#the last Giyu chapter...........OR IS IT? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

acacia-may · 11 months

Note

Hello hello, it is I again, here to poke at your blog again. Hope you've been having a good week! Thought I might as well see some of your takes on a few things, though I'm not sure if you only wanted one of these categories or all four of them. Either way, feel free to answer the ones you find most interesting!

Show: Not exactly shows, but I guess Danganronpa or Your Turn To Die would be a fun start, ahaha.

Character: Kai Satou or Sei Satou? (Though this one is a little unfair, since Kai has so much more screentime and impact in the main story, unless you wanna count Ranger with Sei 😅)

Pairing: I don't often get to ask about Demon Slayer, so here's one. Shinobu and Giyu, or Mitsuri and Iguro?

Anything: As for which one you prefer more; whether it be writing it or reading it - Hurt/Comfort, or Fluff AUs?

REPO-NET THE GREAT!!! 💙 Oh my gosh, hi friend! I'm so excited to see that you're back. I hope you're doing wonderfully! Thank you so much for your ask. I really can't tell you how excited I am every time I see an ask from you. You're one of my favorite people, and your asks always make me smile! Please poke at my blog anytime. I am always, always happy to talk to you! 🥰

I'd love to answer all of your questions. Thank you for sending them in! 😊 I apologize that it has taken me a bit to circle back with you. You came up with such wonderfully difficult questions (and impossible choices), so I really had to give them some thought before I responded. I really appreciate them though and enjoyed these a lot. My answers are below the cut. Thank you so much for the ask and for the playing the make me choose ask game!

(Warnings: Some spoilers for Your Turn To Die. Vague spoilers for Danganronpa & Demon Slayer)

Danganronpa or Your Turn To Die?

Out of all of your questions, I think this was the hardest for me to answer. I love them both so much so this is kind of the impossible question for me. 😅 There are things that I enjoyed more about Danganronpa than YTTD and things that I enjoyed more about YTTD than Danganronpa so it's hard to compare the two even though they are similar genres. I have waffled on it a lot and even asked my sister for a second opinion, but I think I will have to say Danganronpa just because the series is finished.

To be fair, I adore Your Turn To Die. It's riveting and compelling with top-tier storytelling and characters, and as a whole, I think I enjoyed it even more than Danganronpa so far (which is saying a lot because the Danganronpa series is really amazing). However, while I expect YTTD to continue to be just as incredible as it has been, the last chapter isn't out yet, so I suppose there is the off chance that the story could stumble in its final act and have a disappointing ending. Whereas with Danganronpa, I just finished V3 (and the series) and thought it was really interesting. I liked the final game a lot more than I expected, and now that I have the whole story, I feel confident saying that though the Danganronpa canon of games does have some flaws (as everything does), it ultimately tells a very compelling and interesting story and contains some incredibly dynamic characters. What it did with its "antagonists" in UDG especially is one of the most interesting storytelling/narrative choices that I've ever seen. While there were some things that could have been executed better in the series and there is a certain macabre whimsy to the tone of the games that can be a bit hard to get used to at first, the series is so inventive, and I love it for being so different than everything else. Its ideas are solid, its themes are compelling and often make you think, and its characters are very distinctive, memorable, and (in many cases) endearing. Also, how could I ever vote against my children? ❤️💛💗💙

Kai Satou or Sei Satou?

(Warnings: YTTD Spoilers Ahead)

Ouch! This one hurts. I don't want to choose. 🙈 My heart says Sei, and here's why: my sister would say Kai in a heartbeat. He was her favorite character in the whole game, and Kai gets plenty of love and admiration from her so I feel like my love and admiration is less important. Poor Sei, on the other hand, has never been picked first for anything in his life. Even his own "father" preferred Kai to him which is genuinely very sad and tragic. His family issues aside, I think his brash and callous personality is also a little off-putting and isn't doing him any favors in the overall likability department. It is understandable to me that most people would likely choose Kai over Sei in this scenario since he is arguably more personable--just awkward upfront but the biggest softie when you get to know him.

The way I see it, what Kai has going for him is that you might think he is a misanthrope who can't stand company and just wants to be left alone only to find out that deep down he's actually just shy and awkward and wants friends. But with Sei, you might think he's a misanthrope who can't stand company and just wants to be left alone only to find out that deep down he actually is. And I will be perfectly honest with you, I love him for it. You go, Sei! 🧡 I'm only joking of course. After all, much, much deeper down Sei also wants friends and is deeply devoted to the select few people he has chosen to care about, but I have a hard time believing he cares about the opinions of the majority of the people of the world. He has "his people" and he loves them but to everyone else he is a misanthrope who can't stand company and just wants to be left alone. I can respect that, especially since he's pretty upfront and honest about it.

I know I'm roasting Sei a little bit (out of love, of course), but in all honesty, he really is one of my favorite characters in the series and my heart says choose him here even if it doesn't make logical sense, as you pointed out in your ask. I will own this. I will admit it. I am usually a logical, analytical spreadsheet person who can be kind of cynical, but there is a reason I got an emotion route on my first YTTD playthrough. I get really, really attached to my favorite characters, and I am really, really attached to Sei. He managed to have such a compelling story arc for such a tiny "little tree" (side character), and he fits perfectly in my "favorite character" alignment chart, so I'm a little biased. I have such a bleeding heart for the overachieving perfectionists with rough edges, brother issues, childhood trauma, inferiority complexes, and (secret) deep devotion and loyalty. It's an ongoing problem, and, naturally, I adopted Sei as one of my favorites right away (even though I knew his story would ultimately break my heart and it did). While I'll roast him to the end of time, I'll also be the first to defend him because he really did love his brother and deserved so much better than what he got.

I would be amiss if I didn't mention that I absolutely love Kai as a character as well, and yes, you are absolutely right that Kai had a much bigger role in and impact on the story than Sei. He really is one of the most influential characters in the game with his connection to the Chidouins, his laptop filled with game-changing (no pun intended) information, and his defiance against Asunaro serving as a catalyst for others to rise up against the death game. But, on the other hand, given Kai's backstory and how influential Sei was in Kai becoming who he is by the time we meet him in the canon, I think the argument could be made that Sei is also one of the most important characters since (arguably) Kai was only able to have that role and that impact in the story because of Sei and because of his sacrifice. Without Sei as the catalyst for Kai and his arc, Kai couldn't have been a catalyst for the other participants and their arcs. Sei's the real hero here, so I choose Sei (and am getting down off my soap box now 😂).

Shinobu x Giyu or Mitsuri x Iguro?

Oh my gosh, Repo! I had no idea you were also a Demon Slayer fan! That's awesome! I don't get a lot of Demon Slayer asks, so this was a very pleasant surprise. (Please feel free to ask about it any time if you're so inclined). 💕 I'm not sure if you've read the manga, seen the anime, or both so I'll try to be as vague as possible as not to spoil anything for you, just in case.

I'll admit I like both of these. They're great dynamics! Shinobu is my favorite character in Demon Slayer, and her dynamic with Giyu is one of my favorites in the entire series (My sister used to joke that Shinobu and Giyu's friendship was actually my favorite character in Demon Slayer 😂). I don't mind Giyushino as a romantic pairing and have played around with it in an AU sense, but I think I prefer to think of them as platonic friends under most circumstances (and think they probably were just platonic friends in the canon) so I'm going with Iguro and Mitsuri on this one.

Obamitsu is probably my favorite romantic pairing in all of Demon Slayer. I was on 100% board with it from those socks 🧦 and only got more and more invested as time went on. It brought actual tears to my eyes by a certain point, and for someone who usually doesn't get into shipping in media, this was a huge thing for me. I had a friend of mine laughing once because she texted me and asked what I was doing and I had to tell her "listening to music and crying over a fictional relationship." 🙈 (I have an entire playlist devoted to them that I listen to on repeat when I'm feeling particularly feels-y about their relationship. It's one of my favorites I've ever made). I don't want to say too much about them in case of spoilers, but there's just something about the selflessness of their devotion and loyalty to each other, the sacrifices they were willing to make to protect each other and ensure the best for each other, and their bond of love built on a strong foundation of friendship that I found incredibly compelling. I was just so moved by how Iguro and Mitsuri both struggled with these deep insecurities as individuals and, in a certain way, thought of themselves as unlovable, but then they find each other, find someone who truly sees them-- flaws and insecurities and all--but still thinks they are wonderful and chooses to love them anyway. It was really beautiful--one of my favorite things about the series, if I'm being honest (even if it turned me into a weepy, emotional mess). 💕

As for which one you prefer more; whether it be writing it or reading it - Hurt/Comfort, or Fluff AUs?

(Warnings: YTTD Spoilers)

This is a tricky one because these are probably my favorite genres when it comes to fanfictions (both for reading and writing). I think it depends on the fandom and also on the characters involved as well as my mood. Sometimes I just want good times, happiness and shenanigans for my favorite characters and want to imagine the bad times never happened to them, but on the other hand, I think the hurt/comfort genre in general is much more cathartic to me personally than an AU where everyone lives and/or everything is fine and the bad stuff never happened.

While I want good things for all the characters I love, sometimes I feel like I'm forcing them into a fluff AU or that such an AU would change who they are too much, if that makes sense? A lot of times the tragedies that a character has suffered in their life had an integral role in shaping who they are. Like I was saying about Kai for instance. I firmly believe that losing Sei, especially losing Sei the way he did, was one of the things that gave him the courage to stand up against Asunaro in the end. In very simple terms, I think, he grew to see Sara as a little sister and couldn't bear the thought of Asunaro taking another sibling away from him. While I can definitely have a little fun imagining a fluffy shenanigans world where Asunaro didn't even exist and the Satou brothers work together in a bakery owned by Mai for instance, I think there's something about a Fluff AU that feels a little cheap to me, like that's not really Kai and Sei so it doesn't really fix anything, whereas with a quality hurt/comfort story, the actual lived experiences (the trauma, the grief, the suffering ect.) of the characters involved is acknowledged and validated, but the characters find the hope and healing necessary to move forward to a brighter future.

I personally take much more comfort in that than in imagining a world where the tragedy never happened in the first place, and I think I write more stories in that vein of hurt/comfort than I do fluffy pieces or I sometimes figure out a way to combine them, like with the Dad Nagisa story where there's that bittersweet twinge in there that all this fluff and this happy ending is deserved after everything he has been through. I think overall I like hopeful endings, and for the characters I love most, I want them to reach a place where they are on the other side of the most tragic aspects of their lives and yes, there might always be a wound there and there is nothing that the future could bring that would make all that pain they went through okay, but I want them to reach that place where they know and they get to experience that there is something better, something brighter waiting for them on the other side of something so terrible. I want to use my fanfictions to give the characters hope that tragedy isn't the end of their story.

I love the same things in the fanfictions I read though I am way less particular about the fanfictions that I read than I am with the ones I write. I'm a pretty tough critic of my own writing and much more particular when I choose what to write about versus choosing what to read 😅, and most of the time I filter stories by character or relationship (whether platonic or romantic) rather than by genre. Looking back on some of my all-time favorite fanfictions I've ever read though, most of them had some of those more hopeful, hurt/comfort elements to them, so perhaps Hurt/Comfort really does win the day!

That said, stumbling upon a well-written, cotton candy fluff piece can absolutely make my day and have me grinning ear to ear and squealing at my computer screen, so I'll never deny the absolute joy that fluff can bring either. I guess this really is just another tough choice to end a series of tough choices. 😅

Thank you so much for such wonderful questions that really made me think and for listening to all of my ramblings. Cheers & much love to you, friend! 💕

#this turned into a long defense of sei #so i think i'll tag him #sei yttd #sei satou #little tree appreciation 🌲🌲#cries about the satou brothers #make me choose ask game #repo-net the great #thank you for the ask #acacia's ramblings #answered asks #yttd spoilers

9 notes · View notes

taniavttv · 2 years

Text

Wedding Day/ Rengoku x his S/O

Author Note: Hi Guys here is the wedding day story. I hope you will all enjoy it as much as I did. Here is part 1 and part 2 of the training story if you missed this is the last chapter. Send request their open and enjoy the story.

Note: The Hashiras and Kamaboko squad are all in this one sits more special.

Dialogue:(There might not be enough colors but yeah) Green-Senjuro BoldGreen-Zenitsu Red-Rengoku Italics-Priest Purple-Y/N (you) No color-Tengen wives Orange-Shinjuro Bold Orange- Gyomei Blue-Tanjiro and Muichiro Pink-Nezuko Bold Blue-Tengen and Giyu Bold Purple-Shinobu Bold Pink-Mitsuri Bold Black- Inosuke and Sanemi

After a while of training and Kyojuro proposing to Y/N last Saturday. The Kamaboko Squad had to go back to the butterfly mansion since Shinobu needed them, they were sad to leave because they enjoyed training and hanging out with Y/N and Rengoku.

“Well Thanks for training and taking care of us Ms Y/N and Mr Rengoku” Tanjiro said as he and his comrades were ready to head out. “Oh it’s a pleasure Kamado just remember you 4 to be strong and set your heart ablaze” Rengoku said with a beamed smile. “Well you boys and Nezuko should go I wouldn’t want Shinobu to come get you guys” Y/N said as the Kamaboko squad gave a hug to her, Kyojuro, and Senjuro.

“Thanks Ms Y/N, Mr Rengoku, and Senjuro Goodbye” The trio said as they waved goodbye. “Well My dear have you thought of the wedding plans?” Kyojuro asked. “Oh yeah We can start Tomorrow since I asked Mitsuri and Shinobu to help me” Y/N said as Kyojuro hugged her.

Wedding Planning

The next day Y/N was helping Senjuro clean for Mitsuri and Shinobu to arrive. Once they finish Senjuro went to make some food for Y/N guest and Kyojuro went to help him. Finally after a few minutes they arrived and Y/N went to greet them. “Oh Y/N it’s so good to see you” Mitsuri said as she hugged Y/N tightly. “Oh Mitsuri it’s good to see you and Shinobu” Y/N said as she also hugged Shinobu. “Well let’s get to the planning we wouldn’t want the bride to wait” Shinobu said as she smiled. As they were about to head inside. Some else came “Hey Y/N” the voice said as Y/N turned around to see Tengen and his wives.

