Disclaimer:

I do not own nor claim all the rights to 鬼滅の刃 | Kimetsu no Yaiba | Demon Slayer; all rights are reserved to its respective creator, Koyoharu Gotōge. This is purely a work of fiction; names, characters, businesses, events, localities, and occurrences are all extrapolated from the author's writings and imagination or utilized in a fictitious manner. As such, any direct or indirect references to actual entities, dead or alive, or events do not, in any shape or form, resemble the opinions of the author.

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"..." = Dialogue

'...' = Internal monologues

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Giyuu was standing before the entrance of the Butterfly Mansion, simply staring at the door with a poker face.

If he rings that doorbell, either Shinobu, the Flower Hashira, or a Kakushi staff member would answer. Thereafter, the Water Hashira would be directed to Shinobu's office where he'll be subjected to another round of the stipulated weekly checkups.

He was slightly dazed at such a bewildering prospect.

This isn't his first appointment, nor will it be the last. But he's always felt conflicted about attending these weekly sessions.

How long has this arrangement lasted? Months by now?

And yet, Giyuu still wasn't fully accustomed to the routine; constantly interacting with the Flower Hashira's younger sister remained a confounding phenomenon for him, especially since he felt inclined to close himself off from everyone else—his antisocial nature demanded that he avoid people whenever possible.

Not because he was anxious or shy about talking to others, but because he doesn't deem himself worthy enough to waste their precious time with the likes of him.

But this obstinate, tough girl practically dragged him into this.

She's strict about attendance, and she will stubbornly berate him if he isn't present at every appointment.

Why does she bother anyway? Why does she trouble herself with him?

Giyuu couldn't, for the life of him, fully grasp her objective and intentions here.

'She's an odd one...' Giyuu muses as his finger hovers over the button.

As Giyuu remained in a state of dithering, the Shoji Screen was prematurely slid open before the Water Hashria could tap the doorbell himself.

*Rattle*

Shinobu, who was looking downward, exhaled deeply as she took a step outside.

However, in doing so, the younger slayer inadvertently bumped into a certain someone.

*Thump*

"Oh! I'm terribly sorr—" Shinobu instinctively blurted before she caught a glance at who exactly she walked into.

"... T-Tomioka-san?" she gave a perplexed look.

"... Good morning."

"It's the evening," Shinobu corrected.

"Good evening."

A transient period of awkward silence ensues, neither party knowing what exactly to say in such a peculiar situation—especially Giyuu, who feared that Shinobu's opinion of him might deteriorate due to him standing in front of the door all stalker-like.

'I'm going to get yelled at,' Giyuu accepted his fate.

"..."

Shinobu, on the other hand, had been wondering where Giyuu was—it was the day of the appointment, after all.

For some reason, she gets a little giddy whenever the Water Hashira comes over. She can't say why though.

And now, this same man she thinks a lot about was standing idly by the ingress, with very little indication into the purpose of such loitering.

"..."

"How's your evening been, Tomioka-san?" Shinobu tried striking up a conversation.

'To think I was anxiously waiting for him for the past five hours!' Shinobu internally groaned.

She then lamented, 'In fact, I was about to leave the house to go looking for him! What the hell was I thinking—he was right here all along! I can't show any hints of such embarrassing thoughts!'

"Uh..." Giyuu was at a loss.

'How was my evening...? What time period encompasses the evening? Does the evening start immediately after lunch? No, that's the afternoon. But then when does the afternoon start? Actually, wait, does noon start at lunchtime or does it last for exactly one minute at 12:00 PM before it becomes the afternoon? Actually, what's the time after the morning and before noon called? Is that just morning? But then when does morning start? In fact, when does the night end—and when does that start? When does the evening end in the first place,' Giyuu was going nowhere with this circular pondering.

"I assume you're here for the appointment," Shinobu deftly transitions to the most pressing issue.

"I ate Salmon Daikon."

"... Eh?" Shinobu contrived an expression of utter confusion.

"You asked what I did in the evening," Giyuu clarifies.

"You ate Salmon Daikon in the evening?" Shinobu questions.

"I ate it for lunch."

"That's not the evening, Tomioka-san..."

"Mathematically speaking, it is," Giyuu said with a straight face.

Shinobu was now completely lost, "Mathematically speaking? When did math come into this??"

"Well, you first take a Gaussian Integral, square it and include a y-component to make it a double integral, convert it into polar coordinates, evaluate the resulting Jacobian to account for the change in coordinate systems—"

"No, no," Shinobu interrupts, "now you're just going into a weird tangent."

"But it's a necessary step in the explanation," the Water Hashira answers plainly.

"Really? To explain how lunch is actually an evening meal?" Shinobu said, exasperated.

"My lunch was," said Giyuu.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I ate lunch in the evening, that's why I said 'eating Salon Daikon,'" Giyuu explains as if the underlying implication of his statement carried no weight whatsoever.

"You ate lunch that late?!" Shinobu nearly shouted.

