#do you believe Makomo’s theory ?

[octoooo]

Ever wondered why Rabito has a heart patch on his thigh? Or why he fluffs up in winter ? Well Makomo has and did her best to answer these questions >:3c

[creative-kny-fics]

Hi! I hope you can accept this request, Lee! Giyuu, Ler Urokodaki, a context would be that Giyuu visits his teacher but at night Urokodaki finds Giyuu sobbing in his room, for what he regrets, such as the death of his sister and his friends and also that he knows what some of The pillars thought badly of him (mostly Sanemi and Obanai at the beginning but then it changed but he didn't know that) and Urokodaki consoled him since I feel that Urokodaki is like Giyuu's grandfather or father and tried to cheer him up, with somewhat childish games with his points. more sensitive, (like playing "itsy witsy" on his ribs or "this little piggy" on his feet, Urokodaki is reserved but for his student he would do anything to see him better, I know that Giyuu was his favorite, along with Makomo )

Please and Thanks!

JJSHSKSHJSHDKSJS grandfather and grandson relationship 😔 I really like to think that Urokodaki was the one who cried his eyes out when he found out that Giyuu had survived, but that nevertheless, he will die at 25.

But in my AU, no one dies, I have my reason UnU

If you want to know what Giyuu says, it's saying "grandpa"

Ler: Sakonji Urokodaki

Lee: Giyuu Tomioka

Nobody knew where Giyuu went during his days off, some thought that he didn't go anywhere, that he only stayed at his estate and waited for the days to pass before returning to action, others believed that he simply slept and did nothing more.

Not even Shinobu, the one closest to him, knew, every time she tried to visit him, she couldn't find anyone, the estate was completely empty, there weren't even any signs of Kanzaburo, where was he going?

'How is everything going? Today you have come before, you usually come every end of the month. Some reason?'

'I asked to change my days, just for this month. There's no reason', he said, before continuing to eat.

Mhm, every time Giyuu had his days off, he went to visit and stay at Urokodaki's house, it had become his routine after Giyuu left there and started living alone, it was good for him.

Although no one noticed, he returned a little more cheerful and confident, it was the best vacation he could have.

Urokodaki didn't have any problem with it, he loved Giyuu's company, but sometimes he felt that something was wrong with him, if there was no reason, then why did he decide to bring his vacation forward?

Something bad had happened, and he was going to find out.

'Giyuu, I'll prepare some tea and some onigiris, do you fancy some?'

'No thanks... I'm fine...', he knew it, something bad was happening.

Giyuu's voice and timbre were totally different, although there wasn't that much difference, if you were attentive enough like him, you would notice.

In reality, the food excuse was not real, it was just a test to rule out his theories. 'Everything is alright? Do you want to talk about...?'

'Everything is fine, it's not necessary. Thank you also for your offer, maybe I'll get hungry later and eat something. But for now I'm fine' 'It's okay, rest well...'

Urokodaki closed the door, but didn't leave, there was something strange here, he knew that spying was wrong, but Giyuu needed it, even if he didn't have the courage to say it.

A long time passed until a sound was present. He put his ear a little closer to the door, trying not to make a sound. If Giyuu noticed, he would repress that emotion again.

'Sa... Sabi... Sabito... Tsu... Tsuta-Tsutako... Nee-san...', so that was it.

Urokodaki slowly and silently opened the door, only to find Giyuu hugging himself, trying to find comfort as he cried and clenched his teeth in an effort to stop crying, thinking that he could wake up his sensei.

'Giyuu...' 'Huh...? Uro-Urokodaki - Sensei!', Giyuu turned around, quickly wiping away his tears, then shook his head and returned to his usual expression. 'You don't have to pretend, I heard and saw everything, is that why you came back?'

'I don't know what you're talking about...'

'Of course you know, I know you. I can even say that I have raised you as if you were my son. I know you well, besides, if you weren't doing "anything" why your futon pillow is wet and why are your eyes swollen?'

Giyuu didn't even bother to deny it, he just looked away closing his eyes, he couldn't do more after all.

Urokodaki took off his mask, approaching and kneeling, facing him, with his right hand, he grabbed Giyuu's chin and forced him to look at him. 'If there really is nothing wrong with you, look me in the face and tell me that's not the case.'

