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Blood splattered over his face and half half haori. His breathing got heavy as flashbacks that he had willed away for so long came flooding back.
“Giyuu, stay here, okay? Be very quiet and no matter what, do not leave this space.” Tsutako’s sweet voice trembled. The shoji doors slid closed and he was alone in darkness.
As he swung his katana his vision blurred and he felt like passing out. His legs felt like they were full of lead and his eyelids started to droop. Fuck, he was becoming shakey and his grip was losening-
“HEY! GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, TOMIOKA!!” That voice sounded clear as day. The sound of metal clanging was loud in his ears as the Wind Hashira defended him.
Giyuu gripped his katana tighter in his hands as he surged forward to fight alongside Sanemi. Muzan was not letting up and Kanroji was being treated. Even Zenitsu, Inosuke and Kanao seemed to be doing more than him. Fuck, what was his purpose if he was no use in battle?
Then, the ground heaved and Muzan’s tentacles sliced and threw him into a wall. Searing pain enveloped his arm as it cut clean off. He lay on the rubble of a building feeling drained.
“Dammit!” Shinazugawa again. “Fuck! We have to keep fighting!” Giyuu couldn’t see him, but Sanemi was coughing blood right now. He could hear the gurgling in his shouts.
Something pricked him and he jolted. Giyuu’s eyes snapped open and focused.
“Hey, can you get up? Can you fight?”
Giyuu nodded and used his arm to push himself up with slight assistance from this boy. Giyuu looked around himself. Tanjiro had Muzan pinned to a wall with his blade, Kanroji had ripped off an arm and Sanemi and Iguro were aiding.
“Dawn is breaking! Hang in there!!” Sanemi shouted, pinning Muzan’s other arm.
The sun was rising in the east and Muzan was trying to escape. Muzan released another thrashing attack, sending Sanemi, Kanroji and Iguro flying. Tanjiro's arm got sliced off in the process and Giyuu ran forward to aid Tanjiro in pinning the Demon King in place. It worked for a while but somethnig shifted in Muzans expression and that couldn't be good.
Suddenly, Muzans body expanded and Tanjiro threw his head back knocking Giyuu out of the way.
“TANJIRO!!” He shouted as he fell to the ground. Other Corps members threw whatever they could at Muzan, Including Himejima. Sanemi arrived again too, blood drenching nearly every part of his body.
Fuck he had to do something! He ran towards Muzan again. “Water breathing tenth form: Constant Flux!” Giyuu shouted, hitting Muzan. One handed attacks weren’t as strong and he blamed himself for letting himself get hurt so badly. Everyone kept laying on attacks and soon, Muzan coughed up some blood and began to crumble away.
Cheers erupted in the area. After so long, Muzan was finally defeated. Giyuu looked around the area. He saw Sanemi getting treated but alive and heavy weight lifted from his chest. Giyuu looked around again for Tanjiro and his heart dropped.
--In the Butterfly Mansion, after the official end of Demons--
Giyuu laid in the medical ward, aware of the fact that Sanemi was only 3 beds away from him. He lifted his arm to examine the bandaged stub where a forearm and hand should be.
“Tomioka?” Sanemi’s voice was quieter than normal and more gravelly.
Giyuu dropped his arm with a wince and turned over to look at the former Wind Hashira. “Yes?”
“...Your arm… does it hurt?”
Giyuu took a moment to stare numbly at his arm again. “No… not- not really… How about you? Does your hand or anywhere else hurt?”
“Nah,” He gave a soft but sad laugh. “Everything’s mostly numb.”
Giyuu looked up to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry, Shinazugawa.”
Sanemi’s eyes widened and he sat up. “Sorry?” He repeated, sounding offended, “Sorry for what?”
“I wasn’t much use in the battle. I didn’t know what to do half the time and I couldn’t save everyone.” Giyuu replied, sitting up as well.
“So what? I couldn’t even save my own brother and he was right beside me! I woke up to half of his face as he disintegrated like a fucking demon, Tomioka! If anything, I should be apologizing but even I know you can’t save everyone!”
Giyuu could see the tears that were beginning to pool in Sanemi’s eyes. “You’re right, Shinazugawa… You’re right I- I’m stupid.”
“Of course I am.” Then he stood up and walked over to Giyuu, sitting himself down on the foot of his bed.
“I should also tell you something, Shinazugawa, because I don’t know if I’ll have another chance.” Giyuu spoke up.
“Spit it out, then.”
“I- I like you. And I understand if you don’t reciprocate the feeling because I’m a guy but- well we only have so long to live and I didn’t want to die with that secret…” Giyuu huffed, not being able to meet Sanemi’s eyes.
“Oi, Idiot. Look at me.”
Giyuu sighed. He was prepared for a slap, or a punch, actually. He slowly brought his head up to meet Sanemi’s soft gaze. “Wh-”
Surprisingly soft lips met his own slightly chapped lips. Calloused hands were brought up to meet Giyuu’s face and Giyuu wrapped his arm around Sanemi, leaning into him.
They parted and Giyuu slowly opened his eyes. He smiled and leaned into Sanemi again, resting his head on his chest.
“Why me, Giyuu?” He asked, running his fingers through Giyuu’s hair.
“Because, underneath your rude demeanor, you’re sweet.”
“Even if I have all these ugly scars?”
“But, it’s you. It doesn’t matter what you look like. I love you.”
“Oh,” Sanemi gulped, hugging Giyuu a bit tighter. “I- I love you too.”
They fell into a blissful sleep and decided then and there, without any words that they'd spend the rest of their lives together.