Bound by Fate - SaneGiyuu

Twenty Four - Christmas Day

Angst + blood in this chapter.

There will be one more chapter after this one, and maybe an epilogue, but we will see :)

Also, I really struggled with this story in terms of inspiration and motivation once my drafts got deleted and all my files were lost,  so I'm really just filling it with angst and bringing it to an end (finally), but there will be a happy ending! 🫶🏻 Apologies if it's not up to everyone's standards. I just don't want to leave this book unfinished before I start work and course, because otherwise this book will never be completed because it's not a top priority story for me as of right now lol.

The rest of this story will be posted before the end of this week.

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Giyuu woke up to a faint stream of sunlight filtering through his blinds, but something felt off. His arm instinctively reached across his bed, but his fingers only met empty sheets. His eyes snapped open, and a cold rush of panic coursed through him as he took in the empty space beside him. The memory of last night surged back—Sanemi's hands on him, his lips, the way they'd laughed together under the low light, the softness in Sanemi's gaze that was so unlike him.

Not wasting a second, Giyuu threw on a shirt and hurried downstairs, each step echoing his mounting worry until he reached the main floor. He skidded to a halt in the doorway of the kitchen, heart pounding, and saw Mitsuri and Sanemi bustling around the stove, flipping pancakes and frying bacon, while Obanai nursed a coffee, one hand shielding his eyes as if even the dim morning light was too much.

Giyuu let out a shaky breath, the tension slipping away as he took in the scene. There was no monumental disaster, no reason for his heart to race quite like this. Only the soft smell of breakfast and the quiet murmur of familiar voices.

"Merry Christmas!" Mitsuri called out with her usual exuberance, her green eyes practically sparkling as she waved a spatula at him.

"Merry... Christmas?" Giyuu replied, still a little disoriented, glancing around as though the holiday had crept up on him without warning.

Sanemi noticed his slightly frazzled state, a knowing smile crossing his face. He poured a cup of coffee, and with surprising gentleness, brought it over to Giyuu. "You all good?" he asked, a hint of concern hidden under the teasing tone.

Giyuu took the mug gratefully, feeling the warmth spread through his fingers. "Yeah... I'm alright," he replied, though the way Sanemi's gaze held his made him feel a bit unsteady.

Sanemi's mouth curved into a playful smirk as he leaned closer, voice low enough that only Giyuu could hear. "I had fun last night," he murmured, his eyes glinting with a mischievous edge.

Giyuu felt his cheeks go red instantly, his mind racing with the memories. But before he could muster a response, Sanemi was already strolling back to the stove, leaving him flustered and clinging to his coffee like a lifeline.

Giyuu took a deep breath, trying to collect himself as he scanned the room. Tengen, Daki, Sabito, and Kyojuro were sprawled out on the living room floor, locked in a heated Mario Kart tournament. Shinobu, Makomo, and Gyomei sat nearby, sipping tea and deep in a conversation that seemed uncharacteristically serene, their faces softened in the calm morning light.

On the couch, Gyutaro watched the game with a stiff, awkward air, while Daki's angry protests at her latest defeat filled the room. Genya and Muichiro were tucked off to the side, sharing quiet, hushed words, their expressions peaceful in a way that felt rare.

It took a moment for everyone to notice Giyuu's arrival, but when they did, a chorus of good mornings and holiday cheer greeted him. Giyuu returned their greetings, trying his best to sound enthusiastic despite the lingering haze of sleep and his still-blushing cheeks.