief. Everything that he had tried tirelessly to tell the other before everything happened was finally said, the weight that clung to his thoughts was finally lessened.

Shinazugawa was surprisingly warm, feeling almost overwhelming in the already present heat. Giyu could feel the sheer difference between their physicalities. Shinazugawa was wide and muscular, much more noticeably built than Giyu. He thought back to the difference in breathing styles having physical manifestations.

Shinazugawa’s voice rumbled from deep within his chest, coming out choked with emotion.

“This whole time I thought you were some selfish stuck up prick, but really you’re just a fucking idiot.”

Giyu couldn’t help but huff out a laugh. The response greatly encapsulated who was saying it. Even if this was just the starting point, Giyu could feel the shift in understanding between them.

As he tried to pull away, he felt himself strain against the arms around him before they quickly released. Briefly he wondered if the other wanted it to last longer, or if he wanted this to happen again.

Giyu could feel the pull from the other as he returned to his seated position. The whites of Shinazugawa’s eyes were tinged with the familiar red, this time stained from emotion rather than anger. Giyu wondered if he felt the same sense of relief as him.

“Thank you, Shinazugawa.” Giyu hoped it was understood that he was thanking him for more than just cutting his hair.

“Sanemi.” The name felt foreign against his ears.

“Well thank you, Sanemi.” Giyu wanted the way Sanemi’s name felt in his mouth to last forever, he wanted to keep saying it.

This newfound privilege had his heart beating faster. He didn’t want to scare Sanemi away, but he had to fight the urge to keep repeating it outloud.

“You’re welcome. Goodnight, Giyu.”

As he watches Sanemi walk out of the room, Giyu couldn’t help the giddy feeling that swarmed in his chest. It’d been far too long since someone referred to him by his given name, but he was almost certain he wanted Sanemi to be the only one to say it from then on.

It wasn’t common for other Hashira to refer to each other with their given name, as the uncertainty of death hung on the horizon like an oncoming storm. Now that the threat of death was no longer lingering in the corner of his eye, it felt easier to find familiarity in others.

Giyu found his mouth upturned into a smile as the memory echoed through his thoughts. He reached his hand up to thread through his much shorter hair, the ghost of each touch of rough calloused hands would remain for long after this exchange.

He remained seated in the same position after Sanemi left. The thoughts swirling around in his brain were flowing toward uncharted waters. Quickly taking the reins to steer towards something more familiar, it was far too late and far too new for Giyu to start thinking about anything like that.

The sound of the insects buzzing and chirping in the night created a backing to the current swirling whirlpool of his thoughts. Giyu could’ve sworn he heard the familiar chuckle of the insect pillar.

A bittersweet feeling overpowered his thoughts.Wherever Shinobu might be, he was certain she found every part of this hilarious.

Eventually he returned to his own room, after snuffing out the lights around his estate. As he laid down in an attempt to get some rest, he could feel the small riverines of energy coursing just below his skin.

With his eyes still sensitive from the tears and a smile still splayed across his face, he waited for the grip of sleep to pull him under.
___

Tanjiro

I apologize for not sending you a letter sooner. It has been more than nice to hear from you, and the others,

In recent news outside of our usual correspondence, Shinazugawa has been living with me for the past few weeks. We’re actually getting along well, surprisingly.

Going back to what you helped me with, I finally feel more like I’m living, not just surviving. I know that I must be doing something right by them.

I hope all is well with you and yours, and that your home is being filled with better memories than of those past.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Tomioka Giyu

Giyu quickly folded the letter once the ink was dry. He called for Kanzaburou, hearing the slow flap of his old wings get closer. Holding his arm out for his crow to land on. The familiar weight on his forearm brought him back to a different time.

“Bring this message to Tanjiro Kamado,” Giyu said a bit loudly, wanting to make sure that his crow would remember, “They live on Mount Kumotori, remember?”

With that Giyu watched his crow fly off, making sure to check the direction he was flying was correct. It had been a while since he had heard from the Kamado’s. He knew if anything happened he would’ve been informed but a small part of him couldn’t help but worry just a bit.

Tanjiro and his sister had become a major part of his life, streams that flowed and fed into the now flourishing lake. Maybe due to their proximity with his master, the experiences that they both shared, and the ways they helped each other over the years.

The two of them felt like younger siblings, even though Giyu knew that they were both more than capable of taking care of themselves he still felt the surge of protectiveness for the two of them.

Giyu took a breath, the sentimental feelings that washed over him felt more overwhelming if anything. Maybe if he gets a response he’ll invite the four teens over to his estate. Even though it might feel overwhelming, Giyu was sure it would be something good to do.

Smiling at the thought. His estate was beginning to feel more like he belonged there, like he was the one who lived there. He’d adjusted to Sanemi living there just fine, of course albeit under different circumstances. Maybe it would be beneficial to have more visitors.

After he was sure to see his crow fly off over the horizon he made his way to sit on the engawa. The sun felt comforting against his face, it’d almost been too long since he had simply sat and enjoyed his environment.

Within the silence Giyu found himself reflecting on the night prior, the conversation he had with Sanemi. Everything was out in the open now, everything he wanted to say, everything he felt. The same was true for Sanemi, his past now being known by Giyu.

It was almost as if an invisible tie had been created between the two. Not only due to the two of them being the only survivors, but now knowing more about each other than anyone else up until now. A subtle flow of fulfillment trickled through his being, finally achieving his goal of closeness with the other.

If Giyu was being honest with himself, he had a previous infatuation with the former wind hashira. The way he used his breathing style was impressive, he was a strong fighter and a dedicated corps member. Giyu did have to admit that he found Sanemi attractive. His light hair and violet eyes remained uniquely enchanting to Giyu.

The thoughts drifting through his head made his heart thrum with feelings he had long since pushed away. For the sake of most aspects of his life from before the final battle, he had pushed these feelings and ideas aside to focus on slaying demons.

Giyu knew that he liked men, his attraction towards Sanemi didn’t come as a revaluation. It wasn’t something about himself that he broadcast, only made easier with most hashira not seeking out relationships due to the uncertain nature of their job. The only pillar in a relationship was the sound hashira, but that was due to other extenuating circumstances that weren’t present for the rest of the pillars.

The only people still alive who know about his identity are the two Kamados and his Master. All were more than supportive, especially with the understanding of his past with Sabito and such. Giyu did know better than to be very open about it, having less than pleasant interactions with individuals throughout his life.

A small nervous voice inside his head wondered if Sanemi would care, or if he had already pieced it together. These thoughts were overpowered by the question of Sanemi’s preferences. Not that it would change anything necessarily, but Giyu couldn’t help his curiosities.

When the both of them had been anointed as pillars, Sanemi was at least somewhat involved with Kanae. The two of them at least held some sort of feelings for eachother, but Giyu never learned what exactly that had entailed before her death. Not that it necessarily meant anything, but Giyu wasn’t too keen on pushing his luck in asking.

It was that important, not to him at least. If he could have Sanemi in his life as a friend, he’d be just as happy.

As his thoughts drifted pleasantly back and forth between the ghosting sensations of Sanemi’s hands in his hair to his own moment of vulnerability, he hadn’t noticed the second presence in his courtyard. Until his footsteps were loud enough to be heard approaching Giyu.

“Who’d you send a letter to?”

The deep rasp of his voice almost made him jolt due to the abrupt break in silence.

“How’d you know I sent one?”

“Sorai saw your crow fly off with a letter and told me.”

Oh right, Sanemi’s crow now lived at his estate as well as the hashira. He quietly wondered if the two crows got along, or if they were more like the two of them before the events final battle. Bickering and fighting.

“I sent one to Tanjiro. He’s sent me many letters since we’ve been dismissed, but I haven’t been the best at responding.”

Sanemi hummed, sitting down about an arm's length away from Giyu. He silently wished he would sit closer, yearning for the closeness that they shared before. Even though it was short, now that Giyu knew what it was like he found himself wanting more.

“They’re the only thing I have left that feels like family.”

Another hum. Neither Sanemi or Tanjiro had been silent about their distaste for one another, either outright stating it, throwing crude nicknames at one another, or resulting in a fist fight between the two.

A part of Giyu felt as though he needed to gain Tanjiro’s approval of his choice of company. Even if he was supportive when Giyu had initially expressed his desire for closeness with Sanemi, he still felt the lingering tension between the two.

Maybe Tanjiro being close friends with Genya held an impact on Sanemi’s opinion, but for better or for worse he didn’t know.

“Does he know?” about me.

“That’s what the letter was. He’s one of the only ones I have left to tell.”

The brief silence that followed was no doubt caused by Giyu calling attention to his own loss.

“He’s a good kid, good for you. Reminds me of someone I’ve met before.” Sanemi sighed, leaning back on his hands to look up at the passing clouds carried by the wind. “An old friend from a long time ago, his name was Masachika. He actually was the one who caused me to become a Hashira. Went through hell but kept smiling.”

It was Giyu’s turn to hum a response. It still felt unusual for Sanemi to freely share information about his past with Giyu, not that he was complaining. He was there when Sanemi first got anointed as a Hashira, although he was the newest addition before he joined.

None of them had really spoken about their past up until this point, for the same reason why they didn’t use given names. There was a mutual understanding amongst the pillars, that each path they walked was dripping with loss and despair.

It felt almost taboo to hear Sanemi speak about his past, now knowing how it felt to be able to freely share that information with others.

A gust of wind rustled the few leaves in his yard, carrying them a few feet before losing momentum. The few flowers that naturally sprouted in his yard swayed, bowing before returning upright. Focusing, Giyu saw two monarch butterflies dancing around the blossom. Seeing the reminder of his friend didn’t gut him as it used to, the painful ache of loss remained but didn’t choke him.

“I don’t think they ever really leave.” Giyu said plainly, watching the two butterflies flit around the same flower but never quite landing.

“What are you talking about?” Sanemi turned to look at him, out of the corner of his eye Giyu could see the look of confusion on his face. If Giyu noticed the other moving closer next to him, he didn’t say anything.

“The people we’ve lost. I think no matter what, they stick around after they go.” Giyu took a deep breath, feeling a hairline crack begin to form on the delicate barricade that kept his grief at bay.

Thankfully for the two of them Sanemi left it at that. Both of them settled into the quiet of the afternoon.
___

That night, Giyu woke up screaming.

Images of his best friend dying, the blood clouding his vision as he watched a disgusting mouth open to swallow him whole. He felt his body trembling, sweat now cooling against his skin leaving him clammy.

It was dark out, too dark, Giyu couldn’t make out his room. He could still feel a heavy residual feeling of intense pressure from rubble laying heavy against his tired body. Unconsciously his limbs began to flail in a desperate attempt to knock away that weight, as he did so he felt his fist collide with a solid surface that didn’t feel inanimate.

Giyu’s eyes flew open, panic still coursing through his body. His body gasping and starving for air, his lungs working overtime to compensate for his panic. Despite the bleary haze of sleep and tears, he could make out a figure crouching near him. The scars marking the figures' exposed skin brought imagery of his dream back full force.

Sabito.

Giyu choked the name through desperate gasps, that wasn’t him. Right, it couldn’t be him, he died. The flash of stark white hair in the moonlight reminded him of who it was in his room. Sanemi stayed crouched at the foot of his futon.

Sanemi’s hair was more of a mess than usual, eyes shockingly wide open at the sight of Giyu’s current state. In the midst of Giyu’s panic he pieced together that Sanemi must’ve woken up to see what was going on.

A scarred hand was clutching his jaw, Sanemi must’ve been what Giyu hit in his fit of panic. In his current state he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad about it, no doubt that image would linger forever. As soon as their eyes met, an indecipherable emotion flashed in his violet eyes.

“Giyu, you okay?”

As soon as those words were spoken into the dark room, Giyu felt himself start to wail. Long drawn out sounds full of agony, wracking his entire body. The dam that held back his grief finally collapsed. Everything Giyu was trying to hold off, every desolate feeling, every trauma, every image of his friends dying hit him at full force.

Somehow Giyu found himself folded over onto Sanemi’s crossed legs, his arm wrapped around his firm torso. His sobs barely muffled against the fabric of the other’s clothes. The solid warmth provided a brief reprieve from the onslaught of emotions. Giyu could hardly make out the panicked rushed words that babbled from his mouth.

He knew he was apologizing, he didn’t know exactly why or for who. The names of his fallen friends and family were torn from his thoughts and out his mouth. So many things that he had left untouched now being spoken with his humility in this moment.

Giyu felt Sanemi bring his hand to place it gently on his back, beginning to rub slow circles up and down his back. Providing the familiar comfort that Giyu received months ago at the butterfly mansion. The same day the first fracture formed in the fragile balance within himself. The same comfort his Master had provided when he needed it most.

