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Chapter Text

Giyuu really didn't know why he had agreed to come. Well, no, that was a lie. Mitsuri had looked at him with her pleading wide eyes, and had hit him with "Please? Shinobu won't be there, I don't want to be the only omega there."

Sometimes he regretted telling Mitsuri that he was an omega. Other times he didn't. Normally he didn't regret telling her. Shinobu was the only other Hashira that knew and that was because she was his doctor, there really was no way of hiding it from her.

As far as the others were concerned, he was a beta and he'd like to keep it that way. Even if it seemed he wouldn't be keeping that secret for long. At least not from another Hashira, considering Sanemi was drunk off his ass and clinging to him. Nose burying into his neck. Giyuu swallowed, grabbing the back of Sanemi's hair and tugging him away from his neck. Compared to everyone else, Giyuu was still sober after having only drunk one cup. Mitsuri had already left because she had lied to him and Shinobu had in fact come along. Speaking of which, Shinobu was staring him down and he cringed internally.

"I'm going to take Sanemi back to his estate," Giyuu finally said, Shinobu raising an eyebrow at him. "My estate is on the way, and I don't think he's sobering up anytime soon." Shinobu hummed, taking a sip of her sake, which had originally been Giyuu's until he'd decided he didn't want to get drunk and given it up.

Sanemi grumbled into his shoulder when Giyuu nudged him to stand, murmuring his goodbyes and earning an overly enthusiastic goodbye from Uzui and Rengoku. He kept his arm wrapped around Sanemi as they walked out. Maybe the alcohol had gotten to his head more than he'd thought because one moment he was walking, the other he was getting pushed against a pole, Sanemi looming over him. Giyuu opened his mouth to say something only to be shut up when Sanemi's lips crashed into his. It could barely be called a kiss, Sanemi's lips unsteady and teeth clacking painfully. Giyuu gripped at him and Sanemi's hands wrapped around his waist, head tilting and drunken mind working sluggishly to kiss him properly. Giyuu's eyes fluttered.

He'd dreamt about this more than once. Dreamt of Sanemi kissing him so deeply he stole his breath away, left him panting and writhing.

Giyuu gripped the back of his head once more and tugged him away. Sanemi whined. Giyuu swallowed thickly. "You're drunk, Shinazugawa."

"Call me… Sanemi…" His voice slurred and Giyuu had to tug on his hair again to stop him from kissing him again.

"You're drunk. It's late. Let's get back to your estate," Giyuu said, earning a grumble in response but Sanemi slumped against him. Giyuu sighed, licking his lips and regretting it instantly as he could still taste Sanemi's lips. Thankfully it was true that the estate wasn't far, stumbling through the door as Sanemi refused to shift his hold on Giyuu.

Giyuu had to drop down with Sanemi to get him into the futon. "There, I'll be going now, Sanemi."

Sanemi disagreed. Grip tightening and even growling. Giyuu hated to admit how lightning zapped up his spine. Well… it was true that it was late. He could stay and leave before Sanemi woke up. He sighed. "Fine, I'll stay, but let me go, I'm not sleeping in uniform."

Sanemi rumbled, releasing him after giving him a nuzzle. Giyuu inhaled. Terrible idea, all that did was let him take a full lungful of Sanemi's scent. He turned away, shaking his head as he slipped off his haori, carefully folding it up and setting it down before he tugged off his jacket and pants. He turned to Sanemi, blushing as he saw him in only underwear.

Right.

Sanemi didn't wear a shirt.

It wasn't like he hadn't seen Sanemi's body before. The man didn't wear his jacket buttoned up. Still though… those previous times and this time were completely different situations.

This was fine. Friends cuddled. And maybe Sanemi saw him as an acquaintance at best but there was no reason to overthink this. Sanemi didn't even know he was an omega and last he'd been dragged to a hangout, the conversation of attractions had come up. Sanemi had been very clear that he was only interested in omegas. To Sanemi, Giyuu was a beta, and Giyuu hoped that his drunkenness meant he wouldn't remember Giyuu's scent and realize he'd been lying this entire time.

Sanemi tugged on him, clearly growing impatient with Giyuu staring and doing nothing. Giyuu swallowed, settling down on the futon. Sanemi wasted no time to tug him against his chest, Giyuu's breath hitching. He was completely surrounded by Sanemi's scent.

