Demon Slayer One-Shots (Part 2)

We Meet Again (ShinobuxGiyu)

MANGA SPOILERS: 

It hurts. 

Doesn't it? 

It's that pain you feel when you love someone who doesn't love you in that same way. Whether they think of your as a friend, or a sibling, or a parent figure. It doesn't really matter. 

All you can focus on is the hurt. 

CAW! CAW! Kochou Shinobu, DECEASED! DEAD FIGHTING UPPER MOON TWO! 

His eyes widened All he can hear, is her name being shouted through the crow's mouth. 

Taunting him. 

Teasing him. 

The world had to take away another person that he had cared for. 

He knew it. 

If he had just avoided her... then this could all be avoided. The one time he had opened his heart to another, a DEMON took them from him. 

"Tomioka-san?" 

Tanjiro's eyes were filled with tears.

I have to protect him. 

He urged himself silently, shutting his eyes, willing himself not to cry. He managed a tiny nod at Tanjiro, who broke into a run. 

...

"Tanjiro? Tanjiro!" 

"H-He's not breathing!" a Kakushi choked. 

I'm sorry, Nezuko. 

I always receive protection from others. 

...

"He's alive, Kocho. I think you'd be proud of the Kakushi and Aoi. They did wonderfully. They saved many lives." he said, a branch of wisteria tightly clutched in his hands. 

I am proud. 

"I miss you." he choked, setting the wisteria on the finely polished stone. He thought it might seem inappropriate, considering that was the thing that killed demons. That also killed her. 

Wisteria ran through her veins instead of blood, since consuming wisteria poison to eventually sacrifice herself and weakening Douma enough to kill him. 

I'm sorry Tomioka-san. 

"Couldn't you come back?" he pleaded, staring down at the stone. 

No response. 

I-I can't. 

"Then I'll see you soon." 

Huh? What did that mean? 

Watching as he began walking away from the grave, she never saw him again. 

At Kimetsu No Yaiba Academy (several hundred years later) : 

"Kocho." 

"Hmm?" 

"Quit daydreaming." he barked. She frowned. Tomioka-sensei had always been particularly grumpy, but today, there was something different about him. 

He seemed... sad.

Had he lost someone? 

"Kocho, I need to see you after school." 

Mitsuri gently patted her on the back as they all scurried out the doorway. 

"Y-Yes, Tomioka-san?" 

She was afraid. 

Genuinely. She had only recently transferred to the Academy, and was welcomed by the others almost instantly. 

His eyes softened as he realized she was shaking. 

"Sorry, did I scare you?" 

She let out a laugh. 

"Scare me? Never." 

He managed a small smile, something she hadn't seen before. 

"Tomioka-sensei, is there something wrong?" she asked, noticing he had stopped talking and the grumpiness in his eyes had dissipated. 

"Y-You just... remind me of someone." 

Something she would never admit? 

He did too. 

The way his ocean blue eyes looked at her with such fondness and the way his eyes lit up in recognition only made her heart flutter. 

"Kocho," he said again, thought it didn't seem as if he was angry. More as if he was committing her name to memory, or repeating it so that he could remember it forever. 

He got down on one knee. 

Her cheeks flushed. 

"Tomioka-sensei!" she shouted. He looked up at her, puzzled. 

"I'm just tired of standing." 

Oh. 

"Kocho, tell me I'm not dreaming." he pleaded. 

"Tomioka-sensei-" 

"Kocho." 

He resumed his full height, towering over her as he stared down at her. 

"Kocho." he urged. 

Her mouth hung open, thought she quickly closed it to prevent embarrassment to spread across her face. 

"Y-You're not dreaming." 

"Aren't I?" he pinched the bridge of his nose. 

"Tom-" 

"Giyu." 

What? 

"W-What did you say?" 

"Call me Giyu." 

He peered at her through his bangs, a shy expression crossing his face before she eventually looked away. 

"Kocho, look at me." 

Facing him, she hesitantly looked into his eyes. It was familiar. 

A wave of calmness swept over her as she stared longer into his beautiful blue eyes, entranced by the ocean she was swimming through. 

"Kocho." he murmured, suddenly stepping closer. 

"Giyu..." she sighed softly, leaning her forehead against his. 

"C-Can I kiss you?" he asked, a bout of courage suddenly washing over him. Nodding softly, she watched as he leaned downwards. 

"I'm sorry I didn't do this the first time." 

The first time?

The way his lips collided with hers was nothing short of wondrous. 

Amazing. 

And so familiar. 

She almost protested when he began to pull away.

Again, she urged. 

"Shinobu. I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry." silent tears fell down his cheeks as he leaned his forehead against hers. Emotions tumbled through her as the feeling of his tears touched her forehead. 

The sound of her name on his lips was so comforting, the velvetiness of his voice soothing the after effect. 

Embracing him tightly, she watched as he cried into her hair. 

"I couldn't protect you. B-But I swear, I'll protect you. Now. Forever." 

She gave a nod with her head, and he sighed, contentment filling him. 

"I'll never leave you. Never again."