Disclaimer: I do not own Demon Slayer or any of its characters. All rights to the former and latter belong to Koyoharu Gotouge.

It has been several nights since Giyu Tomioka awoke from his coma. Shinobu, who had fervently checked up on Giyu every night he lay unconscious, was now deliberately avoiding him. She wanted to see him, she really did, but she did not want to go out and look for him. She wanted an answer to her feelings, one that came from Giyu, and not from the heat of the moment or suggestions from the outside.

It was not particularly hard to avoid Giyu; the only times he left his bed were when he had to relieve or clean himself. Except for those times, he was forbidden from getting up. Apparently, Giyu had not realized that his entire body was damaged, not just his left arm and right eye. Giyu's shins had light cracks on them, the bottoms of his feet were bruised, and he broke five ribs. Although these injuries healed, there had been irreparable damage done. It didn't help that he was comatose, and therefore unable to use total concentration constant. Currently, because of this little fact, in terms of physical strength, he was very likely weaker than Shinobu.

Giyu used to be a solitary man. Even in the presence of others, he would manage to isolate himself. However, Giyu has changed since those days. He had people he wanted to see- people who wanted to see him. All of the Pillars and Urokodaki, as well as Tanjiro and his friends, had visited Giyu's bedside at one point or the other. Giyu had been given a revitalization like no other. He no longer felt right being alone- he had come to realize that he was lonely. Naturally, he no longer felt right sitting in a bed all day either- he had come to realize that he had energy to burn, energy that came from everyone who surrounded him in his new life.

Every time Giyu expressed the desire to get out of bed for anything other than hygiene, Aoi, Sumi, Kiyo, and/or Naho would tell him to stay put. Giyu had come to be patient with these four in particular, since they were so friendly to him. However, that did not mean that he intended to always listen to them. So, at night time, Giyu would go on walks around the property. During his walks, he would do some light training to build his stamina up again. He would use his breathing, reclaiming his mastery of total concentration constant; do some pull-ups and push ups, despite only having one arm; he would jog around the perimeter of the estate, even though his lungs and throat would begin to burn; and he would practice swordsmanship with a wooden sword, even though there were no demons left to slay.

After training every night, Giyu would quietly bathe and go back to the infirmary through a window. One night, after training, he began to make his way over to the window, but there was someone standing in front of it, with a lantern. Giyu squinted his left eye, but he couldn't make the person out. The dark of the night and the lack of an eye both contributed to Giyu heavily relying on the moonlight to see during training. The lantern helped him a little; he could tell that its holder was a female, but he did not want to get close enough to distinguish Aoi Kanzaki from Kanao Tsuyuri, or either from Shinobu Koucho.

"The window was left open, and he's not in his bed. Should we go look for him?" a voice, which Giyu recognized to be Tanjiro's said from inside the infirmary. "Oh crap, Tanjiro can definitely find me." Giyu thought as he slowly began to creep away. If Tanjiro was asked to help, he could just use his nose to find Giyu. It would take less than a minute, and then Giyu would probably get chewed out by one of the girls.

"No, Koucho-sama is already looking for him." another voice, which came from the one holding the lantern, replied. Giyu still couldn't tell who it was, but that no longer was a problem. "Well, shit…" he thought, knowing that he would get an earful from the one he least hoped to. After the light disappeared, Giyu began to run. He would have to gain a lot of distance between himself and the window, so that the girl with the lantern didn't spot him, then he would have to close the distance before Shinobu could. Giyu noticed that the lantern-girl began to walk one direction, so he circled around the house in the same direction to make it around to the window without being spotted. Whoever it was, they were not a Pillar like he was; they could not run fast like he could.

Giyu made it to the window and leapt through. The other Demon Slayers in the infirmary were all asleep, so Giyu had to very quietly make his way back to his corner of the room. Giyu opened the curtains slightly and stepped through. "Damn, it's dark…" he thought as he felt for his bed. Suddenly, the hairs stood up on the back of his head. "Shit..." "Who's there?" Giyu whispered fiercely.

"I think you know who it is already, Tomioka-san." Shinobu's calm voice said to him through the inky darkness. Giyu did not say anything in response. "Tomioka-san, you are impossible. You constantly worry me, and those all around you. And for what? Were you training to slay more demons? Well I'm sorry, Tomioka-san, but there are no more demons left to slay. The only thing you should be doing right now is resting."

Giyu did not say anything yet again. He wasn't sure what he should say. "Should I apologize? Should I argue against her?" he considered.

"Tomioka-san. Did you know that I came to visit you every night while you were sleeping?" Shinobu asked. Her voice was shaking, but Giyu could not see her to tell whether it was from rage or not. Giyu replied with a 'yes,' and Shinobu continued. "I was worried about you. I thought that you would die, succumbing to a preventable injury all because you wanted to save my life. I waited by your bedside for hours every single day, and when I wasn't, I would pray that your heart would not suddenly stop beating. For the past few months, all I've wanted was to see you better. So please, please, Tomioka-san. Don't worry me anymore than you already have. Don't do this again."