That thought did him in, pushing himself further into Sanemi. Any ounce of reservation or shame didn’t exist in that moment as he pulled himself tighter against the other. The former wind pillar sat strong, allowing Giyu to ride through the waves of grief and emotion that he had purposefully left unsaid until now.

His muscles twitched and jittered with pent up emotion and energy that Giyu had tried to ignore, that he had tried to let rot. Everything that was left simmering underneath his skin for months had come to a boil, spilling out from the lid delicately placed on top.

Eventually Giyu felt his breath even out, the flood of tears lessened down to nothing, his muscles bowing underneath their own weight. Giyu couldn’t tell how long he was crying, either a few moments or a few hours.

At some point during the meltdown a warm calloused hand worked its way into his short hair. Unlike the pressure from the rubble, this pressure was light, comforting, safe. The quiet whispers of reassurance and sympathy hummed in his ears.

Through the thundering of his heartbeat between his ears, Giyu made out ‘its ok’ ‘you’re alright’ ‘it's going to be ok’. It was tragically clear that this wasn’t the first time that Sanemi had to comfort someone in such a way. The low rumbling voice was constant enough to lull Giyu into the push and pull of his exhaustion.

Sleep hit Giyu like an arrow piercing through a target, quickly feeling the inky flood of darkness seep into his bones. He was exhausted, mentally and physically. The rapid fire turmoil or terrifying imagery had him feeling run ragged. His eyes were tired from crying, his throat sore, his nose raw.

However, amidst this storm there was an anchor. Giyu pressed firmly against it, feeling the warmth against his skin. In the dreary haze of dreams he felt his anchor begin to pull away, ebbing away making him drift into the dark twisting sea. Giyu could feel himself tighten his hold, keeping himself safely tethered to his anchor.

Giyu welcomed the dreamless sleep that followed.
…

The next time Giyu woke up, the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't alone. His eyes stung the longer he kept them open, no doubt dehydrated and puffy from the night before.

Right, Giyu had a nightmare. Sanemi was the one that came to him in the middle of the night. Although he hadn’t realized that meant that he’d wake up with Sanemi with him.

A wave of embarrassment crashed against his body as the foggy memories of what happened resurfaced. Although, Giyu had to admit that the current situation was making it difficult to dwell on the negative feelings.

He was currently tucked into Sanemi’s side, his head resting gently against his shoulder. What was left of his right arm rested heavily against the broad scarred chest. His left arm tucked underneath him gripping tightly onto the fabric of the other’s sleep clothes. A strong arm curled around his torso holding him tightly against the warm body. Their legs tangled together, Sanemi’s muscular build kept Giyu anchored.

If this was how Giyu woke up every day he would be the happiest man alive.

Giyu’s eyes were still foggy with sleep as he gazed at Sanemi’s sleeping expression. At least Giyu assumed Sanemi was still asleep, his deep even breaths creating a soothing rhythm. Giyu allowed himself this time to observe the other without the usual judgment he would receive.

Everything about the other was calm. His hair was pushed back from his face, still remaining wild and windswept despite being asleep. The eyes that usually raged with emotion were closed delicately, pale eyelashes resting against his cheekbones.

The scars broke up the smooth softness of the skin of his face. Giyu traced the finer details of the ragged edges with his gaze, he had never wanted to reach out and touch the other more than in that moment.

Giyu’s gaze traveled downwards, taking in the definition of his strong jawline and eventually settling on his lips. They were slightly chapped and bitten, opened slightly as quiet breaths escaped. Something stirred deep within him, he wanted to kiss those lips more than anything in that moment.

Giyu’s eyes widened, body stiffening as that thought swirled through his skull. He had been convinced that he had locked those feelings away underneath layers of icy frozen denial.

Suddenly his skin felt too warm, a flush no doubt spreading across his skin at his internal panic. Through the swirling troubling confusion he hardly noticed the other man stirring underneath his clouded gaze.

“I know you’re awake, Giyu.” He met Sanemi’s purple eyes, line of sight peering out of the corner of his eye. “For someone so quiet you think so damn loud.”

The deep rasp of Sanemi’s voice had Giyu frozen in place. Feelings of embarrassment over being caught staring at the other, guilt over accidentally waking him up, and heated vulnerability broiled under his skin. Giyu couldn’t find it in him to respond, fearing that if he opened his mouth he would accidentally let something slip.

“Relax ok?” turning his head to better make eye contact. “You should keep sleeping, you were up all night and I wont believe it if you say you aren’t tired.”

Giyu felt his muscles relax. The casual nature of being spoken to by Sanemi overpowered any previous awkwardness or anxiety. If anything Giyu felt the most comfortable he’d ever been with Sanemi. Without any need for social pretext or conditions, Giyu found himself being a bit more brave with his actions.

He took a chance, moving to lay his head on top of the other’s broad chest. He didn’t receive any verbal response to his actions, instead Sanemi noticeably stilled. The quiet sound of breath catching in Sanemi’s throat felt much too loud in the quiet space.

Giyu was worried he’d misjudged his own comfort and overstepped too soon. This worry was quickly forgotten as Sanemi readjusted his grip on his body. A small reserved smile found its way to his lips as Giyu settled against Sanemi. The sound of his heartbeat provided just enough of a rhythm for Giyu to relax into. The quiet rumble of his voice blossomed against the side of Giyu’s face nestled against his chest.

“We’re talking when you’re awake again.”

A statement that would’ve sent Giyu spiraling before, but now it was something he knew would help. The steady rise and fall of their breath was soon accompanied by the now familiar soothing up and down of Sanemi’s hand against his back.

Giyu was warm, comfortable, and safe. Surrounded by everything that he had pushed away up until now. Instead of it being overwhelming as he had feared, he felt like he belonged in it.
…

Giyu woke up for the second time that morning, this time he was alone. His futon felt much too empty without Sanemi in it. Bleary eyes opened, blinking several times to adjust to the flood of light. The amount of light indicated it to be almost noon, making Giyu thankful that he had nothing to be late for.

Sitting up and stretching, Giyu felt the most well rested he had in a very long time, despite the disturbance of the previous night.

Giyu took a moment before getting up, his brain quickly catching up to him. Sanemi had stayed with him through the night, sleeping with him for the sake of Giyu’s comfort.

All of a sudden his blankets felt much too warm with the newfound flush staining his skin.

Putting his hand over his chest, Giyu felt the heavy loud beating of his heart. It’d been a long time since Giyu had felt anything like this about anyone, especially since blanketing his specific feelings for Sanemi under blankets of ice.

His room felt much too small and much too quiet compared to the thunderous pulse against his ears. Giyu felt the need to move, get up, do something to use up the energy coursing through his body like a rip current.

Giyu knew Sanemi wanted to talk, he said that before he fell back asleep. His mind was going much too fast, thoughts were racing along like the coursing of his blood hammering through his heart.

He had to admit that sharing vulnerabilities with Sanemi helped him before. With the new revelations and feelings that resurfaced that morning Giyu worried he might share too much too soon.

Giyu’s legs worked on their own carrying him through familiar hallways and rooms. By the time Giyu crossed his estate the inner riptide was nowhere near depleted. The energy twisting and turning just beneath the surface.

Sanemi sat on his engawa, a piece of paper and ink sat in front of him. The view of the other male had Giyu frozen on the spot.

“I made you breakfast, I figured you’d be asleep for a while so I already ate.” Sanemi addressed Giyu without looking up from the letter he was writing.

Something felt inversely familiar about this situation. Giyu wanted to ask who he was writing to, what was he writing about, had he been in contact with someone without Giyu noticing.

Giyu didn’t trust his voice enough to speak, afraid of saying something about his inner thoughts he would regret later. He nodded, looking over to the small plate of food set out for him.

Sitting down to eat, he noticed there was only one place setting for him. After being so used to eating meals with Sanemi, it felt almost wrong to eat a meal without him. Eating felt more like a chore in that moment, without the usual companionship that came with it.

Giyu waited patiently for Sanemi to begin speaking. He wasn’t even sure if he would be able to speak about the nightmare without breaching much too sensitive topics.

The sound of Sanemi’s brushstrokes against the paper filled the quiet between them.
His eyes traveled down to the hands moving across the letter. Sanemi was using his left hand. Giyu knew that he was right handed but with his sustained injury it would be difficult to write.

He thought back to the letter he received months ago, the lettering being lopsided having a clear explanation. Seeing his hands work gently and quietly held his full attention. The intrigue of who Sanemi was writing a letter ate away at his thoughts.

As they slowed, Sanemi glanced over what he wrote before standing. Giyu couldn’t take his eyes off the other as he stood. Waiting for the ink to dry, a low whistle rung from Sanemi’s lips.

A faint caw rung from across the courtyard. n response, Sanemi held up his forearm. Sorai quickly flew to land, the flapping of wings filling the air. His posture and stance reminiscent of his days as a hashira. It was an visage that Giyu was used to seeing, but he couldn’t help but see him as the picture of strength.

These thoughts did little to sway the anxiety that was being built up all morning. His nerves only amplified as Sanemi moved to sit across from Giyu after sending his crow on its way.

“So, how long has that been happening?”

“I’m used to it.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because I care about you, dumbass”

Sanemi cares about him?

“What?”

“Yeah idiot, why do you think I’ve been staying here? Why do you think I’m making you eat regularly? Making you leave your estate and socialize like a regular fucking person?”

“I just thought, I don’t know, you were doing it because we’re the ones left.”

“Thats not the only reason, idiot!”

“Oh.”

Giyu sat still, his brain still reeling. Sanemi cared about him? How had he not noticed? Had he noticed?

“Did you seriously not figure that out earlier? That maybe you’d mean something to me after all that?”

No, Giyu hadn’t. He meant something to Sanemi. An untapped well of emotions began to swell upwards, tears pooling heavy in his lashes.

“Woah woah, sorry for yelling.”

Giyu laughed at the unfamiliar apology from the other, knowing anyone who knew them would find that reaction comical.

“No, no its ok.” Giyu wiped his eyes on his sleeve, “The nightmares used to be a lot worse, they don’t happen all the time but I did have them a lot as a kid. I’m used to seeing the ones about Sabito, but there are newer one’s about them.”

“About-”

“Yes.” Giyu took a deep breath before continuing, avoiding the direct call to his grief. “Im sorry for last night, I know you didn’t sign up for that.”

“Dont apologize, moron.” Sanemi moved closer to Giyu, lowering his tone to come across much more serious. “If it happens again and I’m not awake, I want you to come get me ok? I don’t care how late, I don’t care if its ‘nothing’, you are going to come get me.”

“Okay.” Giyu agreed with a smile. He felt all of the fluttering nervous anxiety flow away, being replaced by a fondness for the other. “Just so you know Sanemi, I care about you too. If you need to wake me up for anything, you’re allowed to as well.”

“Thank you, Giyu.” Sanemi replied curtly. His shoulders tensed as he spoke. A faint flush rose from his neck to his ears.

Giyu worried he had said too much, or accidentally admitted to hearing Sanemi’s moment of vulnerability. Not wanting to sever the moment of closeness between the two, his mouth moved before his mind caught up.

“I always thought you were strong, this isn’t going to change that.”

Sanemi visibly froze, averting his eyes with a huff.

“You can’t just say stuff like that, idiot.” Sanemi doesn’t look him in the eye as he speaks, flustered by Giyu’s sentiment. After a brief moment of silence, he began in a hushed tone. “I think you’re strong too.”

The jolt of giddy excitement that shot through Giyu quickly changed the tides of his nerves. It was small, simply a statement on what Sanemi thought. The fevered rush of delight that slammed his senses overwhelmed his emotions.

He did his best to keep it underwraps, only letting a small smile splay across his lips. Desperately attempting to keep his heart at rest.

“Can I know who you were writing a letter to?”

“No.”

“But I told you who I wrote a letter to.”

“Yeah, but I like the face you make when you’re confused.”

“I make a face when I’m confused?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.” Sanemi said with a smile. Giyu was getting used to seeing more genuine non-crazed smiles from the other, but each time it was like it lit up the room. “We have to go buy food today, are you up to join me? I know you were up late.”

“Yeah, I’d like to.”
…

The more lively environment of the town was a stark difference compared to the quiet atmosphere of his estate. The heat of the summer meant an influx of flowers, fruits, colors and sights. After the night and morning Giyu had, the atmoshpere felt almost a bit too overwhelming.

Amongst the crowds and other townsfolk he still had an anchor point. Even though they may not be touching anymore, Giyu could still feel an invisible connection between him and Sanemi as they wove through waves of people.

The heat of the sun beat down on the two of them. Giyu was incredibly thankful not to have longer hair anymore, thinking back to summers previously where he had all but overheated.

Still he was not fairing much better in the crowd, neither was Sanemi by the looks of it. His sleeves now rolled up to his elbows, giving Giyu a chance to see his scarred forearms. Giyu wasn’t that inept to not notice the slight differences in Sanemi’s movements, small fleeting attempts to draw attention off of his arms by keeping them low and out of sight.