“Oh Tengen, Hi What are you doing here?” Y/N asked “Oh your Romeo didn’t tell you. He asked me to help him with his wedding plans to make it flashy” Tengen said proudly. “Oh and Hi Hina, Suma, and Makio Do you want to join me, Mitsuri, and Shinobu with the girls planning” Y/N asked. “Sure Y/N let’s go inside to get this wedding plan started” Hina said as she put her hand on Y/N shoulder as they others followed behind them. Finally they settled in the guest room to talk as they saw Tengen head to where Kyojuro was outside and sat with him and Kyojuro father

This is how the girl planning went: "The reception and ceremony should be here in the Rengoku estate, this would be special” Hina suggested as she wrote it on the paper. “Oh we need flowers too?” Makio said thinking more. “What color should they be Y/N?” Suma asked. “Hmm I think (F/C) flowers would be perfect” Y/N said as the girls agreed and Hina wrote it down. “We need decorations too” Mitsuri said excitedly. “Yes I was thinking something like this” Shinobu said showing Y/N decorations from a wedding ideas book. “Oh that’s looks so pretty I love this one” Y/N said pointing to the decorations she loved in the book. “Luckily it’s still in stock at the store but we should purchase it soon” Shinobu said as she wrote it down in the list. “Oh We need a guest list too” Makio suggest and got a new paper. “Who are you inviting Y/N?” Suma asked. “Well I’m inviting all the Hashiras, and you guys too. I’m also inviting Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke, and Zenitsu.” Y/N said as Makio wrote down the names of the people and counted. “That would be 16 people but anyone else?” Makio said. “Oh Obviously Senjuro and Mr Shinjuro would be there and I’m also inviting the master and his wife as well as his children if they would like to join us.” Y/N said “Oh Shinobu you should bring your girls too I’m sure they’ll love to join us” Y/N added and Shinobu agreed. “Ok that is now probably around 30 people which is great to make it special” Makio said as she finally wrote down all the guest. “Also I’m inviting Tamayo and Yushiro since they have helped us and are nice” Y/N said as all the girls agreed. “Okay the guest list is done so what’s next” Mitsuri asked as someone slid the door open it was Senjuro with tea and snacks. “Oh Senjuro let me help you” Y/N said as she helped Senjuro give the girls their tea and snacks. “Thanks Nee-San” Senjuro said as he hugged you and Misturi went to hug him too since she missed him lot. “Where is Kyojuro at?” Y/N asked “Oh he’s with father and his friend Tengen planning the wedding too and let’s say Tengen sure is a master at planning” Senjuro said and all the girls giggled “Well at least Tengen sure does know how to plan a wedding” Shinobu said. “Would you like to join us in planning or does Kyojuro need you” Y/N asked Senjuro. “Oh I was going to bring brother some tea and snacks as well Since Tengen, Father, and Tanjiro and his friends helping him with the plans” Senjuro said. “Wait when did Tanjiro arrived?” Y/N asked “They arrived a few minutes ago since brother need their help in planning” Senjuro said. “Mmm mm” a voice mumbled and everyone look to see Nezuko in her child form. “Oh Nezuko hello it’s good to see you” Y/N said as Nezuko went to where she sat and hugged her she loved being held like a baby. “Okay Senjuro let us know if you need anything” Y/N said as Senjuro gave her one last hug and slid the door closed. “Y/N I wanted to ask Do you want braidsmaid on your wedding?”Mitsuri asked “Oh I haven’t thought of that but sure I think you all be great braidsmaid even Kanao and Aoi can be ones too” Y/N said as all the girls got excited. “What about a flower girl? Y/N” Shinobu asked “Oh I haven’t thought of that What about your three little girls Shinobu I’m sure they’d love too” Y/N said as the girls agreed. “We need Ring bearers who would you like to be your ring bearer Y/N?” Mitsuri asked “Senjuro would be a good ring bearer but I would like Nezuko to be my ring bearer as well” Y/N said as she pat Nezuko head "Nezuko would you like to be my ring bearer?"Y/N asked "Mmm mm" Nezuko mumbled. “Alright that’s perfect Senjuro could bring Rengoku the ring for you and Nezuko could bring your ring for Rengoku” Hina said writing it down. “Alright When will the wedding be” Suma asked. “Honestly probably in 5 months” Y/N said and the girls agreed they needed time to prepare. “We’ll come and get you probably soon to look for your wedding and our braidsmaid dresses and Tengen will also get Rengoku to pick his suit and their groomsmen suits as well” Hina said as they all were excited and talked.

Meanwhile with the boys planning went: "So Romeo now we got everything down" Tengen said looking at his long list. "Why do we need a long list?" Shinjuro asked Tengen. "To make the Wedding flashy" Tengen said. "So We basically already decided who's bringing the food and drinks" Tanjiro said looking at the list. "The wedding is in 5 months why are we planning for food" Zenitsu asked "To be prepared obviously" Tengen said to him. "We will have groomsmen I already decided who and Y/N must have decided her braidsmaid" Kyojuro said proudly. "Um Who will be your groomsmen Mr Rengoku" Tanjiro asked "I have a few of my fellow Hashira friends even Tengen What about you Kamado and Boar boy Would you like to be one too" Rengoku asked. "Oh It would be an Honor Mr Rengoku" Tanjiro said "As long as I get food bug eyes then yes" Inosuke said. "And of course Father you would be the one to walk Y/N down the aisle" Kyojuro said as he patted his father's shoulder. "Yes that's correct but Have you decided on the location and when the wedding will be?" Shinjuro asked "Yes We will do the wedding here at our home and the wedding will be in 5 months to prepare better for it" Kyojuro said. "Alright it's settled Flamey I'll come to get you guys soon to get everything" Tengen said as they all got up and went to where the girls were at. Once they sat in the guest room all together, they all looked at all the plans they'd written and checked to see if an changes were to make.

After they all decided to stay for dinner since it was a long day of planning. Once they were done it was time for them to head home and hugged Y/N and the Rengoku family goodbye. Once Kyojuro and Y/N were together in their room to sleep they cuddled "My flame I am excited for our wedding" Kyo said as he touched Y/N hair and hugged her tight "Me too Kyo" Y/N said as she kissed Kyojuro cheek and then kissed his lips passionately. "Rest My flame we have a busy 5 months" Kyojuro said hugging Y/N "I love you Kyo" Y/N said and rested her hand on Kyojuro pectorals, He blushed he loved the touch "I love you too my dear" Kyojuro said as they went to sleep. The wedding in 5 months was exciting to prepare for. The first month Tengen came along with all the male Hashiras and Kamaboko squad to take Kyojuro and his family to town to look for their suits to be prepared. And Tengen wives along with Shinobu and Mitsuri would go with Y/N to town to look for her wedding dress and her braidsmaid dresses. There was a lot of shopping in those next months that came with all the decorations and stuff for the wedding that was finally bought. On the third month finally Y/N found the perfect wedding dress it was so beautiful and the girls loved the (F/C) dresses Y/N suggested. Finally all was planned and the boys bought their suits. On the Fourth Month Tengen was very serious about the wedding, He wanted Kyojuro and Y/N to practice their dancing skills to not mess anything up on the wedding and to make it flashy. Kyojuro and Y/N went to see the cake decoration and more this was exciting. They sent the invitation to all their guests. Then the night before the wedding Tengen along with his wives and Kamaboko squad were decorating for the big day tomorrow. Once they were done Tanjiro and Nezuko went up to Y/N with a gift Nezuko made her. "Miss Y/N" Tanjiro said "Yes Tanjiro what is it" She asked "Umm Since I know you couldn't find a tiara for your hair . Nezuko decided to make you this" Tanjiro said as Nezuko gave Y/N the gift. She opened it and she gasp it was a beautiful (F/C) flower crown head. "Oh Nezuko sweetie it's so beautiful I love it" Y/N said as she hugged Nezuko and Tanjiro tightly. "I can't wait to wear it tomorrow." Y/N said.

Wedding Day

Finally after 5 months the day arrived, Everything was set perfectly and the tables were set amazing with beautiful (F/C) flowers. The table where the bride and her groom would sit was so beautiful and decorative. Wow Tengen and the others did a good job with the decorations. The morning sun finally shined as Kyojuro woke up first and saw he was still cuddling Y/N he smiled the day was here. He woke her up by kissing her face until she woke up. "Kyo haha that tickles" Y/N said finally waking up. "My dear the day is here my love" Kyojuro said as he held her hands and kissed them. "I'm excited I have been waiting for this day" Y/N said as she had tears of joy and hugged Kyo tightly. "Me too my love" Kyojuro said and kissed her passionately until a knock came to the door. "Brother um Uzui has arrived and so have his wives their waiting for you and Y/N" Senjuro said. "Oh alright Senjuro we will be there in a bit" Kyojuro said as Senjuro left to tell Tengen. "Yep this is real" Y/N said as she pinched herself to make sure. "C'mere here my dear" Kyojuro said as he locked his lips into Y/N again. "Kyo We should hurry we don't Uzui to be waiting" Y/N said as Kyo continued to kiss her. "He can wait I'm just excited and want to know if this is real my flame" He said as he continued to kiss her and even kissed her neck and hugged her tight. They stopped kissing when they heard the door slid open and a voice boom. "Wow Romeo What is taking you so long We're waiting for you" Tengen voice boomed. "Oh my apologies Uzui hehe" Rengoku said as Y/N who blushed harder. "I know you're excited but we need to get the husband flashy C'mon the bride has to get ready" Tengen said. "Alright Uzui let me just tell Y/N something" Kyojuro said. "Oh alright but hurry Romeo" Tengen said as he slid the door closed. "My love I'm so excited but how was I so lucky to have you?" Kyojuro asked Y/N "And how did I get so lucky to have you Kyo?" Y/N said as she kissed Kyo cheek. "I love you Y/N I can't wait to see you in that dress and finally call you my wife" Kyojuro said "And I can't wait to call you my husband" Y/N said as she and Kyojuro kissed passoniately until there was another knock. "Romeo We're waiting" Tengen said "Oh haha I'll be there" Kyojuro said as he and Y/N got up. "I'll go get ready my dear I'll see you in the cermony" Kyojuro said "Me too Kyo" Y/N said as she gave Kyo a quick peck and went to the room the wives would get her ready in.

"Let's get the bride ready" Hina said and Y/N ate her breakfast in the room, Once she was done she got herself in a bath to get ready and once she was done. The Tengen wives along with Shinobu and Mitsuri were ready to make Y/N into a bride. Mitsuri and Shinobu were doing Y/N makeup and made sure not to add too much. Hina was brushing and styling Y/N so that the flower crown head could be put perfectly. Makio and Suma were in their braidsmaid dresses and finshing their make up. Finally it was time to put the dress on. Y/N looked at the dress and touched it She had tears in her eyes as her braidsmaid went to comfort her so she wouldn't ruin her makeup. "What's wrong Y/N why are you crying" Mitsuri asked "Oh I'm not crying I'm just happy to be married. I was waiting for this day" Y/N said and now it was the girls turn to all cry with her. "Well let's get you in the dress we don't want your husband to be waiting" Hina said as she and Misturi helped her put on the dress and Shinobu and Suma helped put Y/N heels. Y/N looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. "Now I'm ready" Y/N said as she loved her wedding dress. "Wow it's really beautiful Y/N" Mitsuri said as all the girls agreed and Nezuko came in to see Y/N. "Mmm mm" She mumbled and hugged Y/N she loved how she wore the flower crown head she made for Y/N. Then the door slid open it was Shinjuro and Senjuro."Nee-san you look beautiful like a princess" Senjuro said as he hugged Y/N. "Thanks Senjuro" She said smiling "Y/N" Shinjuro said everyone looked at him and so did Y/N. "I know that my wife Ruka and your parents are proud that you love my son Kyojuro and are going to marry him. I know you will make my son the happiest man and I know you will take good care of him. I'm happy to have you as a daughter" Shinjuro said. Y/N eyes rose and wiped the tears and gave Shinjuro a hug and he hugged her back. "Thank you Shinjuro I will love and protect Kyo no matter what and I will love him and take good care of him" Y/N said "I know you will Well I'll check to see if my son is ready He is excited" Shinjuro said as he and Senjuro slid the door closed.

Meanwhile the boys were all ready and were getting Kyojuro ready and fixing his tie. "Hold still Romeo You need to look flashy" Tengen said "I Know Tengen but I just am too excited" Kyojuro said "Ugh do I really need to keep my shirt button up" Sanemi said as he wanted to open his chest since he wasn't used to having his shirt button up "Why do I need to wear this" Inosuke said he didn't like wearing the shirt and wanted to rip it. "No no no You two better not I know that look and your chests will give attention" Tengen said as Gyomei, Tanjiro, and Giyu nodded agreeing with Uzui. "Inoskue just keep it on please and we'll give you food if you do" Tanjiro said as Inosuke was calm and went with it. "And there Romeo see looking flashy" Tengen said as he patted Kyojuro back. "I want to see Y/N now I can't wait any longer" Kyojuro said "Brother you need to be patient the ceremony will begin" Senjuro said as he tried to calm down Kyojuro excitement. "I know Senjuro but I been waiting for this day" Kyojuro said “Indeed Mr Rengoku I know Ms Y/N will be a good wife just how she’s like a good mother” Tanjiro said. “Bless this day I pray that you and Y/N will live a happy life and love each other forever Kyojuro” Gyomei said as he prayed. “I wish you the best Kyojuro just make Y/N happy” Obanai said “I’m happy for you Kyojuro and also Y/N” Muichiro said as he looked at the ceiling. “Congrats Kyojuro I’m proud that you and Y/N will marry” Giyu said . “I’m glad your getting married Kyojuro just try not to be too much out there” Sanemi said. “Thanks my friends I have been waiting for this” Kyojuro said."We all have son" Shinjuro said as all the boys looked to see Shinjuro in his suit and walk up to his son and pat his back.

"I wish your mother and Y/N parents were here to see you getting married I'm sure your mother is happy that you found a wonderful person to love and so would be the same for Y/N parents. Make Y/N the happiest woman son and love her and protect her in your life." Shinjuro said those amazing words of encouragment to Kyojuro and he hugged his son. "Don't worry father I will" Kyojuro said. "Well We should hurry the ceremony will begin" Tengen said as the boys went to line up and the girls also did the same. "Brother are you ready" Senjuro asked Kyojuro. "I am Senjuro please bring me to the altar to wait for her" Kyojuro said as Senjuro and him walked to the altar. Y/N was already in the line, waiting for her father in law to walk her to the altar. After everyone took their seats then Finally the music played the three triplets Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho began to throw petals as the pairs of groomsmen and braidsmaid began to walk. Finally it was Y/N and Shinjuro turn to walk, they began to walk as everyone watched. Finally Shinjuro handed Y/N to off to his son. Kyojuro and Y/N hands intertwined. "You look beautiful my love" Kyojuro said "And so do you Kyo" She said as Kyojuro kissed her hands and the ceremony began. They focus on the wedding and read their vows, finally they recieved their rings from Senjuro and Nezuko. And now the question "Kyojuro Rengoku Do you take Y/N L/N to be your wife?" the priest asked Kyojuro "I do" Kyojuro said and smiled. "Y/N L/N Do you take Kyojuro Rengoku to be your husband?" the priest asked Y/N "I do" Y/N said.

"If anyone objects to this marriage speak now or forever hold your peace" the priest said and no one objected. "Alright by the power bested in me I pronounce you husband and wife" The priest announces. "Kyojuro Rengoku you may kiss the bride" The priest said and Kyojuro finally kissed Y/N for the first time as husband and wife. Everyone stood up and clapped. Some cried and others were happy finally they all headed to the reception. Tengen was Kyojuro best man and was hyping up the party and they played a couple of wedding games. Then came the moment for the husband and wife to dance Kyojuro and Y/N danced and then other people were allowed to dance with the Y/N and Rengoku as Tengen was announcing whose turn it was dance. Once everyone got a chance to dance with Y/N. The dance that Kyojuro loved and everyone probably loved was Shinjuro dancing with his daughter in law for the first time and Senjuro dancing with Y/N for the first time as well since he was glad she was his sister in law. Finally after a few more wedding games. Everyone kept dancing like Obanai and Mitsuri kept dancing, Tanjiro danced with Kanao, Aoi and Inosuke danced, Giyu danced with Shinobu, and Yushiro some how convince Tamayo to dance with him, and Tengen danced with all his wives. Kyojuro and Y/N danced "Hmm Y/N Rengoku the offical wife of the flame hashira and mother of my 10 children" Kyojuro said and nuzzled his head into Y/N neck. "Really Kyo how about this Kyojuro L/N the official husband of the dragon Hashira and father of our 4 children" Y/N said as she giggled and Kyojuro touched her ass and gave it a squeeze. She grasped "Kyo there are children here" Y/N said "I just can't help it my love you are so beautiful and besides look your back is facing an empty spot anyway" Kyojuro said as he tried to keep his gaze. He ran his hands through Y/N back, shoulders, even her waist.

"I love you my dear I'm glad we are married finally, you're the most beautiful woman I love" Kyojuro said "And you're the most beautiful man I love I'm glad to call you my husband" Y/N said. "I need your lips on me again please my dear" Kyo said "I'll give you a kiss here and once the wedding is over I'll give you more kisses soon" Y/N said as she kissed Kyojuro. They continued to dance and once it was time to cut the cake to end the reception. The maids cleaned and everyone congratulated the newlywed and went to their places to rest.

"My flame I have a gift for us" Kyojuro said as he took Y/N hand and began to walk. The place wasn't far from the Rengoku estate and Kyojuro closed Y/N eyes "Kyo what are you doing" Y/N giggled as she asked him. "It's a surprise my dear" Kyojuro said as they walk more towards their place and finally Kyo let Y/N open her eyes. "Open your eyes my flame" Kyojuro said as Y/N looked and her eyes rosed with awe she loved the estate. "This will be our home my love" Kyojuro said "I love it Kyo your the best husband I love you" Y/N said as she hugged Kyo and kissed him passionately. "I love you too my precious flame, my dear and my princess" Kyojuro said and then picked up Y/N in bridal style and finally they headed to their room for the happy and exciting moment they have been waiting to do something magical when they were in bed alone together in the beautiful young night.

