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

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Your eyes fluttered open from the bright light shining through the window. Your eyes struggled for a second as you tried to adjust to the light.

'Where am I...", you thought to yourself.

You took notice of the bed you were lying on and the smell of antiseptic in the room, you knew you were back at the butterfly district. You felt a pressure holding your hand and looked over to see who it was. Relief washed over you seeing his black hair lying on the corner of the bed and holding your hand. Giyu was safe and didn't seem harmed at all by the mission. You adjusted your body so that you were sitting up and started to rub the top of Giyu's head. Giyu jerked his head up as soon as you began to rub his head and his eyes met yours. 

"(Y/N)!", Giyu pulled you into a tight embrace which caused you to slightly wince in pain. You were still not fully recovered.

"Giyu....it hurts..", you whimpered.

"Ah!", Giyu quickly let go and quickly apologized.

"How are you feeling?", Giyu asked.

"I'm ok, still feeling a little sore, but Giyu how did I end up here? Last I remember I was passed out from blood loss", you asked.

Giyu squeezed your hand, "I....I was too weak....I couldn't find you and had to ask for help", Giyu paused.

He took a deep breath out of frustration, "Shinazaguawa-san found you and brought you here."

Your face turned to shock at Giyu's response, 'Sanemi? Why would he go out of his way to help after what happened the last time I saw him.'

Just as you were stuck in your thoughts the sound of the door sliding open caught your attention. 

"Ara ara looks like our patient is finally awake!"

Your eyes meet those of Kanae and suddenly you start to feel uneasy, but you try to push those feelings aside for now.

You nodded, "How long have I been out for Kocho-san?"

Kanae smiled brightly  at you and responded, "About a week. Now that you're awake expect to stay here for another week for your recovery, since you lost so much blood."

You eyes moved back to your bed and you hung your head in defeat, "Ok..."

Giyu noticing the tension between you two squeezed your hand for reassurance. You looked up at Giyu happy that he was here for you.

"(Y/N)!!!!!! YOU'RE FINALLY AWAKE!!!!"

Before you could look up you saw Shinobu push her sister to the side and tackle you into a tight hug. You laugh at Shinobu's response and mutter, "Shinobu.....it hurts...."

Shinobu quickly let go of you and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry it was exciting to see you awake."

Kanae hit the top of her sister's head lightly, "If you excuse us we will give you time to relax and grab you some food."

Kanae motioned for Shinobu and Giyu to follow right after her. Shinobu followed right after her sister after waving at you goodbye, but Giyu fell back for a second. Giyu leaned over and gave you a soft kiss on the top of your forehead.

"Take it easy and get some rest. I'll be back in a week, master has sent me on a mission to go deal with."

You pouted, "Really, but I just woke up."

Giyu smiled and ruffled your hair, "I'll be back before you know it." Giyu walked up to the doorway and closed the door softly as you waved to him goodbye.

You laid your head back on your pillow and closed your eyes, but your mind raced back to Sanemi. Why would he save you it made no sense, especially since the last time you saw each other it wasn't the best of terms.

You sighed and covered your face with your arm in frustration. You decided it was better to rest than to think about it, so you turned to your side and quickly fell asleep.

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The night quickly approached as you were fast asleep in your bed that you didn't notice the sound of the window opening by your bed.

A white-haired figure jumped through the window and took the seat next to your bedside quietly watching you as you slept. The sight of you made his heart clench, how could you be so dumb to almost lose your life.

Sanemi knew he shouldn't be here, he didn't deserve to be but somehow he hated being away from you. Sanemi shook his head at his conflicting emotions and just sat there contemplating whether to say something to you or not.

What Sanemi didn't know is that you were feigning being asleep and just watched Sanemi with one eye slightly open. For someone who was always angry all the time he couldn't hide his emotions well.

You decided to take the leap for him, you opened your eyes and sat up from your bed, "Hi...Shinazugawa-san."

Sanemi taken a back jumped from his chair and stared at you, "I thought you were still asleep."

You gently smiled at him and shook your head, "I heard you the second you opened the window." You pointed to yourself, "Hashira remember?"

Sanemi smirked, "Hashira who almost died on her last mission you mean."

You pouted and crossed your arms clearly upset at his comment, "The demon just wouldn't stay down ok! Plus I was fighting alone."

Sanemi chuckled, but caught himself and cleared his throat trying not to get caught, "Anyway I just wanted to see how you were doing, I'll take my leave."

You panicked and grabbed his haori sleeve not wanting him to leave, "W-wait!"

Sanemi looked back at you surprised by your actions which caused you to blush and quickly let go of his sleeve.

"I just wanted to say thank you...you know for saving me...", you muttered quietly. 

Sanemi noticing your nervousness smirked at your reaction and ruffled your hair, "Don't worry about it." His action caused you to blush even harder and the beating of your heart was going rapid.

Sanemi took one last glance at you kneeling against the window seal, but he hesitated as he noticed something right next to your bedside table. A green and pink cherry blossom hairpin glistening off the light of the moon caught his eye.

His breath quickly got caught in his throat as he looked between you and the hairpin. 

You looked at him confused, "Shinzagawa-san did you forget something?"

Sanemi looked back at you with shock in his eyes and he pointed to the hairpin, "Where did you get that!"

You frowned as you noticed the panic in his voice and his hand shaking as he was asking. You decided in that moment that Sanemi didn't have to know that you swiftly and easily lied.

"My brother gave it to me for my birthday", you said smoothly but felt guilty after saying it.

Sanemi relaxed at the mention of your brother and nodded, "Sorry must have confused you for someone I knew in the past."

You waved off his comment and smiled, "That's silly."

Sanemi nodded, "Recover fast ok?"

You smiled, "Yes, bye Shinazagawa-san." You waved to him goodbye as he jumped out the window and out of your view.

Your heart clenched and you moved your hand to your chest to catch your breathing. You lied to him. Now there was no way he would ever remember you and somehow that hurt you.

You felt tears welling up in the corner of your eyes and you sobbed quietly.