The sideways glances the two of them received were no different than before, neither were the remarks of not seeing the two in a while. Although he did agree to join Sanemi on this trip, it was proving to be bordering on too much. The hectic disorder feeling like tidal waves dragging him out to sea.

He still had his anchor among the turning tide.

Sanemi was doing everything but grabbing Giyu and physically dragging him along. Giyu didn’t mind, happily following the flash of white hair. If Giyu noticed the small over the shoulder glances or the lingering of a hand held towards him, he didn’t say anything.

By the time the two of them had made it to their usual produce vendor, Giyu felt exhausted. He had hardly spoken a word in passing to anyone, but the constant energetic push and pull of people had his nerves standing on edge.

Sanemi stood staggered behind Giyu, as if to shield him from others walking past. It was a simple act, Giyu still felt his heart swell just a bit.

The familiar face of the vendor was a welcome reprieve from the chaos. She was always nice, smiling and talking to both him and Sanemi whenever they came to visit. She was conventionally attractive, Giyu would be lying if he said he couldnt recognize that.

Today was no different. She greeted them with an excited smile, exchanging pleasantries, before buying what they needed and promptly going on their way.

“That was cold even for you.” Sanemi said following a low whistle.

“What was?”

“The merchant, she was definitely flirting with you.” He stated it like it was obvious, shooting Giyu a questioning look.

“Oh.” Giyu felt a strange flush of embarrassment course through his veins. “I didn’t realize.”

“What? She’s not youre type?”

“Sanemi, I-” Giyu took a moment, unsure of what reaction to expect from the other. Deciding to take the chance and go for it. “I don’t…my type isnt…it's not women.”

It took a moment for Sanemi to respond. Out of all of the reactions he could’ve received from Sanemi, what he did not expect was for him to let out a laugh. Giyu looked at him. Sanemi was looking up at the passing clouds, gaze falling somewhere distant.

“Iguro would’ve owed me so much money.”

“The snake pillar?” Giyu tentatively asked, still unsure of what to make of his reaction. “Wait, why would he owe you money?”

“We had a bet going.”

“About me?”

“Something like that.” Sanemi shrugged. “I don’t care about that by the way, I always had a feeling.”

The worry Giyu felt quickly dissapated. Knowing that it wasn’t something that Sanemi would view him differently over eased anxieties he hadn’t even realised had begun.

“I don’t think Iguro liked me very much.” saying the snake pillar’s name felt strange in his mouth, even stranger knowing he was gone.

“I don’t think he liked anyone.” Sanemi began, gazing ahead instead of into nothing, “Except for Kanroji, but he was terrible at hiding it.”

“Oh, but I thought you two were friends?”

“I guess, something like that, yeah.”

Giyu hummed in response. It felt a bit uncomfortable to talk about people who were dead, causing his usual placid water to churn. It was easier to talk about it with Sanemi, given they both knew their fallen friends.

“You know, well.” Sanemi stammered, something Giyu would never be used to hearing. “Since you, shared, I can I mean. I dont care, about that kind of stuff. If I like someone, I like them, doesn’t matter who or what they are.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

Giyu had to focus on walking, afraid of tripping over his own feet as he heard Sanemi share that vulnerability. He had to admit that he was excited hearing that. Even if it had nothing to do with Giyu, just knowing there was a similarity between the two filled him with excitement.

“I don’t have anyone who owes me money.”

That earned him a laugh and a gentle elbow to his side. It was definitely a sound that Giyu could get used to hearing.

If they walked just a little closer for the rest of their trip, neither of them brought it up.
…

That night Giyu found himself retiring much earlier that normal. With the sun out of the sky the physical toll of the day was creeping up through his bones.

Unfortunatley for Giyu, sleep did not come easy. His body was tired, his muscles basked in the reprieve that came from him laying on his futon. It was his mind that had other plans.

The events of the day played on repeat.

He laid there quietly in his room, alone. The lights along the walls had long since been snuffed out, allowing Giyu to watch the lights around his estate begin to dim as Sanemi was no doubt getting ready for bed as well.

The insects beginning to chirp and sing outside now that the world has fallen silent. It must've been hours since he had made it to his room. As time carried on, Giyu found himself stuck in an interal debate with himself.

Sanemi had given Giyu the offer of waking him up or going to him for whatever and whenever, Giyu couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t tempting. The other side of him was trying desperately to keep himself from leaving his room.

If anything it would be too forward of Giyu to assume that there was no exception to Giyu waking him up. Thinking back to the night before, the only reason why Sanemi was there with him was because he had hear Giyu wake up. There was no way that he wouldn’t know that there was no serious reason as to why Giyu chose to wake him up.

There was still an almost irrepresible desire for the closeness, the comfort, and warmth that sharing a bed with Sanemi provided. Giyu was already past the point of trying to deny that there was a certain allure to the other that was drawing him in. With everything he now knows about Sanemi, his affections he had tried to hard to freeze had came back and swept him off his feet.

Even if Giyu had gotten blanket permission to do so, it felt much too forward to spend the night with the other again this soon. The night before was one of the most restul nights he’d had since he’d been dismissed.

Giyu had long since made peace with the frequent nightmares and visions that haunted him just out of the corner of his eye. He knew that there wasn’t anything that was going to be able to stop their frigid presence alone. However, the sleep he had while sharing a bed with another was pleasant enough to miss, despite the small taste he had.

By the time his thought quieted down, he found himself in front of Sanemi’s room. He stared at the door as if there was any chance that it would open on its own, or disappear into a dream. Neither of those happened as he stood there quietly in the dark.

The small voice in the corner of his thoughts felt brave enough to speak. Insisting that Sanemi would surely be upset if Giyu woke him up, or that he would be able to tell immediately there was no reason for Giyu to be waking him up in the middle of the night.

As the slow frost of anxiety began to creep over his decisions, Giyu shook that voice away raising his hand. The knock was quiet, but it rang out loud against his ears, filling the quiet of the night.

That small beat of silence almost broke Giyu’s resolve. Until he heard faint shuffling behind the door, a gruff ‘come in’ broke the silence.

Giyu felt his breath catch in his throat. Afraid that even a breath could shatter this dreamlike reality. Slowly sliding the door open, he was greeted by the same darkness that filled his estate. Even though this room was in his estate, he hadn’t been in the room since Sanemi began to stay with him.

The darkness was the same, but the energy was much different. Stepping through the threshold of the doorway he could feel a wash of comfort flood over him. Even if Giyu didn’t have the keenest sense of smell, there were traces of Sanemi that almost overwhelmed his senses.

Despite the low light, Giyu was still able to make out the figure in front of him. Sanemi was laying in the futon Giyu provided, propped up with one arm with the other rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Giyu expected Sanemi to speak, ask him why he was there, some form of rejection from the other.

Instead, Giyu was met with Sanemi lifting up the blanket just enough to emphasize the invitation. Something stirred deep inside his heart, a ripple along the surface. Giyu knew that it was too late to back out, not that he wanted to.

Quietly padding over to Sanemi and shuffling under the blankets. Immediately feelings the warmth from the other body saturated his muscles. Even though Giyu had made it this far he lay there almost frozen, with Sanemi laying back down next to him. Any ounce of will that brought him to his current situation had vanished, unable to make his body move to the closeness he needed.

In the end Giyu didn’t need to move at all as a strong arm snaked its way around his middle, pulling him gently towards him. The damn Giyu had to supressess any of his desires quickly crumbled away at the comforting touch.

Giyu shifted closer towards Sanemi’s embrace, turning as best he could to face him. He was met with lidded eyes heavy with sleep, but holding a welcome comfort in their gaze.

As soon as their eyes met, Sanemi broke the shared eye contact. Giyu feared he had somehow broke the moment of comfort. That was until Sanemi pressed further, settling his head below Giyu’s chin and tangling their legs together. Both of them switching the places they found themselves in the night before.

The slight ripples developing into waves with the fevered beating of his heart at the closeness. His eyes settled on peaking through wild white hair, wanting to stay awake long enough to savor the moment between them.

Giyu could feel the puff of breath against his collarbones, the repetition paired with the comforting weight of the limbs entangling him was enough to finally lull him to sleep. Before his eyes could fully shut he heard a faint whisper from Sanemi.

“Took you long enough, idiot.” Sanemi sighed before resettling his head closer against his skin. “Get some sleep, Giyu.”

Even though the instruction was spoken quiet enough to fade back into the quiet, Giyu felt more than inclined to follow. The beating of his heart had not ceased since he was pulled in by the other. For a fleeting moment, Giyu was sure that Sanemi would be able to hear the rushing of his pulse through his veins.
___

The back and forth between their respective rooms at night became yet another facet of their routine. After the night Giyu spent with Sanemi, the following nights followed a similar pattern. It was something neither of them spoke about during the day, never planning or deciding on who would end up where at the end of the day.

The gentle waves of Giyu’s daily routine carried on into the nights, rocking lightly against the shore. Despite never being discussed or agreed upon during the day, the one retiring first for the night would be the one to expect the other.

This became the norm, waking up next to eachother, entangled and intertwined. The night before was no different.

Giyu had moved to his room earlier than Sanemi. He got into his sleep clothes, made sure to snuff out the lights in his room, and laid patiently in his futon.

Sure enough, minutes later, he heard the tell tale sound of footsteps down the hallway. The door to his room had opened and shut as quietly as possible.

Neither of them ever spoke to invite the other under the blankets with them. Giyu feared that calling attention to Sanemi’s presence would make him retreat away from him. Still, they settled against eachother despite the lack of communication. Falling asleep to the quiet pattering of two heartbeats together.

The difference occurred when Giyu awoke.

The space next to him was empty. Placing his hand over the blankets, they were cold to the touch, indicating that Sanemi had been gone for a while. After waking up next to eachother for the past few mornings, the abrupt change in the routine felt like ice.

Something empty stirred in his chest, despite being used to waking up along for so long this felt much too lonely. Despite the less than favorable wakeup, Giyu would be dammed if he let something like that keep him in bed all day.

Months ago, Giyu would’ve fallen victim to the negative thoughts whirling through his body. The growth did not go unnoticed, it became a small glimpse of light among the otherwise dreary energy. He had to admit that this realization would feel much lighter if he was able to show that growth to Sanemi.

Nevertheless he got up for the day, slowly drudging himself out from under the blankets.

Walking through his estate the air felt heavy. Clouds forming a thick blanket overhead, blocking the sun from shining down. His body ached with the weather, his amputated arm feeling stiff and prickly underneath the skin. If Giyu had to guess, it looked like it was moments away from raining.

How fitting. Giyu thought with distaste.

Giyu did attempt to reel back his animosity towards Sanemi’s sudden dissapearence. He wasn’t entitled to Sanemi’s time or presence, he’d existing without it before. However, the abrupt change in their routine was slowly making him realise how easy the other fit into his life. How easy the two of them were able to coexist with one another.

But Sanemi wasn’t his, he had no ownership over him. It still didn’t sting any less.

Maybe Giyu wanted to have ownership over Sanemi, stake claim over him, keep him from anyone else. These feelings weren’t new, only the new revelations and information about Sanemi. Knowing that he even had a sliver of a chance had set his heart and thoughts racing.

Sanemi wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the estate. Giyu hadn't checked his room. If he was being honest, he was worried he’d find it empty.

A sudden crash of rain against his roof provided ample ambience in the silence of his estate. Sounds of water rushing against the tiles and coating the rocks of his courtyard carried through the halls. Wind battered the walls, causing trees to creak and groan in tandem with his walls.

It’d been a while since there was a storm.

The weather brought him back to a memory from before the final battle. It’d been many months since he’d handled his sword, but the memory had his hand grasping at nothing. The intensity of the winds mixed with the thundering of the rain put him right back on the training grounds that once felt so familiar.

Inevitably his thoughts circled back to Sanemi, they seemed to always circle back to him as of late. He knew the reason why, he just couldn’t admit it to himself yet.

It was the first time Giyu had tried to actually talk to Sanemi. It backfired terribly, resulting in the two of them fighting, clashing swords and yelling. He remembered watching Tanjiro get knocked out followed abruptly by Sanemi storming off. He remembered feelin the sting of confusion and hurt at Sanemi’s reaction and following rejection as he sat next to Tanjiro until he woke again.

Giyu hadn’t heard from Tanjiro for a few weeks, something that he promised to remember for later. He had sent him a letter only a few days ago, expecting a response but one never came. Thinking more on it Kanzeburo had just returned, meaning that either the letter wasn’t delivered or it was delivered late. But these feelings weren’t about Tanjro, this was about him and Sanemi.

His introspection was cut short with a fevered knocking at his door. It cut through the noise of the storm, sounding almost frantic. Giyu stood after recovering from the initial shock of the sound.

