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After somehow surviving the final battle with Muzan, Shinobu thought she would finally be able to have a chance with Mitsuri. But, no, here she was, a bridesmaid, at Mitsuri's wedding, to somebody that wasn't her.
Shinobu had loved Mitsuri for so long, she was content with dying and never telling Mitsuri about her feelings, but now that she didn't die, she doesn't want to let her chance slip by again. Or at least that's what she told herself.. before finding out about Obanai and Mitsuri's engagement.
She thought Mitsuri had felt something for her back, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe all she saw was what she wanted to see. During their time together, perhaps Shinobu was the only one feeling those things. Even though Mitsuri's eyes had always glimmered when Shinobu was around, seemingly filled with pure adoration and tenderness. Even though Mitsuri went red when Shinobu would hold her hand out of nowhere. Even though they almost kissed and let their feelings through the floodgates. Maybe it was just Shinobu's memory making it seem like Mitsuri loved her back.
She doesn't even know why she's letting herself go to Mitsuri's wedding when all it brings is pain.
Wait, no, she remembers.
Mitsuri was excited about her wedding, and one of the first people she told was Shinobu.
"Shinobu!!! I'm getting married!"
Shinobu's heart dropped. She almost heard it shatter. Her smile faltered, but she put it back on before Mitsuri would notice, "... That's great, Mitsuri.."
Mitsuri giggled, "I want you and Kanao to be my bridesmaids!!"
She couldn't say no to Mitsuri, so she said yes. No matter how shattered her heart was, Mitsuri's happiness came above all.
Here she was, basically ramming her head into a wall every second. She sighed, "I hate everything ," but that's not really true. Shinobu, more or less, dislikes everything but Mitsuri .
Kanao, being the other bridesmaid, had to watch Shinobu sulk in a corner right before the wedding. Kanao wasn't the best at feelings yet, but she thinks she has grown a lot from how she was a year ago.
"Nee-san?" she said with a timid voice.
Shinobu stops hitting her head on the wall to look at the voice's owner, "Yes, Kanao?"
"Are you in love with Kanroji?"
Shinobu goes back to banging her head against the wall.
---
By the time Kanao and Shinobu make it to the wedding, most, if not all, of the guests were there, Tanjirou, Nezuko and their friends, the hashira and some of their plus ones, and even Mitsuri's parents and 5 siblings made it.
Mitsuri never really talked about her parents much, but she did talk about her siblings. They look about how Shinobu imagined them; they seem loving and especially happy that Mitsuri is getting married today.
The Hashira are talking amongst themselves. Giyuu keeps close to his boyfriend, Kyoujurou, and Kyoujurou's little brother. Muichirou still seems like he's in a daze. Sanemi and Genya are having some sort of aggressive discussion where their shouts could almost echo throughout the venue. Tengen is left with his wives, talking to Giyuu and Kyoujurou about how flamboyant Giyuu is.
After Shinobu and Kanao dressed in matching bridesmaid outfits, they walked to the room where Mitsuri was getting dressed. Only the bridesmaids and the bride could be together before the wedding. Mitsuri didn't want anyone else to see her dress just because she wanted it to be a complete surprise, if she had a choice, she wouldn't have let her bridesmaids see her either, but wedding dresses are hard to put on alone.
Walking into the room, Mitsuri was standing in front of a mirror, very obviously hyperventilating, pre-wedding jitters , Shinobu thought.
Through her quick breaths, Mitsuri started talking when she took notice of her bridesmaids, "Oh god, am I really doing the right thing. Is this what I should do?" She turned to Shinobu specifically, "Shinobu, I need answers!!"
Shinobu hesitates, she could stop the wedding right here, and now, she could tell Mitsuri her feelings. She could make Mitsuri hers. Despite what her heart is telling her to say, she lightly smiles, saying, "If you believe it's the right thing, then it really is."
Mitsuri groans dejectedly, "That doesn't help me, Shinobu!!!!!!"
She shakes her head, "If fate doesn't want you to get married to Iguro, then it won't let you." Shinobu flashes her practiced smile again, "Now you should be getting into your wedding dress."
The previous Love Hashira stares in surprise, not saying anything.
