Weddings, as Sanemi Shinazugawa was discovering, were more trouble than they were worth. Between the wedding attire debacle with Tengen, and now the search for a venue, Sanemi was starting to regret agreeing to have an actual ceremony at all. Eloping had never sounded so good.

But here they were, standing in front of a map, staring at the long list of possible wedding venues that Tengen had drawn up. The sprawling table in the Demon Slayer Corps' main hall was littered with brochures and papers, each one promising the most "magical" or "elegant" location for a wedding.

Sanemi hated them all.

"This one has a waterfall view," Tengen said, pointing to a particularly flashy brochure featuring a grandiose castle perched precariously near a cliff. "Imagine the photos with that in the background- flashy, right?"

Sanemi snorted, glaring at the picture of the castle. "It looks like it's about to fall off the damn cliff."

"It's structurally sound," Tengen assured him. "I checked. And it's got a dazzling ballroom inside. You'll have the perfect reception."

"I don't want a damn ballroom," Sanemi muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Or a reception."

"We'll need a place to eat after the ceremony," Giyuu pointed out quietly from where he was sitting on the other side of the table, his usual calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Sanemi's simmering frustration.

"Then we'll eat wherever we are," Sanemi grumbled, picking up another brochure and immediately tossing it aside. It featured a lush garden with blooming flowers, and just looking at it made Sanemi's skin crawl. "I don't care about a reception. I just want the ceremony done, and that's it."

Tengen chuckled. "You really don't have any sense of romance, do you?"

Sanemi glared at him. "I have enough romance to know I don't need to be standing in a flowery garden to get married. It's pointless."

"You're going to regret not having something memorable," Tengen warned, flipping through the stack of brochures with his usual flair. "Trust me, you want a venue that stands out. This is a big day."

Sanemi opened his mouth to retort, but Giyuu cut him off before he could get too worked up. "Maybe we should just focus on what we want," Giyuu said quietly, his voice calm and even. "We don't need something flashy. Just somewhere... peaceful."

"Exactly," Sanemi muttered, his scowl softening ever so slightly as he glanced at Giyuu. "Something simple. No fancy ballrooms, no ridiculous gardens. Just somewhere we can get this over with."

Tengen sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "You two are the least fun grooms I've ever met."

"We're not here to be fun," Sanemi shot back. "We're here to get married."

"Yes, yes," Tengen waved his hand dismissively, "but you're missing the point. This is your wedding day. It should be spectacular."

"It should be quick," Sanemi corrected him, his patience wearing thin.

Giyuu cleared his throat. "What about somewhere by the water?"

Tengen paused, raising an eyebrow. "By the water? You mean, like, a beach?"

Sanemi made a face. "I'm not standing in the sand in the middle of the day. I'll burn up like a piece of charcoal."

"Not a beach," Giyuu clarified. "Something quieter. Like a lake. Or a river."

Tengen nodded slowly, flipping through the stack of brochures with a renewed sense of purpose. "Hmm, a river... peaceful, quiet... I think I've got something that might work."

Sanemi let out a relieved sigh. Finally, they were getting somewhere. He didn't care where it was, as long as it wasn't covered in sequins or flowers.

As Tengen continued to search for a suitable venue, the doors to the hall swung open, and Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke came rushing in, their usual whirlwind of energy filling the room.

"Hey!" Tanjiro greeted them with his trademark smile, his voice full of enthusiasm. "What's going on? Are you still looking for a wedding venue?"

Sanemi grunted. "Unfortunately."

"We've seen enough castles and ballrooms to last a lifetime," Giyuu added, his voice dry.

"Oh!" Tanjiro exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "I know a place! It's not too far from here, and it's really quiet. There's a river nearby, and it's surrounded by trees. It's perfect if you're looking for something peaceful."

Sanemi raised an eyebrow. "Is this the same place you always go to train?"

Tanjiro nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It's beautiful, and hardly anyone goes there. I think it would be perfect for a wedding."

Sanemi glanced at Giyuu, who looked thoughtful. "That doesn't sound bad."

"I'll take anything that gets us away from these damn brochures," Sanemi muttered, pushing the pile of papers away from him.

Tengen, who had been listening with a critical ear, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. A forest by a river... that could work. It's not as flashy as I would've liked, but it has potential."

Zenitsu, who had been listening from the sidelines, suddenly piped up, his voice filled with excitement. "Oh yeah! That's the same place where Giyuu and Sanemi had that huge fight, isn't it?"

The room went silent.

Sanemi's eyes widened, his entire body going rigid as he slowly turned to face Zenitsu, who had already realized his mistake and was now shrinking back in terror.

"Zenitsu," Sanemi said slowly, his voice low and dangerous. "What did you just say?"

Zenitsu paled, holding his hands up in a desperate attempt to placate Sanemi. "I-I didn't mean to! It just slipped out!"

"What fight?" Tengen asked, suddenly intrigued as he leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand. "Sounds like there's a story here."

Sanemi's jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides. "It's none of your business."