"Hm, technically I eat dinner but I call it lunch..." Giyuu contemplated deeply.

Shinobu facepalmed, "You're hopeless... You can't even maintain a healthy diet and eating schedule..."

"It saves a lot of time, which then allows me to train for much longer," Giyuu was adding fuel to the fire.

"How do you keep saying worse things," Shinobu said grimly.

She sighs, "Let me guess, you skip breakfast as well."

It was clear from the sarcastic tone that Shinobu was not serious when she said that.

"No, I don't."

"Oh thank god—"

"A cup of tea suffices as breakfast, saves time as well."

*Tug*

Shinobu aggressively pulls Giyuu inside the mansion, clasping him by the wrist and promptly dragging him through the Genkan section of the household.

"Kocho-san? What's wrong?"

"Tomioka-san, this is why we have weekly medical checkups. You and your stupidity might actually contract some illness simply because you aren't eating properly," Shinobu replied sternly as she continued to haul him through the halls and corridors of the Butterfly Mansion.

"I'm... not?" Giyuu asked, as if the notion of a poor eating schedule was beyond his comprehension.

"Do I really have to spell it out for you?" Shinobu tightened her grip in annoyance.

"..."

"Exactly, you don't know. Which is why you need me around," she huffs.

Giyuu felt a pang of guilt for his incompetence and for troubling this gracious girl, 'I really shouldn't be bothering her so much... She's got better things to do than to look after me...'

Still, he felt at ease. How long has it been since he's interacted with someone so closely?

How has it been since someone's cared for him so earnestly?

Despite his reservations, Giyuu nonetheless is grateful to this girl; her kindness and effort have not only healed him physically but also provided company when he needed it most.

Especially since she's the reason why he's still alive today.

"I am in your care, Kocho-san," the Water Hashira suddenly affirms, formally assenting to the younger Kocho's treatment.

Shinobu felt a warmth in her heart at the utterance of those words.

He is a strange character for sure, but he's a selfless man.

He has helped her when she needed it the most, relaying insightful advice and motivation for her to work towards a tangible goal—to not give up on her ambitions,

But, more than that, Shinobu enjoys his presence, maybe far more than she thinks. She has this inexplicable desire to learn more about him, to talk to him, and to hopefully work alongside him in the future as fellow slayers.

She smiled meekly.

"Gosh, if I weren't around, you'd be a lost cause," Shinobu comments sheepishly.

Giyuu, initially evoking a visage of surprise, subsequently nodded.

..

..

"So I can't eat Salmon Daikon every day?" Giyuu asks for clarification.

The two were now in an office room.

The Water Hashira was perched on a chair behind Shinobu's desk, where Shinobu herself was seated.

"What? No! That's the definition of an incredibly poor diet!" Shinobu lambasts.

"At least try eating something more healthy," she adds.

"I can't."

"Why not?!" Shinobu exclaimed.

"I only know how to make Salmon Daikon," Giyuu answers plainly.

Shinobu facepalms for the second time today, "You have got to be joking."

"But I'm not."

"How are you even a Hashira with that kind of diet?" Shinobu casts doubt.

"I just train a lot," the Water Hashira gives a straightforward answer.

"Eating the right food is just as important as training hard," Shinobu reprimands.

"It is?"

"I can't believe you were surviving on just Salmon Daikon. Don't you ever get sick of eating the same thing over and over?"

"I also eat rations provided by the Corps; they help provide other vital nutrients," Giyuu claims, seemingly of the mindset that this will somehow placate his interlocutor's worries.

"So you ONLY eat Salmon Daikon and subsistence-level rations???"

"... I sometimes eat out if there are no ingredients at home."

"That's it, I'm writing you a meal plan," Shinobu immediately concludes.

"Uhm..."

"What?" Shinobu snapped. "You're not going to follow it? Well, too bad, I'm going to force you to do so."

"No, it's just... I can't cook..." Giyuu confesses.

Shinobu appeared stunned for a second, "... Oh yeah, that's right. Your simple-minded ways know how to make Salmon Daikon and nothing else."

"Sorry," Giyuu expressed quietly.

"In that case..." Shinobu's voice softens. "Would... you mind if I cooked for you...?"

"... Huh?"

Shinobu blushed angrily, pigments of red encasing her cheeks, "I-It's just to help improve your eating habits! It would be bad for the Corps if a Hashira becomes unwell because of a lack of nutritional intake!"

"Ah..." Giyuu slowly acknowledges. "Good point."

"S-So!" Shinobu abruptly stands up, looking down at the Water Hashira in a gesture to childishly assert her authority. "L-Let me cook for you! It's part of my duty to tend to the health of demon slayers!"

'She's cute,' Giyuu internally notes as he gazes at her with a deadpan look.

"You're... unusually nice today," Giyuu comments placidly.

"Is that a yes or no!" Shinobu demands.

