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Wisteria blossoms sway in the gentle breeze. Their long tendrils shroud two figures that sought a moment of privacy underneath the tree. Hidden away from prying and curious gazes, the two young men share gentle and loving smiles.
Genya looks down at Senjurou, his heart never ceases to stutter at the sight of him. Genya is more than sure that Senjurou will forever hold the key to his heart. No matter what may happen in the future, their love will find a way to reunite them. Genya tells himself this, it serves as his light of hope for what’s to happen once dusk strikes.
A gust of breeze blows past them. Senjurou’s hair dances in the breeze, looking like molten gold and rubies. Genya can’t help but laugh as he tucks a lock of hair behind Senjurou’s ear.
“Don’t look at me like that, Senjurou.” He murmurs when the other boy’s eyes start to water. Before he can say anything else to offer comfort, Senjurou lurches forward and buries his face in Genya’s chest.
“You don’t have to, you know. They would understand if you stay behind!” Senjurou hiccups, muffled. Genya bites his lip and looks away. He knows that he has a choice to stay behind but this is something that he has to do. Genya has a feeling that this battle will be the end for a lot of his friends but that’s part of the reason why he has to go. If there’s any sort of way that he can be a help for the others, he’ll take it. As much as it hurts to leave Senjurou behind, Genya knows that this is part of his duty as a demon slayer.
Pulling away from Senjurou, he cups the teen’s cheeks. He has to do this for Senjurou. Smiling, he leans down and places soft kisses over the freckles that dot Senjurou’s nose.
“I’ll be back.” Genya does his best to erase the wavering and fear out of his voice. He doesn’t want this meeting to end with both of them crying, Senjurou smiling will be more than enough to give him strength in the battle.
“Do you promise?” Senjurou blinks up at him. Genya hesitates but nods, wiping away at a stray tear with the pad of his thumb.
“I promise.” He looks up and plucks a wisteria blossom and places it in the lock of hair he had previously tucked away. The pop of light purple in Senjurou’s hair makes Genya’s heart twinge. “I’ll always come back to you.”
Senjurou doesn’t look convinced but does relax in Genya’s arms. They both understand the risk of war. As much as they both have lost throughout the years, they both stay strong- unwilling to taint this moment between them.
“You better.” Senjurou wipes away at his tears and leans up, placing a chaste kiss against Genya’s lips. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He finishes, giving Genya the best smile he can.
-
Genya closes his eyes and smiles. Nothing hurts anymore and though he’s saddened to hear his brother’s sobs, he’s happy. He’s happy that he was able to be reunited with his brother and he’s proud that he was able to help take down Kokushibou. Warmth washes over him, guiding him to the comfort of a soft light. With his last exhale, Genya’s last memory is Senjurou’s smile.
-
Genya’s back is hurting from the weight of his bookbag. Readjusting the strap, he continues down the street. Above, the sky is a stormy grey and he wants to get home before the rain starts- Sanemi will kill him if he tracks water throughout the apartment.
His efforts are all for naught because just moments later, the clouds seem to open up and freezing rain pours down from the skies. Instantly soaked to the bone, Genya growls. There’s no way that he’s going to go back to the apartment now, he’ll just find some place to wait out the rain and hopefully dry off. Luckily, through the heavy rain, Genya spots a café glimmering with a soft gold light. He thanks his lucky stars and jogs the rest of the way, eager to get out of the cold rain and to sip on a cup of hot chocolate.
Bustling through the door, a bell cheerfully greets him from above. The inside of the small café is warm and cozy. Soft music plays softly, lulling him with the gentle lilting of a guitar. A few patrons shoot him an unimpressed look but Genya easily shrugs them off. He’s more than used to those sort of looks by the older denizens of Tokyo. Excusing himself, he makes his way to the restroom to dry off. After all, he’d hate to be the source of puddles of water throughout the café.
When Genya feels confident that he won’t be tracking water everywhere, he leaves the bathroom. He does feel a pang of guilt when a short blond kid is already cleaning up his mess. Genya makes a note to leave a generous tip for the workers.
Mumbling an apology that sounds more like a hissed curse, the blond barista yelps and shies away from Genya. He internally sighs at his own awkwardness. Passing the barista, he reads the nametag and tells himself that he’ll leave another tip at the front for Zenitsu, as an apology.
Stepping up to the counter, Genya looks up, ready to place his order. Behind the counter, a slender young man with gold and fiery red hair greets him with a soft smile. Genya is lost in his impossibly beautiful eyes. There’s something so heartachingly familiar about the man but he’s sure that he would’ve remembered someone so striking in his lifetime. Instantly, he feels his face heat up and Genya quickly looks away as he stutters out an order.
Glancing at the barista from the corner of his eye, he reads the name tag. Senjurou. Another wave of nostalgia and love crashes over him but he still can’t figure out why he’s having such strong feelings towards the apparent stranger. Handing cash over to Senjurou, Genya spies a tattoo of a sprig of soft purple wisteria blossoms on Senjurou's forearm.
Suddenly, everything comes crashing down around Genya and he picks up forgotten memories of a forgotten life.
“I knew you’d come back.” Senjurou smiles.