'There's nothing wrong with me, I'm fine...'

'Say it again.', Giyuu repeated it again, but the 3rd time, he stopped at "I'm fine."

He couldn't control it, the previous times he could do it because he really wasn't looking him in the eyes, he thought he was ready and he wasn't.

Giyuu hid into his shoulder, he didn't want to cry, it was enough trouble that he had made his sensei stay up so late just because he wanted to make sure he was okay, he wasn't going to give him another problem.

'Why do you keep holding back what you feel? Why do you harm yourself? Do you know that if Sabito were here, he would have given you a lesson a long time ago for putting yourself down?'

'If he were here, I wouldn't be like this... I wouldn't have to deal with my role as a hashira, because Sabito would be one. He deserves the title more than me...'

'Both you and him deserve that title, Sabito was strong and skilled for his age, yes. You may not have been one at the time, but you kept trying and now you are where you are, I'm sure that you and Sabito would have worked together to become the best water hashiras... ', Giyuu didn't believe it.

He didn't believe that Sabito would have acted like him, he probably would have been like Muichiro and only in a matter of months would have become a hashira.

He wasn't even half the level that Sabito would have been, that was what he believed, and it wasn't true.

'You don't believe anything I've told you, do you...?' 'No, you don't understand me... Sabito is and always will be better than me, if only I...'

'Time will not turn back, even if you had wanted to face that demon, Sabito would not have let you. He probably would have felt worse than you knowing that he couldn't protect something valuable to him from you. I want to understand you Giyuu, but you always close yourself off to me, help'

Giyuu wanted to say something, but probably the next thing that would come out of his mouth would once again be one more reason to scold him for feeling that way.

Urokodaki no longer knew what to do with Giyuu, he wanted to support him, but he wouldn't let him, he didn't know what he could do with him, he had tried to help him for so many years, failing.

'I think it would be best for you to go to sleep, this conversation exhausted me. See you in the morning.'

'No, we'll talk about this here and now, stop being stubborn Giyuu or else...', he stopped.

It wasn't the time, nor the place, much less the situation to do it, but he wanted to at least cheer up Giyuu for a little while, even if this wasn't the time.

Could that perhaps raise the possibility that Giyuu finally understands Urokodaki's intentions of wanting to help him so that he can take that enormous weight off his shoulders?

'Urokodaki-San? All good?' 'Yes... Then, you will foolishly remain in your current position?'

'I repeat that everything is fine, there is no need to continue chatting about this', perfect, it was all he needed to hear.

Giyuu sighed into another hug, he didn't hate physical contact, but if that hug lasted longer, he felt like he would cry and he couldn't help it.

Do you know what was good about Urokodaki wearing a mask? In that Giyuu would not know his reactions nor could he discover his intentions before.

'E-eh...?', he was startled when he felt a pair of fingers sliding down his neck.

*"Oh no, this has to be a fucking joke..."*, was what Giyuu thought before tensing his body and looking away while Urokodaki continued moving his fingers up and down.

'Is something wrong Giyuu?' 'N-no... Everything's fine... Ghk...'

He wasn't going to fool anyone, especially with that last sound he made when he clenched his teeth when those fingers that were caressing his neck slowly slid over his shoulders, simulating walk on tiptoe

'Co-come on, Urokodaki-San... This is childish... This...' 'If it is childish, then it won't affect you that much. I'm just trying to comfort...', good point.

Giyuu couldn't help it, but his cheeks turned red, he was right, if this tickling thing was childish then there wouldn't be any problem with him, he could control it, he had to control it.

'Ur-Urohokodahaki-Sahahan!! I'm nohohohot a chihihild anymohohore!!'

'Well, in my opinion you are. Maybe what you're having now is just a nightmare... So I guess I'll have to tickle the nightmares to get them away from you...' 'A-Ahahahare you seheheherihohohous?!', yes, he is very serious Giyuu.

Obviously, Urokodaki wasn't going to let Giyuu keep his sadness, even if Giyuu feigned annoyance, he knows it's not true, he knows him well enough. 'So Giyuu? Do you feel better?'