Giyuu exhales faintly, "I don't want to trouble you—"

"Tomioka-san," Shinobu interrupts stringently, "you will trouble me more if you DON'T accept this offer."

The Water Hashira gives it some thought, "Perhaps..."

"So?"

"If the alternative is much to your detriment, then I shall accept this proffer," Giyuu agrees.

Upon hearing this, Shinobu's face gleamed with delight and relaxed almost instantly.

"Feel free to visit during lunch or dinner, I'll have something ready for you!" she sounded more ebullient and full of energy—she seemed very happy.

Even Giyuu was a bit astonished by this change in attitude.

'She's not annoyed anymore... Why's that?' he wonders.

"But don't think you can get away with skipping a meal," she also hurled a warning, albeit lightheartedly—as in accordance with her more merry mood.

"Right..." said Giyuu.

"Now, let me sign a few documents and you'll be good to go," she sits back down and picks up a pen.

As she inscribed specific pieces of information and signatures on the aforementioned documents, Giyuu was watching her closely.

'She really is an odd one... I never know what she's thinking. I'm surprised she hasn't been fed up with me yet,' he ponders.

*Drip* *Drip*

Drops of blood spattered on the paper Shinobu was working through.

A concerned Giyuu immediately stood up, "Kocho-san."

"Ah, it's alright," she covered her nose, while still exuding a cheerful disposition.

"I'm getting nosebleeds a lot nowadays," she expounded as she grabbed some tissue and plugged her nose.

"... How much sleep are you getting?" Giyuu queries.

"I'm getting a good amount."

"Are you eating well?"

"Look who's talking," she chuckles.

"... Kocho-san, you've been overworking yourself," the Water Hashira contends.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Shinobu's expression turned more dour.

"I've spoken to the Flower Hashira, and I have a rough idea of your daily schedule. Physical training, management of the Butterfly Estate, nursing patients, pharmaceutical research, and others. It's clear you've been diligent with your tasks, maybe a little too much," he explains.

"At least, unlike you, Nee-san, and the other Hashiras, I'm not going out on missions regularly—at least, not yet," she minimizes her tribulations.

"It's good that you're committed to a goal—it's good that you intend to become smarter and stronger—but I don't believe it is necessary to destroy yourself in achieving it," Giyuu calmly maintains.

"I'm not destroying myself..." Shinobu quietly counters.

The Water Hashira's face furrows, "Maybe. But, someday, you will find yourself in a place too suffocating to escape. The agony will be too great. In such a situation, you would want to forget the pain, to escape the suffering. In your desperation, you will toil ceaselessly and exert yourself to the limit. That is when you will truly destroy yourself."

Giyuu knew this all too well, as he was speaking directly from experience—from his own encounter with such dangerous sentiments.

In a sense, it is hypocritical of him to criticize Shinobu for overworking herself when he partakes in such activities on a daily basis.

He doesn't eat much because he would rather be training or focused on a mission, honing his skills so that he may slay more demons in the future.

Everything has revolved around his oath to uphold his duties to the utmost. Nothing else matters.

And yet, he too had nearly fallen victim to the oppressive isolation and despair of such an arduous lifestyle, especially with—what he perceives to be—a mountain of corpses that includes his sister and best friends lying beneath him.

The haunting memories along with the painful release of guilt and grief nearly convinced his mind to the notion of expunging his very existence from the Earth; he nearly forsake his duties and oath himself.

He has to thank Shinobu for preventing such events from occurring, but he has become all too wary about the repercussions of this sort of mindset.

But he still commits to it nonetheless. Because there's nothing else for him.

Shinobu's countenance conveyed a worried look, "Tomioka-san..."

The young slayer had never seen the Water Hashira speak with such an intense expression, as if he was drowning in that suffocating condition himself—as if he had already destroyed himself and now was just a hollow shell.

Shinobu felt immensely concerned for him.

"My apologies..." Giyuu takes his seat, lowering his head in shame. "I wanted to raise a few points."

Shinobu shakes her head in disagreement, "Not at all. I'm actually glad you're worried about me."

"It feels good when someone is looking out for you, isn't it?" she grins, alluding to her treatment of Giyuu at the same time.

Giyuu's eyes widened.

..

Makomo shakes her head in disagreement, "Not at all. You two are very important to me, so I sometimes find comfort in the interactions we have every day—it's proof that we are still here, that we are all together and alive."

..

'Why am I remembering this now, of all times...' Giyuu wondered

"I've... actually been meaning to thank you, Tomioka-san," Shinobu starts.

Giyuu looks up, "For what?"

"Nee-san asked me to go on a mission with her—it will be my first joint mission with a Hashira, even if it's my sister. She's finally acknowledged me as a demon slayer..." Shinobu says hints of excitement.

"That's good."

"Yeah, and it's thanks to you," she smiled warmly.

"Me?"

"Your advice, the motivation you've given me, and the conversations you've had with Nee-san, I think they may have all contributed to this," she explains with gaiety.

"Is that so..."

