What wasn't there before |Sanemi Shinazugawa x Reader|

❄️16❄️

You followed behind Giyu to the courtyard of the Ubuyashiki family where the Hashira meeting would take place. Every Hashira was already waiting for the arrival of the head of the Ubuyashiki family himself. You gulped feeling the weight of becoming a full-fledged Hashira coming soon and averted your eyes to the rest of the Hashira. Becoming a Hashira is not what your mind was preoccupied with, but instead what you would say to Giyu after.

You felt the weight of Giyu's genuine feelings for you and knew you needed to give him an answer. Your feelings for Sanemi still lingered, but you knew you had to let go of those feelings. You were a child when your feelings developed for Sanemi and now you were almost an adult, you needed to let go of those feelings because even if the gesture that Sanemi did for you back then meant a lot to you it probably was nothing to him. The corner of your lips quivered into a sad smile, remembering the moment with Sanemi as a child. You took in a deep breath and faced forward with determination written on your face, you had made up your mind. Your feelings for Sanemi needed to be gone and what you needed was to move forward with your life.

You watched as Giyu, Sanemi, and Kanae all made their way to the rest of the group and knelt. You made your way to the front of the group and took your place to await Ubuyashiki's arrival.

"Welcome my Hashira", a gentle voice broke everyone out of their trance and moved their eyes to the voice.

"My lord", all the Hashira said in unison while kneeling on one leg.

You followed suit with the other Hashira waiting for Ubuyashiki to continue.

Ubuyashiki smiled and made his way to you and stood in front of you, "As you all know we have a new Hashira joining our ranks, (Y/N)-san you may stand please."

You stood up following Ubuyashiki's orders, "Yes my lord."

You looked at Ubuyashiki and smiled which he returned to you and motioned for you to face the rest of the Hashira.

"The rest of you may look this way please and welcome our new Snow Hashira to the ranks", Ubuyashiki said to the rest of the Hashira.

At his words, the rest of the Hashira moved their eyes to look at you and clapped. As you looked at each one of the Hashira, your eyes averted those purple eyes that were staring daggers. You started to feel uncomfortable, knowing that Sanemi was the one who was staring at you. You shook your head ignoring the feeling and tried to look for anything to distract you. Your eyes moved to stare at the glistening deep blue eyes of Giyu. A deep feeling of relief washed over you as you stared into his eyes somehow made you feel better.

The promotion went by fairly quickly with Uzui hugging you as congratulations, Rengoku with a pat on your back, and the rest of the group saying congratulations.

Sanemi and Kanae waited for their turn to congratulate you once everyone else was done. Kanae ran up to you and gave you a big hug, you smiled and hugged her back. During the hug you see Sanemi shift uncomfortably averting your gaze. You smiled softly and mouthed out a 'Thank you' to him. Sanemi taken back by your reaction turned around and started to walk away from you.

You knew his reaction was for the best, the more distance there was between the two of you be better. Especially because the feelings you harbored for him needed to be gone.

You and Kanae bid your farewell to each other, as you made your way over to the entrance of the Ubuyashiki manor you saw a figure standing there. You smiled to yourself as you made your way over the two-toned haori figure.

You tapped the figure on the shoulder, "Waiting for me?"

Giyu spun around and smirked, "Been waiting for a while now."

You laughed and started to move forward leading the way, having a heavy weight lift off your shoulder. Your conflicting feelings about Sanemi were on the back burner and now you can focus on the man in front of you.

"Giyu....let's go visit Sabito together", you said.

Giyu tilted his head at your comment but nodded anyway, "Sure let's go."

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.

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The two of you made your way back to Urokodaki's home, and the three of you had a small dinner regarding your promotion to Hashira. Urokodaki was extremely proud of having two of his students become Hashira. Towards the end of dinner, Giyu and you excused yourselves to go say hello to Sabito.

As you two made your way up the mountainside where Sabito's grave was, Giyu would look at you from the corner of his eyes. When you weren't watching where you were walking your foot got caught in between a rock. You closed your eyes and quickly braced yourself for impact, but it never came. You opened your eyes to see Giyu staring right at you, your face flushed immediately at the situation you two were in.

"Please be careful (Y/N)."

You nodded embarrassed that you even tripped in the first place, "I will."

You two made it to the site of Sabito's grave and knelt in front of the grave with Giyu following right behind you.

The corner of your eyes brimmed with tears, "Hi Sabito..... I came to tell you that I am officially a Hashira, I know you would be so proud.....if you were still alive I just know all three of us would be the best Hashira out there."

Giyu rubbed your back for support noticing the tears in the corner of your eyes.

You pushed your tears back and held your head straight, "I also have some other news..." Your eyes moved over to Giyu's with determination written on your face.

"Giyu confessed his feelings to me...but I have yet to respond to them back...", you moved your hands so they were on top of Giyu's.

Giyu who was taken aback by your sudden actions kept his focus on you, "(Y/n)....you don't have to say it now...I want you to respond once you are ready."

You shook your head, "I am ready....and Giyu while I may not like you as you like me...I want to give us a chance...I mean if you would still have me."

You didn't even have time as you felt a quick pressure on your lips, but just as you felt the lips on yours the feeling was quickly gone.

You blushed furiously at Giyu's actions which caused Giyu to smile and rest his hand on your cheek.

"I would want nothing more."

You tackled Giyu into a hug which caused both of you to fall. You both smiled at each other and laughed at the moment. It felt as if time had stopped and it was just the two of you at the moment. You believed you made the right decision for yourself and looked forward to falling for Giyu.

Giyu stood up and offered his hand which you happily accepted and stood up. Giyu's hand never let go and you did not try to pull away. With one last look at Sabito's grave from Giyu and you, you both made your way down the mountain back to the house.

What Giyu and you didn't notice was the glowing figure hovering over Sabito's grave smiling at you two.

"It's about damn time you two", Sabito said smiling.