'Yehehehehehe!! I fehehel behetteheheher!! Plehahasehe!! Thihihis is so chihildihihish!!'

'But do you like it or am I wrong?'

Urokodaki laughed as Giyuu fell on his back while covering his red face and nodding. Do you see it?

Giyuu didn't hate this, he would never hate it, it was his way of de-stressing when he thought the rest wasn't worth it, although that last one was a secret, because everyone thought he liked them and that's it.

'Is that why you came back? Why did you want this wonderful moment? And don't try to lie, I know when you lie...' 'Okay, Okahahahay!! Yohohou gohohohot meee!! Stohohohop ahahaha tahalkihihing!! I-It's dohohoing wohohohorse!! Plehahasehe!!'

'Am I doing worse? How? You know well that I can be crueler than this, do you want that?'

If there was a chance to turn redder, Giyuu probably would have made it.

He wanted to agree, but he was embarrassed by the idea, although he didn't need to say anything, after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right?

'So? Am I giving you what you wanted?' 'YEHEHEHES!! EHEHEHEHEHE!! OH MY GOHOHOHOSH!!'

'Hah, not even a "please stop"? Looks like I have a long night ahead of me...'

[arigatouiris]

bereft // tomioka giyuu

Author’s Note: I absolutely adore Tomioka Giyuu. Especially with the way he’s written, the insecurities play out so well, it’s just beautiful. And I like writing angst because he’s just so easy to hurt (oh my god). There are spoilers for the manga in this one, so watch out!

Word count: 4680

Pairing: Tomioka Giyuu x Reader

Warnings: angst, pining, one-sided love, hurt/comfort, spoilers for the manga

❝

It wasn’t as if Tomioka Giyuu didn’t believe in love. 

There were many reasons as to why his childhood was so important to him. He had left behind parts of him that he didn’t have the strength to carry ahead in life: the warmth that reminded him of his sister, the playfulness he felt with Sabito, the sibling care he felt with Makomo, or the love he felt for (y/n).

As a child, people often brushed off the thoughts of love or attachment, saying that it wasn’t exactly too serious or it wasn’t actually ‘love’. But, with Giyuu, things were different.

Even as a child, Tomioka Giyuu felt things too intensely. It was perhaps a trait he had inherited because it was the same with his sister as well. His sister taught him not to hide from love, that love was the only thing binding them all together. Love worked in mysterious and fascinating ways, teaching you to constantly better your best and improve in ways one never thought possible. Giyuu was always fascinated with the way his sister spoke about love, on its various forms, on how the idea was contorted with time and age.

It was with (y/n), a fellow orphan who was living with Urokodaki, did Giyuu feel it for the first time. Ever since losing his sister, he held on to the idea of love that she left behind—it was all he had.

But, it felt like destiny with Giyuu; to love people he could never have.

(y/n) (s/n) was evidently infatuated with Sabito, and it was something not only Giyuu or Makomo noticed, but Sabito had as well. As tough as he was with people he would train with, with (y/n), he would show his softer sides, offering her more of his calm smiles, and sweet touches. Giyuu often found them talking to each other in a private space, with Sabito’s eyes firmly fixed on her shy form. All Giyuu could do was watch from a distance, swallowing stones, easing his tumultuous soul. He wondered what his sister would tell him then, about what he was feeling and why loving (y/n) made him feel so alone.

Perhaps, because he felt so lonely, Giyuu had his own theories as to why this love felt so painful. Maybe he was destined to forever fall in love with people he couldn’t have. Maybe there’s a whole assortment of impossible people waiting for him to find them. Waiting to make him feel the same impossibility over and over again. 

     “Tomioka-kun!” (y/n) looked excited that morning.

Giyuu blinked before turning to her, butterflies in his stomach as he noticed her shiny eyes and warm smile. He instantly looked around for Sabito, wondering where he was. Makomo was inside, helping Urokodaki with breakfast. 

     “(s/n),” Giyuu responded, his voice breaking out of embarrassment. He wasn’t used to speaking to her, despite knowing her for almost a year. “Good morning.”

(y/n) plopped herself beside Giyuu, who was taking a break from practicing his swordsmanship. His face reddened as she sat down, before trying to look away. But, he couldn’t. She was far too gorgeous to turn away from. 