"Yep. So, thank you, Tomioka-san," she beams with radiance.

Giyuu stared fixedly at that smile.

'It's the same innocent expression they had...' he recalls.

He hoped that it would never disappear, to never be erased by the cruelty of this unforgiving world.

He could only hope.

"Be safe in your mission, Kocho-san..."

..

..

..

..

..

..

Shinobu slowly opened her eyes.

She was lying supine on the ground, and she could feel some cushion acting as a pillow for her head.

She was feeling terribly groggy, likely from sustaining all those injuries and fighting nonstop without rest.

"Ugh..." she groaned slightly as her head was initially spinning.

She looked around.

While still dressed in her standard-issued Demon Slayer Corps uniform, she was nonetheless swathed with layers of bandages around her leg, arms, and torso.

There were stains of blood intermittently blemishing the white-colored gauze, as the Insect Hashira was hitherto profusely bleeding before her wounds were properly tended to.

Furthermore, her white butterfly-like haori was covering most of her torso like a warm blanket.

She shifted her head and body around, but she was met with the numbing sensation of pain.

"Don't move much," a voice called out.

She instantly recognized who it was, "Giyuu..."

He was seated criss-crossed.

The Water Hashira's back was facing the bed-ridden Shinobu, with the latter noticing how he was not wearing his haori—he was simply accoutered in his standard-issue uniform.

Indeed, upon turning her head, she was merely met with the obtrusively large, but iconic, kanji character in white, "滅"—"metsu", or "extermination."

He appeared to be wrapping a bandage around his forehead, which was one of many that covered other parts of his body. However, he didn't have as much as Shinobu nor did he seem to be as weary as her.

It was then that the Insect Hashira took notice of what specific object her head was resting on.

The pillow was Giyuu's mismatched haori, neatly folded into a square headrest.

In due time, she was able to quickly piece together what transpired in her coma: Giyuu meticulously nursed her back into health before focusing on his own wounds.

She felt a pang of guilt for becoming such a burden in that sense.

As the Water Hashira finished enfolding his head in this protective covering, he promptly turned around to face Shinobu.

"Shinobu, how's your stomach?" he asks.

"... It feels like nothing," she replies.

"I see..." he states.

"I apologize, I had to borrow medical equipment from your belongings," he adds.

"It's fine..." Shinobu answers weakly.

A brief quietude occurs.

Neither Giyuu nor Shinobu dares to speak.

"I remembered our conversation from four years ago..." Shinobu spoke, breaking the silence.

Giyuu stares at her.

"You mentioned how I'd be destroying myself once I reach a certain point... How I would be caught in this inescapable place that chokes the life out of you..." she whispers.

"That's right," Giyuu acknowledged stoically.

"It's ironic... because Nee-san died the very next day... And I never got to cook for you..." Shinobu said wistfully.

"..."

Her eyes were colorless, "I did everything you warned me not to do... I tried to escape the pain, either by drowning myself in work, training myself to death in order to become a Hashira, or taking on Nee-san's personality traits just to emulate her."

"..." Giyuu did not respond.

She frowned, "I did everything possible to become stronger, to become smarter, and to become a better demon slayer. The stress would pile up every passing day, but I persisted nevertheless. Hiding all the anger and sorrow beneath the mask of Nee-san became torturous, and I wanted to quit—to throw it all away and go on a rampage. Everything became gloomy and gray, without color and without life. But I pushed myself. Because I thought it would pay off in the end, that the fruits of my labor will justify all the suffering I've endured over the years..."

"..."

"But... in the end..." she said with intense melancholy. "Nothing changed."

She lifted one of her hands and gawked at it, "In the end, I was still short, my hands were still small, and I was still weak..."

"..."

"It's not that I'm still weak, but it's that I've always been weak—and I will remain weak. I can't protect anyone with these hands... I'll always be stuck with these small hands... These useless... worthless... weak hands..." her voice quivered.

"..." The overwhelming stillness of Giyuu's deportment mildly startled even Shinobu, as he has not said a word since her soliloquy began, but she pressed on.

"From Otōsan and Okāsan, Nee-san, and even you..." the sound of her cadence echoed faintly. "I've seen the people around me die... and I was completely and utterly helpless... Because I wasn't strong enough."

"..."

Her downcast eyes evinced dejection of the highest order, "I realized this early on, which is why I had to rely on that stupid plan that involved killing myself—because, otherwise, I would never be able to avenge Nee-san or prove to the world that I wasn't so weak after all..."

"I have no redeeming factor. I never did... I just wasn't meant to become a demon slayer, was I?" she concluded despondently.

"You're not weak, Shinobu," Giyuu finally said.

"But—"

"No... you never were..." he added gently.

"How... Someone like me...?" Shinobu pleaded for an answer.

"Strength isn't purely defined in the sense you speak of," Giyuu began.

"..." It was now Shinobu's turn to not say a word.

