Demon Slayer One-Shots (Part 2)

Hashira Meeting (ShinobuxGiyu)

AU in which Shinobu isn't part of the Demon Slayer Corps

"I'm sorry, this wasn't-" 

Shinobu pulled back abruptly, staggering backwards a  few steps before coming to a stop. She had-

She had kissed Giyu. 

Giyu Tomioka. The famed Water Hashira. 

"I-" 

"Kochou..." he began. He was pulling on his haori, and he left, without even a glance back over his shoulder. 

He hated her. 

...

"Please welcome Shinobu Kochou! The newest addition to the Demon Slayer Corps and our newest Hashira!" 

He stiffened. 

It could be a different Shinobu. 

"Tomioka, what's wrong?" Mitsuri asked, noticing that he looked tense. He looked down at the Love Hashira, who was looking up at him with her green eyes. 

"Nothing," he grumbled. 

She approached the wooden surface, her skin lighter, and her eyes brighter than she had seen before. 

"I trust you've met at least one of these fine Hashira," 

She looked around, her violet eyes settling on his.

Her gaze was soft. 

"Yes," he word  trailed off her lips like it meant nothing to her. He had the sudden urge to stand up. 

"The meeting is dismissed," Ubuyashiki said suddenly, before leaving. 

The rest of the Hashira swarmed around the newest addition to the highest-ranked swordsmen. Giyu stepped back. It wasn't his place to go up to her and resume what they had a long time ago. 

"Tomioka-san." 

"Kochou." he greeted her so coldly. Like the winter chill right after the breeze of fall. She had msised him. More than she could ever admit. 

"It's nice to see you again," she offered, but he simply nodded and turned away. 

"Giyu-" 

"Don't call me that here. That was a long time ago," he said coldly, turning away and avoiding her gaze. It wasn't like she could call him and bring him to her again like she had when he loved her.

...

How had he not spotted the demon? He was absentmindedly walking, and he hadn't noticed the demon approach him. 

Its Blood Demon Art... 

Your biggest regret. 

"I'm sorry, it was... a mistake." 

No, no. 

He was wrong. He had left to protect her. To protect her from the demons. If they ever fell in love, then she would be subject to demon attacks, subject to all kinds of pain. 

He began crying, the tears flowing like a stream of pain and heartache that he buried inside, under the guise that he was confident and silent. 

"Giyu!" 

She had called his name so informally. She was strong now. He didn't need to protect her. 

"Shinobu..." 

Calling her by her first name, she turned around in shock. The demon was swiftly decapitated by Shinazugawa, who had reluctantly tagged along on their search. 

"I'm sorry..." he trailed off, his eyes fluttering closed. She was distracted. 

But she was a healer. 

"Get him to the Mansion." she ordered, as Sanemi quickly followed. It wasn't like him to obey orders, but they were well acquainted, through marriage of her recently deceased sister, Kanae. 

...

He had pushed so many people away, people who had tried to reach out to him. People who were worried for his sake. He didn't want to watch people sacrifice themselves because he had been too weak to do anything for himself. 

He didn't want t watch more people die because he was so weak. Because he wasn't worthy of his position as a Hashira. 

Shinobu had continually reached out to him, teasing him and making him laugh all the while. And he loved her. 

He loved her endless optimism, and her smile, which, like him, hid something beneath that friendly exterior.

A bloodlust for demons. 

Her sister had been killed. Her parents had been killed. She had lost so much, and yet she kept smiling. 

She kept smiling for... 

Him. 

"Tomioka." a gruff voice demanded that he stay awake, although he could've stayed like that for such a long time tha thte world wouldn't care if another human lost their life. 

"Kochou stayed up all night. She was hurrying to save you. If I knew any better, i would say that she loved you. But she barely knows you," Sanemi waved a hand dismissively. 

"She's asleep." He pointed with his thumb towards a sleeping Shinobu, who was surrounded by a mountain of pillows. 

"How long was I-" 

"Three days." Shinzugawa interrupted, "I'll leave you be." 

He walked away, like he didn't have a care in the world. It wasn't like he could apologize to her. After he had hurt her so much. 

"Shinobu-" 

She stirred, and for a second, he thought he had heard her name escape from his lips. 

A cry. 

A plea. 

A sob.

"Kochou!" 

He groaned as he got out of bed, the motion weaking his muscles as he walked over to her. 

"I love you." 

She wouldn't remember this. 

Placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, he smiled to  himself, and fell asleep, their foreheads touching in a silent promise.