     “Good morning. Were you practicing?” 

Giyuu nodded, his blush intensifying. “Where’s Sabito?”

     “He said he’s foraging for some vegetables. I wanted to join him, but he brushed me off.” (y/n) pouted as she said this.

Giyuu felt his heart ache at the sight of her blushing, pouting face. All these expressions would never be directed toward him, and it wasn’t as if he was jealous of Sabito—that wasn’t the case at all, Giyuu adored and respected Sabito more than anyone else. However, these emotions he had for (y/n) were conflicting. Just as his name was mentioned, the peach haired boy walked toward them, Giyuu’s eyes widened at Sabito’s calm smile.

     “Giyuu,” He turned to (y/n), “(y/n), let’s go eat.” 

(y/n) stood up instantly before frowning at Sabito, who merely chuckled and patted her head. Giyuu couldn’t admit it, but the two of them together made so much sense. Sabito’s kindness and (y/n)’s gentle nature fit together perfectly, it was as if they were sent to Urokodaki just so that they could meet. Even though they were both set on becoming demon slayers, their togetherness was a fact set on stone.

     “You look pale, did you sleep well?” Sabito’s voice was soft, and Giyuu turned away. 

(y/n) giggled, “Of course! You worry so much, Sabito-kun.”

Sabito smiled. His smiles always felt like home. 

That evening, Sabito and Giyuu were training together. Makomo and (y/n) were off practicing their breathing techniques, and while the two boys were training, Sabito found it a tad bit easier to beat Giyuu to the ground when compared to other days. Cocking an eyebrow, the peach-haired boy knew something was occupying his friend’s mind.

     “Is something wrong?” He didn’t bother hiding the concern in his voice.

Giyuu couldn’t meet his eye. What would he say? That he was in love with the same girl Sabito was in love with? After how kind Sabito was, there was no way Giyuu could even hope for such selfishness. Sabito stepped closer to Giyuu, before offering him a hand. Giyuu looked up at Sabito, who was smiling softly at his friend. Giyuu’s hesitance confirmed his suspicions.

Sabito pulled his friend to a standing position before leading him to the waterfall nearby. Turning to his friend, he sent him a mocking smile before rushing away from Giyuu, who blinked in retaliation.

     “Are you going to take all day to reach the top?” Sabito mocked.

Giyuu grinned before following after his friend, and the two of them engaged in a playful race—which, Sabito had won easily.

     “Is it about (y/n)?” Sabito asked, his voice low.

Giyuu didn’t answer. He couldn’t even meet his friend’s eye.

     “Do you love her, Giyuu?” Sabito asked, no anger or hurt in his voice. 

Giyuu shut his eyes, unhappy with the circumstance he was in. 

     “I’m sorry—”

     “Every time you reveal your feelings, you apologize,” Sabito sounded a bit irritated at this now. “Have you never had an emotion in your life that you weren’t ashamed of?”

Giyuu’s eyes widened and he looked up at his friend’s scowl. Sabito’s anger wasn’t raging hot; it was a warm winter fire, comforting and honest. Giyuu felt his eyes tear up at the presence of his friend’s radiance. Sabito’s scowl vanished a second later, and a soft smile replaced his features. A sad smile, which revealed nothing in words yet the truth had been spoken.

     “We don’t choose who we love, Giyuu,” Sabito said, looking at his friend in the eye. “I’m truly very sorry—”

     “You have nothing to apologize for!” Giyuu fought back, brushing off Sabito’s hands.

Sabito chuckled before leading him away from the falls, the conversation was enough to let Giyuu know to accept his feelings rather than run from them. For as long as Sabito was around, there was nothing Giyuu had to feel ashamed of. Even if he was in love with the same girl his best friend was in love with.

*

There was nothing but distraught in Giyuu’s eyes as he watched Makomo being eaten. Sabito stared in horror at the sight, (y/n) and Giyuu closely behind him. The other children were a bit away, not having had the misfortune of facing the hand demon, at whose hands (y/n) was sure they would face their death.

     “Sabito, we can’t... We can’t save her—”

     “Giyuu,” Sabito said, his voice low. The rage of a calm man was often terrifying and right then, Sabito’s rage was no winter fire.

