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“You can stay with me tonight.” Tomioka says.
There were practically stars in Tanjiro’s eyes 🤩. “Really? Thank you Tomioka!”
Nezuko made a little hum of approval. It looked almost as if she were smiling behind the bamboo.
“It’s not a big deal.” It was freezing cold outside, he couldn’t just let Tanjiro and Nezuko freeze out in the cold. He couldn’t just let them camp out, they’d freeze to death. Okay maybe they wouldn’t die, but like hypothermia exists.
Anyways, Giyu definitely had room for both of them. He had been living alone for years, but he had an extra room that was just collecting dust at this point. Giyu had been thinking for a while that maybe he should let his the Kamado siblings stay there with him. They really didn’t have anywhere to live, except the Butterfly Mansion when they were seriously injured. Other than that they just camped out.
Plus Giyu may or may not have a soft spot for these two. Maybe he loves them as if they were his own siblings. No one has to know that though. No one has to know that he would protect them with his life.
So Giyu began walking, Tanjiro and Nezuko followed.
Tanjiro took Giyu’s hand in his own, and Nezuko took his other hand. It wasn’t something that Giyu had expected, no one’s held his hand in a long time. It feels nice though. Their hands are much warmer than his own cold ones.
Maybe it would be nice to have some company.
**********************
After some time, they had finally reached Giyu’s house.
Giyu points to the couch. “You can sit here while I cook some dinner.”
“Let us help you!”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t need any help.” Giyu just wanted Tanjiro and Nezuko to relax, and just take a break, rest. He doesn’t want either of them to worry about anything right now, especially Tanjiro. Tanjiro always takes care of his sister, and everyone else around him, but it’s about time someone took care of him. Giyu would gladly be the one to do it.
“Okay. If you’re sure.”
Giyu went to the kitchen, got on his apron and started to make the best darn food he has ever made in his life. Tanjiro deserves it. He slays. Literally, he literally slays demons.
Giyu made some nice rice. Delicious.
After a couple of minutes, Tanjiro and Nezuko walked into the kitchen, and really caught Giyu off guard.
“You need any help-”
Then Tanjiro noticed.He noticed what Giyu was wearing. It was a pink apron with butterflies on it.
Try not to laugh challenge for Tanjiro.
Giyu sighed. “It’s the apron, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, sorry Tomioka, it’s just so funny.”
Tanjiro now let out his full laughter.
Giyu blushes with embarrassment. “It’s Shinobu's apron… She l gave it to me. I haven’t had the time to go out and buy another.”
Tanjiro laughs a bit more at Giyu’s awkwardness. “Oh okay. Well either way, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about, you just want to keep clean! Can we please help you though Giyu? I feel bad to make you do all the work by yourself.”
“I really don’t mind, but okay. Tanjiro, you can…”
**************
The chicken and rice was finally finished. Together, the three of them sat on the kitchen table and started eating, except Nezuko of course.
“WOW THIS FOOD IS SO AMAZING!!!!”
“You think so?”
“Yea! I love it.”
If the compliment, and Tanjiro’s endearing enthusiasm made Giyu’s heart smile, no one has to know.
*************
“It’s late. I think you two should get some rest.”
“Okay!”
Giyu led them to the spare bedroom he had. Tanjiro and Nezuko got in the bed. They had to share, but neither of them minded. Nezuko was a cuddly little thing anyways, and it was so cold.
“Goodnight.” Giyu tells them.
“Wait!” Tanjiro calls out.
“What is it?”
“No, it’s just, well we want you to tuck us in.”
Giyu’s heart was overwhelmed by the cuteness. Poor kids haven't had anyone to tuck them in for a long time. Being a demon slayer is so tough, especially at such a young age. He knows that story himself all too well… As for Nezuko, she was only 12 when she became a demon. They’re both so small. Practically babies in his eyes.
Well Giyu supposed he could play the part of a mother for a bit longer.
He walks back into the room, and over to the bed. Giyu pulls the blanket over Tanjiro, and some impulse, some memory, something just makes him gently brush the bangs out of his eyes. Tanjiro’s breath hitches, and Giyu feels his heart crack because he knows that no one’s done this for Tanjiro in a long time.“Goodnight.”
He walks over to Nezuko and pulls the blankets over her too. Nezuko then stretches her arms out toward Giyu. He was confused for a second before he realized what she wanted.
“You want a hug?” He asks her.
Surprisingly enough, she shakes her head. She scoots over and points to a spot in the bed in between her and Tanjiro.
Tanjiro understands his sister, and he wants the same thing, so he helps her voice her suggestion. “Can you stay with us please?”
Oh. Oh. Nezuko didn’t just want a hug. She wanted to cuddle.
How could Giyu say no? Internally he is saying ‘Of course I’ll stay, I’ll always stay.’ but the only word that really comes out is; “Okay.”
Nezuko gets out of the bed so that Giyu can go in the middle. Once he is settled in, she gets back in the bed and pulls the blanket back over herself and Giyu. She put her head on Giyu’s chest, and Tanjiro moved to do the same. Nezuko’s arm is halfway around Giyu, her hand resting on Giyu’s chest. Tanjiro puts his hand on top of hers.
“Goodnight Nezuko. Goodnight Giyu. I love you both.” Tanjiro doesn’t even call him by his last name at this point, because here he is, cuddling with him. Formalities are gone. All that’s left is family, brotherhood.
Giyu’s breath hitches. He feels something in his heart, and he doesn’t even know how to describe it. His eyes are filling with tears. When was the last time someone had said that to him? It’s taking everything in him not to start sobbing. He doesn't even know how to react. He loves these kids so much.
These precious kids. These sweet kids who made him feel something again. The first people to show him affection, to hold his hand, to hug him. They made him feel loved for the first time in so many years.
Kind and loving Tanjiro, who cares far too much. Sweet and affectionate Nezuko, who cannot speak, but her loving actions say all they need too. For some reason, even after he initially tried to kill Nezuko, both of them still learned to love him.
Giyu doesn like to imagine what things would be like if he had killed Nezuko on that day almost three years ago. He would still be all alone, depressed. Tanjiro had such a kind and forgiving heart, but perhaps he would not forgive Giyu if he had done that. Then Giyu would’ve never had a little brother and sister. Giyu would’ve never felt warmth inside of his heart again. He thinks that maybe he might’ve not felt anything at all without them.
Giyu is finding it difficult to get the words out of himself. He hasn’t told anyone that he’s loved them since his sister was still around. For a few moments he was just silent, trying to figure out how to speak again.
“I, well I…” Giyu blushes, and he mumbles. It sounds too quiet, too awkward, and he wishes that he could express himself better, but he can’t, he doesn’t know how, he can’t be soft and sweet. He’s forgotten what it feels like to love people. He cut himself off from everyone, he doesn’t try to make friends, he doesn’t try to get close to people. Somehow, somehow he’s found two people that for some reason were able to make their way into his icy heart. God, he loves them so much but he just can’t say it and it hurts, and he feels like a failure-
But Tanjiro is smiling. Nezuko’s eyes are looking at him with warmth. They understand. They snuggle more into his chest. He’s grateful.
When he thinksthey’re fast asleep, his arms wrap around them tightly. They don’t have to know that.
That night, for the first time Giyu doesn’t have any nightmares.