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Death. He knew it was coming. She knew it was coming.
- tomioka-san, is there something on my face?
- ...kochou, what is flowing in your veins?
His face had faltered maintaining its expressionless look and her eyes suddenly were filled with emotion. Something flitted across Giyuu's face, something short and shallow. It resembled disgust, it resembled concern, it resembled agony. And Shinobu's eyes only reflected what was in his. She tightened the grip around her haori, her face immediately catching its calm again. She had simply smiled, the fake kind, and looked away.
- tomioka-san, you have a very funny face right now.
- ...
- i wish i could draw it and keep it with me at all times.
He didn't care that moment. He suddenly had a lot of things to say, words filled up his throat, his eye brows knitted together: he was furious. And staring at his face, Shinobu tightened her grip a little more stronger, her hands trembling a little. Giyuu took a step forward and opened his mouth but no words had come out.
His memory stopped there. How did that conversation end? How did he push himself to confront her again? Everything was blank in Giyuu's mind and he felt hatred for himself. She was gone. She had been long gone. And he had prepared himself for this since the moment he knew her plans. And he had prepared himself, enough to not be swayed by the news of her death. He had already been mourning - he was constantly mourning. So it didn't really hurt more than he thought it would; he was already being hurt all the time anyways.
"Tanjiro!" Giyuu yelled, plunging at the young boy.
It was a split moment and everything turned black. Giyuu was still panting, his heart was still pumping. He stared at his hands, blood dripping down his flesh. Everywhere still hurt, it still hurt. Was this... was this a Blood Demon Art?
"...Tomioka-san?"
Giyuu froze, knowing too well that he shouldn't be hearing that voice. He turned around and saw her, perfectly fine, perfectly beautiful. He exhaled sharply, stumbling forward a little. Shinobu's face was full of emotion, the first he had ever seen it in a long time.
"Kochou - "
"You shouldn't be here," Shinobu said, her voice cracking, her eyes welling with tears. "Tomioka-san, you shouldn't be here." Her fingers curled around his haori, completely shaken and trembling. "Tomioka-san, please tell me that - "
"Kochou," Giyuu said softly, his arms wrapping around her body as he pulled her close. She was still warm. A small smile surfaced to his face as he closed his eyes. It was a shame he never had the chance to do this when they were a live. He regretted it so much. "You shouldn't be here."
"Tomioka-san, Did we win?" Shinobu whispered, tears streaming down her face.
Giyuu really wanted to say yes, he dearly wished he could. He almost thought about lying, he almost did. But he died too early to know anything. "I don't know," he replied. Her hair smelled nice. "But we will though. And you will be a part of it."
"Tomioka-san, thank you," Shinobu breathed, squeezing and pulling him closer.
It was only then that Giyuu realized no place in his body hurt anymore. It was also then that Giyuu realized his heart stopped beating. "Kochou, did you die peacefully?" he was suddenly inclined to know if the last thing she felt was pain.
"Yes, it was peaceful," Shinobu said quietly. She was lying.
And he knew it. He pulled her a little tighter, burying his head into her hair. "I'm sorry."
Everything was so new, so raw. They never did anything like this when they were alive. And now that they were dead, maybe they felt a little braver, maybe they felt a little less regretful. If this was the last moment they would share, he knew better than to waste it. She knew better than to be keep her mask on. "No, don't be," Shinobu said quietly. "Nothing is ever your fault, Tomioka-san." Her frail body trembled a little.
It was like time stopped, it probably was. Shinobu could almost feel the man she was embracing crying. If only she had more time. If only they had more time. If only they were born into a normal world, a world where nothing like demons existed. A world where her sister didn't die, where Sabito didn't die. That would be lovely. It would've been. She pulled back, wiping her cheeks furiously as more tears came out.
"It's our time to go, Tomioka-san."
"...Kochou."
"I have something to say," Shinobu declared, a smile on her face, the real kind. "And I'm going to say it once, so please listen carefully." She took a deep breath. She reached for his hand and Giyuu was reluctant to give. She grabbed his hand nonetheless, his bloodied, cut-littered hand. "Tomioka-san, I love you." More tears came out, uncontrollable tears. "Tomioka-san, please don't forget me."
If the world was gracious and gave them another chance -
If they could meet again in their next life -
Giyuu didn't say anything, he couldn't. Shinobu smiled at him, shining brightly. "Remember the first time you got injured?" she tilted her head to the side. "I still remember that day. I remember every single moment I shared your presence, Tomioka-san. I remember when you came to my rescue, I remember when you head-locked me to protect the Kamado siblings." There was a pause as the brim of her eyes turned red. She was still beautiful.
He raised his hand and tucked a wisp of her hair behind her ears. He always wanted to do that. Her face turned red a little, so did his. "If... if for some reason - " He never stuttered. "I have the honor of being a part of your next life - " Shinobu's tears trickled down, thick and hot. " - will you let me talk to you?" His hands brushed over cheeks, shedding her tears. "Will you let me remember you?"
Forever cold in their life, they were the warmest they ever could be.
"Please," Shinobu laughed, her voice trembling. "Please, do so. If I ever forget, please remind me. Please."
Hopefully, they would meet each other in their next life -
Hopefully, they would still remember each other -
"I will," Giyuu promised. "I will make sure I do." He will engrave her name in his heart, etch her face in his mind. If there was one thing the world owed to him, it was this. He clenched his hand, closing his eyes. "Kochou Shinobu - " He opened his eyes. She was still crying but this time she was smiling.
" - I love you."
And yes, that was all she needed to hear.
If they could be happy in their next life, they would meet each other.
"Tomioka-san, let's walk," she suggested, smiling. He gave her his hand and they started walking, saying unspoken promises and dreaming of their future together. They prayed they had a chance, they prayed they would be given one.
A chance to be happy together.