Sabito’s rage right then was of an angry lion, hungry and devoid of shelter, in pursuit of blood. 

     “Giyuu,” He repeated again, ignoring (y/n)’s shaking form, “Take (y/n) and run.”

     “N-No!” (y/n) responded first, grabbing onto Sabito’s hand, while he simply pushed her away.

Giyuu couldn’t believe what his friend was even suggesting. His eyes traveled to (y/n)’s form, shaking and afraid, her eyes displaying the terror that had unfolded on them at the moment. 

     “This is the only way, Giyuu. Please,” Sabito turned to his friend before offering him the same smile, “Protect her for me.”

(y/n) and Giyuu’s eyes widened at his words. She turned to look at Giyuu who didn’t meet her gaze before tears filled her eyes. She jumped at Sabito, who stood there like a log and held on to him for dear life.

     “S-Sabito-kun, I can’t... Please, I don’t know what I’d do without you—”

Turning to her, he placed a calm hand on her cheek before saying, “You will live. You will pass this test and become a demon slayer. You will avenge your family. You will make another. (y/n), if loving you has taught me anything, then it is that you are stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

She shook her head. There was no way she would leave him. If it meant getting eaten, then she would be eaten alongside him. She couldn’t—

Sabito turned to Giyuu one last time and nodded. Giyuu knew what he had to do. He jabbed at the nape of her neck and she instantly fell to the ground, Giyuu catching her on time. Sabito smiled one last time at his best friend; a sad smile, a relieved smile—a smile that said ‘thank you’.

*

When Giyuu took (y/n) out of the forest, he had let go of his sister’s ideology of love back there as well. He turned to the unconscious girl in his arms, who’s consciousness would only give her more grief. Sabito was gone, there was no going back from there. Placing the girl on the ground, Giyuu tapped her cheek a couple of times, his eyes devoid of emotion, the light in his face gone, the warmth in his heart, lost.

When she came to, the first thing she whispered was Sabito’s name. Giyuu felt a monstrous sort of grief wrap around him, a grief he couldn’t show. He blamed himself, he blamed how weak he was, he grieved over how Sabito chose the lives of everyone else before his own, he grieved over how bereft he felt now that his best friend was gone, and he grieved over giving (y/n) the same grief. In a way, Giyuu felt, he had stolen Sabito’s life from her, leaving her devoid of a life Sabito would have been more than happy to give her. He would take it if she was angry at him, even if she would push him away, even if she would never talk to him again.

Loving her meant letting her go, and he had understood that way before Sabito had sacrificed himself.

     “Tomioka-kun?”

It had once pained his heart that he was always ‘Tomioka’ while Sabito was just ‘Sabito’. But now, he felt a wicked sort of relief. He stared at her with no emotion in his face, and the mere expression he bore repeated the truth to her once again. Tears filled her eyes and she cried, loudly and as if her heart was breaking one more time.

He watched her cry, not having the heart to do the same. Perhaps, it was shock that didn’t let Giyuu cry that night. Urokodaki even wondered if the boy would ever let himself feel again.  

Two days later, (y/n) approached him as he trained. Their swords were yet to arrive, and in those two days, Giyuu hadn’t spoken a word to either (y/n) or Urokodaki. The old man told (y/n) to leave him to his own; people grieved differently. Urokodaki knew of (y/n)’s relationship with Sabito and knew that both children were facing a different sort of pain that he knew nothing about. 

     “Tomioka... No,” Giyuu paused his training but didn’t look at her, “Giyuu,”

He looked at her now, still feeling a hum of the same heartache she would always make him feel. She looked worried, a worried expression he was not used to seeing on her, which gave him more grief than satisfaction.

     “C-Can we talk?”

Giyuu didn’t want to. If it was about Sabito, he had said everything he had to say. But, he couldn’t push her away. If there was anyone in the world who understood his grief, then it was (y/n). Sabito had slapped him long ago, a slap Giyuu had now forgotten with Sabito’s death. 

Suddenly, his eyes widened. (y/n)’s hand was placed firmly against his cheek, the same cheek Sabito had slapped, and he saw tears in her eyes.