33 notes · View notes

wisteria-empress · 9 months

Text

My dear living adventure to escape (SECOND CHAPTER and sabigiyu ship)

Author's note

Hey so I have decided to publish chapter two a bit earlier then wanted cause I wanted to publish 3 chapters at a time

(3rd pov)

-Well that was weird I guess but that could help us- he thought to himself as giyu was walking back to the his room that he shared with tsutako he wondered how the plan will even work

"Oh giyu your back what took you so long?" Tsutako asked

"Sabito was just being weird,also I wanted to talk"

"About what?"

"Is it possible to go on a trip with Sabito and I don't know how long it'll last"

"I'm not too sure giyu your still pretty young"

"Nee-San I think I'll be okay"

"Well if you say so also GET YOU ASS TO SLEEP"

"Why?"giyu groaned while he was basically asking to be disowned by tsutako

Both tsutako and giyu went to bed before they heard another knock on the door,it was a guard doing nightly check ups

(EPIC TIME SKIP BROUGHT TO YOU BY MY UNSTABLE MENTAL HEALTH)

When is was quite early Sabito bust into tsutako and giyu room

"WAKE UP GIYU!!!!!"

"SHUT UP SABITO ITS LITERALLY 8 AM!"

"so what? Is a great day and besides makomo already set us up for that inn"

"Why?" Giyu asked

"did you fucking forget she was gonna set up a in for us for the trip "sabito responded to Giyu forgetfulness

"What trip again"Giyu thought to himself

"Look either way she set up that inn so we should be good" Sabito said

Sabito is a good kid but a stupid one as well like getting strip and stripe mixed up as well as use the wrong "their"a bunch of times which Giyu always has to correct

"What trip exactly Sabito?"Tsutako was questioning Sabito she was concerned though what are they planning?

"Oh nothing important really just a 2 week trip" Sabito reasponed to Tsutako's question

"Well it seems Important of it's a 2 week trip And GIYU why haven't you told me yet"she was now questioning both boys which Giyu also has to think of an excuse why he hasn't told her yet

"Well I forgot and it was kinda last minute.also didny i ask you last night?" that was the best excuse that giyu could come up with which was pretty shitty if you ask me(author)

"But can I go?" Giyu knew the answer just as well as Sabito they both knew Tsutako would say yes to anything her brother asks

"No." her answer was plain and simple. Let me rephrase that "they thought they knew that Tsutako would say yes to anything Giyu asks"

"WHAT WHY?" Giyu questioned his older sister

"I'm just joking of course you can go,but if you come back even a second late you ass is dead" her tone was more serious then before but at least she said yes

"Thank you,thank you,thank you," Giyu acknowledge his older sister answer he even went in for a hug and Tsutako returned the hug

"Well shouldn't you be off now?" Tsutako asked

"No we're leaving tonight" Giyu answered

"That's good that means you're gonna help me cook dinner tonight am I right?" She has a grin on her face giyu knew she has won just then and there that he would have to help to the bitter end here at the palace

"UHHHHH IM GOING NOW BYE" Giyu rushed out the door dragging Sbaito with him he isn't gonna make Sabito talk his way to make him do more work around the castle

"Wha-" "shut your ugly was mouth before I see it tight" Sabito was cut of as well as threaten

" so you can sew do you mind sewing one of my jackets?" Sabito asked

" do it yourself asshole" Giyu responded

"nuh uh princes order sew my jacket please" Sabito had a smirk on his face and Giyu was about to slap it right off before lady Kizana Came And pounce on Giyu

"GET AWAY FROM MY PRINCE YOU COMMONER"She shouted

"Your prince?" Giyu questioned her

" Yes my prince you commoner " Kizana knew she had the upper hand since she was of royal blood

"Well if you asked m'lady" Giyu was already bowing down to her he probably already realise that's the whore Sabito has to marry and Giyu was leaving as well

"GIYU WAIT UP DONT LEAVE ME HERE WITH HER😢" he said that but Giyu was already leaving him behind with that bimbo of a women

But he said something before he left I wonder what it is

Author note

Hello so the chapteris gonna end here since I wrote this at 1 am sorry if it's short the next chapter will come shortly I'll try my best with the team (they suck) but remember to drink some water and if you have any song request to put on the next chapter I'll an sure to add it

Final word count:855

#sabigiyuu #rengiyuu #sanegiyuu #obamitsu #shinomitsu #fanfiction writer #fanfic #ao3feed #ao3 fanfic #ao3 #ao3fic #fanfiction #wattpad writer #wattapad #wattpad

4 notes · View notes

kuwajima · 10 months

Note

16, 34, and 48?

16. What’s an AU you would love to read (or have read and loved)?

I am not usually an AU person, but I do think modern AUs work really well with KNY. That said, Giyu and Shinobu give me Mulder and Scully vibes so I think they should be investigators or something. As a treat.

34. What aspects of your writing are inspired by/taken from your real life?

Interestingly, I was also transformed into a toddler via demon magic and raised by a former ninja? I got better tho.

Honestly despite how self indulgent my writing feels, none of it is very close to my real life. Except for Giyu, who I find easy to write for...reasons. I did do a lot of research into early childhood development, because I find it fascinating. That's why Zenitsu has some very specific and strange behaviors.

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

I just finished Chapter 10 of Children of the Fuschia Light and Demon Fire by @ladynightlark. Admittedly this fic has taken me months to read (I find it hard to read fics while I'm writing one??) but it's a really cool role swap AU! I will be fighting their Kaigaku at 2am in the Denny's parking lot (affectionate)

#I'm pretty confident I could kick Kaigaku's ass #like I know he's really strong and stuff but I will simply knee him in the junk and I think he will go down crying #fic talk

9 notes · View notes

crimsonfic · 2 years

Text

Giyu Tomioka Fanfiction - Transparent Heart

Gifted Y/N

10 Chapters

Subjects: Fluff, Angst, Smut, Mature language, Suggestive language, Blood, Gore, Death, Humor, Violence, Pain

Remember: Your character has a nickname 💙

Chapter Three

8.9k Words

Chapter Includes: Violence, Blood, Mature Language, Fluff

Giyu had come to your house every week all summer. Sometimes he came everyday sometimes just once, it varied, but he always came back. You had gotten accustomed to him helping you with the heavy stuff and all the dirty work, you found yourself really bothered when you had to do it yourself.

Autumn was right around the corner, just 2 weeks away so you've been really busy. You've been preparing your autumn crops to bloom so you wouldn't miss more than a week of selling them to the stores and markets. You had huge shipments to take to town which meant lots of working, lots of stress, but lots of money. You would be able to get the kids new clothes, and get more materials for building the kids beds. You were reluctant to do so because you never know how many kids you could have at once and you didn't want there to not be enough beds or take up too much space, but Kylo insisted he would take them down himself if you ended up needing more space. It was hard for you to tell him no, because he was such a good kid. You also wanted to get more books and fabrics.

You and Kylo had been making trips to town everyday. Your crops were flourishing so you had so much to sell. Today, was your last small shipment before you would have to take everyone with you to go in to town. You had to rent a horse for this shipment though, you and Kylo couldn't push or pull it yourselves at all.

Currently you were waiting for Kylo to get back as you bathed Emiko who had gotten filthy outside rolling around in the dirt like a pig, and making dirt mountains to jump off of. She would definitely sleep well tonight with all the energy she had already burned before 7pm.

You knew Kylo would be walking through the door any minute now, you can always count on him to make it back on time. Plus you told him to eat in town so it pushed his arrival back just a bit.

The older kids were downstairs playing card games it sounds like. It sounded like Princess was losing, as she was declaring a Princess was supposed to be allowed to win. Her subjects weren't allowed to beat her, earning outraged remarks from Ichiro and laughs from Rainbow. You listened to their banter as you dried Miko off and got her dressed in her nightclothes. She held the hair brush from their dresser out to you when you heard Kylo's voice in your head.

"Sorry, I'm going to be late y/n."

You gasped. You bounded up from your seat to look out the window. The sun would set in probably 15 more minutes.

"Sorry Miko, I'll brush your hair in just a little while okay. You wanna go downstairs with the others for me?"

"No." She whines shaking the brush, emphasizing she wanted you to take it.

"I can't right now sweetie, I've got to do something really important." You rushed to pick her up as she began to throw a tantrum, letting her body go limp in your arms. "Miko please, give me a minute."

"Nooo." She whined. You could hear that she would start crying soon, her voice was shaky.

You didn't say anything else as you carried her downstairs and laid her on the couch. She started thrashing, kicking, and crying.

"Uh oh." Ichiro said.

"I'm sorry guys, just make sure she doesn't hurt herself, if she makes a mess, leave it, I'll clean it up, promise." You said quickly to them before running upstairs to your room. You sat in the middle of your bed and closed your eyes, concentrating on that small spark like presence that was sitting in the side of your mind. The longer you sat the larger it got, spreading eventually to the middle until you saw all white one second before it was replaced by the image of Kylo. He was sitting on the ground, with his head buried in his arms, while his arms held his knees to his chest.

"Kylo what's going on. Show me something, where are you?" You mumbled to yourself. For a solid minute he didn't move.

"Kylo." You said aloud to yourself shaking your head. You had not even an inkling of what's going on. What were you supposed to do, what were you supposed to think. All you could do in this moment was put a barrier around him, which you did the second you saw him, but there had to be more you could do. You reached behind you grabbing your notebook from under your pillow. Opening your eyes you quickly sifted through it looking for notes you wrote about communication. You didn't see anything about you being able to talk to someone else through their mind. This was to be expected as you never even tried to do that before. Guessing that it wouldn't hurt to try you closed your eyes so you could see Kylo again.

From the looks of it, he still had not moved.

Only in your head, you "spoke."

"Kylo. Kylo. Get up and come home. Please. Kylo?" But it was no use as he didn't appear to hear you. After another long excruciating minute, Ky got up. He started slowly walking. It was getting darker by the minute as he walked. You hated it, you would go crazy soon. You knew that something was very wrong but you couldn't even guess what it could be. Even if he could lift his head, and hood, you thought you would be be able to tell by his eyes.

You're not sure how long it's been that you've been watching Kylo but you heard Emiko tantrum getting louder. The kind when she was unrelenting. Your protection barrier was soundproof, and you were unshakable in your certainty that it would keep Kylo safe from any demons. But with Giyu's sword being able to touch you, you weren't sure you would be able to protect him from any dangerous regular people. As Emiko's cries sounded louder and your name was called, you decided to put all your faith in your abilities. Kylo would be safe now, and no one should harm him. You just had to relax for 20 minutes. 20 minutes and he'll be home.

Letting go of your image of Kylo you got up and left your room, you met Emiko and Rainbow on the stairs.

"Sorry, she really wants you."

"Mama, mama, mama, now!" Emiko cried in frustration pushing away from Rainbow's arms.

You held your arms out to her and she practically leapt into them.

"Whew, glad that's over." Rainbow said turning to descend the stairs.

You followed behind her as Emiko snuggled into your neck, laying her head down as she sniffled.

"Sorry guys." You said when you made it to the living room, where Rainbow sat back down in her seat at the coffee table.

"It's okay. We're just glad you're here now." Ichiro said as he focused on setting up their card game.

You sat down on the couch, rubbing Emiko's back. "Do you want me to brush your hair now?" You asked her.

She nodded as a sniffle and hiccup left her little body. Smiling, you reached over to grab the brush as she turned around in your lap.

"Is that all she wanted?" Princess asked.

"No. She misses her." Ichiro answered matter of factly.

"How do you know?"

"Because she's my sister." He shrugged.

"Oh." Princess said, nodding. "Makes sense."

At his words you began to feel bad. You have been so busy with working lately, you haven't had a chance to really spend time or play with Miko. No wonder the tantrum started after bath time, she wasn't ready for it to be over. Carefully brushing through her hair you tried talking with her some more.

Asking her if she liked dinner, if she was full, to tell you a story, anything. She didn't hold back as she became more chatty than she was in the bath. At times you didn't know what she was talking about but you responded anyway. She was getting better as time went on.

There was a knock on the door. You immediately took your barrier off the door, "it's open!" You called as your heart rate picked up. Kylo was finally here.

Shock coursed through you when you saw Giyu first, an arm holding Kylo up. Gasping you blurted out your first thought. "What happened!"

"I'm not sure, but I ran into him on my way here and he was struggling to walk."

Giyu closed the door behind him before walking Kylo over to the couch where he flopped down beside you.

You pulled his hood back and gasped.

"Oh no!"

"What happened?"

Ichiro and Rainbow said at the same time while Princess immediately started crying.

His left eye was swollen, almost shut, and there was dried up blood surrounding his nose and in streaks down his chin.

"I'm okay Princess don't cry." He said quietly, keeping his eyes lowered.

You sat Emiko on the couch beside you before you moved to get up. Giyu raised his hand at you. "I'll get it." He said before walking away.

Your eyes drifted back to Kylo. "What happened?" Your tone was calm but you were pissed.

He sighed, wincing slightly almost immediately after.

"A new store merchant. He accused me of charging too much for our prices, said I was trying to rip him off. So he offered me a deal he thought was "fair" and I told him no. Pay our price or buy from someone else. He didn't like that, so he knocked me around and he.....took a whole crate of our tomatoes, I'm so sorry Greenie. But I tried to get them back or make him pay, then he beat me."

He spoke with renewed energy and a fierce passion in his voice "but I'm going to get our money back, I promise I'll make it up to you. I'm so sorry."

You were seething with anger listening to his story. How could someone do this to him? He's a kid! We've been selling to markets in town for years, why didn't anyone help him? Who the hell did this new guy think he was?

Giyu was back, walking over and handing the wash cloth to Kylo.

Princess had begun crying harder at his retelling of what happened while Ichiro hit the table in anger.

"I should've went with you."

Kylo winced once he touched the damp cloth to his nose, which prompted you to take it from him.

"Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're home." You told him as you cleaned his face as gently as possible to remove the caked up hardened blood.

You felt like Ichiro. You wished you were there. You would like to beat the merchant to a pulp with the crate he stole, or maybe punch him in the eye and let him see how it feels to have one swell shut.

Kylo's stomach rumbled loudly.

"Sorry." He mumbled sheepishly at the sound, lowering his head.

You raised it with your hand, turning him to face you better as you finished cleaning his face.

"You didn't eat?" You asked.

"No. I'm sorry, I was too stunned. It actually hurts to open my mouth so I was going to just not eat anything."

Abruptly you stood from the couch and went into the kitchen. You were so angry you could break something, so that's why you walked away. You were slamming pots and pans around as you worked on making him dinner.

It was only a minute later when Giyu walked into the kitchen.

"Hey." He spoke in his usual soft tone. "You okay?"

You huffed. "No. I'm not. I'm so upset I could explode right now. I seriously may hurt that man tomorrow."

"I see." He answered thoughtfully.

"You don't believe me?"

"I didn't say that. I'm just thinking, that's all."

You didn't say anything as you grilled the fruit and veggies you were preparing.

"Y/n...." Giyu started.

"Hm?" You grunted. Your thoughts of how you could beat that awful man without anyone knowing interrupted.

"Your hand?"

"Huh?" You asked looking up at him but he rushed over to you pulling your hand back from the stove.

You looked down to see that your left hand was turning a nasty red, seconds from blistering and opening all over from where you had it resting flatly against the side of the cast iron skillet sitting on the fire.

It wasn't until you saw it that you felt the pain. "Shit! Dammit! Fuuuhh-" you cut yourself off with a bite of your lip realizing the kids could hear you. You shook your hand frantically willing it to calm it's burning.

"You okay? I thought for a second you couldn't feel it or something." He said.

You only groaned, just when the kids came to the door way.

"What happened are you okay?" Rainbow asked.

"Yeah-"

"She burned her hand." Giyu answered, grabbing the wooden spoon and finishing what you started so the food wouldn't burn.

"I'm sorry Greenie, it's-"Kylo began, but you cut him off.

"Don't even finish that sentence. Sit down." You gestured to the table with your head before opening you freezer and grabbing 2 of the 6 soft rags you keep inside for any bumps and bruises the kids may get. You handed one to Kylo and then sat the other on your palm. Slightly hissing at the contact.

Kylo sat the almost rock hard cloth on his swollen eye in silence.

"Your nose. So you can eat." You told him.

"Oh...right." He answered.

"Where are the......" Giyu trailed off looking around the counters.

"I'll finish up. Since I know where everything is." Ichiro told him, walking over to grab dishes for Kylo's food.

Giyu stepped out of his way, a slightly relieved look on his face. When he caught sight of you, it's like he remembered something, cause his eyes widened momentarily.

