Arcade

Dandelions

Maybe it's the way you say my name

Maybe it's the way you play your game

***

"One...two...three! Smile!"

Sanemi smiled, a hand on top of Senjuro's head. Giyuu leaned on his shoulder while bringing the three remaining Ubuyashiki kids near them. They all held their breath waiting for their signal then they all cheered when the photographer gave them a thumbs up. The picture was already taken. Giyuu laughed with the four kids surrounding him. One boy with black hair that resembled Oyakata-sama and two girls with white hair. Senjuro was with them the second the picture was taken.

After the final battle the remaining slayers all got together one last time before going their own way. The Ubuyashiki kids had decided to stay with Giyuu, who had been looking after them as if they were his kids. Senjuro also stayed with the jet, at some point he even started calling Giyuu 'older brother'.

The same was with the Ubuyashiki kids. Giyuu glanced at him, an adorable grin on his face. Sanemi smiled, helping the raven head stand up from his crouched position. "Let's all go talk to the others. I heard Tanjiro and his friends will go back home. We should say goodbye," the blue eyed man suggested.

Senjuro nodded. Golden eyes once again bright with life. Pulling the other children with him, they all went to where Tanjiro and Nezuko were. Giyuu chuckled at the sight. "I want to thank you...Sanemi."

"What for?" He tilted his head to the side. All the albino had done was help Giyuu get back on his feet after the final battle. Plus he wasn't the only one. The Kamado kids did the same. Nezuko fixed his clothes and helped Senjuro keep the Rengoku and Water Pillar estate clean for him. Tanjiro did a few repairs here and there with the help of Sanemi.

After killing Muzan, they all just wanted to have a clean start. That also meant helping Giyuu let go of Kyojuro. Sanemi wasn't an idiot. He knew Giyuu still held the blonde close to his heart. Even after killing him he had seen that broken look in his eyes. A look he no longer wanted to see.

Wrapping an arm around Giyuu, he simply brings him closer. "No need to thank me. I wasn't the only one. Everyone wanted to help." Before they all fought Muzan, Mitsuri had spoken up about how she wanted to make Giyuu forget about Kyojuro. At least for a few minutes. As much as Giyuu pretended to be fine, everyone could tell it wasn't the truth.

It was hard. To hear the man he loves cry every night. Screaming in agony as he has a mental breakdown. Walking alone, an empty look in his eyes. Giyuu had been nothing more but a shell of the once calm yet soft person Sanemi knew. All because Kyojuro came into his life, gave him love, then left.

"I know. Still, you have been there from the start and for that I want to thank you. You helped me stay sane and even stayed with me and Senjuro when you had no obligation. You became our pillar. Thank you for being my friend Sanemi."

Ignoring the painful tug in his heart at the word friend, Sanemi pulled Giyuu into a hug. Burying his hand in the now short black hair he allowed himself to be a little selfish. The sapphire eyed man stiffened but returned his hug as best as he could. He still had difficulty using one arm as his right arm had been chopped off by Muzan.

It hurts. It had always hurt. Every single time he saw Giyuu with Kyojuro it hurt him. Yet, like the fool he was, he kept close to the ocean knowing full well that the sun was the owner. In a way, Sanemi did try his best to keep his distance. To try and move on from his one sided love.

Training with Obanai helped. The Serpent hashira kept his mind occupied with other things. But now his friend is gone. Taken away from him by Muzan. At least he died with Mitsuri in his arms. Knowing that the girl he loved returned his feelings. Genya, his only remaining family, had also been a good way to distance himself from Giyuu.