With the weather outside it would be best if he gets whoever it is inside. Even if Giyu didn’t want to admit it, he hoped it was Sanemi.

As soon as he opened the door he’s met with a mess of white hair and wide violet eyes. Sanemi was soaked, his hair wet and plastered against his skin, his clothes dark with rain water, heaving breaths like he had ran quite a distance.

Body acting on its own he grabbed the other’s soaked clothes and dragged him through the threshold and slammed the door behind him.

With Sanemi inside, he stood there in front of Giyu, eyes wide, a flush spread along his face. The rainwater dripping off him was creating a small puddle on the floor.

“Are you ok?”
“I think I’m in love with you.”

The two of them froze. Giyu felt his mind trying to catch up with what he just heard.

“What?”

“I said,” a breath, “I’m in love with you.”

Sanemi in love with him?

“What?”

“Yeah, I ran away like a coward. But fuck, Giyu. Everything you do, your stupid beautiful face, gorgeous fucking eyes. I think I liked you for a long time but after everything, I just. You’re making the little face again. Give me a second.”

Giyu stood there in stunned silence, thoughts racing between his ears.

“Tomioka Giyu, everything about you somehow infuriates me just as much as its so damn endearing. You’re so fucking strong, always were always will be. Somehow you are so incredibly smart and caring but also a complete and total idiot. If anything I was an idiot for not realizing this sooner but I am in love with you. It was so refreshing getting to see you, getting to know you as Giyu, not as a Hashira or a fighter. Just as you are.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you, so much so it would keep me up at night if I’d let it. Your quiet laugh, the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, the little expressions you try to hide but come out every now and then. Taking care of you came so fucking easy, I thought I was just filling some hole in my life with everyone gone but no. I liked taking care of you. Some little way to you that I love you. I can’t pretend like I don’t, I’ve been pretending I wasn’t as a sorry excuse to convince myself, but Giyu I am. I am in fucking love with you.”

“I just couldn’t keep staying here without telling you, pretending like it’s not happening. I get it if you don’t want me to stay here anymore.”

The waves of Giyu’s ocean urged him forward, moving without thinking. Quickly looping his arm around Sanemi ignoring the cold damp clothes. Pulling himself closer to press fully against Sanemi, nestling his forehead against his collarbone. The cold rain water against his skin held him in reality.

“Giyu no, you’re gonna get wet.” Sanemi tried to pull away, met with resistance from Giyu’s hold. Eventually giving in and wrapping his arms around Giyu.

“You love me?” Giyu whispered. “You’re sure?”

“The most sure I’ve been about something in a while.”

Giyu felt his entire body light up. Sanemi loved him, he said it again, he heard it.

“You love me.” Giyu pulled away, keeping his hand settled firmly against Sanemi as if it were the only thing keeping him from floating away. The cold water now soaking his own clothes.

Sanemi looked at him with brows furrowed, eyes frantically searching Giyu’s face for a reaction. Now he understood why Sanemi said he liked the face that he made when he was confused. He could feel the smile split his face, something light bubbled up in him.

“You love me!” Giyu all but giggled out. A wash of relief visibly flowed through Sanemi.

“I take it that’s a good reaction?”

“I’ve loved you for so long Sanemi, I love you.” Saying it out loud lifted a weight he hadn’t realized clung to him.

Now it was Sanemi’s turn to smile and laugh. A cold hand grabbed either side of his face, squishing both his cheeks together.

“I think I like this face more than your confused one.”

Giyu’s feelings felt almost too much, bubbling up through the cracks forming in the ice he’d frozen over them for so long. He lunged forward nestling himself further into his neck, pressing their bodies against eachother.

Through his elation he heard the sharp bell of Sanemi’s laugh ringing out in the room. Sanemi wrapped his arms tighter, snaking up under his arms to settle between his shoulder blades and grabbing at the fabric.

For a few moments the two of them stood still, intertwined within eachother in a much needed moment of tenderness. A tenderness Giyu had been starving himself of for years now, finally giving in. The shared moment between them untouchable by the storm outside.

“You’re gonna catch a cold.” Giyu whispered against the skin of his neck, cold and clammy from the downpour outside.

“So are you, dummy.” Sanemi moved slightly to linger over Giyu’s ear. “Maybe a bath would help, yeah?

Giyu agreed had never agreed to something faster in his life.
….

The tub was filling with warm water, just enough to stop the chill of the rain. Now there was the daunting task of removing his clothing to actually get into the tub.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No it’s fine.” Giyu began the process of undressing himself.

He’d gotten used to dressing and undressing with only one arm, but it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world. It wasn’t something uncommon to undress and bathe around other members of the corps, but this was different. This was just him and Sanemi, in his estate, alone.

As if on cue, Sanemi reached around Giyu’s waist to help untie and untuck his wet clothes despite being in much worse condition.

“Is this ok?” Sanemi’s voice was much closer than Giyu would’ve expected.

“Uhm, yes. Thank you.” Giyu felt a flood of heat wash over him, no doubt accompanied by a visible flush on his pale skin. Even though he knew Sanemi wouldn’t ask, for the sake of it Giyu would blame it on the heat of the steam in the room.

“You got it from here?”

Giyu nodded, as Sanemi went to undress himself. A quiet selfish part of him yearned for the feeling of Sanemi pressed against him, hands undressing him. The rustling of fabric paired with the battering of rain and wind filled the quiet of the room, providing an odd ambience.

With Sanemi in the room, Giyu felt much too exposed. Only made more extreme with the added layer or his feelings being out in the open. Sanemi knew now that Giyu loved him, and Sanemi loved him.

He couldn’t bring himself to look over at the other while he was undressing, fearing that something may fall past his lips or his knees would give way underneath him. Instead, Giyu made his way into the tub.

Feeling the warmth of the water against his sore muscles was heavenly. The sensation similar to the energetic buzz that hung just below his surface since that afternoon. He made sure to sit with enough room to accommodate for the other body that would soon be joining him.

Giyu’s eyes slipped shut, mostly for his own sake of not knowing if his heart could take seeing anymore of the toned body. He allowed himself to lose focus, listen to the rain against the roof, the whistling of the wind through the trees, the rattling of old shutters and wood of his estate.

He was startled by the sound of the water shifting.

This was the first time Giyu had a full uncovered unblocked view of the others body. He let himself be selfish, reveling in the opportunity to eye the others figure. He had lost a small amount of muscle due to a more solitary lifestyle with a distinct lack of fights and battles to be won. Despite this, he remained built and stocky compared to Giyu’s physique. Wind breathing did require much more power and strength compared to the lithe flexibility and motion of water breathing.

There were more scars Giyu had never gotten to see, hidden behind layers of clothing until now. They streaked across his shoulders and upper arms. The two crossing over his chest extended up past his collar bones. Few looked deeper than others, leaving visible divots and shallow crevices. A pink flush began to stain his skin, from Giyu’s eyes or the warmth of the water he couldn’t tell.

Wordlessly Sanemi raised an arm from its space beneath the water, holding it out to Giyu in a clear indication to take it. Finally being allowed to touch and feel what he so desperately craved up until now.

The skin was warm to the touch, almost feeling electric as Giyu gently ran his fingers along his forearm. Starting at his hands, finally being able to shamelessly touch and explore what he had watched for years. His palms were wide with calouses that remained rough at his knuckles. A thin scar snaked it way from the back of his hand into his palm.

Giyu turned Sanemi’s palm downard to better explore the skin of his forearm. Tracing the edge of one of the deeper scars he was reminded of a long forgotten thought.

“Do you ever get self conscious about them?”

“My scars?”

“Yeah sorry, I dont mean to be too forward.” Giyu turned his attention back to the skin in his hand. “Sometimes I notice you cover them up.”

“Not really, I’m pretty proud of them honestly. It’s just different now.” Sanemi shifted, causing the water to ripple between them. “It’s not like I dont notice the looks I get from people, but I don't really mind them.”

“I like them.” The casual nature that Giyu was able to confess that information to Sanemi came as a shock, nevertheless he continued. “They show all of the battles you’ve fought, how strong you are. Not that I think anyone would ever call someone as strong as you weak.”

Sanemi sat still, letting Giyu continue to brush gentle touches along his skin. His gaze turned off to the side, focusing on some spot on the wall or mark on the floor. It was a different side of Sanemi that Giyu hadn’t seen before. Something quiet, reserved, vulnerable.

Warmth spread through Giyu. Knowing that he was one of the few people who saw this side of Sanemi. A thought struck Giyu in that moment. He was most likely one of the only people to handle Sanemi with this much care and gentleness. A surge of possessiveness flew through him from an unknown depth of his mind.

Giyu wanted to explore more, feel more skin under his fingertips. In a moment of boldness he pulled Sanemi towards him. The movement disrupted the water around them, splashing up against the sides of the tub.

Sanemi braced himself with one arm on the edge, holding himself up above Giyu. His eyes were wide as he looked down to meet Giyu’s gaze. Letting go of Sanemi’s hand he smiled at the confused expression worn by the other.

Giyu lifted his hand to place it gently on Sanemi’s face. He figured it was a just assumption that the heat was no longer the sole reason for the flush now staining his skin. No doubt Giyu was looking much better, with the hammering of his heartbeat between his ears.

It was much too late to back out now. Encouraged by the knowledge that Sanemi loved him, he traced over the long thin scar that started at his cheekbone and stretched over the bridge of his nose. The scar wasn’t as raised as others, but was noticeably different from the surrounding softness of the skin.

Sanemi’s breath came out gently against the damp skin of his hand. By the time his hand reached back towards Sanemi’s hairline he had made peace with his decision. Quickly working his fingers into the short white hair before grabbing and pulling him forward.

He was met with a gasp the moment before their lips crashed together.

It was awkward at first, the position they were in made Giyu crane his neck upwards to meet Sanemi’s lips. It was still no less than perfect.

Sanemi raised a hand to cup the side of Giyu’s face, gently moving to til Giyu’s head to the side. The new position earned him a pleased hum from the other.

Their lips slotted together almost perfectly, moving in rhythm. Giyu’s heart was hammering in his chest, the inner elation he felt at that moment resulting in tumultuous waves in his ocean.

At the same time he felt a light begin to glow just under his skin. All of the built up repressed emotions and feelings pouring into the kiss.

Their moment was abruptly interrupted by a loud clash of lightning, causing the two of them to jump. Sanemi pulled away, allowing Giyu a full look at his face.

His lips were pink and shiny with spit, his pupils dilated enough to let only a glimpse of violet be seen. His breath was coming out in shallow gentle breaths, same as his own.

Giyu was sure that he wasn’t fairing any better. His emotions felt like a river after a flood. Overflowing and rushing against the banks on either side. The warmth of the water felt as if he was floating, with the only thing keeping him grounded in place being the strong arms framing his body.

“If you keep kissing me I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“Oh really?” Sanemi slides closer to better cage Giyu against the edge. “Let’s see if that’s true, yeah?”

“I like that idea.”

Giyu was able to mumble out before Sanemi gently grabbed him by the nape of his neck to reconnect their lips. The movement caused the water to slosh against their bodies, blending in with the dripping of rainwater into the puddles outside.

Sanemi shifted forward, slotting himself underneath Giyu, with his thighs tucked underneath Giyu’s. The foreign feeling of skin on skin beneath the water sent a jolt through Giyu.

This wasn’t his first time kissing someone, nor being close to another. However, with Sanemi it just felt right. Everything that Giyu had hoped for was finally coming to fruition, everything that he’d pushed aside finally being allowed to be felt and to be had by him. If Giyu could spend the rest of his life simply kissing the other, he would be perfectly happy to do so.

Giyu’s arm moved to wrap around Sanemi’s shoulders. Pulling himself upward to be seated against the strong legs underneath him.

Before he had even realized it, Giyu was crying. A slow spill of tears against the flushed skin of his cheeks. Only noticing after Sanemi ran a thumb through the tear track and pulled away. Instantly Giyu grieved the closeness of the other and the feeling of his lips against his own.

Giyu had been crying much more as of late, out of love, grief, vulnerability. It was new, but it didn’t feel bad. Not with Sanemi it didn’t.

He fell forward, looping his arm around Sanemi’s neck and resting what was left of his upper arm on his shoulder.

Giyu cried.

He allowed himself the grace to cry in the moment. No longer trying to freeze over his emotions or bottle them tight.

The relief of having everything out in the open, being known so deeply as himself. The tears plastered themselves against the already damp skin, quickly cooling to leave small puddles in their wake.

Sanemi held him close, placing an arm up between his shoulders tracing small patterns against his spine. No words were exchanged but that held little impact on their moment.

They sat like that for far too long to be comfortable. The water had made their skin damp and sticky. Sanemi’s legs had surely fallen asleep in the now cold water.