"Can I talk to you privately for a second?" He asked.

You nodded before excusing yourself. "I'll be back." You told the kids.

"Take your time, we've got it under control." Rainbow said as she stepped further into the kitchen as you passed by.

If you weren't so utterly upset you might've smiled. You'd lucked up with some of the most responsible kids you've ever known.

Giyu guided you upstairs, stopping outside your bedroom door before gesturing for you to go inside first. When you walked past him he asked where your first aid things were, immediately stalking to the bathroom once you told him.

When he came back to you, you were sitting on the edge of your bed, still holding the compress on your hand.

He sat beside you, gathering gauze and wrap for your hand. When he had everything he needed gathered he stopped to look at you, waiting for your eyes to meet his.

"You can't heal yourself?" He asked.

You shook your head slowly. Recalling all the times you tried, and never succeeded.

"But you can protect yourself", he spoke.

"From death and freak accidents only."

"This doesn't count as a freak accident?" He smiled slightly.

"Nope." You mumbled.

He continued staring at you, but thoughtfully. "So can you at least take the pain away?"

"I've never tried to do that before I don't think." Your eyes narrowed as you attempted to remember.

"You don't remember?" He asked in disbelief.

Sighing you pointed to your pillow. You haven't really thought about removing pain, just focusing on more important things, like not dying and feeding the kids.

Apparently Giyu was perceptive enough to know to look under your pillow, because he immediately raised it after you pointed to it. He handed the notebook to you.

"What's this?"

With your good hand you sifted through the pages, pressing the book into your lap to hold it steady. Giyu watched you struggle, trying to use your wrist and hand to keep the pages open for a little while.

"Give it here." He said with a shake of his head.

"Thanks." You smiled sheepishly. "But don't look." You added as you handed it to him.

He sat it down between you two, and slowly turned the pages waiting on you to tell him when to stop. He kept his eyes on your face.

When he reached the first blank page you sighed yet again.

"Yeah, I've never tried."

"You should try. Once that cloth cools down it's going to sting like hell."

"Oh is it, all knowing Giyu?" You said sarcastically.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah."

You turned your head, looking down at your hand. You imagined the burns, and focused on the pain. Strictly focusing on the pain you could feel, you removed the cloth. Once more of the tingling and itchy burning increased you bit your lip, trying to keep your hand still as you focused. When it felt like it couldn't get any worse you began envisioning the pain slowly subsiding. It felt really weird, cause ultimately you were deluding yourself. The pain didn't go anywhere, not even a little bit but you kept imagining it to feel like your other hand.

"You look sick." Giyu spoke after quite some time.

You let out the breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "It's not working." You panted as you tried to calm down, the swirling burn driving you mad. Before now you hadn't even noticed that your skin was peeling.

Giyu reached out and pulled your arm over to him. "Then let's hurry up before you get boils." He grabbed some gauze before pouring some type of liquid on it, your hand hovering near him as you watched. He held onto your wrist again before lightly touching the gauze to your hand, causing you to hiss. He blew the area he just touched but otherwise kept going, making sure to put the liquid on every inch of your palm, followed by a soothing blow. Once he started wrapping your hand you relaxed a little. Your hand felt like less of an intense itchy burn and more of a dull tingle.

"Thank you." You told him.

"Yeah." He answered, eyes still trained on his task.

When he finished, he lightly pushed your arm back to you.

"What was that liquid?" You asked.

He made a face at you. A question in his eyes.

"You tell me. It's yours." He held the little bottle up that he got out of your bathroom with your first aid stuff. On the front of the bottle it had the character for "numbing" in thick black ink.

"Oh." You nodded.

"Are you okay?" He asked. That almost judging look still on his face.

"Yeah. I'm just distracted."

"Why? Kylo's fine."

"I know he is, but I'm still so upset. He didn't deserve what happened. I'm so mad I really want to hurt that man. Like really, really want to."

"Well how do you plan on doing that?"

"Physically of course."

"No, I know that, but I mean...how are you going to actually do it?"

You don't know, you've never fought anyone before. But you knew you wouldn't be opposed, hesitant, or fearful to hitting him over and over.

"I....I don't know. But I know I'm going to kick his ass."

"You only have one hand right now." His face was expressionless now. Back to normal.

"I'll manage." You say.

"How? Do you even know how to fight?"

Childishly you crossed your good arm under the other.

"That's what I thought." He sighed.

"Well it doesn't matter, because I have to do something! He's not going to get away with what he did to him."

Giyu nodded slowly. "I understand. What about your.....magic? Can you hurt him with that?"

Your shoulders sagged, and that right there immediately told Giyu the answer. You could only hurt demons, and after Giyu's sword was able to touch your neck, you weren't sure you would be able to do anything to this man even if he hurt you first.

Giyu sighed. "Okay....well....let's make a deal. I'll teach you how to fight if you learn more about your abilities. Something new, or something you can alter."

"Deal." You smiled. "How much do you think you can teach me tonight?"

"Nothing. I don't mean for tonight."

"Well how is that going to help me?" You asked in irritation. "I need help for tomorrow."

He sighed again, so much stress in his face as if you were aging him from this conversation alone.

"Don't worry about tomorrow. Worry about the bigger picture." He said.

You groaned. "Sure Master Giyu. Sure." You said sarcastically.

"Focus on your spells." He said standing up and gathering the first aid stuff to put away.

"I don't have spells."

"Maybe you need some."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" You asked.

"Just that you should try something different. But as much as I'd love to continue this conversation I have to go." He answered before turning to leave.

You grabbed his arm. "Wait."

"What is it?" He asked looking down at you.

You were silent for a few seconds before you let him go. "I just made sure you could come and go as you please without me removing the barrier from the door. I mean, if the door isn't actually locked. I don't feel like getting up. Tell the kids to come see me." You told him as you flopped back letting your hands fall above your head.

"Okay. Try to get some rest. You clearly need it." He said before walking out.

Internally you rolled your eyes. Although it was a little jab, he was right. You really couldn't think straight and you felt a headache coming on.

On his way down the stairs you called out "be careful!" which made him smile. He told the kids you were waiting for them in your room before leaving, with them bidding him well wishes and goodnight.

You all had a small slumber party, everyone wanting to be close for comfort after the event that transpired. Tomorrow you all would be going into town and it was giving you great anxiety, but you could only imagine how Kylo felt, and that thought kept you up.

—————

"Good morning."

You looked up from the crate you were dragging at the sound of Giyu's voice.

"Hey Mr. Giyu!" Ichiro waved

"Giyuuu!" Emiko exclaimed with a clap of her hands in excitement.

You laughed at how cute she was, she was on the balls of her feet and her voice was a pitch higher from her happiness.

"Emiko." He nodded with a smile at her, his tone low and soft as usual.

"You're coming with us to town Mr. Giyu?" Kylo said as he hauled a crate up into the large wagon attached to the horse.

"I am." He answered. He bent down and grabbed the crate you were just dragging.

"Thanks Giyu." You told him as you watched him carry and place the crate of eggplants into the wagon like it weighed nothing.

"Yeah." He answered in his usual tone, no sign that he just exerted himself whatsoever. "I'll load all of the crates." He said to you and Kylo.

"You sure?" Kylo asked.

"Yeah."

"Alright." Kylo nodded before going to help Princess with the flowers she was placing inside boxes.

It wasn't long before you all made it to town. With Giyu's help you were quite ahead of schedule. The kids were quiet despite seeing the excitement in their eyes. Only Kylo and Ichiro have seen transactions so it was new for Rainbow, Princess, and Emiko.

You weren't complaining though, it made everything easier.

Once you'd given specific orders and usual orders to the merchants who needed them, you only had 2 crates left. As you moved on Kylo suddenly grabbed your arm. You turned to look at him, and saw that he was looking at you intently.

"Don't look too obvious but that's the guy right there." He whispered to you.

You looked past him at the stands behind him until your eyes landed on a large man who was standing with his arms locked behind his back. He was tall and sturdy with a round belly. Looking at his stature and build, you felt your rage from yesterday fill your lungs, it even made you gasp. When Kylo felt you move, he grabbed your arm tighter, keeping you in place, a frantic look in his eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going to kick his big ass!" You whispered yelled.

"Y/n don't! Besides the fact that you can't, it would be embarrassing for you to defend me!" He whispered back with just as much passion.

Your eyes widened briefly in alarm. You hadn't thought about what it would feel like for a teenage boy if his mom or older sister fought for him.

You took a deep breath before patting his shoulder. "Okay. I understand Ky. I'm sorry."

He nodded, not yet looking relieved. "Can we hurry up and move on, I don't want him to try and buy anything."

"Yeah. Okay." You nodded, forcing a relaxed smiled on your face.

You began walking forward, horse reigns in your hand. You couldn't have taken more than seven steps when the man came from behind his stand, hand raised as he called out to you.

At the sound of his deep bellowing voice Kylo flinched.

You bit your lip, anger rising at the effect he had on him.

Because Giyu was in back, he turned to him.

"Are you selling those apricots and cherries? I could use some." He smiled.

You almost threw up in your mouth knowing that something so simple as your prices would turn that fake smile into something more sinister.

"No!" You called immediately from the front.

Giyu, ever nonchalant turned away from him, his eyes landing on you over the wagon briefly. You pulled on the reins to move forward, not wanting Kylo to have to be uncomfortable anymore.

"Hey!" He called out again, but you ignored him.

You didn't see that he waved you off after a few more seconds of you retreating. Calling you a bitch under his breath was missed by you too, because you were too far ahead.

At the end of the street you ran into 2 more new merchants. They both wanted to buy your apricots and cherries and it turned into a small bidding war, each offering to pay you more than the other for both crates. In the end, they went to the merchant that Princess chose from her seat in the wagon. After the back in forth, she stood up and went "sold" to the one's on her right. You promised the others that you would let them get first pick on your next delivery, and they were very understanding.

After dropping the horse and wagon back off Ichiro was already in your face with a big smile. "Can we get lunch? Something we've never had before?" He asked.

"Ooh yeah, can we?" Rainbow asked.

You pretended you needed to mull it over, looking up and touching your chin.

"Yeah, I guess we can." You smiled.

"Yaaay!" Princess and Rainbow exclaimed.

"As long as you guys agree, we can go anywhere you choose."

"Alright kids, gather round." Kylo said playfully gesturing for them to come to him. Even Emiko joined the huddle, down by their legs looking up as they spoke above her head.

————

Giyu's POV

"I'll be right back."

"Okay, tell me what you want in case we order before you get back." Y/n said.

"Anything with salmon." I told her as I stood up.

Emiko waved at me, from her place on y/n's lap. I waved back before turning to leave out of the restaurant.

I found myself irritated in a way I don't often feel. When y/n told that merchant no, it confirmed to me that he was the man who assaulted Kylo.

I've already decided I would handle it last night. After seeing how Kylo recalled the events, I knew it was something that needed to be remedied by another adult. I don't usually come to this town when I have to shop and I wasn't wearing my uniform so I didn't need to be so discreet. It would make this that much better.

"Excuse me." I said once I reached his stand. "Do you remember the young boy you so disrespectfully decided to put your hands on?"

First his eyes widened, and then they narrowed in recognition.

"Yeah I do. That twerp tried to get one over on me. Why? You here for him or something?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"That's not what happened. Like a child, you threw a tantrum because you couldn't get what you wanted. You'll be giving back the money you owe to him, with interest, and you will apologize."

"Oh yeah? You here to make me?"

"I'm giving you the chance to do it yourself."

"Well it ain't gonna happen!" He said coming around his stand.

I couldn't fight the urge to roll my eyes at his stupidity. He had a chance to bow out but of course he wouldn't take it, the dumb brute.

———

"When I come back, you will apologize to him, and I shouldn't have to say anything at all. Now pull your pathetic self up and get me the money you owe." I told him.

He scrambled as quickly as his burly body would let him to the table in the back. Hands shakily counting out notes and coins. When he brought it back to me I held my hand out flat.

"This had better be correct."

He sat it in my hand. "What he asked for plus 10% interest."

What a cheap idiot. I should've known he would give such a low amount. If we were still in possession of the wagon I would take the remaining tomatoes from him right now.

I put the money in my pocket and then asked him one more question. I was giving him the chance to be honest one last time.

"What did you call my companion earlier when she told you no?"

His eyes widened as he stepped back from me, prompting me to step forward. He shook his head frantically. "I di-didn't mean it. I-I-Im sorry. Please don't hurt me. You can take whatever you want. Give her some fruit, or-ah some fl-flowers, my treat. Please." He pleaded.

As if the quality of his likely stolen fruit was worthy of being given as a gift to y/n. He doesn't realize he's insulting her further. This fool. I will take the flowers however, but it won't stop me from making sure he knows he won't get away with disrespecting her that way either.

"Gather some, the best that you have and wrap them now." I told him, before watching him shoot to his section of flowers. His hands shaking as he bundled the biggest flowers he had. Im surprised the bundle looked appealing, he doesn't strike me as a man with an eye for assembling cohesive assortments. When he finished he even put them in a basket, bringing them over to me quickly.

"Please sir, I hope that these are okay." He lowered his head as he held them out to me.

"Mommy that man's bleeding all over." A small child said indiscreetly just a few stalls down.

I definitely wasn't finished here, but I wasn't one for causing scenes in front of children.

"You've gotten lucky. You will apologize to her as well when I get back." I took the basket from him before taking my leave.

"Yes sir." He called. I didn't bother looking back after hearing him collapse on the floor.

I ignored the eyes that were on me as I left the market and made my way to the restaurant, stopping to wash my hands in another establishment before I entered.

"Hey, everything okay? Your food's cooled off by now." Y/n said, a questioning look in her eye as she held a sleeping Emiko in her lap, who appeared to be food wasted.

"Yeah. It's fine. I won't be long." I answered.

"Oh no take your time, the kids ordered desserts so, it's no rush." She smiled despite not having gotten an answer to the unspoken question she held.

I sat the basket on the back of her chair, it now hanging behind her. "These are for you, I hope they're to your liking." I said

Her eyes widened. "They are beautiful. T-thanks Giyu."

I nodded before reaching into my pocket. "You have your wallet Kylo?"

"Yeah." He answered pulling it out of his deep pants pocket.

I pulled out the money and held it out to him.

"What's this for?" He asked with look of confusion as he set both his palms out for the money.

"The money you were owed from yesterday." I placed it in his hands before sitting in my seat directly across from him.

He gasped. "Wait, how did you get him to pay?"

"That's not important. He owed you and knew he did."

"Wow. I....I don't know what to say. Thanks Mr. Tomioka."

I nodded my head once. "You can just call me Giyu."

He shook his head. "Feels impolite." He smiled. This is something he's mentioned before when I told them they didn't have to be so formal with me.

Princess raised her hand. "I have a nickname suggestion for Mr. Giyu!" She stated with a smile as she looked around the table.

I didn't speak as I began eating my food. I was quite worried about what she came up with. She did choose Princess for herself after all.

"Let's hear it." Y/n said.

After making sure everyone's eyes were on her she spoke. "Charming."

"Charming?" Ichiro asked in disbelief.

"Yes, because like a Prince or King, he's charming." She smiled, making eye contact with me, causing me to look at y/n for help.

She was smiling at Princess, I could tell she was trying not to laugh. Please tell her no, I thought to myself. Tell her it isn't fitting.

"I like it." Rainbow answered.

"I don't think I'm going to call him Charming." Ichiro said.

"I second that." Kylo said. "No offense Mr. Giyu." He added.

"None taken."

"I understand it's fitting. But....maybe we should come up with something else?" Y/n said and I was taken aback.

It's fitting? Does she think I'm charming? Really? Is it because of the flowers?

"Fine. I'm going to call him Charming though." Princess finalized. "Wait, can I?" She sat up just a little straighter in her chair as she looked at me.

"Uh...y- uh...sure."

"Great."

Just then the large order of shaved ice with tons of toppings they ordered came out. This prompted y/n to switch seats with Rainbow so she could reach it. They were enthusiastic as they knocked down its massive height. Y/n would have a lot on her hands with them with all of the sugar they're taking in.

At one point she woke Emiko up so that she could have some, reaching out and bringing the sooon back to feed her. It woke her up instantly, laughs and giggles coming from her after every spoonful.

