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Dating a Demon Slayer wasn’t easy. (Name) knew it wouldn’t be. Giyu has responsibilities that took him away from her often. She knew and accepted that. It was something she knew before their relationship became romantic. Back when they just flirted with the idea of romance. He would come to her to rest and escape for an evening every now and then. In her little village she ran the small inn and after he stayed there the first time...when they met...when she took over the inn because she lost her parents in the demon attack which drew Giyu to town...he saved her when she was about to be killed and devoured later that same night.
She had thanked him with free room and board for life for all he had done for her. He always tried to pay though...his honor making him not want to accept generosity that could cost her part of her livelihood.
She was just as stubborn as he was...and won that argument.
Then after a year and a half of knowing each other and dancing around each other for about eight of those months they fell into bed together and after that she became his secret woman. He didn’t want her bothered by the other Slayers he knew.
He was often away for long periods and on special occasions. But this year...this year was different. He was with her for his birthday and while the ever stoic Giyu insisted that he didn’t need anything special on this day. But like usual she was just as stubborn.
She wasn’t throwing any kind of party or social event.
She just wanted him to herself.
She had been cooking most of the morning the day after he arrived, she had insisted the night before he just sleep. She smiled when he walked into the kitchen the next day. He looked at her with a soft smile of his own. She loved that she was one of the lucky few to get to see his emotional side.
“Happy birthday Giyu.” She murmured and kissed his cheek.
“What are you doing, (Name)?” He asked.
“Making us a picnic lunch.” She said.
“It snowed last night.” He said confused.
“We can eat it on the back porch and watch the winter woodland creatures scurry about.” She suggested with a wide smile.
He chuckled, “Okay.” He said, “Whatever you wish.”
“I made your favorite.” She said and showed him what she was pulling out of the steamer, “I went to the best fish stall market to be sure I got the freshest Salmon.”
A light red dusted his cheeks at her desire to make him happy with his favorite meal. She kissed his cheek as she plated both of their meals.
“This isn’t what I would typically make for a picnic...but then again if we were to go on a proper picnic it would be spring and we’d be going to my favorite clearing in the woods behind the inn...for a peaceful afternoon in nature and I would be packing a nice bento for us both. But as you said it snowed last night and it is winter...so, a hot meal on the porch watching the wintertime nature in the woods...still sounds nice.” She said with the sweetest of smiles.
“Yes...yes it does. You are so creative.” He murmured and kissed her cheek.
He wasn’t always one for initiating physical affection, yet after their time together he was more comfortable with it. And the way he would peck her cheek, chaste though it may look it was intimate in the softest and most glorious of ways. She loved that he felt comfortable enough with her to act in such a way.
She handed him his plate piled high with his favorite dish and he grinned as they walked out to her porch. They sat down and began to eat.
The wind rustling the snow covered branches of the trees behind the inn, the little animals that did not hibernate scurrying from tree to tree or along the forest floor, the somewhat distant sound of the busy market down the road from the inn, and the feeling of (Name’s) warmth beside him made Giyu smile. They didn’t need to go to a special clearing in the woods for a nice, peaceful picnic lunch...this was peaceful as he could wish for. Truly peaceful.
He turned and saw his sweet girlfriend smiling up at him between bites, she was so cute, so sweet, so understanding of his life.
He leaned over and kissed her temple, making her blush.
This afternoon settled his resolve.
This year...he was going to marry this young woman.