“The water’s getting cold, you wanna get out?” Sanemi hushed into Giyu’s space like a whisper of a breeze.

Giyu thought to how everything was before all this, when he was convinced that he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, the he didn’t need anyone’s help. Before, he used to sit in the water until the chill made his muscles ache, this his skin was wrinkled and cold in a poor excuse of self care.

Everything was different now with Sanemi. He cared for him, so who was Giyu to decide that he wasn’t worthy of being cared for. He was happy, something he could say and actually believe it himself.

Giyu nodded deftly against Sanemi’s neck before removing his arms to sit back away from him. Giyu felt content, he knew that he was relieved and comforted by the other’s presence. He harbored less anxieties and nerves around expressing or allowing himself to feel his way through his emotions.

The way that Sanemi looked at him in the moment was full of nothing but care and admiration. His eyes softened around the edges in such a way that struck Giyu to his very core. This was the person who he loved, who loved him back.

His emotions felt almost overwhelming without a proper outlet. Instead of crying he leaned back in for a kiss. Finding it much easier to fall into a recognizable familiar rhythm with one another. This kiss served for reassurance more than anything, to reassure himself but also the other from his moment of emotional outpouring.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, just,” Giyu took a quick breath, feeling the burning of his lungs subside, “got a little too overwhelmed.”

“Let’s get out and warm, yeah? No saying that we can’t continue somewhere else."

Sanemi gently moved Giyu out of his position ontop of his thighs, leaving him feeling adrift more than grounded. Much too quickly, Sanemi was out of the water. Giyu would complain about the distance but was much too distracted by his view.

Water spilled down his body in rivulets. Leaving shining translucent trails for his eyes to follow down the toned body in front of him. A large scar marred the skin from his shoulder down to his opposite hip, clearly an indicator of some sort of slash from behind. Giyu felt an almost overwhelming surge deep within himself to reach out and grab at the flesh before him.

Giyu reveled in the fact that he’s allowed to look as much as he wants, as much as he is allowed to. He watched the muscles move underneath the layer of skin as Sanemi reached to get towels for the two of them. The same muscles that he had been allowed to gently caress just moments before.

The view of bare skin abruptly halted with a towel being tied low on Sanemi’s hips. A jolt of diaaspointment muddied his thoughts at being unable to get the full view of Sanmei’s legs. That feeling quickly dispersed as Sanemi’s hand appeared directly in his line of sight. Giyu hardly had half the mind to notice how he was now practically leaning out of the tub in vain attempt of getting a better look at Sanemi.

Unconsciously he reaches out to limply place his hand in the one openly waiting for his own. As if sensing Giyu being partially absent in that moment, Sanemi reached forward to support Giyu as he hefted him out of the water. A barely audible ‘up you go’ fell against his ears, it was yet another instance of Sanemi falling into the role of a caregiver or something closely resembling with the amount of delicate domesticity coming from him.

The storm charged air met Giyu’s skin with a chill as the water began to slide from his skin and puddle around his feet.

“You alright if I start making us food?”

“Yeah, if I need anything I’ll come get you.”

Giyu stopped at the door to his room, grabbing onto Sanemi’s hand to prevent him from going any further. He gently tugged him closer, before stealing a quick kiss. It was not nearly as intimate or passionate as the contact the two shared earlier, nevertheless it served its purpose in reassurance for the both of them.

If Giyu had trusted his voice or his words any more he would have spilled every sincerity he had for Sanemi. Instead, he sorted through those feeling and landed on a simple statement that he hoped conveyed the emotions he was feeling.

“Thank you, Sanemi.”

“Of course, Giyu.”

As soon as he was left alone, every moment of delight played on repeat in his thoughts. Each gentle touch, every kiss, every look. He could feel elation begin to bubble up inside him. A giddy feeling that had been estranged from him for years.

His emotions still fell unchecked and ran rampant through his mind. It had been quite a while since Giyu had to quell his own feelings like this, thinking of the only other way he’d done in the past.

Taking a sheet of paper and ink, he began to write another letter to someone it had been much longer since they had spoke.

Sabito,

I’m sorry it has been a while, far too long and I apologize. I know wherever you are, you’re surely watching me. So I’m sure you already know what I have to say.

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over you, but it’s different with Sanemi. I think it’s time that I actually start to live my life instead of just survive it.

You’ll always hold the first in every spot in my heart, and I’ll miss you until we meet again.

-Giyu

Giyu folded the letter, finding peace in making sure each edge was sharp and equal. He opened his closet to take out a long forgotten box tucked against the wall.

It had been far too long since he had opened it. The box contained letters, dried flowers, any form of remembrance or recollection of his childhood friend that he could keep safely tucked away. It would be a long time before he would feel even marginally comfortable sharing this with Sanemi, given that it would probably be beneficial to open up about his collection.

The letter slotted perfectly into the small stack of papers inside the box. Looking much newer than the old weathered edges of the previous letters written to Sabito. He felt the familiar empty but relieved feeling settle in his chest that came along with remembering his grief.

Giyu reminded himself that he wasn’t doing this alone anymore, he was now half a whole. Even if there was no name to what it was between him and Sanemi, it had already been much too long to pretend like they didn’t have something together.

Right.

Sanemi was here.

Alive.

Sanemi loved him.

If the time that he had spent apart from the other man was minutes or hours, he couldn’t tell and he didn’t care. Now he was sure, he was sure in his feelings, he knew what he wanted and what he needed. In this moment, he needed to be with Sanemi.
….

Giyu practically ran to be with Sanemi. Finding him sitting patiently out on the engawa, wind rustling through his short white hair. Something felt familiar, resembling the morning after Sanemi had first spent the night with Giyu.

Food had long since been finished. Both sat together, just to watch the push and pull of the wind against the trees against the deep blue of the night sky. They sat much closer together than before, yet another mark of change between them.

Now shoulder to shoulder, hands overlapping and weaving together. Both points of contact served to ground Giyu into their moment instead of overwhelming him.

It was Sanemi’s turn to break the silence that had become a newfound commonality between the two.

“You said you’ve loved me for a while huh?”

The question surprised Giyu, only vaguely remembering mentioning it before.

“I did say that, yes.”

“When did that start?”

Giyu took a breath, debating wether or not he wanted this to be known by the other. The inevitability of Sanemi figuring it out only served to make him make the decision.

“A month after you became a Hashira.”

He did have to admit the giddy feeling of finally talking about this felt good, even if it was a bit embarrassing.

“That long?”

Giyu could practically hear the raised eyebrows and smile plastered on Sanemi’s face without even looking at him. Giyu couldn’t bring himself to look at Sanemi, seeing him turn to look at him out of the corner of his eye. Figuring there was only so much information that he could hold off from telling him.

“I saw how strong you were, already powerful enough to become a hashira. I didnt know the full extent of your story, or your life, or personality, but something felt so familiar about you. I just, I couldn’t let myself get too close. I never allowed myself to get close to anyone, especially with the threat of death on the horizon for any of us. But it felt especially daunting to get close to someone like you underneath the pressure of death.”

“I know we didn’t always mesh, which was detrimental for both of us. That I can see now. I tried to force myself to forget about whatever feelings I developed, I tried to push past it, but that didn’t work… obviously. You are also so intimidatingly attractive, and with the way you carried yourself with such unabashed confidence had my full attention. A lot of things that I didn’t realise was love until it all hit me at once.”

The hand overtop his tightened around his palm before releasing its grip. Giyu was about to look over at Sanemi to see what caused him to let his hand go, until an arm snaked its way across his shoulder blades pulling him towards Sanemi. His head met Sanemi’s shoulder with a slight thunk before he willingly inched closer to nestle into the touch.

A low rumble of a laugh sounded in Giyu’s ear, the shoulder his head was rested against moving ever so slightly. Moving his head to now finally get a glimpse at Sanemi’s face. His cheeks were dusted with a pink flush that stretched its way across the rounded tips of his ears. There was a certain glassy shine to his eyes, but Giyu knew better than to comment on that.

“Damn, wherever they are I bet they’re laughing at the two of us.” Sanemi spoke with sentiment.

Giyu couldn’t help his own chuckle that escaped his lips. Thinking back to all the times he could’ve sworn he’d heard the laughs and voices of their fallen friends. A melancholic bittersweet smile tugged at the corner’s of his lips. It still felt odd to talk about the other hashira, but that was something that was probably never going to change.

Sanemi turned to look at Giyu. He held a look in his eyes that Giyu could hardly recognize. His eyes felt genuine if not a bit somber in tone as they quickly charted a map of Giyu’s face before coming back to keep eye contact.

“Now I feel like a fool making you wait for this long for me to figure it out.”

“I’d wait for you all over again,” Giyu blurted out without thinking, “no matter how many times I have to.”

Sanemi looked on for a few moments that felt like an eternity. His eyes were wide with shock as the flush quickly turned into a deep red across his face. Although not a verbal reaction from Sanemi it was enough for Giyu to feel the relief of acceptance flood through him over the initial panic of blurting out a very romantic confession.

A gentle genuine smile overtook Sanemi’s features, Giyu couldn’t help but think of how nice that look suited him as a smile crept its way onto his own lips. He wanted to kiss Sanemi again, but he still wanted to keep looking at him, he wanted to touch and be close, Giyu wanted so much in the moment he was convinced he had never wanted anything else more.

With his decision made, he slowly closed the gap between them. Reveling in how someone so strong can feel so gentle and delicate against him. The two lips moved in time with one another, as if this was the most natural thing for them.

Slowly they began to turn and face eachother. Allowing Giyu to press into Sanemi’s space, returning to his spot atop Sanemi’s lap. He could feel Sanemi’s smile against his lips, paired with his hands pulling him closer. Unlike when the two of them were bathing together, this time Sanemi’s hands settled much lower.

Huffing out a small laugh at the boldness coming from Sanemi, Giyu pulled away to be met with eyes that were nothing short of challenging. This look was different from when the two of them sparred, this one was dripping with a different type of challenge.

Giyu settled his hand against the center of Sanemi’s chest and gently pushed. In response, Sanemi allowed himself to be pushed, but not without taking Giyu with him. Now Sanemi lay against the floor with Giyu propping himself up above him. This new position made something in Giyu’s chest sputter. Instead of thinking too much into it, he leaned down to kiss Sanemi again.

Sanemi’s hands traveled along the dips and divots of Giyu’s spine, having his turn to explore his body. Each brush and press of Sanemi’s fingers send a shiver through him. The touch paired with the slow warm brush of his lips had him feeling heated.

However, the press of hardwood against Giyu’s knees was proving too uncomfortable to ignore. He pulled away earning himself a huff and a small pout of disappointment from Sanemi. Giyu was pleased at that reaction knowing that Sanemi was also enjoying himself.

As he continued to stand, Sanemi sat up practically chasing after him. Something shifted in Giyu’s gut at the sight of Sanemi laid on the floor in front of him, opting to tuck that away for later. He wanted to be somewhere much more comfortable than the floor of his engawa, and it was only fair for Sanemi to make up for Giyu’s morning without him.

Giyu outstretched his hand to Sanemi. Without even taking a moment to think, Sanemi was scrambling up to take it. As soon as Sanemi had proper footing, Giyu turned and pulled him along. It had to be comical the speed which the two of them were rushing through his estate.

The smile that Giyu felt tug at his lips as he heard Sanemi breathlessly chuckle behind him only spurred him on.

They reached Giyu’s room. He mourned having to let go of Sanemi’s hand to open the door but was quickly rectified. Giyu practically dragged Sanemi on top of him on his futon with a small ‘oof’ from the other male.

They had settled down together this time purposefully intertwined, basking in the warm comfort of being close to one another. Their breaths matching in rhythm, no doubt their heartbeats following suit.

Continuing what was started out on his engawa, this time Sanemi was propped up on his elbows above Giyu. Chests gently pressed together, just enough to savor their body heat.

Each time their lips connected a scorching wave of heat sped through his body. Giyu felt laid bare, willingly pinned beneath the man above him.

The gentle touch of Sanemi’s hands was filled with the sense of fragility that Giyu would usually object to, but the treatment was from an entirely different side of Sanemi that Giyu yearned to know.

Giyu had his hand against the side of Sanemi’s jaw, feeling each movement of the muscles and tendons in his neck in a way he never thought he would experience. The skin under his fingers felt hot, no doubt stained with a hidden flush in the darkness of the room.

Sanemi pulled away, and for the brief moment Giyu could see his face he only thought about how gorgeous he looked. Sanemi’s eyes were hooded and sleepy, only allowing Giyu to catch a brief glimpse of the sleepy softened gaze.

As quickly as Giyu caught a glimpse of Sanemi’s face, it vanished from sight as he buried is face into the side of Giyu’s neck. Their bodies now much closer than before, now pressed flush against one another.