"Is that so?" Tengen's grin widened, clearly enjoying the sudden tension in the room. "Come on, Shinazugawa. You can't drop a hint like that and not share the details."

Zenitsu, sensing the impending danger, began backing away slowly, muttering apologies under his breath as he edged toward the door. But the damage was already done.

Giyuu, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice soft but calm. "It's true."

Sanemi shot him a glare. "You're not helping."

"It was a long time ago," Giyuu continued, ignoring Sanemi's warning look. "But yes, we fought. At the river Tanjiro mentioned."

Tengen's grin widened even further. "Now I definitely want to hear this."

"I'll kill you both," Sanemi growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he glared at Zenitsu and Tengen in turn. "This isn't the time or place to talk about that."

But it was too late. The memories were already surfacing, unbidden, bringing with them the full weight of their tumultuous history.

A Few Years Ago

The sun had been setting when Sanemi stormed into the forest, his fists clenched at his sides, his breathing labored from both the battle he'd just fought and the argument he was currently having. His body was sore, covered in cuts and bruises, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the burning anger that simmered just beneath the surface.

Giyuu followed a few paces behind him, his expression as unreadable as ever, though his own exhaustion was evident in the way he moved-slow, deliberate, every step a calculated effort to stay in control.

"You're reckless," Giyuu said, his voice quiet but firm as he watched Sanemi pace back and forth near the riverbank. "You almost got yourself killed back there."

"Don't tell me how to do my job," Sanemi snapped, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared at Giyuu. "I don't need a lecture from you, Tomioka."

"It's not a lecture," Giyuu said calmly, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's the truth. You're going to get yourself killed if you keep acting like this."

Sanemi let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "I don't need you to tell me how to fight. I've been doing this for years."

"And yet, you keep making the same mistakes."

Sanemi stopped pacing, his fists tightening as he turned to face Giyuu fully. "What the hell are you trying to say?"

Giyuu's eyes narrowed, his expression cold and impassive. "I'm saying that if you keep acting like this, it's not just your life on the line. It's everyone's."

The words hit Sanemi like a punch to the gut, but instead of backing down, he took a step closer to Giyuu, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you? Always acting like you're above it all. Like you're the only one who knows what's best."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to," Sanemi growled, his anger boiling over.

Sanemi's fists clenched as he stepped closer to Giyuu, the air between them charged with the weight of their unspoken frustrations. Giyuu stood his ground, his expression unreadable as always, but there was a flicker of tension in his eyes, a warning that Sanemi was dangerously close to crossing a line.

"You act like you don't care about anything," Sanemi snarled, his voice laced with bitterness. "Like none of this matters to you. But it does, doesn't it? You wouldn't be here if you didn't care."

Giyuu's jaw tightened ever so slightly, the only indication that Sanemi's words had struck a nerve. "Of course I care. That's why I'm telling you to stop being reckless."

Sanemi let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, I see. You're doing this out of some kind of duty, right? Always the perfect soldier, doing what's expected of you. Never showing any emotion, never letting anyone in."

Giyuu remained silent, his gaze steady, but Sanemi could feel the tension radiating off him in waves. It was like standing in the eye of a storm-calm on the surface, but with a volatile energy swirling just beneath.

"And you think you're so much better than me for it," Sanemi continued, his voice rising. "You think you have the right to judge me? To tell me how to live my life?"

Giyuu's eyes darkened, his expression hardening. "I'm not judging you. I'm trying to keep you from getting yourself killed."

Sanemi's temper flared even hotter. "I don't need you to save me! I've survived this long without your help."

"Barely," Giyuu shot back, his voice cold. "You're always one step away from throwing your life away. And for what?"

Sanemi's fists tightened at his sides, his anger reaching a boiling point. "You don't know anything about me, Tomioka. Don't pretend like you do."

"I know enough," Giyuu replied, his tone quiet but firm. "I know you're angry. At everything. At yourself. And if you don't figure out how to control it, you're going to end up dead."

That was it. That was the last straw.

Without thinking, Sanemi lunged forward, his fist swinging toward Giyuu's face with the force of all his pent-up frustration and rage. Giyuu barely had time to react, sidestepping the punch just in time to avoid a direct hit. But Sanemi didn't stop. He came at Giyuu again, faster this time, his movements wild and unrestrained.

"Shinazugawa, stop!" Giyuu's voice was sharper now, the calm mask he always wore cracking as he dodged Sanemi's next attack. But Sanemi wasn't listening. He couldn't stop. Not now. Not with all the anger boiling inside him, desperate to be released.

Giyuu blocked the next punch, grabbing Sanemi's wrist and twisting it just enough to throw him off balance. But Sanemi was relentless, pulling free and swinging again, his eyes blazing with fury.

"You think you're better than me?" Sanemi growled, his voice raw with emotion. "You think you're the only one who's ever suffered? I'm not weak, Tomioka. I'm not-"

"I never said you were weak," Giyuu interrupted, his voice rising in frustration as he grabbed Sanemi by the collar, pulling him closer. "But you're going to destroy yourself if you keep this up. Can't you see that?"

