❤ ~ The Greatest Gift ~ ❤

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How those words loomed above Giyuu, who noticed Tanjirou's odd movements. How the other's body desired to move forward. To arrive at the stranger before them. However, Giyuu was quick to still Tanjirou, his hand sliding along a thin wrist as the motion and sudden touch seemed to bring the other back to the present. Left Giyuu painfully aware of those eyes that were heavily enveloped in a sorrow that made his mouth taste bitter.

"It's really you... But-" Tanjirou fumbled over his words, his expression revealing everything. The disbelief. The pain. The joy. All wrapped into one mixed emotion that was exposed in the present to both individuals. It left the stranger in particular to step forward, seeking to offer comfort. That was until Giyuu pulled Tanjirou back, his sword raised with a heightened guard. Ocean eyes narrowed with a chilling glare.

"Stay where you stand. I'll not warn again!" The male before them seemed to raise his hands in a sort of surrender.

"I'm no threat, so why not lower your weapon. I'll not move a muscle, I assure."

"Am I supposed to believe you? We don't even know who you are!" Tanjirou seemed to grasp the situation, his mind pulled to the present as his hand seemed to crash into Giyuu's. Pushed the sword lower as the confusion fell into the present. It left Giyuu with a displeased expression as he dared to speak, only to fall silent by Tanjirou himself. A heavy determination laced in each word.

"He's no threat, Giyuu! I say that with complete sincerity."

"Then who is he? I want an answer that I'll accept before I dare lower my guard. I'll not allow harm to befall you again, Tanjirou." The maroon slayer fell silent before he spoke, his fingers seeming to clench along Giyuu's katana. His eyes seeming to meet that of his otousan's, laced in wordless emotions.

"He's my father, Giyuu... The one from long ago that I believed dead. The family I lost back in my youthful years of ignorance."

It had taken countless minutes before Giyuu lowered his guard even slightly, his gaze never leaving the stranger that had been identified. It was still hard for the raven to understand. How someone that should have been dead was alive before them. After all, Giyuu had seen the state of the house. There shouldn't have been anything left beyond the few scraps that the fire might have avoided. Yet, here stood the previous family to Tanjirou.

Sighing loudly, Giyuu finally sheathed his katana before he leaned into the closest tree. He was truthfully confused on the current scenario. Though, he couldn't help but admire the smile that rose to Tanjirou's features. He envied it, honestly. That he wasn't the one making Tanjirou happy.

Brushing the words from his mind, he allowed his voice to speak his mind. To get answers to the questions everyone already knew he had. "I still haven't received a name from you, uh- Sir?"

Giyuu cringed at the formalities, his eyes glancing elsewhere as the older male seemed to understand. Offered a smile before a hand landed along Tanjirou's head. A gesture that made Giyuu's jaw clench as he withheld an urge to lop the hand off. Unfortunately, he wasn't a fan of other's touching Tanjirou; no matter who they were.

"You can call me Yoriichi. As you know, I'm his father. Well; to a sense, anyway." Giyuu hummed with acknowledgement before he asked another question, ignoring the glances from Tanjirou for the moment. He knew after all, Tanjirou wasn't pleased with the interrogations.

"Last I knew, you were dead. So, how are you here now?" Yoriichi seemed to rest on those words, his body lowering to allow him a place on a rock. It left him pondering the response, one that Tanjirou actually seemed interested in knowing.

"I fear I can't reveal everything, but I'll offer what I am allowed. Back then, my home was indeed burned down. I, however, was not within the confines. I was taken from the building prior. I've been alive this whole time, but unable to do much."

"Why didn't you try to find Tanjirou then, if you were alive?" Yoriichi seemed to sink a bit, his hand gripping the fabrics along his body.

"I wanted to, more than anything. But I truly believed Tanjirou died that same day. All that was found was the keychain that once was a gift, stained in a bit of blood. Any parent would fear the worst, Tanjirou..." There was a lingering silence before Tanjirou nodded, his lungs inhaling a large breath before he sighed it out.

"I don't blame you, otousan. I made the error to ignore your words; so, it is my fault for this. If I had listened, this wouldn't be the future; I'm sure of it." Yoriichi nodded but ran his hand along Tanjirou's head once more.

"Maybe. Maybe not. In the end, we're united; are we not?" Tanjirou nodded, smiling calmly before Giyuu cleared his throat. It drew both eyes, leaving the Raven a bit startled as he lowered his tone. Allowed his glare to fall, his hand rubbing the back of his head.

"I uh- I apologize for my aggression before. I was merely worried for Tanjirou's sake, Yoriichi-san."

"Yoriichi-san? Please, no formalities. I'm more than willing to forgive, especially since I'm aware of your desire to protect Tanjirou. For that, I wish to offer my thanks. At least he had someone where I was absent." Giyuu gave a small nod, his body leaving the tree as he grew closer. Took up a smaller rock. "Since we've seemed to settle our problems, might I have a name?"

"It's Giyuu... Giyuu Tomioka." There was a lingering silence before Yoriichi laughed lightly, his smile similar to Tanjirou's. A look that was like the morning sun, even in the evening.

"Well then, Giyuu; let me truly offer my thanks. I'm truly in your debt."

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Hope you've enjoyed this chapter. It is a shorter one, but it leads into the next chapter that will offer a long conversation. It should also fill some gaps in plot and missing pieces that correlate to Yoriichi. Hope you're excited and leave me feedback. It's always appreciated! <3