Here I was thinking about how wild and rambunctious they would be later and y/n is sitting here with the biggest smile on her face, listening to their childish conversation and laughing at their childish jokes and banter as if it's so interesting and actually funny.

Her nickname probably should've been Giggles, she laughed a lot, even when it was inappropriate sometimes. It was one of the first things I noticed about her once she forgave me. Times where she should be stern with them she would laugh or crack a joke, but somehow, it always turned out fine. They still listened to her. I'm not sure how she does it. I probably wouldn't come around as often for someone with this many children in their care, but she made everything relaxed and easy.

Damn

Now I'm regretting not doing more for that bastard calling her out of her name. She deserves to be fought for.

Wait...what?

I shook my head. I didn't like that thought I just had. It felt different. I didn't approve of it. He deserves to be punished for what he called her.

That's right. That's better.

I finished my food quietly, only chiming in when asked a question. My thoughts were pre occupied with how I should behave when we head back to their home. I don't want y/n or the kids to think I'm violent. Though, it's a little ironic when you think about it, considering how we met.

I didn't have to worry about it too much though, I had time to figure out the best way to show them I fixed their problems.

"There's a couple things we need before we go, is that okay?" Y/n asked me as the kids finished up the last of their dessert.

"Yes, why are you asking me?"

"I just don't want to bother you or to hold you up. I know you didn't get much sleep."

"Oh...don't worry about me. I'm fine. You're not a bother either." I told her.

She smiled at me. A few seconds passed and she didn't speak, but held her smile.

"What?"

"Nothing, you're just surprisingly very nice and sweet."

I felt that my eyebrows quirked up, but I made sure to fix my face immediately.

"Surprisingly?"

She giggled. It's the best way to describe it.

"Yup." She obnoxiously popped the p on her word before winking at me.

I didn't give her a response before heading to the counter, paying for our meals. When I got back she grabbed the hem of my shirt.

"Hey, did you just pay?" Y/n asked me, her eyes wide.

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"Yes! That was a lot, let me pay you back." She said as she stood, Miko hanging over one arm as y/n reached for her wallet.

"Let it go. It's my treat." I told her.

She sighed and took her hand out of her pocket. "Kids, Mr. Giyu bought our lunch today."

"Thank you Mr. Giyu!"

"Thank you Mr. Charming!"

They all chorused together. Even Emiko said thank you.

It made me feel kind of weird inside, but I ignored it. "You're welcome."

"Alright, everyone ready?" Y/n asked, positioning Emiko in her arms more sturdily.

"Yep, I'll carry your flowers for you Greenie." Rainbow said as she grabbed them off the back of her chair.

"Thanks Rainbow."

"Anything for you." She answered in a song song voice.

"Girls." Ichiro shook his head at Kylo.

"I think it's cute. Rainbow's the sweetest little sister." He told him, throwing his arm around his shoulders. Ichiro didn't shake him off, as we walked out. That was a surprise to even me. The sugar must've had an immediate effect on him too.

"Hey, what does that make me?" Princess asked putting her hands on her hips as she quirked her eyebrow at Kylo.

"That makes you the most magnificent sister."

"Hmm, well I can't argue with that." She answered with so much attitude I was left once again shocked, that she was only 6 and not 40.

"And what about Emiko?" Ichiro asked seriously.

"Easy, she's the most precious sister!"

Emiko laughed, with all that cute baby-like glee. Though technically I guess two is still a baby.

"I agree." He nodded earnestly.

I couldn't see y/n's face from my place behind her but I could only imagine the smile she was wearing.

As we shopped, despite the obvious jitters and excitement they never touched anything and they never approached a store or stall without permission.

At one point I found myself bothered in a way I couldn't explain. We were walking past a jewelry maker when the sparkly trinkets caught Princess's' eyes.

"Wow! That pink hair pin! Look Greenie, Rainbow. Oh my lord there's a rainbow one!" She whispered urgently to them.

"Whoa!" Rainbow said, her eyes wide as saucers. "Wouldn't that be so cool if we had those? Look there's one with a crown like Queens wear!"

They stepped a bit closer, looking at the accessories in awe, the old woman smiling politely at them, pointing out different things she thought was most beautiful and her own favorites.

"How much are these?" Y/n asked her.

Once she told them the prices both Rainbow and Princess stepped back from the table, falling in next to Kylo, Ichiro and me.

"Oh. What about these?" She pointed to more simple clips, smaller and wrapped in fabric as opposed to jewels and stones.

Again, when she told her the price, it wasn't ideal.

"Oh okay. Thank you." Y/n said bowing slightly before joining us, leading us away. I didn't miss the sympathetic look the old woman gave her, which she was kind enough to hold back until y/n couldn't see her.

"You should've got that floral clip Greenie, it would've looked great on you."

"Nah that's alright. I don't care for clips anyway."

The next places we stopped were for fabrics. Apparently y/n was going to make them special futons, and customized accessories for the fall weather. She also bought clothes for the growing Emiko.

When she purchased everything she needed we took the market street back. I could see that Kylo was getting antsy so I made sure to stay next to him. Y/n's anger was simmering as well, the closer we got to the brute's stand. I couldn't decide if it was better for me to say anything or not, so I stayed quiet. We were just 2 stands away when I said something anyway.

"Kylo, Y/N there's something I want you to hear if you're willing to listen, but if not, you can just continue forward."

Stopping their steps we were now just beside his stand. Y/n and Kylo both looked at me, eyes wide in anticipation and in question to what I meant.

"Oh! Uh..hello um...young sir." The burly man rushed over to us, Kylo noticeably took a step backwards while y/n took a step forward before freezing.

"I-I want, no...need to apologize for my gross behavior yesterday. There's no excuse for what I did to you. I had no right. I-I beg for your forgiveness young sir."

Kylo's mouth was wide open as he stared at the man. He was sporting a broken nose, a swollen eye with a gash through his eyebrow, and another on his cheek.

"I-it's fine. Well, no it isn't. But...I'll let it go since I got the money you owe me."

"Right, yes. I'm so sorry sir. You have my deepest apologies." He bowed repeatedly while Kylo nodded.

The asinine man looked at me before shuffling toward y/n but making sure he kept back. "I apologize to you too Mrs. I should've never raised my hand to your erm...brother. I also...apologize for the rude name I called you earlier today."

She cocked her head to the side. Of course, she didn't hear him.

"It was wrong of me to disrespect a lady that way. I'm sorry."

She nodded after looking over his face for a moment.

"As long as you learned your lesson. I guess. I'll accept the apology you gave to me cause there are dozens of names I can think to call a coward such as yourself as well, however, what you did to him, you'll never be forgiven for. You're a disgusting, vile and pathetic excuse of a man." She said.

"Yes Mrs. I understand. I'm so sorry." He bowed to her, getting down on the floor.

"Come on." Y/n said turning to lead the group away.

"Loser!" Ichiro said sticking his tongue out at him as he passed.

Princess turned her nose up at him. "Gross." Walking away quickly.

When I approached him he raised his head before lowering his eyes.

"Was that okay sir?"

"No. Don't be here tomorrow." I don't want them to ever have to see him again.

"Uh-um oh. Y-yes. Yes sir."

I turned, catching up with the group. We walked in a thoughtful silence for a few minutes until Ichiro spoke.

"Did you see his nose? Oh man, serves him right!" He laughed.

Rainbow nodded vigorously. "Yeah it does."

No one else spoke, which left me wondering if I had done too much. If I'd done the wrong thing. Certainly not by my own standards, but I wondered if y/n was disappointed in me.

Only Emiko, Princess, and Ichiro spoke the rest of the walk. Usually about stopping or being tired and wanting to switch Emiko between other peoples back.

Finally, we made it back to their house, setting all the baskets and fabrics down in the living room.

"Okay guys, you've got just a couple of hours before you need to get cleaned up for dinner. I don't care what you do, but please try not to make a mess, and put your fabrics away in your designated areas."

"Mr Giyu..." Kylo began. "Thank you. Thank you for what you did. I appreciate you defending me when I couldn't defend myself." He bowed to me, then quickly grabbed his fabrics and went upstairs.

"You're bad ass Mr. Giyu."

Y/n snickered, before gasping suddenly. "Whoa, wait, I mean, watch your language! Hear me?"

"Yeah y/n. Sorry. Won't happen again." He answered with a smile grabbing his and Emiko's things before going up stairs.

"Are you staying for dinner Mr. Giyu?" Rainbow asked.

"Not this time." I answered.

"Okay, well goodnight. See you soon." She smiled.

"Bye Charming!" Princess added right after.

"Goodnight." I answered before they headed up the stairs. Now it was just Y/N, Emiko and I. Emiko was laying on the floor, humming a song to herself as she traced patterns on the floor pillow beside her, while Y/N stood just a couple feet in front of me.

She was staring at me with an unreadable look in her eyes. I held her gaze, as it seemed like she had something to say. It had to be a full minute of just staring before she spoke.

"Giyu, I....I don't really have any words except....thank you. I just thank you for your help, your support and your care. I...we...really appreciate you and are so glad to know you."

The feeling in my chest was unknown. I couldn't quite explain it but it made me feel....tingly? It was close to nervousness and fear but not close enough to call it that.

For some reason, when I opened by mouth to speak, my voice was weak. I cleared my throat quickly. "I-I um...you're welcome." I got out.

"Can I...um....touch you for a moment?" She looked to the side before finishing her sentence.

My face morphed into one of surprise. Now I certainly felt nervousness.

"S-sure?" It came out as more of a question, but y/n didn't mind.

She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I felt frozen, but I didn't mean to be. I was just surprised. I can't remember the last time I've ever hugged someone. When was the last time someone even wanted to hug me?

She pulled back, dropping her arms to the side. "I'm sorry, I didn't m-"

She stopped talking when I pulled her back into me. My arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Is this okay? I wondered to myself, but then I felt both of her arms wrap around me. Her hands locked on her own arms as she held me tightly to her.

Yes, this is okay.

This is....more than okay.

I felt warm. I felt....good. But there was an underlying buzzing I felt coursing through me.

I began to relax the longer we held onto eachother. I was going to place my other arm around her when I felt a tug on my pants.

Y/n pulled back a little bit looking down. She smiled at Emiko who was holding on to us.

She raised her arms up. "Want hug!"

Laughing lightly, Y/N let me go to pick Emiko up, as I let my hand drop loosely to my side. Emiko hugged Y/N tightly, the both of them smiling. Then she let her go and reached for me.

Seeing my hesitance y/n spoke. "How about a hi-five?" She asked Emiko.

"No, hug!" She answered, her hands opening and closing.

I leaned forward and patted her back, while she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck. Tight.

When she let go she laughed.

"Good?" Y/N asked her with a thumbs up.

Emiko nodded putting her small thumb up too. "Yes."

"I should....probably go now."

Her eyes changed but I couldn't put my finger on what flashed through them before it was gone again.

She smiled at me and nodded. "Okay. See you soon?"

"Yes. You will."

"Okay. Take care and be safe."

"Safe Giyu, take care!" Emiko waved, making y/n smile.

"Okay, I will." I nodded at them both.

The further I walked away from her house, the less I felt that buzzing feeling coursing through my body.

Something was definitely happening to me.

———

44 notes · View notes

tanjir0se · 1 year

Text

Last night during a road trip my bf and I were discussing our theories for kny season three and I mentioned that I want nezuko (now that she’s learned how to braid hair from mitsuri) to braid Giyu’s hair and Giyu will let her because he misses his own sister and loves her but doesn’t know how to say it so he figures letting her braid his hair is close enough

And he’s like “oh no !! Stop talking you’re making me sad” and I’m all…homie this is like barely chapter one of rose’s book titled Things That Make Me Sad About Giyu my god

#Giyu #welcome back to Giyu hours ladies and gentlemen

3 notes · View notes

jasonblaze72 · 2 years

Link

#DemonSlayer #DemonSlayerKimetsunoYaiba #TanjiroKamado

0 notes

giggly-squiggily · 2 years

Text

Genuinity (Demon Slayer)

Heyo! So, remember awhile back where I mentioned I wrote an enormous angst fic out of nowhere? Well, here it is! I was debating posting this but overall I figured I’d sandwich it inbetween the fluff for a dash of pain!

I hope you guys like it!

Trigger/Spoiler warnings: Tons of angst, grief/mourning, violence and blood, hurt/comfort, major spoilers for Demon Slayer Anime/Manga, miscommunication, self hate, suicidal thoughts, swearing

Summary: The Hashira were known to tease Giyu quite a bit. However, what happens if they go too far on a day like today? (Word Count: 6k)

**Chapter One**

“I’m hungry! We should eat!”

“Oooooh no! The last time we did, you drained my savings!”

“Whaaa? No I didn’t!”

“I believe that was Rengoku.”

“Was it? I don’t recall!”

A good few meters away, Giyu watched silently as the other Hashira gathered, discussions of dinner plans and post-mission activities floating around them. He felt his stomach knot as he watched Tengen playfully poked Mitsuri’s cheek, cackling when Kabamaru nearly bit off his finger. Rengoku was still playing dumb, looking around innocently when Sanemi attempted to remind him of his own eating habits, while Shinobu and Muichiro spoke softly among themselves, the butterfly woman cheerful while Muichiro looked spacy as ever. Even Gyomei looked peaceful today, dragged away from his usual pain by the occasional question tossed towards him.

They all looked so happy. Giyu wished he could stand among them.

“Tomioka-san! I can see you!” Shinobu’s lavender eyes suddenly fell upon him, making him freeze up in his thoughts. The rest of the group focused on him now, putting him in the spotlight. “Come, you should join us for dinner today!” She offered.

“Dinner with Tomioka?” Sanemi grumbled, a look of clear displeasure on some of their faces. “I can already feel myself getting nauseous- Ow!” He yelped with a glare when he was pinched.

“I think it's a good idea! Tomioka! Come with us!” Rengoku added to Shinobu’s request, waving.

Of all the days, why now? Why now did they decide to invite him?

“I can’t.” He replied simply, carefully avoiding their expressions as he looked off to the distance. He could hear the soft groans from Mitsuri and Tengen, along with an unsurprised snort from who he assumed to be Sanemi. “Of course he won’t come with us- he thinks he’s better!”

“Eh, are we really missing much? Tomioka doesn’t exactly radiate flamboyancy.” Tengen mused out loud, striking a pose.

“He really is like an ornament.” Muichiro added, fading in briefly before spacing out once more.

“You know Tomioka-san; how is anyone supposed to like you if you don’t let them in?” Shinobu called out, smiling sweetly before turning back to the others, their conversation moving back to dinner options and minds forgetting the quiet Hashira from afar.

Giyu took a shaky breath, feeling the weight of their words sink in as he watched on. He knew they were just teasing; they always talked like this. He was the quiet, distant one they always tried to provoke with sharp words and teasing eyes. He shouldn’t let it get to him.

But the sting was there.

How is anyone supposed to like you if you don’t let them in?

Feeling his heart begin to break, Giyu slipped off into the shadows of the landscape, gathering the pieces before they could begin to show.

~~~

“I’m telling you- that new Udon place that just came to town is amazing!” Mitsuri argued her case, eyes shining with gluttony. “It’s so rich and flavorful! And the noodles are homemade!”

“And I’m guessing it’s cheap as well?” Rengoku asked, a knowing smirk on his lips as Mitsuri nodded.

Shinobu let the conversation fade out around her as she watched Giyu disappear, a twinge of guilt starting to gnaw at her. Had she been too harsh? Giyu did look rather sad today. She had hoped teasing him would spark a hint of rage or annoyance in his eyes. Instead, he only grew darker in color, indicating his misery.

“Shinobu? Shinobu?” The insect Hashira blinked, turning to the others. “Hm? What is it?” She asked. “We wanted to know what you want for dinner?” Gyomei asked for the others.

“Oh. Anything will be fine.” She told them, distracted.

“Your boyfriend will be okay.” Tengen reassured her, darting away from her sharp jab. “Really! It’s Tomioka we’re talking about! He’s always like this.”

“I don’t know, he seemed rather quiet today, don’t you think?” Mitsuri voiced, eyes growing worried. “More than usual.”

“Is that even possible?” Obanai asked out loud, backtracking when Mitsuri began to pout. “I mean- yeah. I suppose he did seem off.”

“He’s probably just doing what he always does.” Sanemi grumbled, leaning back into the nearest tree as he crossed his arms, eyes falling shut. “Stalks off to who knows where and does whatever he’s got to do to keep up that ‘I’m so much cooler than everyone’ persona.” He grumbled, teeth gritting. “God, I hate that guy.”

“But what if he’s actually upset?” Shinobu asked, turning to them. She couldn’t shake the feeling now. It was almost instinctive. “What if he needs us?”

Before anyone could respond, someone cleared their throat, gathering their attention.

“Um, excuse me.” Tanjiro spoke up, Nezuko in her box on his back as he walked up. “Hi. I was wondering if any of you saw Giyu today?” He smiled kindly at each Hashira, expression openly souring at Sanemi before lightening up again when he caught Rengoku’s eye. “I came looking for him.”

“Oh, I’m sorry dear. I think he already left.” Shinobu informed him, her eyes trailing back to where Giyu stood moments before.

The kind smile fell away from the boy's face, his expression growing heavy with worry. Instantly the Hashira grew alarmed. “Oh. That’s not good. Is he okay?” He asked before shaking his head. “Of course he’s not okay. Not today.”

“Tanjiro? Do you know by any chance what’s going on?” Rengoku spoke up, eyes soft with worry now. All traces of humor left the Hashira’s faces when Tanjiro looked up, expression confused.

“He didn’t tell you? Today is the anniversary of his best friend’s death.”

**Chapter Two**

Giyu didn’t like the water these days.

It always reminded him of Sabito.

Sabito, who was like a god to the waves. His techniques flowed and moved like so, capturing the illusion of the ocean within each thrust and swing. It was breathtaking to watch back then.