"I'm gonna go out there." Shinobu doesn't think she can be around Mitsuri any longer. She doesn't want , no, she can't slip up. "Kanao can help you get into the dress."
Shinobu walked to where she would be standing during the ceremony. She felt like she was going to cry, throw up, or both.
Before she could reach her spot, Giyuu stopped her, "Kochou?"
Her anxiousness subsided slightly from the distraction, "Yes, Tomioka?"
He pulled her to the side, "Are you okay?"
She knew this would happen the moment Giyuu stopped her; he was the only one who knew how she felt towards Mitsuri. She tentatively bit her lip but plastered a smile across her face, "Better than ever, Tomioka… can't you tell?"
He wasn't buying it, "Why did you come today?"
"Because… Mitsuri asked me to be her bridesmaid. I can't say no to her. You know this already, Tomioka."
His eyebrows furrowed, "When will you start doing what makes you happy?" His expression reverts to a more solemn look, "Stop putting her emotions over yours."
"That's the problem." Shinobu pauses, "I can't. I just want Mitsuri to be happy, and if she's happy marrying Iguro, then I won't - I can't stop her. I just want to see her smile today."
"Bullshit, Kochou, you can't live like this."
"I never planned to…." She looks down, "Tomioka, I was going to sacrifice myself to Uppermoon 2, but the only reason I didn't die was because you fought by Kanao, Inosuke, and me. I spent all my time ever since my sister died planning my own death. I said I would get revenge, I never cared how it happened, but I always knew that it would end in my death just because of how weak I am. But now I'm still alive, and I'm fucking miserable ." She sighs, looking around and continuing quietly, "and now, I have to watch the woman I love spend the rest of her life with someone that isn't me. I have to watch her love somebody that isn't me, and I have to live with my unwavering feelings for her. It makes me sick..."
Giyuu stares down with understanding in his eyes, "Kochou… just think about what I said, try to put your emotions first."
Shinobu barely acknowledges his words before turning and continuing her walk to her place for the wedding. Obanai was already standing at the altar with his best men, Kaburamaru and Kyoujurou. The officiant, Gyoumei, was standing behind the altar facing the aisle.
Kanao comes from the room and goes to stand next to Shinobu.
She smiles, tilting her head slightly, "Everything okay in there, Kanao?"
Kanao nods, "She's still freaking out but what you said to her seemed to calm her down a bit."
Before Shinobu can reply, the music starts.
Muichirou and Nezuko make their way down the aisle throwing flowers, with Muichirou, sort of, throwing them at people and the ground, mostly the people though. And Nezuko, throwing them at the ground where the petals should be. Once they reach the aisle's end, they return to sitting with their friends.
A minute passes, and Mitsuri appears from her room, slowly walking down the aisle. Shinobu's eyes widen, and everything around her seems to go silent except for her heart, her heartbeat is deafening, and she thinks she's falling in love all over again. She could be yours . Those thoughts ring in her head again; put your emotions first, tell her. She loves you too.
Mitsuri makes eye contact with Shinobu while she walks down the aisle, giving the butterfly girl a shaky smile with eyes full of uncertainty. Mitsuri breaks eye contact and looks back towards the altar, not even looking at Obanai once.
Mitsuri makes it to her place next to the altar and Obanai. Gyoumei starts the speech.
"We are gathered here today to witness the formal joining in the legal state of matrimony of this man and this woman." Gyoumei's eyes start pouring tears, but he continues his speech.
You're running out of time. Make her yours. Stop the wedding. Shinobu's thoughts flood her mind. You're running out of time. Hurry. Don't miss your chance. If you don't feel like your life is worth living, then make it worth living. Speak.
Shinobu's thoughts quiet down, and she hears Gyoumei's voice clearly, "If there is anyone present who has a reason why these two persons may not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace ."
It's your last chance; say something.
Silence.
SAY IT NOW.
Before Shinobu can fight her thoughts, she steps out from her place beside Mitsuri, and the words "I object." slip out before she can even process the fact she even moved in the first place.
All eyes are on Shinobu. She can feel their mortification and disbelief in their gaze, but she keeps a fixated stare into Mitsuri's eyes, she's too far in now, and she will not back out.