This new position served to demonstrate the key differences in their physicalities. Sanemi practically engulfing Giyu with his broad chest and arms.

Every one of Giyu’s senses was full of Sanemi. It was almost too much just having him be fully pressed against him. Despite sharing a bath earlier and still remaining fully clothed, Giyu felt as though he was entirely exposed, laid bare before the man on top of him.

Until Sanemi began to gently kiss along the column of his neck.As soon as he registered what was happening, Giyu felt his body begin to heat up as a boiling energy was unleashed through him. Something akin to a gasp flew from his lips as his fingers found their way to lace through his white hair.

Now it was his turn to get handsy with Sanemi, though it wasn’t the easiest with only one arm. Still, he smoothed his hand along the side of Sanemi’s neck, feeling the racing of his pulse thrum against his fingertips.

Moving his touch further down over broad shoulders and a strong back, Sanemi instinctively pushed forward. The pressure of Sanemi’s weight on top of him paired with heated lips against his throat had him feeling faint.

Until he felt a different pressure against his upper thigh and a gruff whine slip from the mouth pressed against his skin.

It was as if time had froze, both remaining equally still. Giyu could practically feel the restlessness wave off of Sanemi.

“Have you ever?” Sanemi asked quietly, breath gently ghosting across his skin.

“What? Had sex?”

Sanemi nodded into the crook of Giyu’s neck. He seemed completely docile like this, harmless.

“Yeah, I mean not in a while but yes. Why?”

Sanemi didn’t respond, keeping quiet against Giyu’s neck. Instead, he pressed himself further into Giyu. Chests flush against each other, legs tangling even more. Sanemi’s breath was coming out heavy against his skin.

Was Sanemi embarrassed?

“Do you want to-“

“Yes, god yes.”

Oh.

This was a new feeling.

Giyu had never really considered himself as someone “desirable”. Yeah he’d heard comments made about his features or his figure before, often manifesting as the wayward shout or whistle while out on missions. Apparently more than he had realized before if anything about his experience in the market with Sanemi was anything.

Yes, Giyu had sex before. Being a teenager into an adult with all the repressed emotions and feelings that tore through him just below the surface needed some form of vicious relief. That came in the form of several men, willing to pay Giyu with their bodies in return for saving their family, and one woman while drunkenly stumbling around a red light district years ago after being challenged to a drinking competition among the Hashira.

He doesn’t remember what any of them looked like, how any of the nights he shared went, as he buried each memory under layers of shame and disgust with himself.

The feeling now with Sanemi was different. The feeling settled deep in his gut, something possessive and scalding flowed through his veins. He had long since realised his desire for Sanemi, but only now having it resurface after burying it for years. It felt relieving but altogether terrifying. Knowing now that Sanemi had the same sense of sexual desire lit up his being.

“I would also.” Giyu felt the words fumble out from between his lips letting them trail off into the stuffy heavy silence. The relief he felt when fingers tightened into the fabric of his sleep clothes and the smaller nuzzle from Sanemi against his jaw was most reassuring. “Just not…not right now, please.”

“That’s more than fine.” Sanemi emphasized with a small kiss on his cheek. His head then fell gently on the pillow next to Giyu’s. “If the storm passes by tomorrow would you like to go into town with me?”

“Oh, yeah. Why?”

“Everytime we go you always look at a sweets shop, figured you might want to go.”

Oh, Sanemi noticed that. Giyu hardly even noticed that he looked in its direction all that often. Neither of them had been inside together, and they hadn’t particularly needed anything from inside so it was never a stop for their trips into town. There was only one reason why it was even a potential destination for Giyu.

“They make ohagi.” Giyu whispered, as if he was admitting something scandalous to Sanemi.

“You’re kidding.” A sleepy chuckle sounded next to him. “Of course that's why you’d want us to go.”

Giyu felt his face heat up at he nodded, he felt as if he was caught doing something he shouldn’t. Sanemi pulled himself closer, clearly having calmed down from their intimate exchange from before. His arm slung across Giyu’s chest providing a comforting weight against him. Giyu began to feel the slow steady creep of exhaustion from today’s excitement fill his being.

Despite the storm Giyu had found himself in a tranquil calm delight to finally have Sanemi, and simply knowing that Sanemi had him.

“Goodnight, Giyu” a kiss found itself against the column of his neck.

“Goodnight, Sanemi.”
_______

Giyu found himself in a familiar woods, just past sunrise. He couldn’t tell if he had slept at all, or remember how he made it out this far before noticing. The air was thin, holding a chill that was much too out of season for summer.

Something about it felt safe, calm even, as if it were a memory of somewhere he had long since locked away in his subconscious.

The leaves around him had already started chanaging. Pale yellows and rich oranges that filled the light around him with a comforting warmth.

Giyu had been here before, climbing and descending this very mountain dozens of times. It had been years since he had been up this high, probably best for him to start the complicated descent through the many tricks and traps set along the ground but Urokodaki.

He began to turn to face the slope of the mountain, preparing to make his descent, when he was abruptly halted by the sound of footsteps off to his left. Giyu reached for his sword, only to realise there was nothing attached to his hip.

His appearance was different. His clothing wasnt split in its pattern, instead the familiar deep maroon covered his torso, both of his arms hung at his sides with everything around him feeling much bigger than before.

The sound of the footsteps grew closer, he had no way of defending himself. He felt a jolt of panic strike through him at this realisation, that he remained up on mount Sagiri without any protection. This all halted as soon as he heard the voice that was so hard to hear.

“Giyu.”

For a moment, he couldn’t turn to face who no doubt had said his name. Fearing his heart couldn’t take it, it’d been too long since he had seen him and longer since he had heard his voice. Giyu remained in place, frozen, eyes wide and hands shaking.

He heard one shift of the leaves underfoot, causing his head to unconsciously snap towards the sound.

There he was.

Sabito stood before him. Face and features still round and boyish, signifying his youth. His peach colored hair still fell the way Giyu remembered. His violet eyes remained focused into his own, still full of life that Giyu knew was a false imitation.

It took him a second to realise that they two of them were standing eye to eye. Giyu was the same height as he was when he was thirteen. This wasn’t a reality. It was an amalgamation of memories pieced together in his sleep state that only served to fuel the constricting guilt around his heart.

Sabtio’s eyes filled with a distinct comfort that Giyu had grown to miss terribly. Giyu could feel his own eyes swell heavy with tears, collecting thickly around his lashes.

“How? But you’re supposed to-?” Giyu stammered out, his own voice sounded much higher, younger, than it shouldv’e.

“I figured it was only fair.” Sabito spoke matter of factly, shrugging and taking steps to appear in front of Giyu. “You sent me a letter, it’d be rude if I didn’t respond.”

Giyu’s hands grasped at nothing, wanting nothing more than to reach out and grab Sabito. He wanted to feel the familiar fabric of his haori against his hands, to fell the body still full of life underneath the cloth.

Giyu wouldn’t allow himself that luxury, afraid of being the one to break the fragile line of life and death.

“Why now?” Giyu asked shakily, his voice betraying the sheer amount of emotions “I’ve sent you so many letters, why now?”

“Easy, you’re finally are living the future that we left for you.” A short puff of a laugh from his nose before continuing. “Even if you don’t say you’d be better off dying, its easy to tell when you’re thinking it. You aren’t thinking that anymore”

Someone told him that before.

Right.

Sanemi told him that.

For someone so quiet, you think so damn loud.

Sabito’s face grew to a look of understanding, lips pulled into a small smile that only barely reached his eyes, the scar on his cheek warping the skin with the movement. Giyu’s hand rose to cup the left side of his face, something about this situation feeling familiar.

“I didn’t even need to slap sense into you this time.” Sabito remarked with a chuckle.

“Is this about-”
“Shinzugawa.”

Giyu was taken aback at the sound of a name that should be foreign to him falling from Sabito’s lips. He found himself only able to nod in response. Sabito took a moment to take in a breath, which felt more like a mockery of the living.

“Tomioka Giyu, you have finally started living your life and for that I couldn’t be happier.”

Sabito moved forward, now grasping both of Giyu’s hands and pulling them close in front of him. To his surprise the touch was full of warmth, it was the touch that Giyu had been dreaming of for years.

Unable to help himself, Giyu sobbed. Tears began to stream down his face onto his outstretched arms. This only served to spur Sabito on, tightening his grip on their hands and leaning forward into his space. Their noses were almost close enough to touch, reminiscent of times past between the two.

Giyu’s field of vision was filled with nothing but peach hair and the face of the boy he loved, and there was nothing Giyu wanted to change about that. Sabito’s eyes were wide, lit up with mirth and youth, a smile played across his lips as he spoke.

“I may not be there to live your lifetime with you, but that doesn’t matter. You found yourself, finally, and you should never harbor guilt about that. You aren’t only made up of those who had to sacrifice something for your future. You, Tomioka Giyu, are simply as you were meant to be. For that, we couldn’t be more proud. I don’t care if you found someone else to spend the rest of your future with, if he makes you happy, if he makes living any easier than it is, then I don’t care.”

Giyu pulled a hand away to wipe his eyes, desperately needing to see clearly. He was surprised to feel a hand his right cheek, a faint touch of skin against skin. When he opened his eyes again he was met with a slightly furrowed brow, a look that worried Giyu that their time might be ending.

“You should go, I think there’s someone looking for you.”

As if on cue, a voice rung out somewhere in the distance. At first a garbled shout that reverberated far too much to be clearly understood. Listening in closer, the word was being repeated clearer and clearer each time, until Giyu knew exactly who it was.

“Giyu!” Sanemi’s voice rang out lower on the mountain, the tone and gruffness was unmistakable. “Where the hell are you!?”

Giyu felt his body turn to head towards Sanemi, before steeling himself in place in front of Sabito. Turning to look back at the familiar face, Sabito’s eyes were lined with tears along the edges, but he remained smiling.

All of a sudden he was being pulled into a hug, it felt as light as a gust of wind against him. It was clear that this moment wasn’t meant to last forever, but the sheer amount of emotion behind that action had Giyu smiling as he did his best to hug Sabito in return.

“Go, I don’t want you to lose him down there.” Sabito released Giyu, looking him in the eyes with a serious air he hadn’t seen in years. “No matter what, no matter how long, I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Sabito.” Giyu nodded before turning to take off towards the voice.

His left hand was caught behind him. When he looked Sabito’s hand was holding his own despite not being able to feel the physical sensation anymore, it was still there.

“You’ll always hold first in my heart too. Until we meet again, Giyu. I’ll miss you.” Sabito laughed, “and come visit me, it gets too quiet up here!”

“I’ll miss you too, Sabito!”

It was a bittersweet goodbye full of unsaid sentiments, but it was understood that this goodbye was not meant to be forever. Those were the last words the two spoke to eachother before Giyu’s hand was released.

As if all the energy stored in his body was being released at once, Giyu ran towards Sanemi’s voice. He didn’t turn back this time, now fueled on by the sound of Sabito’s laughter behind him.

Giyu was sure it was a bit of a ridiculous sight, as he nearly tripped and stumbled many times. His legs slowly felt more natural as he continued on, looking down he’d returned to his adult body.

Now much faster, the yelling of his name grew louder and louder with each moment that passed. He’d hardly realized that he’d started laughing, echoing something similar in the back of his mind now.

Finally Sanemi was in his line of sight, a striking flash of white hair was enough to cue him in on where to go. The leaves were still green down near the base of the mountain, excentuating the vibrant hues of Sanemi’s clothes. He looked lost, hands cupped around his mouth as he shouted.

He must’ve heard Giyu’s footfalls as his hands dropped down to his sides while he turned to face the path Giyu was headed down. Giyu’s chest heaved as he continued running, finally out of the thinned air of the top of the mountain. Still he found enough strength to respond.

“Sanemi!”

Giyu watched as Sanemi’s eyes lit up as they locked onto his approaching form. A look he had just seen in strikingly similar violet eyes mere moments prior. He couldn’t be bothered to slow down, spurred on by his choice to live his life with who he wanted. Giyu watched as Sanemi put his hands out in front of him in an attempt to slow him down, which he blatantly disregarded as their bodies made impact.
….

It felt like he was being pulled out from being underwater. His eyes snapped open to a dark room, underneath a warm blanket, and Sanemi above him with a worried look on his face.

Immediately upon realising he was now in the waking world, he slung his arm around Sanemi pulling him into a sleepy kiss. Giyu could feel the smile pulling at his lips, if anything it was making it all the more difficult to show his affection to Sanemi combined with his sleep addled body.

Sanemi pulled away first, letting Giyu’s head hit the futon. His worried look had died down just a bit, but the furrowed brow still remained.

“You ok? You were crying.” Sanemi brought a hand to gently touch Giyu’s cheek, immediately flooding his thoughts with memories. Giyu could feel the slick of tears underneath Sanemi’s touch, how had he not realised sooner?