~~~

It’s all in the core! Right Master Urokodaki?” Sabito asked, eyes bright and face flushed with exertion. Their master stood by, arms folded. With his mask, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

“Yes. But your core is weak!” Urokadaki punched him in the stomach, making the boy double over with a surprised groan. “Too flimsy! You’ll be broken like an old sail at sea if you don’t learn to strengthen it.” Upon seeing Sabito’s beginning pout, his fist turned to fingers, wiggling into his stomach and making the boy squeal. “Your form needs to be durable, even with the constant change in movements.” He turned to Giyu, making the other boy squeak and straighten. “Did you hear what I just said, Giyu?”

“Y-Yes, Master!” The smaller boy yelped, terrified.

This earned him a chuckle, and the older slayer released a giggling Sabito from his clutches, folding his arms once more. “Keep practicing your form stances. That is the only way to improve.” He turned his back briefly, reaching for his sword. “Now we will-”

“Run Giyu!” Sabito yelled, running at their master and wiggling his fingers into his ribs. The sudden tickle threw their master off balance, sending him harmlessly crashing into the empty buckets around him.

“Sabito! Get back here!” He roared as the mischievous boy grabbed Giyu’s hand, pulling him along as they escaped, laughing the entire way.

~~~

Looking back, Giyu had a feeling their master let Sabito do that. Why else would a trained Demon Slayer be easily defeated by two eleven year old children. Remembering Sabito’s grinning expression and gremlin laugh made his chest ache terribly though. He bit his lip as he returned to his memories, trying to find the happy ones.

~~~

“Sabito! Why did you do that? He’s gonna find us!” Giyu whispered with wide eyes, looking around nervously as Sabito dragged him into the clearing.

“Relax, Giyu! With all those buckets, he’s gonna be struggling for at least a little while!” Sabito laughed, practically vibrating with mirth as he pulled his friend to the water. Just before them was a shallow pond, barely going up to their knees and filled with crisp, clear water. Sabito immediately kicked off his shoes, briefly letting go of Giyu’s hand so he could roll up his pant legs. “Come on- let’s go in! I know you're just as sweaty as I am!”

Giyu couldn’t deny that. Despite his nerves racing, the temptation to join Sabito was strong. Soon he found himself doing the same thing, rolling up his pants and stepping in, squealing slightly when the cold water bit at his skin.

Sabito cackled, tossing off his shirt and diving in, resurfacing after his impromptu dive. “It feels better once you’re submerged!” He grinned, taking the opportunity to strike.

Once Giyu had shrugged off his shirt, Sabito splashed him. “Ah! C-Cold! Sabito!” Giyu cried, shivering slightly and glaring at his friend. Sabito howled with laughter, proud of his mischief.

Giyu kicked water back at him, quickly shutting his friend up.

Before either knew it, a full on water fight was among them. Sounds of crashing water mixed with squeals of laughter from both boys, Sabito laughing like a hyena the entire time and Giyu’s giggle fits seemingly endless.

“Sabito.” Giyu had asked after some time, the pair lying on their backs against the tickly grass, skin damp and cold and shirts tucked beneath their equally damp heads. “Can I ask you something?”

“Hm? Shhhh~ Sleeping.” Sabito cooed, earning a poke to the ribs. “I’m serious.” Giyu told him. When Sabito didn’t answer, Giyu peeked to see if he fell asleep.

Grey eyes looked back at him, their noses nearly touching. “Well?”

Giyu bit down a yelp, feeling his face flush. Composing himself, he spoke. “Do you think...do you think we’ll always be friends? Even after the final selection?” He asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Sabito blinked, eyes widening at his friend. “What kind of question is that?” He asked, voice teasing and warm. When Giyu glared, he laughed, reaching out and gently poking Giyu’s forehead. “Of course we’ll still be friends. I’m not going anywhere. We’re gonna pass Final Selection and become the greatest water breathing duo known to the entire Demon Corps! They’ll sing our praises from Udon shops and Bento stands, sharing tales of the handsome Sabito and his goofy looking sidekick!”

“G-Goofy?” Giyu sat up, pouncing on his friend, fingers digging into Sabito’s sides and ribs, making him arch with a shriek. “I think if anyone’s the goofy one here, it’s you, Sabito!” Just look at that face!” He chided, only to squeal himself when Sabito’s hands found his bare sides, squeezing along his ribs and torso.

“I beg to differ! You’re definitely the goofy looking one!” Sabito replied, thus carrying on their tickle fight until Master Urokodaki found them, gathering them up and tossing them into the pond.

~~~

“Liar.” Giyu whispered, arms coming around his torso as he glared at the water. “We were gonna live together. We were gonna be a team.” Giyu felt his eyes begin to burn, his throat closing up as he imagined Sabito’s face once more. “Damnit, Sabito! Why’d you have to go and die!” He yelled, his voice cracking as he doubled over, sobs breaking from his chest and escaping his lips as he cried.

God, he missed him. He missed the days where they trained and played. He missed being able to smile knowing someone understood him. He missed the way Sabito made him laugh, how he always knew the right thing to say when he was on the verge of tears. How he made up grand adventures of their future fame post final selection.

He wanted it back. He just wanted his friend back. “Why did you have to up and leave me?” Giyu croaked, voice raspy with grief as he glared at the water; as if it could answer his questions. “Why’d you have to leave me alone?” He smacked at the calm surface, watching the water ripple viciously. “I want to hate you! I want to scream and claw at your stupid face! I want to bring you back from the dead even if that means I took your place! I want...I want….” Giyu felt his shoulders slump, his throat raw and chest heaving. “I just want it all to end.” He spoke softly, looking up at the endless blue sky, wind kissing his tear stained cheeks. Would it be easier to end it all? Would that finally make it all hurt less?

“I know...that’s not what you want though.” Giyu spoke, softer this time. His arms felt cold- he drenched his Haori. He ran a hand over the patterned side, eyes wet. “I know you’d truly hate me if I gave up now. You’d probably smack me even harder this time.” He snorted, touching his cheek.

“Oh Sabito...what do I do?” He moaned, closing his eyes. He really didn’t know. The rest of them- they hated him.

How could he blame them though?

Not when he hated himself as well.

**Chapter Three**

“Today is the anniversary of his best friend’s death.”

Well shit. If there was a way to simultaneously make the strongest group of people within the Demon Corps feel like the worst humans on the planet, Tanjiro had accidently found it.

“He’s not home!” Mitsuri called, panic in her expression as she and Obanai returned to the area. “Not at the Master’s Mansion either.” Gyomei informed them when his Crow came back, shaking it’s feathery head as he reported back.

“Son of a- where the hell did he go?” Sanemi raged, coming back from his trek around the area. “Come on- I know he’s quiet, but he’s not this freaking quiet!”

“No sign of him in town. Oh, Giyu…” Shinobu held a hand to her mouth, brow furrowing with guilt. She knew she pushed it too far.

To say the Hashira reacted poorly to the news would be an understatement. Upon Tanjiro’s brief but heartbreaking news, the group had gone from indifferent to horrified within seconds. “So that's why he couldn’t come with us…” Rengoku spoke out loud, his usual radiant grin gone and replaced with guilt.

“Oh Tomioka-san…” Mitsuri moaned in her hands, eyes welling with misery. Sanemi couldn’t speak- his own heart all too familiar with grief and death anniversaries. “Dammit…” He swore, replaying every nasty thing he’d said that day to the Hashira as he stalked off. “I’m looking for him.” Was all he said, thus starting the frantic search.

“God, we didn’t know...we really didn’t know.” Tengen was uncharacteristically quiet, almost matching Gyomei in terms of melancholy. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. God, what kind of teammate am I?”

“No time to dwell on it. We need to focus on the immediate goal.” Gyomei told him, even though his eyes were silently dripping. “Scope out from the roofs. See if you can find him that way.”

Tanjiro had already left. Shinobu was honestly surprised he’d even want to help. He was less than impressed with the group after she explained what led up to the Water Hashira’s absence. “God, you guys must really hate him, huh?”

“What? No! Not at all! We were just teasing!” Shinobu explained, though she knew it was pointless to tell him this. He knew that. It was irrelevant information.

Given his opinion on the matter, Shinobu wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d walk away.

Instead, the younger demon slayer offered his nose- literally. “I can track his scent.” He told them, eyes determined to help. “If I find him, I’ll try to convince him to come back with me.” He nodded. “It’s gonna be hard, and I can’t promise anything. But I’ll give it my best shot.”

Now she waited anxiously for Tanjiro’s crow, fingers beating a drum against her desk as she reflected on her own teasing. Sure, it was fun to poke and prod at the aloof man. It brought out a rare glint of emotion Giyu was so determined to hide.

Still, she couldn’t get Tanjiro’s words out of her head. Did it really seem like they hated him? Obanai and Sanemi had no qualms stating that- despite the later leading the search and demanding everyone he passed if they found anything out yet. Subtlety was not Sanemi’s strong suit.

Still. Looking back on all their past conversations; even the insect Hashira couldn’t deny it.

Their genuine thoughts on him really weren’t clear.

She herself couldn’t say she hated Giyu. Far from it- she liked him enough. She wouldn’t waste her time with him if she truly despised him.

No, her hatred and anger was saved for one man and one man alone.

Tanjiro looked around, eyes peeled for the half-and-half Haori wearing man as he sniffed out his scent. “Giyu? Where are you?”

He was just about to get on his knees and sniff the ground once more when he caught it.

The scent of waves. He was near.

Crossing the distance, Tanjiro found him walking alone, his entire being drenched in the scent of melancholy. Tanjiro felt his heart twing with misery. Oh Giyu.

“Giyu! There you are!” Tanjiro called, running up to him with a wave. “God, we’ve been looking all over for you! The others said you just kinda up and left.” Giyu didn’t turn around- Tanjiro wasn’t surprised. “Come with me! We can find the others and-” “No.” The Water Hashira’s voice was glacier cold, freezing Tanjiro instantly. “I’m not going back. Not now. Maybe not ever.”

“What? Wait- hold on, Giyu. What are you talking about?” The younger boy broke from his shock, wide eyed. “Do you mean you’re quitting or the Demon Corps or…?” Giyu didn’t speak at first. When he did, his voice was flat and emotionless. “I’m not like the other Hashira. I don’t deserve to stand among them. They know it too.” That morning’s words came back in his mind, taunting him.

Are we really missing much?

He’s really like an Ornament

I can already feel myself getting nauseous.

This is why no one likes you.

“I’m not welcomed. They hate me.” He stated.

“No!” Tanjiro argued, stepping closer. “They don’t hate you! Right now, everyone’s looking for you as we speak! They genuinely feel bad!”

“What would you know?” Giyu finally snapped, whirling on his heels and glaring at the younger boy. “You barely met any of them and now you have this idea of how they actually feel about me? You don’t even know what they say about me!”

Tanjiro was quiet, eyes growing sad. “You’re right. I don’t know what they said, or how they actually feel.” He took a breath and raised his chin, glaring back. “But I know that they’re genuinely trying to fix it! They messed up; and they want to be your friend!”

“What do you know about it? You only have your demon sister!”

“I do have friends! And so do you!”

“I don’t have any friends!” Giyu yelled.

“Well maybe if you actually tried after Sabito, then you would!” Tanjiro yelled back.

Instant regret. Tanjiro covered his mouth, eyes wide. What the hell was that? Giyu looked just as shocked. Slowly, the words said sank in around both of them. Giyu’s expression grew closed off. Tanjiro grew apologetic. “Giyu-”

“We’re done here.” Giyu turned around, his back straight and his voice dead. “Don’t come looking for me.”

“Giyu I’m-”

But he was gone. In a flash, Tanjiro was alone, eyes wide and hands shaking. “I’m so sorry…” He spoke to the empty field, falling onto his knees. The sun was setting around them. He could feel Nezuko’s muffled noises in the box, her way of asking him if he was alright.

No. No he was not alright. Not even a little bit.

**Chapter Four**

“Nothing. He must have left the area completely.” Tengen reported, coming back with Rengoku after yet another failed scouting mission. The sun was starting to set, and Shinobu felt herself grow nauseous with worry. Where was he?

As the rest of the Hashira regrouped, the reality of their situation set in.

“We caused this.” She spoke out loud. “We made him feel so alone.”

“I know.” Sanemi nodded, all his previous rage levels seeming to vanish for a more somber tone.

“We need to find him. The sun’s going down.” Mitsuri pointed out the obvious, eyes growing nervous. “What if a Demon finds him?”

“He’s a Hashira. He won't die that easily.” Obanai reassured her. “Even if I don’t like him myself; I can’t deny his strength.”

“Maybe, but by himself?” Rengoku spoke what was on everyone’s mind. “There's a possibility he’ll be ambushed. With the emotional state he’s in, will he be able to fight?”

“He will!” Shinobu cut in, eyes fierce. “He’ll be okay. And if not, we’ll find him before anything can happen.”

The group was quiet, eyes curious at the insect Hashira. “Wow, I haven’t seen this side of you in awhile.” Sanemi smirked, earning a shove and an eyeroll.

“Love is a wonderful thing.” Mitsuri teased gently, breaking the tension in the group somewhat. “I’ll be sure to be there at the wedding.” Tengen added. “I can sing.”

“Please don’t. I can only listen to so many remasters of Homura at a time.” Muichiro groaned, earning a few chuckles here and there.

“Um.” A soft voice spoke up, dainy and sweet. The Hashira turned to find Kanao before them, fingers entwined and eyes nervous.

“What is it, Kanao?” Shinobu asked, trying to smile for her sister. Kanao wasn’t shy- at least, not around her. Still, with everything going on right now; she wouldn’t be surprised if Kanao was feeling the anxiety of the situation.

“It’s about Giyu...and Tanjiro. I think I know where they are.”

Giyu didn’t know where he was going. His legs had kicked into autopilot after he left.

“Well, maybe if you tried after Sabito, then you would.”

His heart hurt at the memory of those careless words.

But it also hurt at the cruel truth of them as well.

He really hadn’t tried to befriend anyone since Sabito’s death.

To say it was because he didn’t need anyone was a lie. He did need people in his life. He didn’t want to admit it was because he was scared.

Scared to let anyone in. Scared to lose the people he’d become close to once more. He had already been through so much grief that he was scared his heart wouldn’t be able to handle another blow.

He could practically feel Sabito laughing at him through his memories.

~~~

“You’re so shy, Giyu!” Sabito told him as the pair returned from their errand run, vegetables for the hotpot in hand. “What's gonna happen if we get separate missions and you have to work with others?”

“Then I’ll work with others.” Giyu told him simply, earning an eye roll. “Really! I’m not that shy!”

“Sure. So why did you practically hide behind me when we were talking to that girl and her grandmother, earlier?” Sabito teased, making his friend blush crimson and duck away. “Hush! I wasn’t prepared for...them. That doesn’t make me shy!” He argued, feeling himself begin to pout when Sabito giggled.