He must be exhausted as it took him no time to fall asleep, purr loud in his chest.

Sanemi wakes with the sun in his eyes, head pounding like a demon was trying to rip its way out of his brain. He grunted, burying his face in the soft hair, the scent sweet and soothing. His hold tightened on the body cuddled against his chest. Yes, this was nice.

Sanemi's eyes snapped open. He pulled back, earning a whine from the person.

From Giyuu.

Sanemi stared.

What?

Had they gone home together after the bar? Had they-? Sanemi's lips twitched as the memory of the kiss hit him hard. Oh. He was an idiot and an asshole, a drunken idiot asshole. He swallowed, mouth parched. He could still feel Giyuu's soft lips, his body against his own. The details were muddy but he was pretty sure Giyuu had pushed him off. He'd have to apologize. His eyes wandered and he realized the state they were in. Shit.

He raised the blanket carefully, not wanting to disturb Giyuu. He was still wearing his shirt, and it only seemed rumpled from sleep. Even as his face burned bright, he trailed his gaze down to Giyuu's thighs. Marked with old scars and bruises from fights but clean. Nothing else on them. He looked down at himself, he didn't have any new marks either and his underwear were still on just fine.

Okay, so at least he hadn't done anything to Giyuu past that kiss. Good. He'd have to ask to leave the Demon Slayers just so Giyuu never had to see his face again.

The beta didn't deserve that. He could annoy him all he wanted and Sanemi could want to stab him all he wanted, but he'd never hurt him in any meaningful way.

The beta…

Sanemi frowned. Giyuu was a beta.

That's what he'd said, even if he wore a scent collar most of the time. He remembered the scent he'd inhaled when he woke up. It was sweet. Sugar and mint, rain before it fell. It had too many scent notes to be a beta's. Too many to be an alpha's. Only omegas had more complex scents, due to their scent being one of their primary forms of communication and defense.

He still recalled saving a distressed omega once whose scent was almost strong enough to deter the demon that was trying to kill them.

Despite his embarrassment and the fact he should probably get up, take some pain meds, and wait for Giyuu to wake up. He settled back down, arms wrapping around Giyuu once more and taking his scent in carefully. The same scent greeted him.

Giyuu was an omega.

Or maybe he was a beta but born an omega? Should he ask about that?

Giyuu shifted and Sanemi snapped his eyes shut, evening out his breathing.

He was a coward.

Giyuu stirred away, yawning and snuggling into the warms surrounding him. The alpha smelled so nice, soothing all of his worries and wrapping him up in safety. Why did he have to get up? He didn't have a mission, he could just fall back asleep in Sanemi's arms and rest some more.

Giyuu tensed.

Sanemi.

He wasn't snuggled up with his mate, he was snuggled up with Sanemi. He looked up, relief washing over him when he saw that Sanemi was still awake. He shifted, trying to slip out only to be met with the same problem as last night. He could get out of Sanemi's hold but he didn't want to risk waking him up.

He had no choice though. "Sanemi…"

Sanemi shifted, eyes opening slowly. "Wha…"

Sanemi's voice was gruff from sleep, throat audibly dry. And he was staring directly at Giyuu with half lidded eyes. Giyuu was at a loss for words.

"You must have a terrible headache with how much you drank. I was going to get you some pain meds and water."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Shinobu said you keep them in the kitchen instead of the bathroom. And that it annoys her," Giyuu said. His hands were still resting against Sanemi's chest, his heart beating under his fingertips. It was quick for someone who had just woken up. Giyuu took a closer look at him. There was a blush still visible on his cheeks. Was he… like this because of him?

Sanemi was going to lose his mind. Giyuu had said his name so softly sent a shiver down his spine. He told Giyuu to call him by his name after the kiss, if he recalled correctly. He wanted to hear how Giyuu would say his names in every other context. Looking at Giyuu… he makes it so difficult to not kiss him. His blue eyes are distinctly bright. Brighter that he's ever seen them before. His lips slightly parted. He wants him so badly.

His head throbs. He lets go of Giyuu—reluctantly—and watches him walk out to find the pain meds. Giyuu's scent is soaked into the fibers of the futon and Sanemi knows he's going to go insane when he sleeps. He'll have to wash it.