“Yeah, yes, I’m fine.” Giyu said with a voice laden with sleep. “Sorry for worrying you.”

“You sure, you sounded pretty upset.” Sanemi lay back down, turning Giyu’s head to face him. “Was it a nightmare?”

“No no, nothing like that.” Giyu turned his body as he spoke, allowing himself to be held by the other. Grounding himself with each point of contact, he was there, he was with Sanemi, they were together. “I want you to come to mount Sagiri with me.”

“What brought that on?” Sanemi’s confusion wasn’t unwarranted, but explaining everything sounded much too complex for Giyu in that moment. “Isn’t that where your old master lives?”

“Yes. There are a few people I’ve been neglecting to visit who I’m sure would love to meet you.”

“Ok, yeah, we can plan on it.” Sanemi stated, followed by a yawn. His large arms ground Giyu in close, who burrowed into the embrace. “Go back to sleep, we can talk more in the morning.”

So Giyu did, knowing that he wasn’t going to lose Sanemi.
_______

He awoke with a jolt to a crow cawing outside. Despite the lingering grogginess that created a thick fog he coud tell it sounded different. With another caw, Giyu started awake. This crow wasn’t Kanzeburo, it sounded nothing like Sorai.

The man next to him woke with the second caw, now sitting up next to Giyu with an equally confused look on his face. One more caw, Giyu knew exactly who’s crow the voice belonged to. Before he even heard the message of the encroaching visit, he was already scrambling out of bed.

“Is that-”
“Tanjiro’s crow,” Giyu rushed out, “Knowing him he’s almost here.”

Getting the message, Sanemi now sprung out from under the blankets. Giyu too occupied from going to get more appropriate clothing, he didnt noticed the hurried footsteps approaching behind him.

Sanemi grabbed his wrist and pulled him around to face him. Only slightly disoriented did Giyu right himself before his lips connected with Sanemi. As if he had forgotten the feeling of kissing him from the night before, the world around them got shut out for just a moment.

It was much too short for Giyu’s liking, immediately mourning the loss of contact. However, the look of sleep still smeared over Sanemi’s flushed face was enough to make up for it.

It only took a moment for Sanemi to quickly rush out of Giyu’s room, harshly throwing his door open and closed. Giyu figured that he was probably headed to his own room to appear more presentable as well.

He quickly fumbled his way out of his sleep clothes, betting that his lack of coordination looked nothing short of ridiculous from an outside perspective. Giyu had no time to worry about that, remembering the last time Tanjiro visited his estate. Most importantly how he refused to leave until he was able to connect with Giyu.

Not wanting a repeat of shutting him out, he hurriedly got dressed. The knots he tied weren’t the neatest, but they’d have to do without the time to fix them.

When he was fully clothed, he used the rush of energy from early to run to Sanemi, striking a chord somewhere in his memories.

Before Giyu realises it he’s laughing, giggling and running around his estate like a teenager. He coudln’t remember a time when his estate had heard laughter like this.

The two of them werent rushing out of fear, no fear of being caught by an unknown danger, not a fear of harm or anxiety, it was a rush of elation.

Giyu ran into the main room just as Sanemi did the same. They both met with wide eyes and soft smiles. Giyu had to admit, he hadn’t seen a single crazed smile from Sanemi lately only ones full of comfort and safety. He felt his heart thrum in his chest, either from the sight of Sanemi or the running so early in the morning.

Sanemi approached him quickly, picking up that they most likely didn’t have much time before Tanjiro was at the door.

“Come here,” Sanemi beckoned as he approached, “your hair is all messed up.”

Who was Giyu to deny that request?

Scarred hands found their way into his hair, brushing it lightly with blunt fingers. It made Giyu remember the night they had finally opened up for the first time. Sanemi running his hands and a brush through his grown out hair to cut it back to its shorter length.

Giyu coudln’t help but notice the look of concentration on Sanemi’s face, most notably the way his lower lip was jutting out just so. They probably had enough time for a little closeness before they would be interrupted.

It was Giyu who closed the distance this time, earning a hum of surprise from Sanemi. His hands moved from Giyu’s hair down to his shoulders. Neither of them knew the next time they would be able to express this affection to eachother with their visitor. Choosing to savor this moment, Giyu smiled into the kiss as it soothed over the nerves of having Sanemi and Tanjiro under one roof.

A short knock interrupted their kiss, Giyu pulled away knowing that Tanjiro wouldn’t be afraid to open the door on his own. A glance was exhcnaged between the two, Sanemi picking up on the anxieties Giyu must’ve been projecting. Sanemi’s gaze flooded with comfort, with a small nod Giyu opened the door.

He was met with the familiar mess of reddish hair, this time accompanied by much darker hair tied with a pink bow. Giyu wasn’t expecting both Tanjiro and Nezuko as a visit, but it wasn’t an unwelcome surprise.

Giyu was quickly subject to a hug from the Kamado siblings, almost being knocked backwards.

“Sorry for the unexpected visit! I got your letter and I meant to send one back, but I heard that Shinazugawa was staying here and my body moved before my brain and-”

“It’s ok, I’m happy to see you both.” Giyu took a quick glance at his courtyard, noticeably empty of anyone else. “Where are the other two?”

“They’re back at home!” Nezuko chimed in. “We needed someone to watch the house while we’re gone, and they don’t fight as much anymore!”

“I’m glad you both made it here ok, I sent a letter days ago but it seems that Kanzeburo delivered it days too late.” Giyu explained before continuing. “I wasn’t expecting guests, so I apologize for the state of things. Please come in and get comfortable.”

It was then thath Giyu realised the lack of the fourth person, Sanemi must’ve left at some point during their greeting. He couldnt have gone far, Giyu knew that much.

Tanjiro and Nezuko made their way through the door. The air outside was still clouded with the aftermath of yesterday’s storm, leaving the air humid and thick.

As soon as Tanjiro walked past Giyu, a questioning gaze was thrown at him. His, now dual tone, eyes narrowed and his eyebrow cocked at Giyu. He stilled at the expression, not know what it was for. It must’ve lasted only a brief moment, as the three of them continued further into the estate.

“What your trip ok? It was storming all of yesterday.” Giyu asked, even though he was more than sure that the two of them knew how to handle themselves just fine.

“It was alright! It was only somewhat difficult due to my eye and, well you know.” Tanjiro slightly lifted his left arm, the one that had lost function in the final battle.

If anyone where to know about what that was like, it would be Giyu.

“Thats why I joined! I figured it would be a little easier for Tanjiro if I came with,” Nezuko leaned closer to Giyu and lowered her volume sightly, “and I’m sure you know just how stubborn he can be.”

“Hey, I heard that.” Tanjiro retorted, quickly devolving into a routine sibling ‘argument’. He was sure he heard some jabs involving Inosuke and Zenitsu, the other two kids not present. Giyu had to admit that it was nice to have some other noise fill his estate, and it was nice to see Tanjiro and Nezuko be able to interact more like regular siblings.

They’re the only thing I have left that feels like family

It was Giyu who had said that to Sanemi about the two kids in front of him. They were now sat around the table, still wrapped up in whatever it was their ‘argument’ had devolved into. Giyu only chimed in to state he wasn’t going to be the one to pick a side between them. Which seemed to spur them on more.

It wasn’t until there was a break in the conversation that Tanjiro called out the main undiscussed topic.

“Where is Shinazugawa?” Tanjiro asked, attempting and failing to sound unbothered

“I think he’s in the kitchen,” Giyu took a beat to listen to the faint clattering of dishware, “We just woke up so I apologize again for not having the estate ready for guests.”

“We?” Nezuko’s quiet question rung out into the space..

“Oh-um”

“Giyu-san why do you smell like Shinzaugawa?” Tanjiro’s skeptical look returned.

“What’d you say, shithead?”

Giyu startled at the sudden interruption.

“Ah, Shinazugawa.” Tanjiro said his name as flat as possible

“Hi!” Nezuko waved cheerily. Giyu remembered hearing that the day he was visiting the butterfly estate, Sanemi had a pleasant interaction with Nezuko before parting ways.

Sanemi returned the wave stiffly, still not used to the nicer treatment from the younger sibling.

He gently set tea on the table in front of them, so thats where he went. Sanemi sat next to Giyu, his body angled towards him as he propped his head on his hand. The scowl that he usually donned when Tanjiro was around was replaced by a solid look of disinterest. To most that wouldn’t seem like much, but Giyu could tell that was an improvement.

“Hes a good kid, good for you.”

Giyu remembered Sanemi saying that after he revealed he had told Tanjiro about him staying there. The sentiment shared with him was the anchor he desperately grasped ahold of, knowing how Sanemi felt about Tanjiro at least the slightest amount.

“So, uh-” Giyu attempted to begin before being interrupted.
“I think we have a lot to catch up on, and I want to do that first!” Nezuko sent a sympathetic smile towards Giyu, no doubt having already received and earful from Tanjrio about the situation on their journey over.

They two of them spoke all about what happened with all four of them after the events of the final battle. They had started charcoal business again, although due to it being the slower months of summer they were making the most of the time they had. Inosuke and Zenitsu took over the more physically taxing tasks for Tanjiro, who then went on to explain how he feel incredibly guilty for no matter how much reassurance he receives.

Zenitsu had become much calmer after the easure of demons from the world, Inosuke hadn’t changed. Most importantly, Nezuko and Tanjrio haven’t had any incidences of demonic behavior since becoming human again.

It only took a few reminders from Giyu to cue Sanemi in to who was who among Tanjiro’s friend. Inosuke being ‘the kid with the boar on his head’ and Zenitsu being ‘the crybaby in yellow’. Giyu had heard the stories of Sanemi being particularly harsh on Zenitsu during the Hashira training, but if memory serves, Zenitsu had been known to be extraordinarily anxious.

One thing that stood out during conversation to Giyu was the mention of Tengen. Tanjiro had mentioned that the four of them had been writing letters to Tengen and his wives, which Sanemi had tensed at. It wasn’t something that would’ve been visible to anyone else, but was very obvious for Giyu who had spent his time getting to know Sanemi.

The only explanation that Giyu received from the other was a mumbled “he doesnt know how to keep his damn mouth shut.”
….

By the time they have gone through every tidbit and event that has happened during their time apart, meals had been made and eaten, breaks have been had, and now it was Giyu’s turn to talk.

It was his luck that Sanemi got the idea and decided to retire for the night early, and that Tanjiro was able to clue Nezuko into wanting to have a private conversation with Giyu leading to her saying her goodnight as well.

Now it was just the two of them. It felt incredibly reminiscent of times past, with Tanjiro wanting Giyu to open up before the final battle.

“So, how long has Shinazugawa been living here?”

“A few months now, I think.”

“And you’ve been ok?”

“We’ve been good, more than good actually. Sanemi has actually helped a lot with everything really.”

“I apologize for being skeptical before, its just the last time I saw the two of you together you were threatening to beat eachother up at the training grounds.” Tanjiro looked at Giyu with a sense of sincerity. “I just want whatever or whoever is best for you, I wanted to make sure that he was doing right by you. I care about you, y’know. Nezuko and the others care as well, even if they dont say it often.”

“I know, I care about you all too.” Giyu sighed before looking at the dim lights they had lit around the room. “It’s not my place to share his story but we are more alike that I originally thought. I know that you dont particularly care for him, and i’m not asking you to change how you feel or give him a chance. All I’m asking is that you trust me and my decision.”

“Alright, I trust you.” Tanjiro nodded, “Is he going to be living here permanently?”

“Oh, um…” Giyu realised that the letter than Tanjiro received hadn’t contained anything about the revelations about their relationship discovered the night prior. “Sanemi and I are, well. We’re together, I think.”

“What!? Why didn’t you say that in the letter, this changes so many things!” Tanjiro’s voice was raising much too loud to no longer be considered a private conversation. The expression on Giyu’s face mustve been enough for Tanjiro to quiet back down. Tanjiro settled back down, his eyebrows pinched together in thought for a moment before he began to speak again. “Wait, what do you mean you think?”

“Tanjiro, this happened yesterday we haven’t had the time to really fully talk about what that means yet.” Giyu gently gestured with his hand, attempting to convey more that he could with his words.

That seemed to be enough as a look of realization spread across Tanjiro’s face.

“Oh, that would mean…”
“...but we’ve been here all day.”
“You haven’t had a chance to talk to Shinazugawa yet.”

Giyu watched the gears turn and click with each sentence spoken. Their eyes met from where they were sitting, as he nodded once before Tanjiro erupted into apology.

“Ahh Giyu-san! I’m so sorry!” Tanjrio’s head thunked on the table, thankfully having a thick skull by the sound it made. “Had I known I would’ve waited to come visit!”

