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

❄️ 27❄️

With Giyu's help, you were able to move the Kamado siblings underneath a nearby tree to shelter them from the falling snow. Giyu grabbed Tanjirou's body and leaned him against the base of the tree for support. While you gently picked up Nezuko and laid her next to her brother, removing your Hanten and laying it over Nezuko and Tanjirou to keep them warm.

You noticed a piece of hair sticking to the side of Nezuko's mouth and, using your fingers, gently tucked it behind her ear. Your gaze shifted back and forth between the Kamado twins, sadness building up within you. 

If you had been there sooner, you could have saved the Kamado family.... Instead, they met the same demise as your own family. You couldn't help but feel partly at fault; if you had stayed behind and not gone into town, then the Kamado family would still be alive, Nezuko would not have turned into a demon, and Tanjirou would still have his family.

You could feel the beginning of tears build up in the corner of your eyes, but before they could fall, you felt a body looming over you. Your gaze moved up to see that Giyu had leaned down to your level and gently brought his hand to the corner of your eyes and wiped your tears away.

Giyu whispered, "Don't blame yourself, just focus on what you can do for them now."

You nodded and brought your arms up to remove the rest of your tears, "Thank you....Giyu..."

Without another word, Giyu gently got up and offered you his hand, which you gratefully accepted. Giyu motioned for you to move to another tree, just a bit farther away. "Let's go talk," and started to walk towards the other tree.

You followed after Giyu, still in view to be able to watch the Kamado siblings, and sat next to Giyu at the base of the tree.

Giyu took out a piece of Bamboo from his haori and a small pairing knife. You looked at him, questioning as to why he would take those two items, to which Giyu responded, "It's for the girl, to stop her from biting other humans. It won't stop her completely, but it will at least delay her a bit."

You nodded and leaned your head on the tree behind you. While Giyu's attention was focused on carving the bamboo, you couldn't help but let your gaze wander to look at Giyu. The young boyish looks, once full of life, now looked withered and older. Giyu's eyes didn't hold that same shine to them that you once remembered. You knew you were part of the reason why he was like this. 

The last time you two saw each other had not ended on a good note, and now being next to each other again felt suffocating. You looked to your side, away from the view of Giyu, and played with the snow to try to distract yourself.

You tried not to make it obvious how uncomfortable you felt, but Giyu knew you well, and even after all the years that had passed, you were still the same. In his eyes, you were still the beautiful girl that he fell in love with, but now you had grown up into a lovely young lady. 

After the big fight in the past, Giyu wanted nothing to do with you anymore, but after he heard you had quite the Demon Corps and disappeared, his feelings changed from anger to desperation, and worry. You had shown to be incredibly hard to find through the years, and when he thought he was close, you would disappear from arm's reach.

But now here you were right next to him, avoiding eye contact as if your life depended on it. 

Giyu decided he needed to be the one to break the awkwardness between the two of you, so he started, "You look well."

You jumped, startled when his words were directed towards you. You looked up towards Giyu and felt his eyes bore into yours as if pleading for you to talk to him. 

You smiled half heartedly, "Yes...I've been keeping myself busy."

He nodded and continued, "You know....everyone has been trying to find you all these years...myself, Shinobu..", he paused, hesitant to say the next name, "...Sanemi too..".

You flinched, hearing Sanemi's name and tore your gaze from Giyu and back to the Kamado Sibilings to distract yourself, "...I know...I know you three have been searching for me...especially you and Sanemi."

Giyu felt a bit of rage in the pit of his stomach rise from your words, but tried to hold it back. His voice cracked, and his next words sounded broken, "If you knew....why didn't you meet with us...with me..."

Your lips quivered at Giyu's voice. You knew the next few words you would say to Giyu were important for the future of your two relationships. You took a deep breath to build up some courage and looked at Giyu straight on. 

Your eyes are full of determination at your next words, "After our fight, Giyu, I felt as if I didn't have the right to be with you any longer...these lingering feelings of mine only hurt you. I care so deeply for you that...I tried my best to love you, but in the end, you deserve someone who will love you unconditionally."

You could feel Giyu's eyes on you as if urging you to continue, so you did, "I hate that I was a coward and decided the best case was to run away...I deeply regret that...I hurt you, and for that, I apologize for the way I went about it. You don't have to forgive me....I just want you to know that I still care for you....and hope in the future to be friends again.."

Giyu could feel the sincerity in your words and knew this would be the result of your talk. As much as it hurt to let you go, and for how much he loved you, he knew his love would not be reciprocated. Your feelings belonged to Sanemi. 

Somehow, this talk gave him the push he needed to put his feelings aside, feeling the weight lift from his chest. Before you could respond, Giyu pulled your arm roughly and pulled you into a hug.

Taken by surprise, you squeaked, "G-Giyu?!"

Giyu buried his head into your shoulder, "Just...stay like this for a little longer..."

You could feel the corner of your eyes developing tears, and your voice whimpered from the overwhelming emotions, "O-okay...". You rubbed Giyu's back gently as if to reassure not only him, but also you that everything will be fine between you two from now on. 

After a few minutes, Giyu slowly pulled away from the hug and looked at you with gentle eyes drastically different from the hardened eyes he gave you not too long ago.

"I'm glad to see you again, welcome back", Giyu said with warmth behind his breath.

You felt your tears run down your cheek and smiled, feeling the once suffocating emotions being replaced with warmth and gentleness, "I'm back."