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ACT I. SCENE I. - affinity
EVERYTHING SEEMED TO bleed into that lapse in time when Tanjirou’s lips ghosted Giyuu’s. Those calloused hands held his chin as they fit their faces together; in a way, Giyuu felt whole again. The black hole in his heart had shriveled, Tanjirou had crossed the event horizon and come back. But how? He’d stopped him from having a relapse by kissing him. Was it platonic or romantic? Did every conversation he exchanged with Tanjirou mean much more to him than it did to himself? Tanjirou pulled away, shock dancing on his face when Giyuu didn’t kiss back. His breath fluttered on Giyuu’s face as he cursed incoherently.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have,”
The answer to the question was staring right back at him. Should he, return the gesture or should he tell him that he isn’t ready yet? Giyuu skimmed Tanjiru lips, quick and chaste, no romanticization implied. He knew he’d regret this, but it was either him or them. He’d hold Tanjirou’s heart as if it were glass. Giyuu would remember the taste of him - no matter how long it would take him to realize how much he needed Tanjirou.
“No, I’m sorry, but … I’m not ready yet,” Giyuu watched as tears built up in Tanjirou’s eyes. Giyuu brushed the tears off of Tanjirou’s cheeks, savoring the sweetness of his mouth for hopefully, not the last time. “Wait for me. . . and one day, I’ll come for you.” It was a reassurance, a pledge to both of them that he would claim Tanjirou as his own.
ACT I. SCENE II. - beauty
TANJIROU’S BODY BECAME engrained into Giyuu’s mind shortly after the encounter. His supple, olive flesh, and the way it shone in the moonlight, Tanjirou’s barely there curves - the sway of his hips - and his tantalizingly plush, roseate, lips. Giyuu could stare forever, he didn’t know why Tanjirou's raw, natural, beauty was choosing to showcase itself now.
Something about his burgundy locks and how they curled around the tips of his ears and nape of his neck, how his eyes shone when he talked about anything he had a deep interest in. It was a shame that Giyuu could only catch these observations from afar. Never up-close, never intimate.
ACT I. SCENE III. - concave
THE BLOOD ON Giyuu’s haori was a cruel reminder about why he said no to Tanjiro. Grief. It was one thing he would never bestow upon Tanjirou. But even he could not stop the tears cascading down Tanjirou’s face when he entered the butterfly estate. Such a priceless angel was reduced to dust when he heard of Giyuu’s state; not every Pillar could face an upper moon and survive.
“Dammit, Giyuu! You promised me … you promised me that you’d …” The rest of Tanjirou’s sentenced was drowned out by his sobbing, which Giyuu never wanted to cause. Giyuu could faintly hear Shinobu coaxing answers out of the teen: the stench of distress in the room leaving a sour taste on his tongue. And it was all because of him .
So as a last-ditch effort, Giyuu offered up his haori, a simple memoir to Tanjiro that would last him through the years as it had for himself. A promise that he would survive, even with these fatal wounds, and return with his heart.
ACT I. SCENE IV. - deception
WHEN GIYUU WOKE up, the adrenaline in his body wasn’t working anymore to give him the illusion that his wounds weren’t that severe. He gritted his teeth as he stared around the room, his eyes resting on a familiar butterfly haori. Shinobu sat down on his bed before crossing her arms.
“You and Tanjiro, huh?”
“...”
“Speak to me, Giyuu. I know your wounds aren’t that bad anymore.”
“We’re - it’s complicated,”
“Well, figure it out quickly ‘cause he’s waiting.”
Giyuu sighed, this is all that’s been on his mind. “I know, I just don’t know how.”
Shinobu glared at Giyuu, her violet eyes scorning him. “See? This is why everyone hates you. You never tell them things, you run away from all your problems,”
“... They don’t hate me,”
“... You’re helpless, you know that? Tanjiro gave his heart to you not once, but twice, and you keep leaving him to wonder if you’re going to say yes. You don’t deserve to have him wrapped around your finger. I hope he wakes up one day and realizes that you’re not worth it,”
As Shinobu left, Kanroji came in. What was she doing here? He didn’t need someone else to berate him and tell him that he’s being making dumb decisions. Especially from the Love Pillar herself.
“So you’re awake,” She mumbled, in her pleasantly soft voice.
“Yeah, I kinda wish I wasn’t.” Kanroji smacked Giyuu on the chest, sending him into a fit of coughs. It was times like this that made Giyuu remember exactly how strong she was.
“Don’t say that! I’m sure there are plenty of people who wish you were awake sooner,”
“Shinobu doesn’t seem to think that … I could probably list them on one hand.”
Kanroji huffed, crossing her arms and tightening her lips. “Forget about Shinobu, she’s - complicated. . . Why are filled with so much sadness, so much sorrow? I expected you to be happy that Tanjiro confessed his love to you. After all, don’t you love him too?”
“I do, but, he doesn’t deserve me. He should have someone he can depend on. Hell, I wonder why he didn’t fall in love with Zenitsu or Inosuke, maybe even Konao or those girls from the butterfly estate that he’s always hanging around with.”
“Giyuu! Stop undermining yourself. You never give yourself credit for whatever you do, you’re always guilt-tripping yourself, and beating yourself up whenever something goes wrong and you were there. You need to let go, don’t focus on who he could’ve been loving, focus on who he is loving. You.”
“Right … thank you, Kanroji,” She shook her head, a smile plastered on her face.
“Now heal faster and go get your boyfriend, he went to go see Urokodaki,”
ACT I. SCENE V. - en garde
GIYUU FORCED HIS way out of the Butterfly estate a week after his encounter with Kanroji. He ignored Shinobu’s warnings that his muscles weren’t ready to make such a long trip; he had to see Tanjiro before it was too late. Before his haori became a pitiful reconciles to Tanjiro. Giyuu traveled every night and well into daybreak, his nichirn sword becoming his guardian. Yes, he sustained injuries, but no painful experience could add up to the happiness that swarmed Giyuu’s body when he reached the mountain. Tanjiro’s burgundy hair danced in the wind, his eyes widening when he saw Giyuu. Giyuu had never run so fast. Once he came into touching range, he scooped Tanjiro up into his arms. The maroon hair that he’d always dreamed of was at his fingertips. Those soft lips and ample body now his.
“I’m so sorry, Tanjiro...”
Tanjiro smiled, nuzzling his head into Giyuu’s chest. “I’ve missed you so much,”
part two?