❤ ~ The Greatest Gift ~ ❤

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The duo bound up the stairs, a sweet silence between them. Tanjirou held the key, letting the little number fall beside his leg. It shifted with every step, ignored as they reached the top of the staircase. Even with a designated room, both knew what else was required. When Tanjirou had signed the book, he had noted another name recently charted in. So here he was, standing before the third room before he rolled his knuckles along the dense wood. It gave a brief sound and echo, followed by the clumsy and loud footsteps that rushed closer. Tanjirou heard the way Giyuu prepared to pull his sword, leaving the maroon male with a smirk before the door was pulled open. It was only then that Giyuu calmed himself, though the frown seemed to become something permanent. 

"Good evening. You two are?" Giyuu scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"Do you normally have a terrible memory? I'm sure you know who we are, Rengoku Kyoujurou!" The venom in the tone caught Tanjirou off guard a bit, though he never expected such a snarky comment from the other, who wore such a bright smile.

"Awe, yes! How could I ever forget that bitter winter personality! Tomioka Giyuu, one of the few students under Urokodaki. Where did the others end up?" Giyuu scowled, shoving through. It left Kyoujurou with a huff, his gaze wandering toward Tanjirou. There was a moment of silence before the other seemed to widen his gaze, showing his smile once more. "I remember you! I saw you at Final Selection. You saved someone back then."

"That would be me. Call me Tanjirou." Kyoujurou nodded, offering the space for Tanjirou to enter. It left the maroon to stroll in, taking a spot beside Giyuu; who had happened to steal half the bed in the room. Kyoujurou had kept silent in the end, at least until he spoke up toward Tanjirou.

"As Giyuu stated, my name is Rengoku Kyoujurou. Pleasure to make acquaintance." Tanjirou found himself admiring that warm voice, his gaze holding that amber one. In the end, it left Tanjirou leaning a bit toward Giyuu, whispering toward the other.

"I called it, by the way. We totally got someone attractive!" Giyuu gave an offended look, sighing. While Tanjirou had whispered, Giyuu made his opinion painfully loud. He was hopeless at times. 

"He's far from appealing to see. He's like a sunflower-"

"But Sunflowers are rather gorgeous..." Giyuu frowned further, adding onto his statement. It was only then that Tanjirou felt the tension between the two.

"-A flower dyed in blood."

"Wai-" Tanjirou tried to speak up, before ultimately getting cut off. In a single moment, the room became a warzone. 

"Least I don't have a dead gaze! You're eyes always get far less appealing to gaze at! They are like the bottom of the ocean, vast and empty."

"Oh? Least the ocean is something beautiful, unlike your fiery appearance. Fire only causes harm!"

"Guys, can we n-" Once more Tanjirou was cut off, leaving the maroon male to fall back onto the mattress. He sighed, peering to the window as he viewed the scene outside. At least for the moment before it all seemed to distort. It made his widen his eyes, noticing the two were still mid argument. "Gu-"

"Water is such a lame breathing technique! Most agree, Giyuu!"

"At least it's calm. Your breathing technique is so loud and visually distracting!"

"Guys-"

"You always have something to say, don't you? That's all you ever do; speak with utter arrogance!"

"Arrogance? Least my ego isn't so broken due to a bad upraising!" 

"Guys, we need to-" Once more he was ignored, making him more agitated. The raised voices and constant arguing was seriously annoying him. Standing from the bed, he felt the floors shift, this time finally silencing the two who were tearing at each others throats. 

"What the-" Both spoke in unison as the building seemed to twist, as if distorting. It left Tanjirou dizzy, though he pulled his sword free. He glanced toward the door, moving clumsily toward it before pulling it open. As he did, he found himself meeting the gaze of the woman from before. Her hair was let down, trailing low to the floor as those eyes seemed to sharpen. She gave a wide grin, swinging for Tanjirou, who ducked before diving into her stomach. It sent both to the floor in the hall, finally pulling the full focus of the others.

"Tanjirou!" Giyuu was the first to move forward as the building ceased it's distortion. The woman had been held down by Tanjirou, though not for long. As Giyuu made it to the hall, he was sent stumbling backwards as the door slammed close on his face, hitting him clean in the nose. It made him groan before panic set in hearing the fighting in the hall. He pulled at the doorknob, trying to pull it free to no avail. Even kicking it had resulted in no change. Kyoujurou had been by the bed still, his hands grabbing the window. He was surprised when it came undone, leaving him to call out to Giyuu. 

"Over here! We can get back to the front this way." Giyuu turned toward the other, nodding as he approached. They had their differences, but they also knew their duties. Giyuu climbed through, easing himself a bit lower before dropping from the second story. He barely landed on his feet, though not before Kyoujurou leapt out without much care. Without warning, Giyuu felt the weight hit him dead on, leaving him to fall onto his stomach as Kyoujurou let out a breath. 

"GET OFF!" The golden haired male gave a slight apologetic look before climbing up, helping Giyuu in the process. It left both in a silence before they hurried back toward the front door to the inn. They could hear the sounds of a scuffle, though neither expected to see the woman go flying through the door into the outside. Well, only her body. They both peered inside, seeing Tanjirou roll his shoulders as the head began to fall to ash at his feet. His haori was slightly torn at the ends, along with a scratch running along his cheek. It wasn't until those maroon eyes landed on the two that they felt a cold sense of dread creep over. How that scowl seemed so terrifying in that moment. Tanjirou slipped into the outside, wiping the bit of blood from his cheek before he glanced between the two. Those eyes were rather judgmental, showing his still raised annoyance. It wasn't a first for Giyuu but it caught Kyoujurou off guard in that moment. 

"Glad you two could finally join me!" The sarcasm was hard to ignore, leaving Giyuu to glance somewhere else. Unfortunately, Kyoujurou wasn't aware to such situations. He gave an apologetic look while trying to speak.

"I apologize for my act-"

"Instead of apologizing to me, say it to each other. Honestly; you two begin with bickering? I don't know your past Rengoku-san, but it doesn't mean fighting is the way to go. We have to work together, that involves trust. Put your differences behind you, lest you get us all killed!" Kyoujurou kept silent, simply nodded. He was baffled for numerous reasons; the main one being that someone younger had scolded him. Of course, he wasn't the only on in the hot seat. "That goes for you too, Giyuu! Teamwork is required! This job of ours is not something to take lightly..."

"I know that..." Tanjirou took in a breath, crouching on his feet as he rested his eyes.

"Good. Since the missions over, I want to take a break. As for you two, you only get to rest when you've sorted your differences, understood?" Kyoujurou wanted to object, but fell silent when he spotted Giyuu's expression. It left him understanding what was safest. Taking the notion they both understood, Tanjirou stood up, wandering once more inside before closing the main door. It left both outside in silence, simply staring toward the other under the bright moonlight.

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Howdy ya'll. Another chapter has come and gone. I wanted to make Tanjirou a bit more assertive and sassy, since I do love me a bottom with attitude. Also, yes, I did indeed make the two know each other and dislike the other. It simply adds *Dramatic Flare*~ 

Either way, leave me feedback. Always appreciated. Ever got an idea or criticism, let me know~

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Also, still sick and currently losing my voice. Feels bad! But what can ya do? Least I ain't dying, just suffering a bit~ <3