He really doesn't want to.

It takes Giyuu a surprisingly short amount of time and Sanemi wonders if Shinobu told Giyuu the exact location of the medicine at some point. He slowly sits up, accepting the water and medicine. Giyuu takes that moment to straighten his shirt and pull on his pants, brushing his long hair and untangling it. Careful to pull it into his usual ponytail.

He knows, but it still nags at him.

"Did we do anything last night?"

Giyuu pauses, glancing over his shoulder at him. Sanemi finishes the rest of the water. "You kissed me outside the bar and refused to let me go when we arrived here. That's all."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

"You would have stopped me if I had tried anything?"

"Yes. You were drunk."

Sanemi doesn't think his well enough to think over the implication in Giyuu's answer. Would he say yes if he asked when sober? It was too early for his, he was too hungover for this.

"Tomioka…"

"Giyuu. You asked me to call you by your name, it's only fair."

Sanemi, for his part, thought Giyuu was incredibly unfair. Did he hate him? Did he want his heart to stop beating?

"…Giyuu. Are you a beta or..? Your scent is…" Sanemi's fingers twitched against the futon, tightened on the glass. "Of course, if you are a beta and it's just your scent doesn't match then you're a beta and nothing is gonna change that, you know? I just- this is probably rude to ask, you've said you're a beta. I was just-"

"I'm not." Giyuu's voice cuts him off. Sanemi blinks. "I'm… I'm not a beta. I'm an omega. It's just… been easier to say I'm a beta, nobody questions my weak scent then."

It was true that Giyuu's scent was normally weak, even without the scent collar. But… "Your scent is so strong now… it's… sweet."

Giyuu's eyes widen. Blush on his cheeks. Sanemi must still be drunk if he's spewing all of this. His heart leaps at the sight of a visible reaction on Giyuu's face.

He's an idiot. Complimenting an omegas scent like that…

"I should get go-"

"Let me court you!" Sanemi blurts out. He's an idiot.

Giyuu's mouth drops open.

Sanemi needs to bury himself under the ground. He goes to say something. Apologize. Take it back. Anything. Giyuu beats him to it.

"Okay. If you want."

Sanemi blinks and then almost bristles. Wants to tell Giyuu he's being an idiot because he's the one that should want it. But he stops himself when he meets Giyuu's eyes. They're bright. He's never seen Giyuu's eyes so bright. Giyuu makes it so fucking hard to think

"You should go to your butterfly estate if your hangover doesn't improve. I'll see you around, Sanemi."

Sanemi grabs his wrist. "Wait. Giyuu… get… get back safe. I'll come see you in a couple days if no missions come up." He'd have to talk to Mitsuri, even if she wasn't going t keep this a secret for the life of her. He needed her advice on how to properly court Giyuu. Wait, did Mitsuri even know Giyuu was an omega? "Am I the only one who knows you're an omega?"

"Shinobu and Mitsuri know," Giyuu said, wrist slipping from Sanemi's hand and tangling their fingers together. Giyuu hasn't moved yet. Sanemi catches on quickly, thankfully, to save what dignity he has left, pressing a kiss to his knuckles, keeping his gaze on Giyuu. He swears Giyuu smiles. Sanemi leans up further up to press a kiss to the scent gland on Giyuu's wrist.

Giyuu had accepted his courting offer. Sanemi nuzzled his wrist, Giyuu kneeling down for Sanemi to rub his wrist against the glands on Giyuu's neck. Scenting him. Warning off anyone who wanted to court him that he was already spoken for.

Giyuu smiles.

Sanemi stays there dumbfounded. He must be on his deathbed. Giyuu accepted his courting, Giyuu smiled at him, despite everything he's done. He stays sat on his futon like an idiot long after Giyuu has already left.

Chapter Text

Sanemi regretted his decision immidietly. Not the part about asking to court Giyuu. But deciding to seek out Mitsuri for advice. Why in the world did he choose the Love Hashira? I mean… in his hungover state it had made complete sense. Who else but the Love Hashira to give advice on how to properly court Giyuu, especially with both of them being omega. He knew enough to know that Mitsuri and Giyuu were close, so Giyuu must have shared information with her. He considered Shinobu but then again… this was Shinobu. He'd rather deal with his ears ringing after talking with Mitsuri than Shinobu's smile.