"Comparatively speaking, we humans will always be at a disadvantage when it comes to facing demons. In terms of strength, we demon slayers are—by definition—weak in every interpretation of the word," he looks her straight in the eye.

He continues, "Your sentiments are often shared by fellow slayers for that reason... I consider myself weak because I didn't have the strength to protect my sister and my two best friends..."

Shinobu couldn't help but feel saddened by such words. After witnessing everything herself, she knows his memories, thoughts, and conscience are mired in a perpetual cycle of guilt and grief that feeds off of the other like a never-ending loop.

So it still saddened her to see Giyuu continue to blame himself for their deaths.

"But... what matters isn't the strength of our arms, legs, or blades, but the strength of our convictions. Without it, we all would've lost against the demons by now," Giyuu surmises.

Giyuu's face softened, "Which is why I always admired you, Shinobu."

Shinobu's eyes dilated with astonishment.

"You're always driven, regardless of the circumstances. You always push yourself to do better, even if you think you can't. Whereas I nearly faltered in upholding my oath, you never once hesitated to do the impossible. While I look only to myself and cut off from the world, your services at the Butterfly Estate have helped untold thousands of slayers into rehabilitation. Whereas all I can do is chop demons' heads off, your Wisteria compounds and years of laborious research into them will directly affect the outcome of this war—leading us one step closer to defeating Kibutsuji Muzan. Your impact on the Demon Slayer Corps is greater than anything I could ever bring..." he elucidates solemnly.

He looks down, "... When I eventually die, I will leave nothing behind that will help the Corps; my value only comes from my continued existence... But, you will leave something behind: your poison. Even if you die, the poison remains, the research you've conducted remains, and your methods and breathing style will remain. Your contributions go far beyond simply fighting in battle; they provide the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to continue fighting demons on equal footing."

"..."

He subsequently raises his head back up, "Everything you've done will leave a lasting legacy... Because you're not weak at all Shinobu, all of your hard work has and will pay off in the end. You're probably one of the most important members of the Corps, and I'm sure all the other Hashiras could agree at the moment their wounds have been tended to under your auspices at the Butterfly Mansion."

He then tenderly grabbed a hold of her hand, the same one she had used as an example of her weakness, "So don't belittle yourself like that. You've worked harder than most of us. You've suffered just as much, but you never gave into the despair as I did. Even if your hands cannot decapitate a demon's head, they've killed far more demons than you can imagine. They've also saved more lives than either of us could possibly conceive."

Then, with his other calloused hand, he gently pats her head, "You've done... a really good job, Shinobu..."

..

"You've done a very good job, Shinobu!" Kanae beams with radiance. "Otōsan and Okāsan would be very proud..."

..

Color returns to her amethyst irises.  

Something lit ablaze inside Shinobu, with her heart beating at a pace she hadn't felt since she first acknowledged her love for this man.

Perhaps this is what she needed to hear all along.

All those years of spending sleepless nights studying poison concoctions, early mornings training with her katana, and late afternoons working in the medical ward to nurse patients, weren't for nothing.

She needed to hear those words.

Someone to tell her honestly, with the good graces of their heart, that she hadn't failed at all, that her efforts all these years weren't for naught, and that she ought to be proud of who she was.

That what she has done will contribute just as much as fighting in the field of battle.

All she needed was someone to listen.

And to say, 'Well Done.'

Whether it be from her sister or Giyuu, the resulting emotion was always the same: overwhelming bliss and relief.

She could finally let go and take a step forward.

To leap into the field of grass and feel the cool breeze waft along her skin, with the spirits of her closest ones by her side.

Perhaps it is time now.

Time to let go of the fear, the grief, the shame, and the guilt.

Perhaps it's time to look ahead. Forge a new path.

With someone by her side.

She tried to hoist her upper body.

"Argh..." she grunted.

"Shinobu...!" Giyuu slides his left arm around her back and aids her in the lifting, his right hand remaining locked with Shinobu's.

He then reclines her back against the wall, placing his haori—initially on the ground underneath Shinobu's head—against the wall as a headrest for said body part.

Upon completing this maneuver, Shinobu looks at her partner intently face-to-face.

Using both hands, she gently grasps Giyuu's hand—the same one that was previously holding one of her hands already.

"Giyuu... why do you care so much about me?" she suddenly asks.

The Water Hashira was taken aback by this question, "Huh?"

"You've always been there for me..." she tries to scoot closer to him.

"I mean—"

"You're always helping me for nothing in return," she leans in closer to him.

"Shinobu—"

"Why? Why are you so kind to me? Why me?" she insists, tints of red beginning to manifest along her flushed cheeks.

Giyuu pauses momentarily.

Then, he begins to seriously consider Shinobu's words.

..

..

..

..

..

..

Giyuu

Why?

Why her?

Do I even know in the first place?

Although, looking back, I am almost fond of the memories we share—over five years of reels stuck in my head.

How many times have we bantered over innocuous things? How many times has she teased me? How many times have I felt grateful for her?

