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Neither Sanemi nor Giyuu were the best when it came to communication. The start of their relationship had been rocky, but since both of them preferred to show their feelings rather than voice them, they managed quite well after a while. Sanemi started growing accustomed to his new life; for the first time in years, he felt excited to return to his estate, knowing Giyuu would be waiting there for him.
If it meant making Giyuu happy, he was ready to do many things he wasn't completely comfortable with—so here he was, lying on the ground next to Giyuu a little outside of town, surrounded by at least two dozen puppies. He vaguely remembers a conversation he once had with him, inwardly scolding himself for not having been on his guard when Giyuu all but pulled him outside for a 'bonding activity'. He should've known what that means. Bonding activities, in his experience, were worse than fighting demons.
To his great relief, there hadn't been any travellers passing them by yet. Then again, that might've distracted the heap of fluff long enough for him to escape. Either way, Sanemi just couldn't wrap his head around why Giyuu would even do that to himself. The puppies hadn't exactly barked at him like grown dogs did, but in exchange for that they used him as living chew bone.
“Dogs hate you,” Sanemi says after a long silence. It's only a fraction of what's on his mind right now, but with all the thoughts, questions and accusations whirling around inside his head, it's a great effort to even string together this short sentence.
Giyuu answers immediately, “They don't.”
Sanemi can hear the defiant frown on Giyuu without seeing it (not that he could with two puppies licking his face at the moment) and almost laughs because he knows how cute it looks on his boyfriend. It's definitely one of Sanemi's favourite faces and that's exactly why he forces himself to stand his ground and not give in.
“One is chewing at your foot,” he tries again, angling his head until he can get a better view on the black puppy gnawing happily on Giyuu's toe. Sanemi moves his leg a bit to shoo the dog away.
“It doesn't matter.”
Giyuu's voice remains steadfast, almost as if he tried to convince not only Sanemi but himself as well.
“You do realise we don't need this, right?” With a sigh, Sanemi pats the ground until he finds Giyuu's hand. “We're a couple already.”
He turns his head to the side, waiting for Giyuu to do the same, and smiles slightly at him. Taken aback at first, Giyuu mirrors his smile almost shyly, before he gives Sanemi's hand a light squeeze. For a few precious seconds, Sanemi forgets about the dogs whacking their tiny tails into his face or chewing at any part of his body they could get their teeth on. Giyuu's eyes are a much prettier sight.
Their romantic moment is ruined by the arrival of something far worse than two dozen puppies.
“A couple idiots is what you are. What do you think you're doing here?”
Sanemi feels his blood curdle at the sound of Obanai's voice. He whips his head around by reflex and promptly curses under his breath because he hurt his neck in the process.
Giyuu, on the other hand, seems completely relaxed. He calmly looks to the left, spotting Obanai standing a few feet away from them with a sceptical look on his face, and answers, “I tried to put our backup plan into action.”
It's silent between them, save for the excited whining of the puppies. Obanai blinks at Giyuu a few times before he finally understands.
“That was a joke,” Obanai sighs, rubbing his temple. “Did you really think I was being serious?”
Sanemi can tell how hard Giyuu is thinking about his next words, probably starting to doubt himself and his actions. If there weren't at least twenty tiny paws trampling all over his stomach right now, he would've attacked the Snake Pillar already. Once he notices Obanai wanting to add something, Sanemi pushes the puppies off gently but decidedly and sits up. He doesn't let go of Giyuu's hand, either, even if that dampens the threatening aura he's trying to emit.
“Get lost if you know what's good for you.”
Obanai just raises an eyebrow at him, not even trying to hide his snort.
“With all due respect, Shinazugawa: why would I? This,” he gestures at him and Giyuu, “is the least intimidating you've ever been.”
His grip on Giyuu's hand tightens; it's all he can do to keep himself from drawing his sword.
“Well, do you want me to strike you down then?” Sanemi growls at him, his voice so deep and guttural that all the dogs are suddenly cowering in fear.
Obanai, however, doesn't look scared at all. He takes in the scene in front of him one last time until he finally shrugs. “I'd love to fight you, but we're short-handed anyway. I don't want to look for your replacement.”
With that he leaves, half-heartedly waving them goodbye. Sanemi wonders why that little pest even decided to pay them a visit. Probably just to taunt him.
A slight but confident tug on his hand grounds Sanemi again, makes all his anger disappear in seconds. Giyuu is pointing at the dogs surrounding them, still whimpering with their tails between their legs.
“I think they hate you too now,” he says, and Sanemi has known him long enough to recognise the hint of amusement in his voice.
He wants to disagree, but then he sees the hint of a happy smile on Giyuu's lips—and Sanemi has made it his duty to ensure all of Giyuu's half-smiles can bloom fully on his lips. So he scoffs, exaggerating his gestures a bit to make sure Giyuu knows it's meant as a joke, and grins at him.
“Guess we have that in common, then.” Sanemi squeezes Giyuu's hand, grinning when he actually smiles back. “Let's get something to eat.”
Getting up without letting go of Giyuu is difficult, but he manages. They turn towards the town and start walking towards it, talking about what restaurant they want to visit in small but animated voices. Some brave puppies follow them hesitantly.
The more Sanemi thinks about his relationship with Giyuu, the more he realises that he's actually quite content with the way things are. With a smile on his lips, he lets his thumb trail over Giyuu's knuckles and quickens his step.