Maybe he should have just bit the bullet and talked to Shinobu instead. Because here he was, at Mitsuri's estate face to face with Uzui. He couldn't just bring up Giyuu now. Not only because he was emberassed to admit he didn't know how to properly court an omega, but because he was sure Uzui didn't know Giyuu wasn't a beta.

"Shinazugawa! What brings you here?" Mitsuri asked, already setting a cup of tea in front of him as he was given no choice but to sit down. Where did she even get that cup? "Oh, you smell…" Mitsuri's brows furrowed before her eyes widened and she gasped, covering her mouth with her hands to suppress a squeal. "You smell like Giyuu!"

Uzui laughed. Sanemi scowled. Truly, genuinely, horrific decision on his part. "Yes, well… I was at his estate…"

"Spent the night, from what Shinobu said," Uzui chimed in. Mitsuri looked like she was about to pass out.

"Nothing happened!" Sanemi bit out. Uzui cackled. "I was drunk and I passed out on him, so he stayed. That's it."

"Shinobu saw you kissing him outside the bar."

Sanemi was a law abiding citizen that respected the Corpse Rules and would not attempt to murder Uzui. Mitsuri seemed to sense the rising tension and stepped in. "But his scent is on you really strongly, Shinazugawa."

"I… that's why I came here. I, well…"

"You came to two omegas to learn how to court Giyuu, didn't you? Though I dunno if he should be courted the same, even if he presented as an omega, he's a beta, right?" Uzui said, looking up at the ceiling in thought.

Sanemi blinked. "What?"

"Well, I mean that's probably why his scent is so weak usually. Probably has to do with whatever he needs to take to transition, like Shinobu."

"You know he's-"

Uzui nodded. "He's trans beta!"

Sanemi wasn't sure what the proper reaction should be. Should he be happy to know that even though Uzui knew Giyuu hadn't presented as a beta he never questioned him when saying he was a beta? Should he be pissed off that Uzui was able to tell that maybe there was more to Giyuu's claim to being a beta? Though, Giyuu's scent had always been weak.

"He's not," Sanemi finally said. "He told me he's omega. Just… says he's beta to make things easier."

Uzui's expression changed immedietly. Sanemi wasn't sure he'd ever seen him look so worried. "His scent is so weak…" he murmured, looking off. Maybe Sanemi should be comforted then that Uzui had known, sort of.

"It's… not my place to tell," Mitsuri finally said as the silence started to grow heavy. "But this is good! Giyuu's always so quiet about his secondary gender! So you want to court him?"

"The first step would be to not get into so many fights with him!"

"Uh… well, I already asked to court him," Sanemi said.

"And he said yes!?" Uzui asked. Okay, rude. True but rude. Even if he agreed with the sentiment, Uzui didn't need to sound so surprised. Plus, he'd been trying to be better! Especially since the recent mission with that blasted train almost killed Rengoku. It had left the entire group shaken and maybe Sanemi had accidentally seen Giyuu talking with Rengoku with emotion on his face and something had tugged at his heart.

"Yes, he said yes!" Sanemi snapped back, growling without any real bite to it. Uzui raised an eyebrow as if Sanemi was proving his point. Which… he was, wasn't he? "And I haven't gotten into that many fights with him lately!"

"Ooh… I see," Mitsuri said as if she had just gotten the answers to the universe. Both Uzui and Sanemi turned to her. Mitsuri only sounded like that when she had put two and two together, and had had a very important revelation.

"What?"

"Giyuu came to me a bit ago wondering if he'd done something wrong since you weren't picking fights with him as much anymore."

"What?" Even Uzui sounded surprised.

Mitsuri nodded. "Apparently, he sees fighting as part of friendship or even courting? Um… there is a reason but it's part of the thing that isn't my place to say."

"…he's insane," Sanemi finally said. Though… it wasn't unheard of. He knew of certain courting rituals that included a spar. With younger ones, play fighting was a natural way of testing the waters and learning more about the other person whether for friendship or more. Still though… when Sanemi had gotten into fights with Giyuu, he wasn't doing that.

