❤ ~ The Greatest Gift ~ ❤

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Giyuu couldn't help but keep silent as he simply watched Yoriichi, who seemed to examine Giyuu's very reaction. Surprise was the real reaction he felt, as well as pity in a way. To have someone's own parents as an enemy, he wondered just how Tanjirou would take it all. How the other would grasp the truth as well as the choice that came with the territory. However, this truth also gave Giyuu too many questions that he was aware would probably remain unanswered. Didn't mean he wouldn't try to search for something to give even partial answers to. It ultimately left him finally finding his voice as he met Yoriichi's gaze, his skin still feeling rather clammy and leaving him in an uncomfortable state.

"If I might, Tanjirou knows nothing of his other father?" Yoriichi nodded, leaving Giyuu to sigh momentarily. It almost made him feel better knowing Tanjirou was just as in the dark as him. "Why tell me all this? I get the whole situation of being by Tanjirou's side, but why tell me; a demon slayer and Hashira; of Tanjirou's other father. Whom, might I add, is the Slayer corps main enemy?"

Yoriichi seemed to hesitate before he took a seat on a lingering log that had once been a flourishing tree, now nothing but a small remnant of what its beauty once was. "Honestly, it was mainly to assure someone was truly on his side. I was also testing you; well, more your resolve."

"So, you couldn't really trust me fully?" A long silence filled the space as once more, Yoriichi simply nodded, sighing quietly. However, he met Giyuu's eyes with a look that made the raven stumble in his mind. Made his mind numb momentarily.

"I trust you more now, then I did. But I also needed to know that whatever Tanjirou chooses as his destiny, you'll truly stay with him. He lost me at a young age and I'm grateful that you've sheltered him. You've done what I could not due to Muzan himself, but I also needed to clarify something from two years ago." Giyuu felt himself catch the ending as he tilted his head, raising his brow.

"What is it you must clarify?" Once more a silence ensued before Yoriichi finally spoke. That tone that always seemed laced in concern and kindness had become chilled as those eyes that met Giyuu's were offering up a warning. One that while not a threat, held a meaning deeper into the words and ultimately, Giyuu picked up on them quickly.

"I needed a promise that even if Tanjirou decides to abandon the demon corp... That if he chose to follow me back to where Muzan was, his other parent; that you'd not stop him. If he chooses to stay, I will not step in to alter his choice, but should he choose to come live once more with me, he'll become an enemy to the demon corps." Yoriichi stopped as he rose to his feet, sauntering toward Giyuu. He stopped feet away as he stared down onto Giyuu, who was rather alert now. "I need a promise from you personally that neither of us will sway his decision. That no matter where he goes, this conversation will never be brought forward. I want my son back by my side, but I wish for him to choose his own destiny. If the truth comes to him someday and he truly abandons the humans for his true family, I must know, will you oppose him?"

"Wha..." A hand fell to Giyuu's shoulder as the raven stumbled back a bit. He was able to recover, but he couldn't cease the shaking in his legs, let alone his whole frame.

"I need to know, will you become my enemy?" Giyuu felt himself hold his breath as his mind ran through everything. Pieced the words together and made sense of them. Yoriichi had asked him the impossible, truthfully. And yet, somehow, he already placed an answer aloud. Whether subconsciously or not, he had spoken without a moment to pause.

"No..."

"So, you'd remain with Tanjirou even if he fell to evil?" That question was hard to grasp, as Tanjirou was one of the kindest people he'd known. But Yoriichi sought answers and Giyuu already knew what his heart led to. His oath was something that he'd never betray, and he'd promised himself to Tanjirou, no matter the choices or the events to come. It wasn't something Giyuu needed to stress on thinking over, as he'd already come to an answer years prior.

"I would. It was the oath I made to him." Yoriichi paused, releasing Giyuu as he examined the raven. Checked to see if Giyuu was sincere.

"An oath, you say?" Giyuu nodded, taking a breath as he steadied his heart and found his strength. Let Tanjirou linger in his thoughts as he steadied his gaze that now met Yoriichi's.

"I promised him years back, after I'd met him that I would never leave his side. That through thick or thin, I'd remain. I know you're worried for him but believe my words. I will never betray Tanjirou. Not in this life, or the next. That is my word and oath to him, and now my word and oath to you. You have nothing to fear in correlation to my involvement." For the first time in the minutes that had passed, Yoriichi seemed to soften. His gaze grew gentle, and his smile crested his features as yet again his hand reached out. It left Giyuu shocked when a hand pressed gently to his head, ruffling his hair as Yoriichi spoke in such a harmonious voice.

"I see. Then I'll take your words and leave for now. Take care of my Tanjirou in my stead, Giyuu." There was a lingering moment as Yoriichi wandered toward the edge of the thicket of woodlands before he glanced back. Words so soft yet eerie. "I do hope we get to meet again. Take care." 

Without another word, Yoriichi seemed to vanish as Giyuu finally took in everything. All the words exchanged. He'd not truly considered it in full, what his oath had meant. but now, he was aware that his promise was risky. He'd assured that should Tanjirou betray the Corps, so too would Giyuu. It was something that clouded his mind as he began his journey to his own destination. His mission that was hardly the main topic of his minds rambling. 

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It's a bit of a shorter chapter, but it offers some insight. Hope you enjoyed and looking forward to keeping this going. It's not even halfway over yet... My goal of 100 chapters might actually happen with everything I've planned, so stick around. <3