Giyu was astonished. She was actually having a heart-to-heart with him, not teasing him or insulting him. On top of this, her voice sounded different than usual. "I wish I could see her face…" Giyu thought. He blinked into the darkness for a second, baffled at his own thoughts for coming up with such a thing. Shinobu was irritated at his continued lack of a response. "Well, Tomioka-san? Don't you have anything to say? After hearing me spill everything, you just stare blankly in the general direction of my voice? How infuriating. Things like this are why everyone hates you, Tomioka-san."

Giyu thought about his words for a moment. "...I regret little that I have done. I have made you worry, but it was because I almost perished saving your life. How could I regret saving the life of someone important to me?" he said rhetorically. This time, Shinobu said nothing in response. Giyu continued after a moment of silence. "So, for that, I will not apologize. As for putting you through worry tonight, I am sorry." Another moment of silence passed, and Giyu began to wonder if he was talking to anyone at all. "Koucho-san?" he asked.

"Tomioka-san," she began, answering his call. "Do you not regret anything about losing your arm or your eye?" She sounded sad, like she heard a response that was irrefutable yet painful to listen to. "If you hadn't tried to save me, then you wouldn't…" Shinobu trailed off.

"How could you ask this?…" Giyu responded. He was beginning to feel irritated with Shinobu, despite the fact that she had been the irritated one up until then. "I miss them, but I do not regret what I did to lose them. How dare you try to belittle my actions, or make me regret them? You, who have given me a greater appreciation for my own life than any other, have no right to wish her own had been taken in place of an arm and an eye. For as long as I live, Koucho-san, I will never regret saving you. I only hope that you stop regretting that I did."

There was more silence, until it was broken by the slight pitter-patter of tears falling against the floor. "Uggh…" Giyu thought. He was uncomfortable. He wanted to see her face, but he couldn't. He wanted to know what to say to comfort her, but he didn't. He wanted to forget about this and sleep, but he wouldn't. "...Very well, Koucho-san." Giyu said, breaking the silence. "I have one thing that could resemble a regret, if hearing it will make you feel better. I wish I could see at night time. Though I will never think of this as a true regret."

Shinobu felt a mix of emotions. She was still frustrated with Giyu from before, she was regretful over some of the things that she said, and she was really confused about what he just said. "He… thinks that saying this would make me feel better?" she thought as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Tomioka-san… I appreciate the sentiment, but it does not make me feel better. In fact, I'm stifling my laughter at the moment." she said calmly. "Well, to be honest, hearing your regrets would not make me feel better as it stands. Though, I could not expect a simpleton like you to know this without me spelling it out for you, so I will not hold it against you."

"That is not the extent of what I have to say." Giyu said a little sharply. "I miss my right eye very much. If I did not have my experience as a Pillar, I would need a lantern everywhere at nighttime. My senses would be so dull in comparison. Still, I have to rely on moonlight as of right now. But this does not mean I would change my actions. Even if I cannot see even you, who are in front of me right now, I am happy with my decision. Only being able to see you in light is preferable to never seeing you again, light or dark…"

There was yet again silence. Giyu spoke up. "I suppose I've said my piece, plus some." he said calmly as he began to move forward. "I apologize, Koucho-san- and moreover, I'm sorry. I will be more compliant with your advice regarding my recovery…" Giyu felt around for his bed and sat down on it.

Shinobu sighed. "Tomioka-san, you know, for someone who is absolutely hopeless, you sure can be romantic." she said as she pulled the curtains over, letting some moonlight in. Giyu stared at Shinobu, now illuminated and visible. She had a warm smile on her face, a smile that Giyu thought was… cute. "Now, just stay in bed, Tomioka-san. You should be cleared to exercise again in a week and a half. Also, I'm sure you do not want to know what I will do if you make me worry so much again."

Giyu smiled a little, forgetting that Shinobu could see it. "Thank you, Koucho-san." he began. "Thank you for worrying. I will try to never worry you again."

Shinobu blushed, but Giyu was unable to notice because of the darkness. "There's no need to thank me. Just focus on getting some sleep now, please." she said, turning around and preparing to exit the perimeter of the curtains.

Giyu began to have an internal conflict. "Cute?... Koucho-san is cute?..." he thought as he watched her. Giyu had already considered his feelings for her, but tonight he had two major realizations. First, he noticed that she was attractive, something that he had not thought of another since he was fourteen. Second, and most importantly, he realized how much it meant to him that she worried over him, and how he subconsciously wanted to make her feel better. "Do I really…" Giyu thought. He was having trouble realizing it, since it was brand new to him, but he actually had feelings for the woman in front of him.

Shinobu stepped out of the curtains and prepared to close them. Giyu felt his heart race. "Wait, Koucho-san." he said, preparing to step out of his bed. She turned around, a surprised look on her face. "An answer. I have an answer."

