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Chapter Text

Tomioka Sann~

Tomioka Sann~

Tomioka Sannnn~

Thats all I ever heard these days. Ever since the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji there haven’t been many patients in the infirmary to take care of. So Kocho San spends most of her days bothering me. It makes her happy though so I haven’t said anything. Actually speaking of which she’s seemed much happier lately. The way she smiles now feels way more genuine than before. I can’t put my tongue on why though. Could it be the time we’ve spent together? She does seem to perk up whenever I visit the butterfly fly mansion. Her footsteps hasten ever so slightly…

“Mr.Tomioka”

And when she looks at me her face and smile softens a lot more.                      

“Mr.Tomioka”

Not to mention she’s been a lot more “Handsy” with me lately. She got from poking me 24/7 to rubbing my back or clinging onto my arm. Sometimes she’ll even place her hand on my knee while we’re talk-

“MR.TOMIOKA”                                    

Giyuu looked down to see Kanao at the gate, staring back up at him. “You’ve been standing at the gate for 10 minutes, are you waiting for my sister to let you in?” Kanao tilted her head in confusion. Giyuu had been in and out of the butterfly mansion every week since the final battle with Muzan. Why would he be asking for permission to enter now? “No- I- uhhh…. Where is Kocho.” He spoke with a nervous sweat, had he really been standing there for that long? “In the courtyard, tending to the wisteria plants”, Kanao stepped out the way to give Giyuu room to pass. “Thank you.” Giyuu nodded and headed inside to find the court yard. She nods and as he walks away she mutters to herself, “what a strange man.”

I need to stop overthinking. Kocho and I are just acquaintances who happened to stay in touch after the battle. Besides everyone kept in touch after the battle. That’s right, I’m just overthinking it. He slid the court yard door open to see Shinobu sitting on the patio. She was wearing a solid black kimono and was wearing a different butterfly pin; a pink one. Did somebody die?                                                                
 
“Isn’t the moon lovely tonight?” Shinobu turned her head towards Giyuu and spoke with a soft smile on her face. Giyuu nodded and walked across the garden to sit next to shinobu. “You invited me over for tea? At this hour” he asked. Even though Giyuu had practically been in and out of the butterfly mansion at this point, Shinobu never purposely invited him over past sunset. Something must be off. She handed Giyuu a cup as he was sitting down. “The girls made us some wisteria tea, isn’t that sweet of them.” She noticed the grimace slowly forming on Giyuu’s face and she put her hand on his thigh for a moment. “Don’t worry, I know how you hate sweet drinks so I made sure there was no sugar in yours.” She assured him with a bright smile. As radiant as her smile was, Giyuu couldn’t help but notice the feeling of her hand on his thigh. His hand trembled slightly as he took a sip of his tea. It was bitter, just how he always enjoyed his tea.  

After an uncomfortably long silence he turns to shinobu. “Whats wrong, Kocho? You never invite me over at this time of night, You’re dressed a little unusual today, and your smile feels forced again. I noticed the girls are purposely avoiding this side of the mansion too. You’re not yourself today.            
 
Shinobu’s smile didn’t falter but rather changed to look more melancholy. “Oh my, is it that obvious?” She then looks over to the grave stone in the corner of the courtyard. It’s covered in all different types of flowers and letters. “Today’s the anniversary of my sister’s death.” Giyuu’s eyes widened slightly. He knew something was off but this…he wasn’t prepared for something this serious.      
 
“Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you to come over. This is a family matter after all. It’s just- The girls seemed so happy and care free as of late so I couldn’t bother them with keeping me company tonight. Even Kanao been expressing herself more. You know, I’ve been much happier knowing that my sister’s murder is rotting in hell. But I still can’t help but feel so empty inside… Her smile faltered and her voice began to crack. “Some days I wish Kanao never told you about my plan. I should be grateful you swept in and saved me but honestly… I was more than ready to die. To die knowing that the demon who killed my sister fell to my hands…” she lets out a dry laugh. “Only then could I face her. Only then could I meet with her again where the west wind blows.” She looks to see Giyuu’s eyes widened. Oh yeah. She never had been this open with him before has she, or with anyone for that matter. Showing any other emotion other than happiness was immature after all. She forced a grin onto her face and apologized. “Sorry, Sorry. I guess thats immature of me to say. The girls are still so young and in need of a maternal figure. Kanao and Aoi still look to me for my guidance and care. How selfish of me to nearly abandon them. What would Kanae think of me now?”  
 
