Song: Photographs (Ed Sheeran)
Post war AU (Spoilers)
Taisho Era
Giyu Tomioka's POV:
The war ended with the demon slayer corps wining the side. Muzan was killed by Tanjiro. Some casualties were also resolved and now, the master's heir took over the demon slayer corps head position.
Many of the Pillars were killed while fighting the upper moons; Tokitou-kun, Kanroji-san, The serpentine pillar, Gyoumei-san, and... Shinobu Kochou.
Rengoku has already passed away so his father, the former flame Pillar, along with the sound pillar, Uzui, who had already retired, were assigned to guard kiriya-sama, then.
Now that me and Shinazugawa were the only who survived during the war out of all the Pillars, we stayed in contact with the whole remaining corps and Shinazugawa did change a lot after that. More like, he roamed about, smiling more.
In my case, I cut my hair short and usually visited Tanjiro and his gang along with Master Urokodaki. The Kamado siblings took good care of us.
I paid visits to the Butterfly Mansion as well, where Shinobu's Tsugako took over the place and turned it into a public clinic/hospital. The girls working there also did the jobs as well.
I went there for a check up and one of the girls, Aoi I suppose, told me to wait for the Tsuyuri girl as she had some other patients to look upon as well.
I was told to sit in an office, which I remember as the place I visited Shinobu the most.
I saw all the memories I had along with Shinobu, her talking, laughs, teasing and many more.
Her face never looked less or more beautiful than how she was. Her purple orbs, the pale skin, the small lips and hands and fingers, every thing of her settled as a clear image inside me. I looked over the whole office and then noticed the drawer of the office table slightly open.
There was some paper inside it, with my name written on it. I checked for the door and the window if anyone was looking at me or not.
When I felt everything was clear, I gripped on the drawer handle and slowly slide it out, without making any noise.
When the mouth of the drawer opened large enough for me to see the picture, my eyes widened. I picked up the paper through my fingers and brought it closer.
It was Shinobu's handwriting.
Dear Giyu Tomioka,
I have always felt a thing for you, even though you're annoying and a loner.
You asked me the reason for taking a picture with you, if you remember. My reason was to keep this memory of ours for long, since I don't know what would happen to us in future but you're a kind person and I have always liked your courage and kindness for which I wanted to remember you.
If I don't make it up to live longer, I wanted to give this to you as your memory with me in the demon slayer corps.
I like you a lot, Tomioka-san, or Giyu-san. I hope that we meet in our next lives and be friends again.
Please keep the picture of us together with you if you ever get it.
Your friend,
Shinobu Kochou.
I quickly turned the paper over to check the back side. It was a black and white photograph of me and Shinobu. She was pulling my arm and laughing while I was agaped and awestruck.
I remembered the moment.
....
The butterfly estate girls were having a photo session. I was just passing by the estate when a clicking sound came and the lights flashed.
I looked over at Shinobu, who was standing in the middle of the group of girls, smiling. She noticed me and waved at me.
Then she came running to me.
Tomioka-san! Come! Let's have a picture together!
But why, Kochou?
Is that even a question to be asked, Tomioka-san! That's why nobody likes to get along with you.
But there must be a reason to take a picture, Kochou...
Why would she ever invite me to have a picture together with her?
Miss, Mister! Please, hurry up! Also have to go somewhere else.
The photographer irritatingly asked. Shinobu's nerves popped on her forehead and looked at me. She still kept her smile but gave the dark aura.
Ugh! Tomioka-san, you're going to make a person waste their time! Come on already!
She yanked me in front of the camera but I tried to pull my arm from her. Then I stopped making efforts to get out of her release and stood there, leaving a sigh while she clutched on my arm and gave the best smile.
I was awestruck by how the way she had her grip on my arm and so confidently smiled in front of the camera that I didn't face the machine but just looked at her.
After a few seconds, she looked at me and then, again gave a smile, her eyes shining brightly and then, the light flashed from the camera and the sound of click broke our eye contact.
....
Tears started to flow through my eyes. My vision became blurry because of that and my lips pursed as the grip of my finger on the photograph tightened, which made it fold a bit.
Some tear drops fell on the photograph as well and my body shivered as my hand landed on the table, pinning the photograph as well.
"Honestly, Shinobu. I have never felt so happy and sad at the same time after I got to know about this of you.
I liked you a lot too, because you're the only one who talked to me the most.
I wish I had been more open to you.
I wish I had talked more with you as well.
I wish I had told you that I loved you as well.
Tch.
I promise, I will keep you with me all the time.
I love you, Shinobu Kochou.
We will meet in our next lives and be friends as you said."
-xxx-
Hey dear readers! So I did some angst.
I hope that I didn't overdo or underdid it.
I really cried at this Oneshot to be honest. I felt like this would have happened in the story as well but gotouge didn't show up.
I believe this is a hundred percent canon and you cannot change my mind.
Also I made an animation for this Oneshot if you noticed. Although it's not that good because I am not really good at digital art but I really imagined that happening and so, I drew it like that.
I hope that you enjoyed the Oneshot. More likely, crying over. And thank you so much for the book now has crossed over 1.4k+ reads and 100+ votes! It has been almost a month since I first started this book and it already got so much support.
Please keep supporting me like that and I promise to give the best of what I can do.
Meet you in the next Oneshot.
Loads of love<33
Take care.