“Okay, okay! You’re not super shy.” Sabito gave him, reaching out and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “But you’re still shy when it comes to meeting new people. That’s okay- but I want you to work on that. There will come a day where you’re gonna make new friends alongside me!” Sabito darted forward and struck a pose. “Besides, when I’m the best Water breather of the Corps, I’m gonna be surrounded by people! Beautiful ladies and dashing men, children screaming upon my entrance as they bask in the glory of Sabito!

“More like scream out of terror upon seeing such a dork.” Giyu teased, laughing and running when Sabito puffed up, chasing him down. “Get back here, you shy dork!”

~~~

“Sorry, Sabito. I failed to work on what you asked.” Giyu thought out loud, letting out a shaky sigh. Looking back on his talk with Tanjiro- he only felt remorse. He lashed out when Tanjiro seeked him out, and told him he didn’t have any friends. Could he really be upset that the kid did the same in return?

God, what a mess.

He should go back and apologize.

Looking around, he realized he had found his way to Master Urokodaki’s land. His home wasn’t that far away. Giyu considered dropping in, asking for advice. Surely his master could give him some guidance in this situation.

That’s when he heard the growls.

~~~

“Oh Nezuko. I fucked up.” Tanjiro whimpered against his hands, face against his knees as he groaned in self-hatred. “Why did I say that? What’s wrong with me? That was the last thing he needed to hear today!”

Beside him, Nezuko patted his head gently, muffled words of comfort came from her muzzle. “Mmmh…”

“I was just so frustrated! I knew I should have been patient with him, but I wasn’t. And now I hurt him even worse than before.” He sat up, angry tears in his eyes as he vented. “Tch. Now here I am crying like a kid who got caught.” He slumped, head drooping miserably as he turned to his sister. “I’m sorry, Nezuko. You shouldn’t have had to bear witness to any of this.”

The demon girl merely tilted her head at him, eyes narrowing slightly. Tanjiro paused before letting out a breathy chuckle. “I guess you’re right. This isn’t anything new for you to see.” The whole fight honestly reminded Tanjiro of his siblings and him.

“Let’s go. We can’t be out here all night. I think Master Urokodaki is just up ahead. I’ve been meaning to stop by and talk to him.” He reached out his hand to his sister, a weak smile on his lips. “We’ll find Giyu in the morning and apologize then.”

Nezuko didn’t take his hand.

Tanjiro was about to ask why when he smelled it.

“Demons!” He cried.

**Chapter Five**

Giyu focused his breathing as he scoped out the area around him. Demons hissed and snickered from their hiding spots, eyeing the lone man before them.

“What a poor soul. A Demon Slayer all alone!”

“He’s been crying! Poor little boy lost!”

“I bet his insides taste good! Don’t get in my way.

-four, seven, ten. The numbers were large. Much bigger than Giyu was expecting. How long had they been here? He reached for his blade, preparing to fight. “Don’t underestimate me.”

The demons laughed and shrieked, slowly approaching the man. “Don’t get cocky, punk. This is our domain now.” The biggest one, presumingly the leader of the pack, grinned, licking his lips grotesquely. “We have the advantage.”

Giyu breathed.

“Water Breathing.” He spoke softly, adjusting his pose. “Fourth Form. Striking Tide!”

He launched forward, ready to strike.

~~~

“Squawk. Tomioka Giyu is in trouble! Squawk! Get to him immediately! Estimated total of 15 demons and counting located!” The crow squawked above the Hashira’s heads as they sprinted, racing the wind and moon towards Giyu’s location.

“15 demons?” Sanemi all but squawked, alarmed by the mass. “I thought demons couldn’t group up!”

“That was proven wrong at Natagumo Mountain! Hurry- we need to move it!” Rengoku yelled back, his pace never breaking as he and Shinobu lead the pack.

They were already on their way to him when the crow gave them the news. Kanao had mentioned Tanjiro making plans to visit his old master today. “If he and Giyu were trained under the same teacher; I have a feeling they’d probably go see him today because of the anniversary.”

“Giyu better not die by the time we get there! I swear to god if he gets eaten-” Tengen raged. “He won’t! Don’t manifest that right now!” Mitsuri cut him off. “He’s tough. He’ll hold out until we get there.” Gyomei agreed.

Giyu...don’t you dare die. Shinobu fought to herself as she ran, tuning out everything but her focus.

~~~

He was tired.

So, so tired.

How many demons did he behead? Did he behead any?

Giyu tried to regain his composure as the demons lunged, swinging his blade as he lashed out one form after the other. It was endless. The demons kept coming, and Giyu found himself starting to slip.

A slash to his calf.

A punch to his jaw.

A kick to his ribs.

His bones ached. It hurts to breathe. He was losing.

Was this how he was going to die?

He raised his sword to perform his tenth form, only for a demon to tackle him, sending him sailing. His back hit the trunk and his ribs screamed. He groaned weakly as he slid down “M-My sword…” He reached out for it, vision blurry with blood and pain as the demons around him laughed.

“Look at him! Such a weak man!”

“He can barely reach for his weapon! Gahahaha!” Let’s eat him alive. I want to relish in his screams as I tear him limb from limb!”

Their voices were muffled. He felt himself begin to fade. This truly was the end of him. I’m sorry, Sabito. I’m sorry Tanjiro. I’m so sorry. He closed his eyes.

Something tickled his cheek. He opened his eyes to find a butterfly in his vision. “What...Shinobu?” He groaned.

Then there was a blaze. The area filled with flames as demon’s screamed. “Flame Breathing: Fourth Form! Blooming Flame Undulation!” Rengoku’s voice roared out, taking down the demons around him.

“Love Breathing: Second form! Love Pangs!” Mitsuri’s strong voice sailed over, her whip sword flying around her and taking things out left and right. “Giyu! There you are!”

“What are you doing, you idiot? Get up if you can!” Sanemi snapped, taking a stance before him, sword in hand. His arms were dripping with fresh blood, luring a group of demons to him. “Wind Breathing: Third form- Clean Storm Wind Tree!” Blood and demon heads went soaring in Sanemi’s ferocious attacks, clearing the space for Shinobu to get to them. “Treat his wounds. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Was planning on it.” Shinobu pulled out her first aid kid, digging through her tools and pulling out salves and bandages. “Goodness, Giyu. You really do know how to find yourself in the worst situations.” She told him, turning to him with kind eyes. “Luckily we’re here to help you.”

Giyu was frozen, watching the scene around him as Shinobu gently treated his injuries. The Hashira- they were all there. Even Tanjiro. He could see the young man beside Rengoku, water breathing techniques flowing from his sword as Nezuko pint kicked demon heads into the blade. When their eyes met, Tanjiro smiled apologetically.

They had really came to find him.

“-they want to be your friend!”

“They’ll come a day where you’re gonna make new friends.

Giyu felt his heart ache.