Shinobu furrowed her brows, turned and left. "Again, he's only like this in the moment…" she thought, angry and disappointed. She was surprised to hear footsteps come from behind her, following her into a moonlit hallway. "So, Tomioka-san, you just told me that you would not worry me. Was that a lie? Do you intend on making me worry by getting out of your bed almost immediately?" she said, blood vessels popping out of her forehead. "Please, just leave… Just forget about me for the night, Tomioka-san…"

"Koucho-san." Giyu said, not letting up. "In all my years of knowing you, this is the first night that I have not wanted to bid you farewell." Shinobu clenched her fists and turned around. She prepared to argue, but Giyu cut her off. "Last time, I gave up without a fight, laying in my bed while you left. This time, I will not." Giyu stared at her, but had to look away since he had only recently begun to find her attractive. He felt his ears burn very slightly as he stared out of the window that let him see her to begin with. "The moon is beautiful, isn't it, Koucho-san? I also think… you're, um…" he faltered a little. She was staring at him with wide eyes, moonlit and sparkling. He was not looking at her, but because she was on his left side, he could see her expression through peripheral vision. "You are always there for me. You always worry over me and support me when I need your help. Shinobu Koucho, I-"

Giyu was cut off. Shinobu yanked the collar of his hospital gown, pulling him down to be face level. She forced him to face her. She had a scrutinizing, interested look on her face. She slowly let go of his collar, and Giyu slowly regained his composure. "Yet again, Tomioka-san, I see a new side to you. A side that I hope to see some of every day from this point on." she said, her head tilting slightly and a coy smile coming over her face. "You've surprised me. I didn't know you could really flirt." Now she was teasing him as if nothing had happened. She stopped teasing for a bit, and a warm smile came over her face again. "Tomioka-san, let's be happy together."

The smile that was on Shinobu's face made it over to Giyu's in more ways than one. Shinobu got on her tiptoes and kissed Giyu right on the cheek, pulling his collar down again to achieve this. "I know that I, for one, am happy already." she said as she let him go. "But I am also worried about you. You need to go to sleep. I will visit you tomorrow, okay?"

Giyu felt his cheek, a shell-shocked expression coming over him. "Right…" he said as he watched his new partner turn around and leave. "Good night, Shinobu…" For the first time, Giyu referred to her by using her first name. Shinobu, who would've gotten angry at Giyu any night before this one if he had done this, smiled and continued walking.

The next morning, almost everything was the same as before. Only now, the two seemed a little closer. Giyu was still bad at expressing himself, but he would manage to express worry for Shinobu since she worked so hard, as well as gratitude for everything that she did. Shinobu, on the other hand, continued to worry over and tease Giyu as per usual; the only difference in her behavior was that she was more affectionate behind the curtains. She would come visit him, talking and teasing, but the whole time, she would be holding his hand or staring into his eye with passion.

Giyu managed to return the affection the best he could, but he was still sloppy at it. He was bad at picking up on cues (such as Shinobu leaning herself so her cheek was next to his face, expecting a kiss but receiving a head pat), so he often provoked her frustration. However, she was more patient with him than she was before.

On the outside, nobody knew anything was different except Mitsuri, Aoi, and Kanao, all three of whom Shinobu told in person; Obanai, whom Mitsuri told in confidence; Tanjiro, who could smell affection in the air while they spoke; and Zenitsu and Tengen, both of whom overheard their conversations while doing chores around the infirmary. Nobody seemed to think much of it except Mitsuri, who was bursting with excitement over a new, loving development, and Zenitsu, who was bursting with his jealousy of Giyu. Regardless, word did not spread to anyone outside of those aforementioned names for the next while. There was no agreement to remain silent about it between anyone, not even Giyu and Shinobu, yet they all assumed they were to keep it secret.

That is, they thought this until Giyu was cleared to leave his bed. After that, Giyu began to go on walks with Shinobu, her walking on his right side so that they could hold hands. They talked about little things. Giyu had to work on his ability to socialize with his peers, and Shinobu was the first one he would talk to. It would be inappropriate to call this 'warming up,' though, since he was at his most confident and sociable when he was with her. They spoke of their future plans, now that Demons were no more. They spoke of the past, one filling in details that the other may not have known. The other Pillars seemed surprised and began to mumble about it. Mitsuri eventually couldn't keep herself together, since she was surrounded by chatter of a subject she so desperately wanted to talk about. Now, all of the Pillars and recovering Demon Slayers knew something that was never even really a secret.

After weeks of walking around with Shinobu, socializing with his friends while Shinobu worked, and lightly (light by Pillar standards) training, Giyu was cleared to leave the Butterfly Estate. He was sad to return home, but it was his land, and he had to tend to it. Shinobu made him promise to visit frequently and write even moreso, two things that he already intended to do. He also intended on writing to all of the Demon Slayers he had talked to frequently- even Sanemi Shinazugawa and Iguro Obanai. He also made a point to reach out to Urokodaki, since he had not spoken to him much since he regained consciousness.

Giyu sat in his house, not really doing anything. He had already sent his crow out to deliver his letters, and he already trained, so he was left at home with nobody to talk to and nothing to do. He thought of the times where there would be a lull in conversation, when there was little to talk about or when Giyu had trouble thinking of something to say. Shinobu would always make a quip, saying something mean, somehow making Giyu happy. Giyu looked around his small home. "I wish I could live in the Butterfly Estate…" he thought, missing Shinobu.