     “You’re grieving,” She said, her voice breaking. “And I’m so sorry—”

He pulled away, his eyes narrowing at her approach, “What are you even sorry for? I should be the one—”

He stopped himself before he said too much. He winced at his own words that had slipped without his command and went back to training as if nothing had happened. (y/n) stood there, in shock, meeting his grief face to face but not having the power to drive it away. She was not Sabito, only he knew how to approach Giyuu.

     “I’m sorry I never saw it.” She whispered as she walked away, not saying another word to him.

As Giyuu clenched his jaw, he wondered if he would ever see her again. He wondered each day after that, if (y/n) would remember who he was, if (y/n) would ever get over the death of his best friend. He wondered day in and day out over random things—about what she was doing, if she was still a demon slayer, if she was married.

Six years passed. And then another two. And not a day went by when Giyuu didn’t think of (y/n). 

He thought of the way she held his cheek that day, and he thought of the thousand different ways he had hoped he responded. But, he had pushed her away, albeit harshly, over a grief both of them shared.

*

The next time (y/n) saw Giyuu Tomioka was in between a mission. (y/n) had just completed it, and was returning to the butterfly estate. She noticed the haori and her heart’s pace quickened. The person was walking away from her, and she rushed toward them, grabbing the male by the shoulder and turning them around.

Her wide (e/c) eyes met his ocean blue ones. Upon seeing her, Giyuu’s eyes widened as well, before her name flew out of his lips like a charm.

     “G-Giyuu... Is... Is that really you?” (y/n)’s voice was different from before, it was more refined, womanlike.

Giyuu’s heart rate was escalating at a very rapid pace, but he was a master of breathing now; he calmed himself down as if nothing had occurred and greeted her casually.

     “Yes. It’s been very long, (y/n).” He could now speak her name without being torn in half.

She smiled at him before taking a good long look at his features. Giyuu had always been a cute boy, but now he was grown up—handsome and elegant, he reminded her nothing of the boy he used to be.

     “You look well.” She said, gleefully.

He nodded, “So do you.”

And then it got awkward. She could sense it, he was still grieving—having had no outlet to let out his emotions. Sabito’s death, at one point, destroyed her life but it was because of the love she had for him did she keep going on. She fought hard and became a demon slayer, reaching the rank of Kinoto. Meeting Giyuu again, relieved her—knowing he was safe, and it gave her a sense of home.

Without thinking, she stepped forward and embraced him, tears streaming from her face at the thought of everything they had been through, as Giyuu stood there, unmoving. He didn’t even need her coming to him for him to realize he still had feelings for her. He knew it all along. He had never stopped loving her. However, there was no way he could ever allow himself to tell her what he was feeling. No one could know because it didn’t matter.

     “Will you eat lunch with me?” She asked, tilting her head and smiling the same smile Giyuu had fallen so strongly in love with all those years ago.

He couldn’t help but return half of her smile. She was warm, like the sun, and somehow—Giyuu knew he had missed everything about her. The two of them headed to a small stall that sold noodles, and the two demon slayers sat down before (y/n) turned to the owner of the stall.

     “Sir, by any chance, do you have daikon?” 

Giyuu’s eyes widened as he turned to face her.

     “We have them fresh, ma’am! Would you like some?” The owner of the stall replied, courteously.

(y/n) smiled back before saying, “Could you please serve fresh daikon with some simmered salmon?”

Giyuu’s face reddened, and he found fighting the smile that was threatening to embrace his features was harder than fighting demons. (y/n) turned to him and grinned, before sitting back down beside him.

     “You still like it, don’t you?”

Giyuu didn’t say anything.

     “You used to love a fresh plate. You would always—”

     “You remembered.” Giyuu said, now looking directly at her.

She nodded, “Of course I did. Why wouldn’t I?”

She had no reason to. She was in love with Sabito. He was nothing but a friend. He was—

     “You were family.” She whispered. 

     “I’m sorry,” (y/n) turned to look at him, “For Sabito. For everything—”

     “You did the right thing, Giyuu,” she said, her eyes warm. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

The two of them ate, exchanging pleasantries, (y/n) laughing and being shy over things she now revealed she liked. She told him of some of her adventures and was shocked in hearing he was now a Hashira. 