So the day has come after all.

~~~

It took some time, but eventually the demons were destroyed.

Exhausted and sweaty, the Hashira put aside their blades before joining Shinobu and Giyu, coming together once more.

“Damage report?” Rengoku asked once they were all together.

“Broken ribs and a possible concussion. A couple of bruises and cuts, but nothing life threatening.” Shinobu nodded, putting away her medical kit. “He’ll live.”

“Good.” Rengoku smiled. “Good.”

And then the chaos started.

“What in the world is freaking wrong with you?” Tengen all but hollered, scaring off an owl from a tree with the sheer rage in his voice.

“We were worried sick all day after you disappeared! And we finally find you and your on death's door?” Mitsuri cried, rare anger darkening her usually kind eyes as she bawled her fist.

“Good god, what would you think we would have done if we heard you died?” Sanemi snapped, resisting the urge to grab Giyu’s Haori and shake him. “Do you think we’d just accept that and move on?”

“And what if I did?” Giyu asked coldly, the memories from earlier coming back full force. “Are you really missing anything with me? I’m not liked by anyone, remember?”

The group went silent, their anger replaced with silent remorse. After some time, Shinobu spoke. “About that...God, Giyu. We’re so sorry.”

….What?

“Of course we like you! Why do you think we pick on you so much?” Tengen told him, his voice softer now than before. “I’m so sorry for saying we weren’t missing anything. That was cruel and incredibly un-flamboyant of me.”

“We’re really sorry we made you feel that way. We genuinely want to be your friend. Though some of us did take it way too far.” Mitsuri nodded, elbowing Sanemi. The Wind Hashira blushed before looking away, his voice gruff. “Yeah...I’m sorry. I don’t...actually hate you. At least not that much.” He turned and looked at him properly. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. That was way out of line.”

“I still think you’re an ornament.” Muichiro told him. “But ornaments are pretty and important too.”

“We need to do better.” Rengoku acknowledged, nodding. “ Please- forgive us, Giyu. Allow us to try again and be better people to you from this day forward.” He fell to his knees, bowing with his head against the forest ground. The others did the same.

Giyu felt his eyes well up, and he bit down a sob as the words sank in. They really didn’t hate him.

God, he was such an idiot.

“I’m sorry.” He sobbed, tears running down his face as he reached out to them. “I’m so sorry. I failed you all so much. I’m so sorry…” Shinobu shushed him gently, her voice was heavy and her eyes were wet as she pulled him into her, fisting his hair as she choked on a laugh. Tanjiro all but sprinted over, hugging them tightly as his own tears began to fall. “I’m sorry too! God, I shouldn’t have said that! I’m so sorry!”

“Good grief, what is with all the emotions suddenly?” Sanemi groaned, though he wouldn’t look anyone's way. Mitsuri sniffled and Muichiro let out a wet snort, gently shoving at Sanemi. “Softie.”

“Oi! Don’t you all start crying! I just did my makeup!” Tengen argued, blinking back his own tears as he smiled. “He might start singing. Look alive!” Rengoku fake shuttered, making the group laugh.

Just a few feet away, Sabito smiled from his perch, hands folded in his lap. “See. I told you you’d make friends, even without me.” He smiled. He floated down and gently patted Giyu’s hair before walking off, his spirit fading away once more.

**Chapter Six**

Urokodaki didn’t question the arrival of the Hashira, nor did he question the drying tears and puffy eyes most wore. “I’ll need to make more Hotpot.” Was all he said upon seeing them.

They carried on the night, honoring the fallen kid’s memories and sharing stories about Sabito and Makomo and all the antics they and Giyu would get into.

“Really? Streaking?” Tengen was really in tears from laughing as Giyu’s master retold that horrifically embarrassing story. “I was five!” A red faced Giyu argued.

“Aww! Five year old Giyu sounds so cute!” Misturi teased, much to Obanai’s annoyance.

“And here I thought he was as aloof as a five year old as he is today.” Sanemi grinned, making the others cackle at the idea of a stone-faced baby Giyu entering the world. “Hey, at least he came out looking handsome! What’s your excuse, Mr. Eyebrowless?” Shinobu asked, making everyone laugh even harder when Sanemi gasped. “I was a handsome baby, thank you!”

“My mother used to say I came out of the womb looking like a sweet potato.” Rengoku mused out loud, earning a gremlin-like giggle from Mitsuri. “I wonder if he meant that kindly or not.”

“Probably not.” Muichiro deadpanned, making the room howl with laughter.

Beside him, Giyu felt Shinobu reach out and squeeze his hand, running her thumb along his knuckles. She didn’t say anything- just smiled. He smiled back, squeezing her hand.

They weren’t quite there yet to be considered close, but Giyu was willing to reach out.

That was a promise he’d carry on from this day forward.

Oof, what a post! Thanks for reading!

272 notes · View notes

demonslayedher · 2 years

Note

In the end, Giyu ended up participating in the pillar training right? What do you think his training sessions focused on? And if Shinobu also participated, what would’ve been her training? And Kyojuro if, you know. . .

Allow me to do some shameless plugging here, Anon. I wrote a fic about the Pillar Training, specifically, about Giyuu and Sanemi figuring out their post-canon friendship with one another by honoring their fallen comrades. Ergo, fulfilling the Pillar Training as they were originally intended.

Only, no, that doesn't work so simply because of course I couldn't make things easy for these fools who are just looking for ways to punish themselves because they don't know what else to do with what remains of their precious lives, these silly cowards. So with that mind, and to spoil the directions I took in the fic a bit:

Giyuu: Honestly, probably just general sword technique refining, perhaps focus on adaptability. I say this not only because Giyuu is really, really good at that, but because one of the questions in the official "What Breath Suits You" quiz that leads to a Water Breath answer is about adaptability in a fight. Shinobu: We essentially got a whole arc of training under Shinobu; she is the person responsible for teaching the Kamaboko boys how to maintain constant Total Concentration Breathing. Furthermore, we can likely assume that every step of Functional Recovery Training is by her own design, already focusing on very specific training in very specific times (recovery).

Rengoku:

Okay, so... if you read the fic, you're not supposed to know this. You're not supposed to know this until the second to last chapter, ok????

...

It was supposed to be a surprise, get it?

You're supposed to think the fic is wrapping up because they finished all the training sessions they set out to do, right?? Right????

You see where this is going?????? You riding this train with me??????

Yeah, you betcha. The fic concludes with them wanting to honor Kyojuro too, so they go to the Rengoku estate to try to figure out what that would be.

Not to spoil exactly how this comes about, but since Kyojuro often trained himself by reading Flame Breath manuals and writings from his ancestors, that meant he benefited from quiet contemplation. And, since he had so much respect for his mother, ma-a-a-a-ybe he'd have practiced what his mother had done while she was pregnant with him and then again with Senjuro. Since in the fic Giyuu and Sanemi are trying to figure out what they can't directly ask a dead man, there are a few other possibilities weighed, but it was most satisfying to have them sit down and stare into a flame. Perhaps this isn't how Kyojuro would had actually done the training, perhaps he'd have done something more straightforward, but who knows how much extra work he gives his Tsuguko (or attempted Tsuguko) besides dojo drills?

#on that note #I love how in the bookmarks only person quotes a huge heavy chunk of the soul searching in the last chapter #while another person just writes pfff #that's it that's the fic #it is meant to go in both those directions #my fics #The Pillar Training Oath #I want to do art for this fic #but what?#anything but THAT scene that scene is not allowed to have art #demon slayer #kimetsu no yaiba

27 notes · View notes

wynsnerdyrambles · 3 years

Text

Giyu Tomioka and Character Interaction

Characters are at their best when they are realistic, and in my mind, realism often includes characters not being static systems. In our world, as we interact with others, we are capable of having influence on the ideals of those around us, as well as having the ideals of others influence us. In that way, it becomes a living thing, capable of change. As I thought about this topic, I thought to myself, who better to use to discuss this topic than our favorite emotionally stunted Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka.

Giyu Tomioka holds a unique position in the narrative of Kimetsu no Yaiba, being the first member of the Demon Slayer Corps that interacts with Tanjiro, and also as the first Hashira to accept Nezuko. He is very much the Obi-Wan to Tanjiro's Luke. Much how Obi-Wan is the audience's introduction to Jedi as a concept; Giyu serves as an 'ideal' or quintessential Demon Slayer. He sets Tanjiro on the path that leads to the plot, and therefore already has a crucial role within the story. Now, Gotouge could have left it there, just have him show up and do cool stuff occasionally, and continue to be that pillar (pun intended) of what a swordsman should be. Instead, Gotouge took the much more complex route of having a unique give and take relationship between the two.

Tomioka initially appears to be the strong, stoic type. Dutybound and honorable. Despite his initial role as something of an antagonist for Tanjiro, he's almost like his first mentor, impressing on him the importance of becoming strong enough to protect his sister, because the only fate of the weak is to be crushed by the strong. (I will never stop thinking it's a neat touch that Giyu and Kyojuro, being wielders of naturally cancelling elements have diametrically different view on the relationship between the weak and the strong.)

Giyu pushes Tanjiro in the right direction, and disappears until the Mount Natagumo Arc. While it might not initially appear as thus, his relationship with Tanjiro is already affecting his character. Tomioka is a strong swordsman, and by the book as well. He feels no pity for demons, viewing their defeat as something that must be done for pragmatic purposes. However, we see in the Tomioka Gaiden, which takes place a year or so before the Mt. Natagumo Arc, that Tomioka's outlook on the destruction of demons is already being shifted by his experience with Tanjiro and Nezuko. This goes to such a point that by the time of the Mt. Natagumo Arc, he directly defies Corps rules to protect Tanjiro and Nezuko from the ire of Shinobu. This feels entirely different from the Tomioka of Chapter 1, who takes killing Nezuko as matter of fact, expecting Tanjiro to just agree that she needs to die, as a matter of course. Now, he's actively defying Corps rules to protect Nezuko. If that isn't a character shift, I don't know what is.

It is however at this point that the audience is given a bit more of a clue into Tomioka's psyche. Kocho's gibes about nobody liking him come off as a funny joke, and endless ship fuel for hopeless shippers like myself. However, at the Hashira meeting he stands so far apart from the people who are supposed to be his closest colleagues. In the Mugen Train arc, he shows nigh unto no emotion upon receiving news of Kyojuro's death.

And it was at this point we all realized, that this boi had:

🟆🟆🟆🟆 Emotional Issues 🟆🟆🟆🟆

The Hashira Training Arc once again emphasizes that he's distancing himself from the other Hashira, although now he's claiming not to even be the Water Hashira. (Although, interestingly enough, Giyu never introduces himself as a Hashira at any point in the series, unlike his colleagues, which acts as a great bit of foreshadowing). However, it is here again that his relationship with Tanjiro affects how he sees the world. Tanjiro, at the behest of Oyakata-Sama, endlessly pesters Giyu by trying to talk to him, until at last Giyu does talk. We learn why he's so emotionally stunted, we learn about Sabito. Tanjiro is uniquely in a position to influence Giyu here, given that he's gone through the same thing with Rengoku. He reminds Giyu that Sabito helped him survive, and that he should live every day, grateful for Sabito's sacrifice.

From this point forward, we see Tanjiro interacting with Giyu in a way that lifts them both up, in a way that genuinely warms my heart. I love these scenes, and I won't deny that I'm a little biased, given I've definitely been in both roles in different relationships I've had in my life. And in that way, this really proves to me the realism of their relationship. Tanjiro is saved by Giyu over and over again, and he becomes a swordsman thanks primarily to his advice. But their relationship is so much more complex than a simple mentor. They become more like brothers, and that's powerful in a series with major motifs regarding families, and especially the importance of siblings to each other. Their relationship grows, and develops, and becomes so close. And it's because of this growing and evolving relationship that Gotouge can throw us through the emotional meat grinder with panels like this one in chapter 200:

There's no denying this scene hits, and I'm hurting just looking at it. But, if Gotouge had taken the simple route with the way they did their character relationships, the emotional potency, and sheer resonance of this series becomes so much lessened. So, despite both resenting and loving Gotouge for putting me through the emotional meat grinder, I greatly appreciate the care they put into developing character relationships in a way that feels real.

#giyu tomioka #kimetsu no yaiba #tanjiro kamado #kny meta #I survived: Gotouge running me through the emotional meat grinder #Giyu kinda my boi tho

45 notes · View notes

acacia-may · 1 year

Text

Take Care of Yourself Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Description: Though Giyu tries to take Shinobu's words to heart and take better care of himself, there is only so much someone can do when facing a Lower Moon. When he winds up in the hospital again, Giyu is sure he has disappointed her and waits for her lecture about how he didn’t listen to a word she had said—but it never comes. It seems Shinobu is avoiding him. Somehow this is worse…

Story Description: Giyu & Shinobu's relationship through the years and an origin story of how they became friends.

Fandom: Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba

Genre: Friendship, Developing Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Relationships: Giyu Tomioka & Shinobu Kocho Friendship (though I suppose you could take it in a romantic way if you really wanted it to be) [A/N: This story focuses on how their relationship developed over time and how deeply and genuinely they care about each other so how you want to qualify that (platonic or romantic) is really up to you. My intention was to write about their platonic friendship, but I have been told that the final chapter could lean a little more romantic than the others(?) so warnings for that upfront...]

Characters: Giyu Tomioka (POV Character) and Shinobu Kocho. [Kanae Kocho and Sabito are mentioned but do not physically appear in this story. Sanemi Shinazugawa is briefly mentioned once in every chapter as an easter egg for my sister who loves him and encouraged me to write this story in the first place].

Rating: T for Thematic Elements (Please see "Warnings" below for more details)

Warnings: Heavy themes (i.e. grief, emotional trauma, & survivor guilt), mentions of (non-depicted) past deaths, and depiction of injuries as well as some discussion of demon slaying violence related to those injuries. Ch. 3 has some action sequences and mild, non-gory/non-graphic depictions of demon slaying. All chapters contain SPOILERS for and through Ch. 131 of the manga. Ch. 3 & Ch. 4 contain vague spoilers from and through Ch. 163 of the manga and some related foreshadowing.

Word Count: 2230 (Chapter 2) [7573 Total]

Link to original post on AO3. Please do not repost to another site.

Tumblr Links to The Previous Chapter: Chapter 1 and The Next Chapter: Chapter 3

Note: This is an older story of mine, but I am posting it here to Tumblr for Shinobu's upcoming birthday (since as much as I want to write another story to celebrate my favourite Demon Slayer character, I'm afraid I will not have time this year...)

Chapter 2 below the cut. Please Note: Chapter 2 contains very specific spoilers for Ch. 131 of the manga and mentions/discusses a (non-depicted) past death. Please proceed with caution. Thank you for reading! 🦋

He made it 5 months, nearly half a year, which was a long time for him, but clearly not long enough for Kocho. While her sister had welcomed him warmly with a kind, “Giyu-san, long time no see,” Kocho had scowled in the doorway muttering “Not long enough” before taking off to another ward. Giyu supposed this was to be expected after that lecture she had given him the last time he had been here. For his credit, he had tried to take her words to heart and look after himself, but he was only human and there was only so much a human could do against a powerful blood demon art.

Though he had a very good explanation for his injuries this time, Giyu couldn’t shake the feeling he had disappointed her. He waited for her to lecture him about his recklessness again and periodically glanced over at the doorway to the ward expecting her to stomp in, cross her arms, and huff about how he didn’t listen to a word she had said—but she never did. In fact, Giyu had barely seen her at all since he had arrived. Somehow this was worse.

There were reasonable explanations of course, he told himself. She could be busy with other patients or out on a mission or making medicines. However, he couldn’t quite shake this nagging thought in the back of his mind that Kocho probably hated him.

Kanae Kocho, somehow almost superhumanly intuitive, must have known this. Earlier that day when she had come in to clean and dress his wounds, she had given him a kind, sympathetic smile and said, “Shinobu doesn’t hate you, you know? She’s just young and frustrated. Not at you of course” —she had added— “It’s just…she’s had to realize there are some things even she can’t fix.”

Giyu had tilted his head and blinked at her. Even now, he wasn’t sure what she had meant by that. He had tried not to think about it and, luckily, found distraction fairly easy as he had aches, pains, and fatigue to occupy him—but now wide awake in the middle of the night, staring at the streams of moonlight on the ceiling, it kept nagging at him.

“Is it the pain?” Surprised, Giyu turned to look at the shadowy figure of Shinobu Kocho in the doorway. “Keeping you awake…?” she added as if to clarify.

Giyu blinked at her and shrugged his shoulders slightly. The room was bright enough from the light of a full moon that he could see Kocho frown as she glanced over at his bedside table. “Didn’t you drink the water I sent for you?”

“What?” Giyu glanced over at the tray that a young girl with two blue butterfly hairpins had brought in earlier. He hadn’t touched it since she had sat it down on the table with a frown and a curt “drink this” that was somewhat familiar.

“I put an anesthetic in it,” explained Kocho crossing her arms. “It would’ve helped.”

“I didn’t know…”

Kocho huffed and handed him the glass. “Well start drinking it now. Then you need to try to get some sleep. What are you still doing up anyway?”

“What are you doing up?” he countered dryly.

An odd look Giyu couldn’t quite place passed over Kocho’s face before she frowned and answered matter-of-factly. “Making medicine for tomorrow and making sure my patients are getting enough sleep…” she added pointedly her eyes narrowing at him.

She would be up forever if she was making sure all her patients were asleep, Giyu thought. Sleep and demon slaying didn’t exactly pair well together. Giyu couldn’t remember the last time he had had a proper night’s sleep and had all but given up on it. He sighed. “I don’t sleep much on a good day.”

Kocho’s face softened. “I can make you a sedative—a nice, warm tea maybe or something stronger if you think you need it.”

“You don’t have to…” Giyu began to protest, but Kocho shook her head and turned to walk out of the doorway.

“I can’t just let you stay up all night. You’ll end up sick on top of everything else. I’ll be right back…in the meantime drink that water.”

After Kocho disappeared down the hall, Giyu sipped his water and watched the doorway wondering if in his sleep-deprived daze he had just imagined their entire conversation—until she flittered back into the room with a teacup saying, “This should help you sleep.”

Kocho handed Giyu the cup and added almost teasingly, “It can even knock out Shinazugawa-san.”

“Thank you,” said Giyu before taking a few sips of the tea. “And for the water…I hadn’t realized you sent it.”

Kocho’s brow furrowed. “You sound surprised.” She frowned. “What? Did you think I was off sulking somewhere, angry at you for getting injured again?” Giyu shifted and stared off out the window at the moon. Apparently, this was answer enough. “Alright well…I was angry—am angry,” Kocho admitted. “I told you I didn’t want to see you back here, and then you get dragged in here practically unconscious from blood loss and covered in…” She motioned to the bandages which covered bits and pieces of his arms and torso like some sort of geometric fabric pattern. “What are these? Bite marks? Scratches? Stab wounds?”

“That last one probably,” he answered matter-of-factly. “One of its attacks was like a barrage of broken glass.”

Crossing her arms, Kocho sighed. “I’ve been treating survivors for weeks now. A lot of them say they had never seen anything like it before—I guess that’s the power of a Kizuki for you.” She paused, and the hard lines of her face softened. “They’ve been telling me that they would’ve died if you hadn’t shown up—that somehow you managed to take that thing down single-handedly. They’re going to make you the Water Hashira for this you know…”

Giyu shrugged. “I don’t think they’ll make me a Hashira…”

“Of course they will,” said Kocho cutting him off. “You took down a Lower Moon. Even the people who were there can’t believe it. How’d you do it?”

Giyu stared intently at his hands and sighed. He wasn’t even really sure himself—it was all a blur, but that last blow, the final blow… “It’s a new Water Breathing form I’ve been working on. I call it ‘Dead Calm.’”

A laugh escaped from Kocho’s mouth before she caught herself. “Oh you were serious about the name?”

Giyu blinked. “I don’t understand what’s funny about it. It’s not that much different than ‘Butterfly Dance.’”

“Don’t bring my forms into this. They have much better names than ‘Dead Calm.’” She tilted her head and smiled teasingly. “Tomioka-san, you need to work on your naming preferences and your sense of humor. Especially since you’re going to be a Hashira now…you’ll probably be naming all kinds of new forms.”

“I don’t think so. It took me years to come up with this one…” Giyu sighed shifting away from Kocho. What she must think of him—struggling to come up with one measly form when she had created an entire breathing style. “And water breathing is the easiest of all the forms to learn…”

“Says the future Water Hashira…” Kocho huffed with a pointed glance that surprised him. “I tried water breathing…it is not easy. I could only ever do one of the forms…”

“The Seventh?” he interrupted seemingly startling her before she bristled.

“How did you know?” He blinked at her unsure if this was a rhetorical question or if she expected an answer. She continued filling the silence, “See, you really are meant to be a Hashira, you Water Breathing expert.”

“I’m not an expert,” Giyu sighed. “And I don’t think they’ll make me a Hashira.” They shouldn’t…he thought. Imagine a Hashira who couldn’t even pass Final Selection.

“You keep saying that, but surely you can’t be this surprised. Weren’t you a tsuguko?”

“By default…after the original was…” Giyu stopped. His throat constricted, and his chest felt tight. “He should’ve been the Water Hashira—not me.”

The air in the room suddenly changed. Kocho sighed and took a seat next to his bedside. Her voice grew quiet, gentle. “Was he a friend of yours?”

Giyu nodded. “Like a brother.” His voice didn’t waver, but it didn’t sound like his own. Something burned in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” said Kocho. “I know that sounds empty—it’s just words—but I am sorry.”

Giyu could almost feel her mood shift—a righteous anger rising in her, a fire in her eyes. He turned to look at her as she clinched her fists and her soft voice trembled, “I hate demons, and I’m sick and tired of them taking people from us. If I could take down every single one of them myself, I would.” She paused before standing up from her seat. “This is why you have to be the Water Hashira—to make them pay and to save people from having to lose someone they love just like…you did. There are lots of people who wish they could do that…but…there are some people that just aren’t strong enough to take down one of the Kizuki like you just did. That’s why you have to.” As she turned away from him and stumbled just slightly over those last few words, Giyu was suddenly aware that he didn’t know anything about why Kocho had become a demon slayer—who she had lost and was looking to avenge. He stared at her back almost blankly, far more surprised than he should have been to discover that they were so similar.

“Kocho…” he began hoping he would think of something to say, but Kocho cut him off.

“Your friend,” she asked staring out the window at the moon her demeanor softening. “What was he like?”

Giyu blinked and shifted. His voice was constricted but he somehow managed, “Brave. Strong. Honest. Selfless…he died saving everyone at our Final Selection…” The words got mangled in the back of his throat, and his voice faltered as the painful memory—the truth—of his final selection became too much to bear.

“He sounds like an amazing person—very heroic.” Kocho paused solemnly. “Someone like that—who’d sacrifice themselves—I don’t think someone like that would want there not to be a Water Hashira—especially not because of his memory. Don’t you think that if he knew how you saved everyone, how you took down one of the Lower Moons all by yourself—don’t you think he’d want this for you—would want you to be the Water Pillar?”

Giyu shifted. He couldn’t argue with that. He could almost imagine what Sabito himself would say if he was here but…”I don’t deserve it. I didn’t earn it like the others…”

“Don’t be ridiculous…” Kocho began, but Giyu interrupted.

“You heard what I said about Final Selection…I didn’t pass.”

“Tomioka-san, do you want to know how I passed final selection? I wove a basket out of bamboo leaves and collected a bunch of wisteria from the edge of the mountain. I made it into a paste and constantly coated my sword and myself in it. It repelled some demons, but most of them still tried to attack me. I was only good at that one water breathing form and it couldn’t even decapitate a demon. I survived only by jabbing at them with my wisteria dipped sword and running away while the poison prolonged their regeneration time.” Kocho huffed. “Now that eventually did evolve into my Insect Breathing, but at time, it was pretty pathetic.” She sighed. “All I’m saying is that I don’t think Final Selection was most people’s shining moment.”

Giyu blinked at her as she took her seat next to his bedside again. When he had barely begun to process what she had said, she met his eyes with a pointed intensity. “Regardless of what happened back then, you’ve earned this. The Demon Slayer Corps needs you to be the Water Hashira, and I think you’ll be a good one…if you stop acting like such an airhead and actually take care of yourself for once, that is,” she added with a tilt of her head and a flash of that teasing smile. “When you’re a Pillar, you’ll have lots of people counting on you so you will need to take care of yourself. Hopefully that will be enough motivation.”

“You…really think I’m going to be the next Water Hashira?”

Kocho raised her eyebrows. “I know you’re going to be the next Water Hashira.” She paused and crossed her arms. “But don’t get too cocky about it and start feeling invincible. I’m right behind you. I’m going to be the first Insect Hashira, and then I won’t have all this extra time to patch up the wounds you get from being reckless and absent-minded.”

Giyu’s mouth twitched, and he exhaled slightly. Kocho huffed and waved a finger at him, “I mean it, Tomioka-san.”

“I know you do,” he answered dryly his voice trailing as his vision went a bit blurry and that sedative of Kocho’s really started to kick in. His eyes felt heavy and eventually drooped shut, and Giyu fell asleep feeling lighter somehow—as if he had started to let go of a weight he didn’t even know he was holding onto.

#giyu tomioka #shinobu kocho #tomioka giyū #kocho shinobu #healthy male female friendships for the win!!#this was intended to be a friendship story but you could take it romantically if you really wanted to #so i'm going to go ahead and tag giyushino just to be safe #giyushino #demon slayer spoilers #kimetsu no yaiba spoilers #demon slayer manga spoilers #kimetsu no yaiba manga spoilers #demon slayer fanfiction #kimetsu no yaiba fanfiction #take care of yourself chapters #thank you for reading

5 notes · View notes