 Giyuu leaned in closer and placed his right hand on her cheek, using his thumb to brush away her tears. “Your sister would be so proud of you. Not only for aiding in the defeat of Muzan Kibutsuji, but for choosing to live. You’re carrying out Kanae’s wishes by choosing to give the girls in this estate the life they deserve; a life with you. He brought his hand to her head and looked her in the eyes as he spoke. Live Kocho. Not only for the lives you’ve protected but for yourself. Isn’t that what Kanae would’ve wanted for you?” Shinobu fell completely silent. She never expected Giyuu to be so comforting. His outlook on life seemed so apathetic she never thought he would ever be the voice that soothes her tormented soul. He got up and made his way towards the door “You’re a lot stronger than you think Kocho. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” And with that he shut the door and left the butterfly mansion to head home. Still taken aback Shinobu looks up and the moon, trying to process what just happened. As it was getting late, she got up to get everyone ready for bed. She took one last glance at the court yard and noticed a new addition to Kanae’s grave: Blue Chrysanthemums. She grinned as she closed the door. She never looked back again.

Chapter Text

2 weeks had passed since he left those blue flowers on Kanae’s gravestone. Normally Shinobu wouldn’t pay any mind to how often Giyuu would visit the butterfly mansion, but for some reason these 2 weeks felt as if decades had passed since he last visited. She tried to hide it but Shinobu became noticeably more antsy as the days passed. Whenever anybody was at the gate of the Butterfly Mansion, she would rush to greet them. Each time she’d look slightly disappointed if it wasn’t who she was expecting and sometimes a little annoyed. The gourds that were initially for breath training had been increasing in quantity and size. To manage her irritation Shinobu would break 10, sometimes 20 in a single day. When she wasn’t doing that she was doing her pharmaceutical work. It was a good distraction at first but she spent so much time on it the kitchen suddenly gained a good amount of medication and an oddly abundant amount of Wisteria poison. Everyone noticed her growing agitation and grew concerned for her well being.

Kanao and Aoi decided to write a letter to Giyuu asking him to come visit Shinobu.

“Dear Mr.Tomioka,

You have been formally invited to come back to the butterfly mansion. Given Shinobu’s current state of mind, we think it’s best you pay her a visit and put all of our minds at ease. Please come as soon as possible, it’s only a matter of time before one of us accidentally drinks Wisteria poison instead of Green tea.
If you don’t show up within 3 days, Aoi says she will tell Tanjiro you’ve been lonely recently, and ask him, Zenitsu, and Inosuke to live with you for 3 weeks.

Sincerely,
Kanao Tsuyuri & Aoi Kanzaki”

Giyuu immediately made his way towards the mansion upon reading the letter. Being harassed by Tanjiro is one thing, but dealing with the nonsense of him, Zenitsu and Inosuke for 3 whole weeks???? He’d simply go insane.
He knocked once on the gate and was immediately met with an answer. It was Aoi.

“About time you show up! Shinobu’s practically lost her mind for the past few days. She’s been making poison non stop and I think muttering something about murder? Anyways, you need to go see her” she scolded him as she pushed him inside the mansion.

“Isn’t this what she’s always does? Well if it’s become so much of a problem that her kids are sending me of people letters about it, I might as well check on her.” He thought to himself.

As he searched for Shinobu, He found himself in one of the training rooms. He looked around and noticed a lot of broken clay piled in the corner of the room. A little taken a back, he shifts his vision to the center of the room and there she was. With an agitated expression on her face, she was blowing into a gourd nearly as tall as Himejima. Before Giyuu could even process what was going on, it shattered.

A smile formed upon Shinobu’s face as she stepped down the stool to grab a broom. Just as she got down she looked over to the entrance of the room and found Giyuu standing there, with a dumb look on his face.
Her agitation flared up again and she spoke
“My my Tomioka, so you come into my house unannounced then have the audacity to gawk at me instead of properly announcing your presence? It truly is no wonder why you have no friends.”

“Ms. Kanazaki and Tsuyuri sent me. And I do have friends…” Giyuu answered

“You could’ve at least let me know you were coming.” She responded with an annoyed grin.

Giyuu walks up to her and wraps one arms around her waist, pulling her in for a hug and rests his left hand on the back of her head.

“Kocho, I know there’s something bothering you. It’s not like you to become so angry that Kanzaki and Tsuyuri have to send me a letter to pay you a visit. I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me.”

Shinobu pushes him off and scolds him.
“I’m perfectly fine. I don’t need you to come visit me, no matter who asks you to come here. It’s not like you even bothered to check up on me for the past 2 weeks.”

Giyuu’s eyes widened slightly as realization dawned upon him.
“Were you sad after I left that night? Did you miss me Kocho?”
Shinobu’s cheeks grew pink as she gawked “No! I didn’t- Why would you even ask that?!
Just go home already!”
Giyuu sat on the floor and crossed his legs. “I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s wrong. It’s not healthy for either of us to have unresolved tension in our relationship.