Sanemi struggled against Giyuu's grip, his heart pounding in his chest. "Let go of me."

"Not until you listen."

"I said, let go! "

With a sudden burst of strength, Sanemi broke free from Giyuu's grasp, shoving him backward with enough force to send him stumbling. The two of them stood there, breathing heavily, the space between them crackling with tension.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The only sound was the rush of the river behind them, its steady flow a stark contrast to the storm raging inside Sanemi.

Giyuu was the first to break the silence, his voice low and controlled. "I'm not your enemy, Shinazugawa. I never was."

Sanemi's chest heaved with the force of his anger, his fists still clenched at his sides. But there was something in Giyuu's voice-something calm, but also... hurt. And that made Sanemi pause.

He turned away, unable to meet Giyuu's gaze. "Then stop acting like you know what's best for me."

"I'm not trying to control you," Giyuu said quietly. "I'm trying to keep you alive."

Sanemi didn't respond right away. His hands slowly loosened, his breathing starting to steady. The fight had left him drained, the weight of his emotions pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket.

"I don't need your help," Sanemi muttered, his voice softer now, though still tinged with bitterness.

Giyuu didn't argue. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know you don't. But I'm offering it anyway."

Sanemi's jaw tightened, but he didn't push Giyuu away this time. He didn't know what to say, how to respond to that kind of vulnerability. So instead, he let the moment hang between them, unspoken but understood.

The fight was over, but the tension between them remained-thick, heavy, and unresolved. They stood in silence, side by side, the sun dipping lower behind the trees as the day faded into dusk.

Back in the present, the memory of that night lingered in the air like an unwelcome ghost, bringing with it the familiar sting of unresolved tension.

Sanemi clenched his jaw, glaring at the floor as the others stared at him expectantly. He could feel their curiosity hanging in the air, their questions unspoken but loud enough to be deafening.

Giyuu, sensing Sanemi's discomfort, stepped in to defuse the situation. "It was a long time ago. We moved past it."

Zenitsu, still hovering near the door, nodded furiously, his face pale with fear. "Y-Yeah! I mean, everyone fights sometimes, right? No big deal! Haha..."

Sanemi shot Zenitsu a warning look that made him shrink even further, but Giyuu's calm demeanor had already started to diffuse the tension in the room.

Tengen, always one to enjoy a bit of drama, let out a low whistle. "Sounds like you two have some history. But hey, that just makes the wedding more interesting, doesn't it?"

Sanemi rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a string of curses. "This is exactly why I didn't want to do this."

Tanjiro, ever the optimist, quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "I think the river would be a great place for the wedding! It's peaceful, and it has meaning for both of you."

Sanemi raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You mean the place where we nearly killed each other?"

Tanjiro blinked, looking slightly flustered. "Well... yes, but it's also a place where you both learned to understand each other, right?"

Sanemi huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I didn't ask for a therapy session."

But despite his grumbling, there was something about the idea that stuck with him. As much as he hated to admit it, the river did hold meaning. It wasn't just the place where they'd fought-it was the place where they'd come to understand each other, even if it had taken them a long time to get there.

Giyuu, who had been watching Sanemi carefully, finally spoke up. "I think it's a good idea."

Sanemi glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "You do?"

Giyuu nodded. "It's quiet. Peaceful. It fits us."

Sanemi stared at him for a long moment, the weight of the decision hanging between them. He wasn't one for sentimentality, but there was something about the way Giyuu looked at him-something steady, calm, and sure-that made him pause.

Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Sanemi gave in. "Fine. The river it is."

Tanjiro beamed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "That's great! I'll make sure everything is ready for you."

Zenitsu, who had been silently praying for his life throughout the entire conversation, let out a shaky breath of relief. "T-Thank god that's settled..."

Tengen clapped his hands together. "Well, it might not be the most flashy location, but it's got history. And I guess that's its own kind of sparkle, right?"

Sanemi shot him a look. "Don't start with the sparkle talk again."

Tengen chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. No sparkles. But I'm still going to make sure this wedding is one to remember."

Sanemi rolled his eyes but didn't argue. At this point, he was too tired to fight anymore. The venue was decided, and that was one less thing to worry about. Now all they had to do was survive the rest of the planning without killing each other.

As the others began to leave, Giyuu lingered behind, his eyes flicking to Sanemi as they stood alone in the now-quiet room.

"You really okay with this?" Giyuu asked softly, his voice gentle but full of genuine concern.

Sanemi glanced at him, his usual gruffness softening ever so slightly. "Yeah," he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not the worst idea."

Giyuu's lips twitched into a small smile. "It'll be peaceful. Just us."

Sanemi snorted, though there was no real bite to it. "Yeah, until Uzui shows up with fireworks."

Giyuu chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "We'll survive."

Sanemi glanced at him, his expression unreadable for a moment before he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah... we always do."

And just like that, the decision was made. The river, their place of both conflict and understanding, would be the backdrop for their wedding-a place that was far from perfect but held more meaning than any flashy castle or garden ever could.

It was theirs.

And in the end, that was all that mattered.