We shared our problems, shared our honest thoughts, and even shared our feelings.

When my back was against the wall, I turned to Shinobu... because she was always there...

She was the one who listened to me, who believed in me, and cared for me even when I didn't care about myself.

Always composed, always resolute, and always so nosy—prying into my life when I closed myself from everyone.

But she was always so kind and honest.

And she's so talented, so determined. I envy her strong willpower.

Her vast medical and pharmaceutical knowledge continues to amaze me, and her battle skills are a source of awe.

Becoming a Hashira with such a unique Breathing Style—which she developed on her own—was simply incredible.

I remember almost everything she says, watched everything she did, and admired it all.

She's simply incredible.

She's an incredible woman, an incredible Hashira, and an incredible companion...

Since the day we met, I was always curious about her; I was amazed at the level of talent and willpower exhibited.

Since then, she's become something more.

She's the person I care about the most...

I really care about her... far more and for far longer than even I think...

..

"Oiii Oiii, Tomioka-san, are you listening?? Moshi, Moshi?" she says as she begins to repeatedly poke me.

..

"You know, this is why nobody likes you," she mused.

..

"You're not like the other slayers. You're... different... You like to help people, and you don't act like you're above everyone else," she whispered, but just loud enough for me to hear it as well.

Then, her face exhibits a wide, natural grin, "And I think that's a good thing, Tomioka-san."

..

..

"You know, Tomioka-san," she suddenly says.

"Maybe you aren't so bad after all," she smiles.

..

..

Shinobu gave a warm smile, "Of course... After all, nobody likes you... except me..."

..

..

Shinobu grasped my sleeve tightly, "Let's... stay like this for a little longer..."

..

..

"That's..." Shinobu squeaked, blushing, "your reward..."

"For being you," she concealed her face from my line of sight.

..

..

"It's all right now. You're not alone here..."

..

..

"You idiot... how could I hate you? You deserve happiness just as anyone else..." she whimpered.

..

..

"Don't leave me without my permission... Promise me that you will never let go of my hand... Never leave me... Never let go again..."

..

..

"I don't want that happening to you. I never want to see you die in my arms again... I want you with me forever, never leaving my side... Please understand, Tomioka Giyuu."

..

..

"Isn't the moon lovely tonight, Tomioka-san?"

"....... Hasn't it always been?"

..

..

I already knew it.

Because I've already answered it before.

I just didn't realize it.

The answer was in front of me all along.

She means a lot to me; in fact, she is everything to me. Without her, I cannot find happiness on this Earth. Without her, I am lost.

She was the light at the end of the tunnel, the light that shone brighter than all the darkness in the depths of my soul.

She had always been there

She has always helped me.

My soul wasn't hollow in her presence; she filled me with emotions and feelings I thought I had long forgotten.

I won't run away this time.

..

*Tug*

Using her index finger and thumb, Shinobu clasps the sleeve of my haori.

"Don't leave... Stay..." She speaks softly.

"I will never leave you," I say ardently.

I hold her hand whilst taking my seat again.

"I will stay for as long as you need," I declare.

"Thank you..." she tears up.

..

I won't let go of her hand again, and I won't walk away from her again.

Because Kocho Shinobu is more than a fellow Hashira, more than a friend, and more than a comrade-in-arm to me...

To me... Shinobu is something more.

She warms my heart, eases my spirit, and fulfills my soul.

To me, she is...

..

..

..

..

..

..

"I love you," Giyuu states.

Shinobu's eyes widen and she loses her breath for a second.

"I'm in love with you," he reiterates.

"Heh?!" Shinobu lets out a high-pitch yelp as her heart leaps out of her chest—she was taken by complete surprise.

"What about you?" he inquires.

"W-Wait!!" Shinobu's mind was racing beyond her wildest imagination, her face now a mixture of pink and red.

"I want to hear your response," Giyuu continues. "How do you feel about me?"

After managing to somewhat calm down, Shinobu was fidgeting and frantically reviewing what was so suddenly communicated to her.

"Y-You want to know?" she asks.

"Yes," he answers.

"... Close your eyes..." she requests.

"Why?"

"J-Just do it..." she says, looking completely abashed.

Giyuu complies and he shuts his eyelids.

Using her hands, she grabs him by the collar and pulls his face closer.

*Tug*

Both of their heartbeats were progressively racing faster and faster; their chests were feeling sore from all the palpitations.

Sweat from the nervousness was forming all across their face, neck, and other parts of their body.

Shinobu then leaned her head in closer as well.

The next few seconds would be the culmination of everything, all the memories, the feelings, the arguments, the conversations, the battles, the wounds, the tears, and the smiles.

A fresh fragrance of Wisteria tickled Giyuu's nostrils and energized his senses as Shinobu's face approached his.

Neither was willing to run away now, to cave into the despair of the past or the future.

Instead, they were looking at each other now.