Shinobu sighed before getting down to sit next to him.
“You really are a stubborn one aren’t you. If you must know then… you could say I haven’t been feeling quite the best since you last visited. What you said to me that night, on Kanae’s Remembrance day… it really stuck with me. And the flowers you left on her grave stone, they were the most beautiful flowers I’ve seen in a long time…
I’ll be honest Tomioka. Ever since we defeated Muzan it’s felt like you and I have grown a lot closer to each other. At first thought we ought to stay in touch since we were once coworkers but lately our relationship has been starting to feel a lot more real.

Shinobu wipes a few tears from her face

Sorry, I shouldn’t waste time rambling on and on about some pointless thoughts of mine. My point is… everything’s changed since we started talking and the things you said that day, they deeply resonated with me. It even helped me process my grief better. But then all of the sudden you disappear off the face of the earth. You didn’t even leave a letter explaining why. I was so hurt and confused. I thought maybe you had grown bored of me or simply moved on with your life.”

Shinobu paused then looked up to see if Giyuu would have a reaction. Seeing his cold stare she sighs and adds “Sorry. This talk was pointless, you should just go home for the night.”

As she attempts to get up, Giyuu puts his hand on her waist, pulling her into his side.
“I’m sorry Kochou. I should’ve thought more about your feelings.”
Though she was taken aback at first, Shinobu decided to hug him back. She even teared up a little. “Yeah, you’re kinda an idiot.”

“I know. I just thought you would’ve needed space to yourself to process your grief. I know I did when my sister passed away.” Giyuu replied

Shinobu’s heart dropped after hearing his response. Giyuu had never opened up to her like this before but she decided not to press him on the matter.
“I understand what you mean… and Im sorry to hear about your sister.”

“Don’t worry about it. Next time something is bothering you, just talk to me ok?”

She nods and gets up. “You should go home, it’s getting late.” She makes her way towards to entrance only to feel a tug on her sleeve.
“Tomioka-san, you should know your own way out by n-

“Let’s get married” he said point blank. He stared her in the eyes with such sincerity

“Huh?” She turned around to face him

He took both of her hands in his, stepped closer, and looked her in the eyes.

“Let’s get married, Kocho.”

Her face grew red and her palms started sweating. “Where did this come from?!“

“Think about it. If we got married we wouldn’t have this problem anymore. We’d be living under the same roof so if you were ever upset, I’d be able to come and check on you. Traditionally you would come and move in with me but I wouldn’t want to force you to leave the girls behind, so Im not against moving in the butterfly mansion. I mean Im here all the time anywa-“

A loud smack echoed across the room and Giyuu stumbled backwards.

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! YOU CAN’T JUST PROMPT MARRIAGE ON A WOMAN LIKE THAT OUT OF NOWHERE LIKE THAT”

She took a moment to breathe

“Sorry, that was uncalled for.. but the least you could do is say you love me first…”

He took her hands again and got down on one knee.

“Shinobu Kocho… I’ll be honest. Im not very good at expressing my thoughts and feelings openly so I’ll say this. Meeting you has changed the course of my entire life. Despite how reserved and anti social I am, you still reached your kind hands out to me. Helped me to socialize with others while I tried to maintain my distance. During these past few months, we grew closer to each other and it was hard not to fall in love with that beautiful smile of yours; hard not to fall in love with you. If you’re willing to have me as your husband… I promise to protect you, take care of you, and stand by your side, for as long as I live. In sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better and for worse, I want to spend the rest of my days with you at my side….
With that being said, Will you be my bride Shinobu?

She smiled and answered his proposal
“My my, what an interesting proposal. Skipping getting a girlfriend and going straight to having a wife? You’re a bold one aren’t you.”
Giyuu gets up while continuing to hold her hands. He tries to keep a calm face but as he awaits her answer, this needy look formed within eyes. He needed to know her answer to his proposal.

After he got up shinobu looked up at him and gave him a soft smile. “Of course I’ll be your bride, Tomioka.” She hugged him tightly nearly burying her face until Giyuu loosened the hug.

He tilted her chin upwards and looked her in the eyes. He tried to keep calm yet cold stare but his face was looking flushed.
While moving his hand to caress her cheek, he spoke
“Please. Just use my first name from now on.”
And with that he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Although the kiss was brief, he felt as if his heart exploded.

As he pulled away he tried to act calm but his face was completely red, he was sweating bullets, and his legs were shaking.

Shinobu laughed “You’re shaking so much, I don’t know if you’ll be able to make home on your own. Why don’t you spend the night here?” She took his hand and led him towards one of the guest rooms. As Giyuu settled into bed, he noticed Shinobu was suddenly standing at his bedside. Before he could question her she kisses him on the forehead. “Thank you Giyuu, for being here. We’ll talk in the morning. I love you.”

“I love you too. Now go to bed, you look exhausted.” He replied while caressing her hand. With that she made her way out the guest room and went off to bed.