     “You’re a Hashira? Should I bow to you?”

Giyuu merely stared at her face, unimpressed.

     “Such a cold stare...” She said, backing away.

He wouldn’t admit it, but everything about her now made him feel lightheaded. He found himself opening up little by little, and perhaps the fact that he knew her well long before helped him in shedding off the formalities with her now. (y/n), as she claimed, was like family. They trained together, used the same techniques, knew each other’s weaknesses and strengths and even favorite foods.

They were walking back to the butterfly estate together after that, and their conversations still didn’t end. He found himself telling her about Kamada Tanjiro and his sister, knowing she would keep it a secret. She was impressed that Giyuu had placed his life on the line for someone else, a hidden kindness only she knew he had possessed.

     “You truly impress me,” She said, looking at him. Giyuu blinked in confusion, “You really do.”

     “How?”

     “You are so kind, Giyuu, you don’t even see it.”

Giyuu didn’t agree. He turned away and looked at the ground, not willing to accept what she had said. If anyone was kind it was her—talking to him despite everything that had happened. If anyone was kind, it was Sabito—who had sacrificed his own life to save everyone else.

     “I’m not kind.” He responded, coldly.

A warm hand wrapped itself around his wrist, and Giyuu paused. He turned to look at her hand and then looked at her, unaware of what to say. She shook her head before her hand reached downwards, encircling around his hand now, grabbing his fingers. Giyuu resisted the urge to hold her hand, but she somehow sensed his hesitance. She forced herself inside and held his hand tighter until she felt him hold her back.

     “(y/n)—”

     “You always would give yourself such less credit,” She said, her voice a mere whisper. “Even Sabito-kun found it strangely depressing.”

He felt his heart clench at her words. Guilt washed over him. There was nothing he could say to that. However, his hand was now firmly holding hers, and he liked the contact. He didn’t know what he was missing until she had shown him. 

When the two of them reached the butterfly estate, Giyuu was glad Shinobu Kochou was not around. Not that he disliked her, it was, in fact, the opposite, but he was afraid if his resurfacing feelings for (y/n) were evident. He didn’t want her smug face rubbing it in any further than it had already sunk in.

They were to stay there until further notice—demons were plaguing the land, and a mission was not far. Giyuu enjoyed this time with (y/n), speaking to her every day, even going as far as training with her.  

     “Your form is still incorrect.” He scolded her, a soft smirk on his features.

     “This will do.” She said, ambitiously, before Giyuu toppled her to the ground.

He moved away from her and let out a chuckle, before earning a smack on the head. He turned to see her pout at him and his eyes widened; he turned away instantly before being reminded of an image he had almost forgotten. She would pout at Sabito a lot, and now, here was one directed at him.

     “Giyuu?” 

He cleared his throat before looking at her, a pained expression landed on his face. She noticed everything that was on his face and let out a sigh.

     “I knew,” She said.

Giyuu didn’t say anything.

     “I always knew. With the way you looked at me and spoke to me sometimes, I knew what you were feeling. I wanted you to come and tell me so that I could turn you down, but what hurt me was that you never accepted those feelings for yourself.”

     “(y/n), you were with Sabito—”

     “Yes, but there’s something called being honest with yourself. Giyuu, if you end up thinking you don’t deserve any sort of kindness in your life, any sort of happiness, just because you lost everything, you’re only punishing yourself!”

He stared at her face. He had never seen her so emotionally charged.

     “I was never... Sabito was the one who saved everyone. Sabito was the one you had your eyes on. Sabito—”

     “Sabito-kun is dead, Giyuu, and you have to accept that.” She was crying now.

     “I’m sorry, (y/n).”

She shook her head, “I’m sorry, too. You deserve so much more. You don’t even know it.”

*

(y/n) wrote Giyuu a lot of letters in the next few weeks. Giyuu rarely responded to letters, but it was (y/n), and he had almost admitted that he was in love with her. She would write to him about her days, about things she saw, people she met and Giyuu would respond curtly. He enjoyed the attention, and she was a part of his past that he held on to fondly.

He met her once again, by chance, when she was eating dinner. She was by a stall again and a soft smile sat on Giyuu’s face as he approached her. (y/n)’s eyes fell on his approaching form and widened before she got up and rushed to greet him.