“Tanjiro its ok, there's no need to apologize.” Giyu held his hand out in an attempt to quell the younger boy. “Your visit is more than welcome, its always nice to see the two of you and I apologize for not reaching out more often.”

“If you say so. Maybe we can work on communicating better from now on, we miss you a lot.”

“I think that would be good for both of us.” Giyu replied, unable to help himself from worrying about how Tanjiro was really doing.

Tanjiro rubbed his eyes, his exhaustion surely catching up to him with a yawn. “I think I’m going to go to sleep for the night. I can’t travel long distances like I used to.

“Alright, let me know if you or Nezuko need anything. Feel free to explain the situation to her, I trust you enough with the information as it is.”

Giyu didn’t comment on the sight of relief from Tanjiro, knowing that keeping this information a secret would be extremely difficult for the younger boy.

Tanjiro stood up, and Giyu was reminded that he was still just a kid. Yeah he had been able to build mass amounts of muscle due to the training in the corps, he had accomplished several amazing things, but he was still a teenager. Even with the two of them standing at full height, he still had to angle his view downward towards the boy.

In a rare moment of closeness between the two, Giyu pulled Tanjiro into a hug. He was sure to be mindful of the boys arm as he wrapped his own around him. Tanjiro reciprocated as best he could. Even though the two of them weren’t always the most open about how they felt, the closeness was more than welcome.

Giyu made it back to his room, finding it in the state it was that morning. Blankets and pillows strewn about his futon, with a distinct lack of a person’s presence.

For a moment his heart clenched, but was quickly shaken away with the knowledge that Sanemi was most definitely in his room.

He crossed his estate. Quietly stepping past the room Nezuko and Tanjiro were staying in for the night. Giyu was able to hear hushed murmurs from behind the closed door, along with the occasional feminine gasp or giggle.

He figured that Tanjiro was relaying the more broad topics of their discussion, feeling a weight lifted off his chest over having to keep that a secret.

Soon he was in fron of Sanemi’s doors, feeling like it had been far too long since he’d been inside. He could tell by the light coming from behind the screen that Sanemi was still awake, at least he had hoped.

Still he chose to knock, the sound of his knuckles against the wood sounded far too grating in the silence of the hall.

“Giyu you dont have to knock you know.” Sanemi’s voice was muffled by the door.

Giyu entered the dimly lit space. Sanemi was already reclining against his Futon, his gaze was heavy through sleep soaked eyes.

“I thought you might be asleep and I didn’t want to wake you.” Giyu stated before sitting next to Sanemi.

Yes it was nice seeing the Kamado siblings, but it still could become a bit too much for Giyu sometimes. Filled with the confidence of speaking to Tanjiro about the whole situation, he braced for the conversation to come.

“I told him.”

“Oh, how’d he take it?” Sanemi averted his eyes for a moment, a subtle way that signified he was preparing for the worst

“He,” Giyu paused to collect his thoughts, not wanting to say something too negative about the boys reaction, “he was confused, at first, but I think its alright. I know he trusts me and he trusts my decisions. I understand his worry for me, but sometimes its hard to remember that he’s the younger-” sibling.

That word caught heavy in his throat as Giyu choked around it. Soon after, Sanemi’s hand met Giyu’s leg, in a small sign of support. Taking a moment to right himself he continued.

“He asked me something that I need to ask you about Sanemi.”

His hand balled into a fist, palm sweating with nerves. He was preparing to weather the response to the question he had to ask. Giyu had to admit that he was holding out hope for a specific response, but preparing for whatever he would receive.

“Sanemi Shinazugawa.” The man before him sat in attention upon hearing his full name. Giyu was practically kicking himself over how cliche the next words out of his mouth were about to sound. “What are we, to you?”

The question sad thickly in the air as if it were a candle that had been snuffed out. The sentiment itself was important, but it sounded like something the Love Hashira would read in a romance novel and giggle about before their meetings.

Giyu sat stiffly as he waited for Sanemi’s response. His eyes had long since drifted unfocused inot his lap, not finding the strength to watch Sanemi think over the nature of their relationship.

His line of sight was interrupted by Sanemi moving to rest his his atop Giyu’s crossed legs. The heavy weight of his head anchoring him in the moment. A hand reached for the side of his jaw, holding Giyu’s head steady as he spoke.

“Im happy to be whatever you want us to be, we could be together, partners, lovers, whatever you want to call us. The only thing I know is that I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. If you’ll have me of course.”

Giyu laughed at the closing sentiment, finding it almost unbelievable that Sanemi would think that he wouldn’t want to be his. The immediate relief was palpable between them. Giyu could feel his shoulders loosen as his nerves dissipated.

“I’d love to be yours.” Giyu sighed, getting comfortable next to Sanemi underneath the blankets.

“Good, because I don't think I’d let you go anyways.” Sanemi chuckled, making room for Giyu to slide in against his side. Holding a protective arm around Giyu.

They lay like that for a few moments. Just the two of them in the ambient silence of the night. He had long since been unable to hear the sound of the siblings talking down the hall, presumably asleep.

With Giyu pressed against Sanemi, he recalled something he had mean to talk about earlier.

“Have you ever heard about that physicalities of the different breaths?” Giyu asked, doubting Sanemi had. He moved his hand across the broad chest beside him.

“No, I havent.”

“Well its not proven, my master used to tell it to me.” Giyu reached his hand up to settle against Sanemi’s jaw. “I know the basics, but a lot of it I dont remember.”

“Yeah?” Sanemi moved his arm tighter around Giyu, bringing their faces all that closer. “Well what do you remember?”

“For swordsmen who use breath of water, they tend to be more flexible than most. They also tend to be more lithe and slender. Building hidden muscle underneath the surface, like the riptide out at sea.”

Giyu didn’t comment on they way Sanemi’s touch wandered along his body. Feeling way way deft fingers splayed along the divots and swells of his body. The touch didn’t feel invading in any way, it felt curious about form underneath it. .

“What else do you remember?”

“Breath of wind swordsmen tend to be very built with defined muscles. They’re usually very strong but still remain gentle enough to show the dichotomy of the wind.”

Giyu’s own hand splayed along Sanemi’s built chest. From where he was laying along the side of Sanemi, he watched the rise and fall of Sanemi’s chest quicken as his touch continued.

“Their muscles tend to be more defined, showing the power needed to wield such a style.”

Giyu trailed his hand lower along the tensed muscles of Sanemi’s chest and stomach. He could feel the skin begin to heat under his fingertips.

“Wind swordsmen tend to have a strong will and ambitious temperament.” Giyu’s hand lingers just below Sanemi’s navel. “They’re also known to be particularly gorgeous.”

Sanemi’s hand came forward to grab Giyu’s hand by the wrist. Upon looking at his face, the deep red flush that had began at his cheeks and spread down his neck said more than enough. His chest was heaving at that point, his body wound tight underneath the scrutiny

Giyu knew he was being handsy, his touches were bold with a dead giveaway with his intentions. Something similar happened the night before, where just before the two would make contact Sanemi pulled away.

“Are you alright?” Giyu’s brow furrowed, immediately concerned over potentially upsetting the other male.

“I’m fine, I just …” the sentence died passing through Sanemi’s lips, his face now turned away from Giyu entirely. This side of Sanemi, red faced and shy, was something entirely new to Giyu. If it was something to do with Giyu’s actions that resulted in such a strong reaction from the other, he needed to know exactly what it was.

“I couldn’t hear that, Sanemi.” Giyu leaned in closer, now chest to chest with Sanemi. He knew he was playing a little bit dirty, but there was something he needed to know. As his weight settled on Sanemi, the hand that had been wandering along his torso had tightened into his sleep clothes “You’re gonna have to repeat that for me.”

Sanemi’s spare hand reached up to cover his eyes, Giyu found he was unable to keep his own eyes off of him.

“I said I’m fine, I just havent ever been with anyone before.” the confession came out hushed and quiet, but as soon as Giyu had processed those words his own body flared with heat.

“Oh.” Giyu was taken aback. He was under the impression that Sanemi had at least been somewhat experienced. Sanemi was attractive, he had more confidence in himself than Giyu, so this was a surprise to him. The second thought that rushed through his mind was that Sanemi wanted his first time to be with Giyu, as he had expressed the night prior.

Now it was his turn to flush. There he lay half on top of Sanemi, who was desperately grabbing at his clothes, admitting to never being intimate with anyone else, implying that Sanemi trusted him enough to experience that with him.

Almost immediately after the realisation, Giyu realised he missed the sight of Sanemi’s eyes on him. His shyness about the subject paired with his covered face reminded Giyu that he actually hadn’t said anything aloud in response.

“That’s fine, I dont care.” Giyu watched as Sanemi’s hand lowered, exposing his gaze toward him. “I dont’ have the most experience either, but are you sure that you want to do that with me.”

“Yes, I’m very sure.” Sanemi finally faced Giyu, looking up at him from where he was perched on his chest. His hands settled on the small of his back, a comforting weight to keep him in place. “I just dont think I want to yet, and we have guests Giyu.”

“Right,” Giyu felt embarrassed as he realised, “and I will wait for as long as you need.”

Sanemi smiled up at Giyu. A smile that was becoming much more comfortable to Sanemi’s features. It was warm and bright, creasing the corners of his eyes that beams up into his own blue eyes. As much as Giyu loved seeing that smile, Giyu leaned in to kiss him anyway.

The feeling of their lips making the first contact had his heart thrum in his chest. As far as he was concerned, the two of them were the only two people in their little universe. They lay entangled for the remainder of the evening, until the exhaustion from the day dragged them to sleep.
_______

The next morning, the Kamados were already awake by the time Giyu and Sanemi woke. It didn’t take long for the subtly questioning glances from the two siblings to begin. Giyu now assumes correctly that Tanjiro had told Nezuko about their conversation last night.

The sun had just settled above in the sky, with their morning being filled with conversation about anything and everything. Despite the obvious subject not being addressed, it was nice to finally hear a conversation be had with Sanemi on behalf of Tanjiro and Nezuko.

It was simple, but still a clear effort being made from Tanjiro to at least get to know the person who Giyu chose to spend the rest of his years with.

It did come as a surprise when Tanjiro announced that they would be taking the journey back to their home, having only been at Giyu’s estate for one day.

“I apologize again for the surprise visit, we didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” Tanjrio apologized for the upteenth time, his brows furrowed with a serious expression on his face.

“Tanjiro its alright, I know you didn’t. I’m just worried if you’ll be able to make it back safely.” Giyu almost winced at the worry cleary lacing his tone. Even if Tanjiro was able to perform incredible feats of physical ability, he was still just a kid who had one of the most rampant stubborn streaks he’d ever seen.

“We’ll be fine!” Nezuko jumped into the conversation, all smiles. “First off, he’s got me. Second, there's an old wisteria house on our way back! I think after everything got disbanded they opened up to non-corps members anyway.”

“Oh, that makes sense I guess.” he replied, still wary of them traveling so late into the night. “If anything happens you are always welcome to turn back and stay here.”

“Ok now that the invitation is there this time I’ll make sure Tanjiro wont beat himself up about it.”

Tanjrio was about to retort to Nezuko before getting interrupted by Giyu.

“Actually you two. I was planning on visiting Urokodaki soon, if you would like to join us.” The hand that had wound itself into Giyu’s tightened, a grounding connection that he needed in that moment.

“Oh, you and Shinazugawa.” Tanjiro stood still as Giyu nodded in response. “I’m going to have to decline this time, we’ve been in close contact for a while.”

Giyu felt a wash of shame flood through him for not doing the same, it’d been months since he had heard from his old master. About to let his thoughts consume him, Tanjiro stepped forward and put a hand on Giyu’s shoulder. The expression on his face was full of the concern of an older sibling.

“He’s worried about you, even though we both know he can’t really come right out and say it. I’m glad that you’re going to see him, but I think we both know that there are things on that mountain that are there for you to visit without me. Even more brave for bringing Shinazugawa with you.” He chuckled with the last sentence.

“What’s that supposed to mean, you bastard?” Sanemi’s words didn't come out vicious or scathing, lacking all their usual bite.

“Ah, nothing.” Tanjiro smiled at Giyu, clearing knowing more than he was letting on. It was always nice to see the playful kid side come out now and then. “Well we better be off.”

Goodbyes were said, Nezuko hugged Giyu so hard he was half convinced she still had the strength of a demon. Giyu watched as Sanemi nodded towards Tanjiro who returned the gesture back to him. Something pulled deep in his heart, seeing the people who he cared so deeply about interact without any conflict.

Sanemi reached for Giyu’s hand. He let himself be pulled back toward his estate, happily trailing behind Sanemi. There wasn’t much that the two of them needed to figure out about their relationship. If things remained the same between them, Giyu would be more than happy to have someone like Sanemi in his life. Yet the one factor remained throughout all of this.

This time, they had eachother.