And yet it seemed Giyuu hadn't taken it like that. Which… actually explained a lot of Giyuu's reactions to his provocations.

"Well, regardless of Giyuu being a bit of a weirdo," Uzui started, ignoring Sanemi's growl, "you should still start by providing Giyuu with food. Do not bring him anything that smells like you unless he asks for it or you've been courting past the initial steps."

Mitsuri nodded. "Giyuu loves salmon daikon! So you already know what to make!"

"He loves salmon daikon?"

"Yeah! Shinobu said they ate it once and Giyuu was beaming!"

Beaming.

Sanemi had only seen a small smile from Giyuu and that had already made his heart squeeze. If he saw Giyuu beam, and do so because of him… Oyakata-sama may have to just get a new Wind Hashira.

Uzui snapped his fingers in front of Sanemi's face before shaking his head to Mitsuri. They'd already lost him.

Giyuu had come to visit the Butterfly Estate after hearing that the pups had once again gotten injured. He was worried, of course, especially the Kamado siblings that were basically his own pups at this rate. And even Zenitsu and Inosuke had a soft spot in his heart. When he arrived he heard familiar laughter followed by the pups yelling or complaining. Giyuu huffed softly and shook his head, coming around to the back of the Estate.

Rengoku was already there, parrying the attempted strikes from the pups with his one arm. Tanjirou was thrown back, rolling on the ground until he managed to catch himself. Inosuke was somehow stuck in a tree. Zenitsu was curled up crying.

Rengoku turned to him with a grin when he heard him approach. "Tomioka!"

"Hello, Rengoku. How's training going?"

"Quite well! The pups are helping me keep myself from stagnating," Rengoku said with a laugh. Ever since the Akaza fight, Rengoku had insisted that if he kept his body in shape, he'd be back to his prime condition. Shinobu had told him that if his lungs didn't properly heal, then no amount of training would stop him from retiring. Giyuu had listened to Shinobu complain about how Rengoku couldn't be human with the way his lungs healed to stable levels in just a few months while she gave him his shots.

And now Rengoku was teaching himself how to adapt the Fire Breathing Style to one arm, and get used to the loss of depth from his missing eye.

Rengoku tilted his head, sniffing. "Huh..? Tomioka, how come you smell like Shinazugawa?"

"He asked to court me and I accepted," Giyuu said simply. The pups snapped to attention at that, running up to him. Tanjirou grabbed at his haori, eyes shining with worry.

"You accepted his courting proposal?" Tanjirou asked as if Giyuu had just told him there was a bomb strapped to his chest. Giyuu patted the top of his head, bringing the pup against him.

"Yes. Sanemi isn't that bad," Giyuu said.

"He's already using his name…" Zenitsu bemoaned, covering his face.

Rengoku laughed. "Now, now. Tomioka is plenty strong and capable, if he didn't want to accept he wouldn't have!"

"But he's an alpha, and Giyuu's…"

Rengoku tilted his head.

"I'm an omega, not a beta."

"Oh! Well, that doesn't change anything! Tomioka can handle his own perfectly well against Shinazugawa! Now, I'm sure you all want to ask more questions but it's almost time for lunch so you should go clean up," Rengoku said, shooing them off after some further complaints from the pups. Tanjirou thankfully got Inosuke unstuck from the tree on their way back inside.

Rengoku turned to Giyuu with a more serious expression. "Everything is alright, truly?"

"Yes."

"Let me know if you need me to do anything! We're practically pack, and you've looked out for me enough times for me to return the favor." Rengoku placed his hand on top of Giyuu's head just as Giyuu had done to Tanjirou.

"I know. Thank you, Rengoku."

"Call me Kyojurou!"

"Then call me Giyuu."

Rengoku smiled. Giyuu was pretty sure Sanemi was going to be met with a far too cheery Flame Hashira any day now. Well, it was only fair. They were practically pack already thanks to Tanjirou, they just hadn't had the time to say anything officially.

They probably should have that conversation soon, especially with Sanemi asking to court him now. Giyuu really hoped Rengoku had some mercy on Sanemi.