Their whole lives, rife with tragedy and sorrow, had been set aside for this one moment. For once, they shall not be defined by their trauma or despair, instead they shall to each other and find a glimpse of hope—a glimpse of something they've been searching for so long.

It was the convergence point for the manifestation of such powerful emotions.

Shinobu finally closed the gap.

Giyuu felt something softly and gently press against his lips, caressing his heart and cushioning the pain from the cuts and wounds.

He could feel the warmth of her lips, it was soft, gentle, and full of tenderness.

Full of Love.

Both shared their first kiss with each other—with their first love.

After a few seconds, Shinobu released her grip—both her hands and her lips.

Giyuu opened his eyes.

He was met with the dazzling image of a blushing and smiling Shinobu, one that made him fall for her even more.

"I was, always have been, and always will be in love with you, Tomioka Giyuu..." she beamed with brightness.

At long last, Shinobu had done it. She has appropriately reciprocated the love conveyed to her from the future, and she will ensure that it survives and thrives in the present.

She is eternally thankful to the Giyuu of the future for ultimately making her realize her feelings for this peculiar man.

Giyuu blushed madly upon hearing this, "S-Shinobu..."

Their hearts fluttered and soared with elation, palpitating at an increasingly faster rate by the second.

"T-That first kiss didn't leave a lasting impression," Shinobu asserts bashfully. "Let's try again."

Giyuu nods enthusiastically, eagerly anticipating another one—he'd never thought that a kiss would be so enticing.

He leans his head down again and Shinobu, correspondingly, leans inward.

They share another passionate kiss.

But even that wasn't enough.

So, just as they concluded the preceding kiss, the two automatically and almost immediately leaned in for another one.

Another kiss.

With no words exchanged, they were able to fully impart these profound feelings of admiration, adoration, and intimacy for one another.

With each kiss, their love grew exponentially.

"I love you, Giyuu," Shinobu whispers in between a kiss.

They kiss again.

"I love you so much," she says again, breathless.

Another passionate kiss.

"I love you too, Shinobu," Giyuu reciprocates.

A blushing Shinobu and Giyuu closed in on each other for another kiss.

The passage of time was slow, yet so fast amid each kiss. With each kiss, both are left wanting more—they want to continually show more of their love to each other, to indicate the degree to which they care and hold a deep affection for the other.

It was the sweet release of joy, pleasure, amorous desires, romantic aspirations, and the utmost care for the other.

Their love for each other cannot be described in simple words.

Like when the Buddha achieved Nirvana, the understanding of such idiosyncratic feelings is only best comprehended when one undergoes and replicates that same experience.

Thus, the weight of their love transcends reasoning and justification.

There are a million ways to rationalize their feelings for each other, but only they will harbor a true grasp over such insightful knowledge—knowledge they cannot communicate but have already realized its true extent.

Because their love is genuine and it is pure.

It is the culmination of everything they have seen, heard, touched, and experienced together.

Shinobu's love for Giyuu, and Giyuu's love for Shinobu need no explanation to rationalize its existence.

It only needs the words, acknowledgment, and actions of both.

That is when love truly blossoms and materializes.

..

..

..

..

They were cuddling together.

Giyuu was reclining against the wall, with Shinobu seated atop his lap and her head resting against his shoulder. In addition, their hands were interlocked, with the fingers interlaced with each other.

Giyuu did his best to ensure that his partner did not experience discomfort or pain from the injuries, so he handled her with great care and tenderness befitting a romantic partner.

"Are you comfortable?" Giyuu asks.

Shinobu smiles, "Yes, thank you."

"Shinobu..." said Giyuu.

"Yes, Giyuu?" she replies.

"When did you... first realize...?"

"Ah... I think it was following the dreamscape when I met the older version of you," she explains.

"Really?"

"You had a diary that I managed to get my hands on. You admitted to falling in love with me... and, I guess, it just all went from there," she clarifies.

"... Perhaps I was going to fall in love with you no matter the circumstances," Giyuu surmises.

"After all, I already fell in love with you long before now. I just didn't realize it," he grins.

Shinobu gently caressed his hands, "Same to you. I suppose I loved you at some point in our medical checkups."

"That far back?"

"Mhm!"

"Huh..."

"Ara-ara, is Tomioka Giyuu getting nervous because this is the first time he's ever intimately touched a woman?" Shinobu teases.

"Well, there was that one incident..." Giyuu blurted.

Shinobu's expression immediately turned stern, "Huh? What was that?"

'I shouldn't have said that,' he immediately regretted it.

"Forget about it," said Giyuu.

"Oh my, you think I can just forget it like it's nothing, Giyuu? Now tell me, what was this incident," veins protrude along Shinobu's temples as her jealousy reached a boiling point. "Who was the woman? Was she pretty? Ne Ne, tell me."

"Technically... it was you..." Giyuu conceded.

Now Shinobu was confused, "What? Me?"

"More like Haji morphed into you in an illusory trap. She used that to control me during our little skirmish," he elucidates.

"... And what happened?"

