Requested by: yuichan1112
Soulmate AU
A/n: this is the first time I wrote a soulmate AU so please go easy on me ;-; enjoy this chapter!
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In this world, you are gifted another half of you. Your soulmate in other words. In the dusted old books in the library, it was filled with inspiring stories on how a war was stopped the moment the rival emperor and empress found the scars that matched on their skins. Children were looking forward to meeting their one and only soulmate, and experience the love deeper than anything. Though the stories were filled with shines and smiles, there were certain people who discard the idea of their soulmates being out there searching for them.
And some were left with their trusts broken to the idea of eternal love for they were abandoned by their soulmates even after encountering each other. There was nothing more painful than being left by the one person destined for you.
Your mother is one of the people who lost trust in what so called soulmate, after being left broken by her own soulmate that promised they would be together. It left her in shambles with no one but herself to pick her pieces back together. For the months she carried a daughter in womb without her soulmate by her side, she promised herself to become strong for the growing life in her.
The moment you understood full sentences at a young age, you were educated by your mother to never give your heart to no one so easily. Even if you found your own soulmate. But, you wanted to know more about soulmates from other perspective such as the books and stories told by the people in your village.
As soon as the clock strikes 3 in the afternoon, you finished your chores in cleaning the scrap pieces of fabric on the floor that your mother left after she sewed the new orders she received. Sweeping the dusts off the floors, you made your way to your mother to ask for permission to go out. "Mother, can I go now?" You asked, eagerness shining in your eyes. Every afternoon, you and your friends go out for dango and tea at the local tea house a few blocks from your house. Well at least that's what your mother believed.
"Okay you can go. Be back before sundown." She answered, not looking your way and stitching the clothing in her hands.
Stealthily, you grabbed your bag from the table and hooked it on your shoulders and feeling the weight of the book inside fall on your shoulders. With one last look, you stepped out from the gates of your house and tailor shop. The sun glowed in bright orange, a warm beam hitting your face as you stood and admired the peaceful streets of your village. Children ran around and chasing each other, young adults walked side by side and chatting. It was a a normal day to say.
As you passed by, your eyes focused on the words written in dark ink on the pages of the thick book in your hands. Despite walking and reading at the same time, you expertly avoided collisions with people passing by and even sent waves to those who greet you.
You always wondered on what's going on in the life of your soulmate. Starting four years ago, you've seen the scars and bruises in you body almost every week. You just couldn't help but feel worried for his well-being. Does he fight people regularly? is he a police or from the military? questions run in your head all the time. For the 19 years of living, you made no effort in searching for the other half, in words of your mother and believing that you will meet when the right time comes.
The pages flipped to the other side and for the first time in walking and reading, your body collided with another, making you stumble and drop your book.
"Oh! my apologies." You quickly apologized and bowed multiple times. Without sending a look on the stranger, you tried to pick up the book that was laying open on the ground. And before you could even grab hold of the book, the a pale hand picked it up first. Your eyes raised to look over to the person who picked up first and suddenly met with a pair of sapphire blue eyes staring right back at you. At that moment, your heart beat furiously in your chest and a warm feeling surrounded you. The only thing that run through your mind was that, this person clad in black and wore a haori over his shoulders is your one and only soulmate.
And suddenly, your mothers words of last night entered your mind.
"Mother, how do you know if you had meet your soulmate?" You asked curiosity, staring at the glowing flame on the candle wick, the source of light in the dimly lit room.
"I'm tired darling. Let's talk about this another day." your mother mumbled and turned her back to you.
You got up from your shared futon and glanced in disappointment to the figure of your mother who surely was silently listening to you.
"But mother, you've been saying that for so long! what if my soulmate and I meet? What if couldn't distinguish him as my soulmate?" You raised your voice, your eyebrows knitted. Listening to your mother ignore your questions about soulmates have become tiring as time flew by. You didn't want to stay ignorant any longer.
She was silent for a moment, before sighing and got up into a sitting position and faced you. "The moment you lay your eyes on your destined person, your heart beats furiously and warm will suddenly engulf you. You'll suddenly feel happiness in you.." She answered, the longing in her voice didn't go unnoticed by you as she stared at the burning candle wick.
"Um, can I ask you a question?" you asked, still staring at his eyes that never looked away from yours.
"Are you my soulmate?" he asked bluntly, causing your face to flush in red of embarrassment.
"Can we- can we talk somewhere else please?" you asked meekly while looking around and saw the glances the people gave as they passed by. You two were blocking the street and it received attention from the others.
"Okay." he nodded. You turned your heel and walked to the nearest park with him following close by. Silence surrounded both of you as you sat beside each other on a park bench. You didn't know what to say when you find your soulmate but you felt a growing feeling of needing his touch.
Unbeknownst to both of you, your hands were already intertwined. Warm hands held yours as you looked away, a heat made way from your neck to your cheeks as you felt his rough hands with your smooth ones. You both stayed like that in silence until a sudden thought entered your mind making you gasp in realization.
"I haven't introduced myself yet. My names Y/n L/n." you introduced. With a smile on your face, you turned to look at him and found him staring back at you.
"Tomioka Giyuu."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Tomioka-san."
From then on, you slowly but surely asked questions in means of knowing more about each other. As time goes on, his short replies turned into long ones as he found himself relax and enjoy your company. It has been a long time since Tomioka talked this long to a person, while at the same time holding the person's hand. And for the first time in a while, his defenses were down. The warmth from your touch made him vulnerable, it was a strange feeling that left him bewildered but he didn't dare to break away from you.
"I have seen quite a lot of injuries on my body. Where do those come from, Tomioka-san?" you finally asked the question you most asked yourself for a long time.
"I'm a Demon slayer. I slay the demons lurking at night, I most likely get injuries from time to time. But It's only expected." he answered truthfully. A sudden worry flashed over you, unconsciously squeezing your intertwined hands.
Without speaking, Tomioka knew what ran into your mind as he sent a reassuring squeeze in return. "There's no need to worry. I do this to protect the weak."
You couldn't say anything, you were in no place to hold him back. A sudden realization then struck you when you saw the lights in the park lit up. Immediately stood up and broke away from him. "My mother wanted me home by sundown!" you exclaimed, hastily grabbing your bag.
"It was so nice meeting you Tomioka-san. When will I see you again?" You asked hopefully until you saw the disappointment in his eyes.
"I only stopped by this village, I have a mission to go to." he answered, looking away.
"Oh." You looked down in disappointment, a sudden pain growing in your chest. You sucked in a breath when you felt a palm rest on top of your head.
"We will see each other someday. I promise." he promised, staring at your e/c colored eyes. You were taken back by the small smile visible on his lips.
"I have to go. Send me a letter okay?" You waved him goodbye and ran away with a smile on your face.
Despite being away from him, feeling of meeting your soulmate remains and made you happy. Back at the park, Tomioka stayed still while looking to the direction you ran to a smile creeping on his lips. He looked down at his palm that once intertwined with yours and thought to himself. Is this the warmth of a soulmate that Tsutako-neesan wanted me to feel someday?