     “You didn’t have to run to me, I was coming there.” Giyuu said, amused.

     “I was happy to see you.”

In the time she spent writing letters to him, she realized she was helping him heal. And the thing about healing was that when you helped another heal, you heal yourself as well. The first few letters she wrote to Giyuu, she wrote for him. The several letters that came after, she could not stop writing. And now, seeing him in flesh again, confirmed her suspicions.

She was falling in love again. With Tomioka Giyuu.

     “Do you want me to buy you dinner?” She asked, cheekily.

Giyuu frowned a bit, “I can buy dinner myself, (y/n).”

     “You two are a cute couple. What will you be having?” The stall owner said, shocking both of them.

(y/n)’s face turned red instantly and Giyuu’s eyes remained stoic. He turned to her before turning away, ordering what he wanted and waiting patiently.

     “Giyuu—”

     “It’s nothing.”

She frowned a tad bit before feeling dejected. After eating, the two of them walked over to the house with the wisteria symbol and were given rooms to rest in. Since they were man and woman, the kind old lady ensured each had their own rooms. 

After changing into more comfortable clothing, (y/n) and Giyuu sat beside one another, at the side of the house. No words were spoken, just two people enjoying each other’s company in silence. She turned to look at him, noticing features from his face she had never noticed before. His hair was longer, his eyes were colder, and his features—oh, they were handsome indeed. Just the mere thought sent blood rushing to her face, and she turned away, quickly shutting her eyes.

Giyuu turned to look at her this time, after having felt her eyes on him for several seconds. She was just as he remembered, beautiful and gentle, yet so strong. 

     “Why...” She whispered, “Why won’t you try to tell me how you feel?”

Giyuu almost gasped, his eyes widening slowly.

     “What...” 

She turned to look at him now, distressed eyes. Her hand flew to his cheek, bringing him closer to her. Their faces were inches away, and Giyuu could feel her breath on his face. Her grip on him was strong but so soft at the same time.

     “Why won’t you ever try?” She asked, staring into his eyes.

Giyuu’s eyes were stuck to hers, but for some reason, the air around them changed. His eyes quickly darted to her lips and then back at her eyes. It was as if he was scolding himself for even looking at her lips. The close contact didn’t help. He felt warm all of a sudden, and he was sure he was sweating.

She leaned in closer before pressing her lips to his, stunning him in the process. Giyuu didn’t move, he remained frozen as if this was something he shouldn’t even be doing. 

A second later, she pulled away, quickly getting up from there and excusing herself. Giyuu was shocked, his eyes wide, his mouth ajar, his fingers traveled to his lips and felt them—warm and a bit of (y/n) left behind. 

(y/n) gulped before heading into her room for the night, but there was something there. Something had changed between them, something permanent. She shut herself in her room and stayed there, knowing that either Giyuu would leave her a letter or not in the morning, but would go away before she could see him.

Her words stung him. Why won’t you try? Was she talking about all those times when he could have said something to her and didn’t? All those times he was pulling himself away from her because Sabito was there? Did she deserve to know about his feelings simply because he had them?

Of course, he had them for her, after all.

Giyuu stood up. He walked over to her room and stood there, unmoving. He didn’t know what made him move, but whatever it was, he didn’t want it to stop.

     “(y/n),” His eyes were wide. “Can I come insid—”

The door opened before he could even finish. There she stood, wide-eyed and red-faced, looking at him earnestly. Giyuu walked in, his hands reaching her face, cupping her cheeks before pressing his lips on to hers firmly. Tears fell down from her eyes as her hands flew to his, clutching into him for dear life. Giyuu kissed her as passionately as for all those times he could have said something and didn’t.

And when he pulled away, he took a breath before kissing her once more. His hands flung themselves around her and pulled her close, gripping on to her like she was the only living memory that mattered.

After he pulled away, “I love you, (y/n). I have always loved you.”

(y/n) was crying, but there was a smile on her face. She nodded before cupping his face, kissing his nose, placing her forehead on his. 

     “I love you, Tomioka Giyuu.”

It wasn’t as if Giyuu didn’t believe in love. How could he not when he basically lived for it?

❞