Giyuu turned red at the thought, "She p-placed one of my hands on your p-pectoral region..."

"... Pervert."

Still, she felt relieved that it was not some other woman—even though it was technically Haji, she had taken the physical form of her in a dreamscape.

So Shinobu really can't argue against much here.

"I apologize," Giyuu sighed, knowing he was in the wrong here.

"But..." she says timidly. "When the time is right... I can let you touch them..."

Giyuu didn't know how to react, "O-Oh... O-Ok..."

Shinobu grins, "You're so cute when you're nervous."

"I love you," Giyuu suddenly lets out.

"H-Huh?" Shinobu reddens.

"You're cuter," Giyuu jests, seeing her reaction.

"Not fair!" Shinobu pouts.

"I love you more," she adds coyly.

"Is this supposed to be a competition?" Giyuu questions.

Shinobu gave it some thought, "Hm... I don't know. This romance thing is a first for me."

"Same here..."

Alas, they were still two novices in the romantic business.

"Well then," she smiles, "we'll be learning together, yes?"

"Yes," Giyuu smiles as well, "we will."

"I love you so much," Shinobu shifts her body such that she's facing Giyuu again.

"Likewise," Giyuu immediately destroys the mood.

"Likewise? Who says that?" Shinobu rebukes.

"... I don't know..."

"My, my, you really are inexperienced. At least I've learned some proper etiquette from reading novels and asking friends," Shinobu chaffs.

"That's good then."

"Mhm!"

After a moment, the two lean in for another kiss.

"I love you, Kocho Shinobu."

"I love you too, Tomioka Giyuu."

..

..

..

..

Both were now lying down, still cuddling.

"What's left for the mission?" Shinobu inquires softly.

"Zaiaku-kan is the last of the demons left... but there's still the Father," Giyuu explains.

"Then we'll fight them together," she declares.

"You're injure—"

"No, no," Shinobu shakes her head in disapproval, "you're NOT doing this alone."

"But—"

"No Giyuu!" she vociferates. "I'm not going to let you go fight alone... I won't let you do it again..."

..

"Goodbye, Kocho Shinobu, Insect Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. And... Thank you for everything... For your tenderness and your acts of kindness. I will forever appreciate it..." he said pensively.

..

She had already witnessed Tomioka Giyuu of 1934 charge into battle alone, against her wishes.

And she's already seen him die in her arms.

She has vowed to never permit such circumstances from occurring again.

She is going to be adamant about not letting Giyuu fight this battle on his own.

"Alright..." Giyuu yields. "I won't do it alone..."

"Thank you... Thank you... You don't know how much that means to me..." she mumbles.

"I've vowed to never leave you again, Shinobu," Giyuu proclaims. "And, unlike before, I will ensure that you won't be left alone to fight the gaping hole in your heart. I will be here. Always."

Shinobu's lineaments relaxed as she received this reassurance, "There isn't a gaping hole anymore. Because you're here with me..."

"Likewise."

"Pfft—" Shinobu giggled. "That again?"

Giyuu chuckled, "Yeah..."

It was the best of times.

They were with each other, in each other's embrace, and with their love requited.

The highest forms of happiness inhabited their soul and spirit.

Never had they felt this gleeful and overjoyed before. Never had such fortune fallen onto them.

They are happy with each other.

..

..

..

..

Shinobu was sound asleep, which was understandable given her wounds.

Giyuu carefully hoisted himself up.

He kept his haori as a pillow for Shinobu, leaving it in her care.

The two things he cherished the most will be kept safe and sound...

He subsequently began his trek, abandoning Shinobu.

'I'm sorry, Shinobu. You will despise me for this, and I am so sorry. But I'm going to have to leave you for now,' he looks back dolefully at the serene image of his restful partner.

He had something to protect now.

He can't easily let go of it.

'I'm sorry...' he walked away in sorrow.

Darkness envelops the outline of his figure, and, soon enough, he was completely gone from her line of sight.

As he ambulated away into the distant tunnel, however, he failed to take notice of Shinobu's status.

Left with just his haori, Shinobu felt a moistness in her eyes.

"You idiot..." she whimpers. "This is why nobody likes you..."

..

..

..

..

Giyuu was staring directly at Zaiaku-kan, who was perched on the summit of a large boulder the height of a one-story building and the length of a car.

The Water Hashira stared vacantly at the figure, not exactly sure what to make of it.

"You arrived," Zaiaku-kan announces, his voice now more masculine.

"I didn't think we would meet again under such circumstances... much less have a reunion in the first place," the Water Hashira's face darkens.

Zaiaku-kan smirks.

Giyuu shoots a glare at the figure, "Sabito." 

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So, 40+ Chapters & 200,000+ words later, we've finally made it to the FREAKING CONFESSION!!!!!

Which, by the way, was heavily inspired by the anime Steins Gate.

Anyways, might've rushed the fuck out of the ending there, cause I'm way too fuckin tired. Goodnight.