Strength Reborn

Balance Restored

Tanjiro's POV

Giyu had come such a long way from the days of frost and silence. He was still as strong as ever, though now his once monstrous 16-pack had settled back down to a solid 8-pack. His strength hadn't diminished, though-if anything, he had learned to balance it, knowing when to push himself and when to pull back. He was still as interactive as he had been since his transformation, but he had also developed a sense of when to be silent, when to let things calm down.

He had learned when the Hashira needed their moments of quiet, and when they needed his silent company. It was something I admired about him-his ability to understand the moods around him, and his understanding of his own need to rest.

But some things never changed. One of Giyu's favorite pastimes was still making Shinobu flustered, and I had to admit, it was funny watching her try to maintain composure. Every time she made him stop training or forced him to rest, Giyu would take her hand and kiss the back of it, his lips barely touching her skin but enough to make her eyes widen, her cheeks flush pink, and her words stutter.

"Giyu!" she would exclaim, trying not to lose her cool, but Giyu would just flash a small, satisfied smile and comply, as if the kiss was just part of their deal.

Tengen's POV

I had to give it to Giyu-the guy had a thing for flowers. At some point, it had become his little habit to slip flowers into the bracelets I wore, tucking them into the intricate jewelry like they belonged there. And you know what? I didn't mind.

"Pwretty shiny, pwretty flowa," he'd say every time he did it, a mischievous glint in his eye.

I'd catch him sneaking them in and play along, proudly wearing the flowers like they were part of my original design. It was our little game, and honestly, it lightened the mood in a way only Giyu could.

But as much as Giyu had become more open and interactive, he also knew when to retreat into himself. There were days when he just needed quiet, and that's when he found comfort in Gyomei.

Gyomei's POV

Whenever Giyu felt overwhelmed or needed time to relax, he would crawl into my lap without a word. It had become a silent signal to the others that Giyu needed peace, and I was happy to provide it. I could feel the way his breathing would slow, the tension easing out of his body as he rested against me, his presence light and calm.

We never spoke much during these moments-there was no need. Giyu found solace in the quiet, and I found it in the simplicity of offering him a safe place to rest.

I think the others noticed too. When Giyu was in my lap, there was a certain stillness among the Hashira. It was an unspoken understanding that Giyu needed this time, and we all respected it.

Obanai's POV

Giyu had this thing he did whenever he felt overwhelmed. His breathing would quicken, his eyes would dart around, and sometimes it seemed like he was back in that cold, frightening place. But he had learned to slow his breathing, to bring himself back. And when that didn't work, he'd lean on me-literally.

I didn't understand it at first, but now, whenever he leaned against me, I knew he was grounding himself. I'd let him stand there for a while, feeling his breath even out again, his weight slowly lifting as he calmed. It wasn't something we talked about, but I knew he appreciated the quiet support.

"Thanks, Noodles," he'd mumble sometimes, using that ridiculous nickname he had given me, and I'd roll my eyes but let him stay until he was ready to move on.

Sanemi's POV

It was weird at first, but Giyu and I had actually started getting along. I didn't think it would happen, but after everything we'd been through, it just... worked.

That said, Giyu still loved drowning me with his water breathing techniques during training. I could see the smirk on his face every time I struggled to stay afloat against his onslaught, but there was something almost playful about it now.

"You're getting better," I grumbled one day after barely managing to avoid getting soaked.

Giyu just shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Water strong. Sanemi strong."

It wasn't much, but it was Giyu's way of saying we were equals. And honestly, I could respect that.

Rengoku's POV

Out of all the Hashira, I think Giyu felt most comfortable talking to me about the deeper things-things that still haunted him. Sometimes, late at night, he'd come to me, his face shadowed with uncertainty.

"Rengoku," he'd start, his voice low, "sometimes... I still feel cold. Scared I'll go back."

I knew exactly what he meant. That fear of being consumed by the frost again, of losing himself to the Yuki-onna once more. I could see the lingering doubts in his eyes, even as he smiled more and talked with the others.

But I'd smile warmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You won't go back, Giyu. You've come too far. And we're all here for you, no matter what."

It seemed to help, at least a little. Giyu would nod, his face relaxing as the tension left him. The fear might still linger, but he wasn't alone anymore-and I made sure he knew that.

Tanjiro's POV

It was amazing how far Giyu had come. From the days of being overwhelmed by the frost, to now, where he could balance strength, peace, and friendship. He could fight, laugh, and talk with us all, but he also knew when to rest, when to retreat into the quiet.

He had built bonds with each of the Hashira in his own way-whether it was flustering Shinobu, slipping flowers into Tengen's bracelets, or finding peace in Gyomei's lap. Even Sanemi, who had once been his toughest critic, had grown closer to him.

And though there were moments when Giyu still felt cold, when he feared slipping back into that icy darkness, he knew he had us to lean on. He wasn't alone anymore.

Giyu had found balance. And in that balance, he had found himself again.