"Mitsuri… I love you, and I know you love me too. I know that all the rejection you faced when you were younger led you to this point… When you almost died, you wanted to feel loved by someone, even if you didn't love them back. But Iguro was the only one near… so you proposed, in hopes of getting the declared love that you didn't receive before your death, except you lived, and now you're getting married because you don't think you can go back on your words."
She pauses, picking out her next words, "I'm not the kind of girl that ruins what is supposed to be the happiest day of a couple's lives. But I don't think this is your happiest day, the look you gave me when you were walking down the aisle just now; that wasn't the look a bride should have on the day of her wedding. Mitsuri, I can't let you marry someone you don't love back.
Keeping eye contact, Shinobu sighs, "I've already said this, but I need to add on I'm not the kind of girl that does this, but you, Mitsuri. You made me want to be this kind of girl. You make me feel so strong, even though I'm the weakest among the Hashira. Your love has done so much for me, it has changed me so much, and I want to make my love do the same. So please… don't marry Iguro."
Shinobu hears the whispers from the crowd behind her, but she stares at Mitsuri's shocked face.
Please say something.
But Mitsuri doesn't say anything.
She takes it as rejection. She was wrong; Mitsuri doesn't love her , "I'm sorry for ruining your wedding," Shinobu says before starting to make her way out of the venue.
Gyoumei breaks the immense silence, "If the reason has been denied, then I shall go on with the speech."
Mitsuri stays silent, staring right into Obanai's face. Shinobu can't see her expression.
"Do you, Iguro Obanai, promise that you will support and defend the institution of marriage against all enemies, foreign and domestic; Do you promise to cherish her as your most beloved according to the regulations and the uniform code of love justice, so help you God?"
"I do," Obanai says, staring into Mitsuri's eyes with adoration.
"Do you, Kanroji Mitsuri, promise that you will support and defend the institution of marriage against all enemies, foreign and domestic; Do you promise to cherish him as your most beloved according to the regulations and the uniform code of love justice, so help you God?"
"I.." Mitsuri sniffles, "I don't… I'm sorry, Obanai."
Shinobu's head whips back to look at Mitsuri and Obanai, her face in shock.
"I'm sorry, Obanai…." She apologizes again, "But Shinobu is right… I didn't propose to you out of love." Tears spill out of her eyes, "I'm so sorry."
Obanai's face darkens in heartbreak.
At the end of the aisle, Shinobu holds out her hand. Mitsuri ignores the hand and runs towards Shinobu, jumping at her and pushing them both down onto the floor.
Mitsuri finally gives Shinobu the kiss she has been waiting for the longest time, right in front of everyone.
When she finally pulls back, Shinobu smiles and asks, "So does this mean you love me?"
Mitsuri smiles back, "Always have. You're just dense."
The smaller woman laughs.
Mitsuri helps her up, saying, "Let's run away now?"
She nods, and they run out of the venue, hands intertwined.
----
A couple hours pass after the interrupted wedding. And Shinobu and Mitsuri haven't seen anyone from the wedding since then.
"Hey, Shinobu," Mitsuri says, looking up at the butterfly girl from said girl's lap.
Shinobu hums, continuing to run her fingers through Mitsuri's hair.
"Thank you for stopping the wedding... I don't know how my life would've gone if I had gone through with the marriage. I don't know how I would've felt."
Shinobu quirks a genuine smile before leaning down to kiss Mitsuri.
"I would do anything for you, Mitsuri. Your happiness matters so much to me." She giggles, "Plus, I love you more than you can imagine."
Faking an offended gasp, Mitsuri sits up slightly, "Are you trying to win a love fight with the Love Hashira ."
"Maybe."
"You'll never win."
" Sure. " Shinobu winks.
"Eh-? What was that wink for?"
Shinobu leans in to whisper in Mitsuri's ear, "Whatever you want it to mean, my love~."
Mitsuri's face flushes red, "That's not an answer!! Shinobu?!??! Tell me!!!"
Shinobu hums, closing her eyes and continuing to brush through Mitsuri's hair with her hand.
Mitsuri huffs, laying her head back on Shinobu's lap, "So mean.."
"And you're so cute, Mitsuri."
Mitsuri makes a squeak and rolls over, making her face buried in Shinobu's stomach, letting out a muffled, 'I really do love you too.'
Shinobu's genuine smile returns on her face.