"Giyuu! Rengoku! We saved you some food!" Tanjirou chirped once they finally entered, foot out to stop Inosuke from grabbing the food trays out of his hands. Giyuu quickly took the trays, Tanjirou losing the fight as Inosuke managed to tackle him down a moment after Giyuu took the trays. Rengoku moved the boys trays out of the way of their rough housing. Giyuu couldn't help but smile at the side, setting down the trays and sitting.

Giyuu wasn't even able to take a bite of his salmon before Shinobu was already opening the door and glaring down at the two pups. "Have I not said to not fight while your injuries are healing?" she asked, voice sweet, her scent harsh. The notes were dampened as a beta, but Shinobu never minded using the more alpha growl. Even though Inosuke was grumbling, he untangled himself from Tanjirou and scooted back to his tray. Tanjirou rubbed the back of his neck with a bashful smile before returning to his own tray.

Shinobu finally looked at Giyuu, brows furrowing before her eyes widened and her smile grew mischivious. "Oh my… one night and you're already together?"

Giyuu stiffened. "Can we discuss this without the pups?"

"Oh! So something did happen!"

"Nothing happened," Giyuu denied.

"You reak of Sanemi."

"He asked to court Giyuu!" Tanjirou piped in. Giyuu really loved his pups. Truly. But sometimes they made things more complicated than needed.

"And you said yes?"

"Yes."

Shinobu turned to Rengoku. "Have you checked if he's sick?"

"Giyuu is plenty capable of making his own decisions," Rengoku said with a laugh, shoving a mouthful of rice to avoid further conversation.

"First name basis? Oh my. Giyuu, you certainly act fast. Well, I'll leave you to finish your lunch. Make sure you take your medicine."

A chorus of yes's followed her out of the room as Giyuu choked on his tea, spluttering to try and question what she meant with that.

Chapter Text

This was so stupid.

Sanemi had been doing a lot of stupid shit lately.

He grimaced.

I'm so fucking stupid.

He would have turned and returned to his Estate if he didn't know that Uzui and Mitsuri would throttle him if they found out he'd chickened out from bringing Giyuu to eat at a village that wasn't too far and had a nice little restaurant ran by an old man and his daughter that could give his anger a run for its money. But they always saved a table for him since he'd saved them on a past mission. It was just…

"You're already courting him! Don't be so unflashy!"

The demon on his shoulder yelled into his ear with an irritating voice. Sanemi clicked his tongue, grumbling under his breath.

"What you doing here, Shinazugawa?" an even louder voice asked and Sanemi almost jumped out of his skin. In his sulking he hadn't even realized he'd reached the Water Estate. Though…

"I could ask the same, Rengoku." He sniffed and froze as Giyuu's scent hit him, clinging to Rengoku. It wasn't unheard of for an Omega to be courted by more than one Alpha, but…

Rengoku whistled, laughing as he patted his back. "Relax, you look like you're gonna pop a vessel!"

"…why do you smell like Giyuu?"

"We're pack, of course! Though I don't blame you for not knowing, we did only make it official a couple days ago. Speaking of a couple days ago! Giyuu mentioned you're courting him, is that why you're here?"

Sanemi swallowed. Oh. He was fucked. Because under Giyuu's scent he was able to pick up the softer notes of pups and there was only one group of pups that could be part of their pack.

One group of pups that fucking hated him.

"I was… going to ask Giyuu if he was free to go out for dinner." He had to play nice. With Giyuu having such a prominent pack now—knowing Giyuu had chosen this pack—if the pack rejected him, so would Giyuu.

Which wouldn't be hard to convince him to do so. Sanemi still didn't understand how Giyuu had agreed, even if he wasn't seeing their fights as something negative.

Something in Rengoku's gaze shifted. His scent stayed the same and Sanemi was reminded why Rengoku could so easily put him on edge. The other alpha was far too good at controlling his scent. It made Sanemi's gums itch.

"Where were you planning on taking him?" Rengoku asked, arm crossing over his chest as he leaned against the doorframe.

"To… a small restaurant at a nearby village."

"Hm? Do they have salmon daikon?"

"I think so?"

Rengoku hummed with a nod, straightening up. "I'll go get him."

Sanemi watched Rengoku walk inside. Okay. That went better than expected, and while there was clearly some level of acceptance from Rengoku, it wasn't really acceptance. He wasn't letting him into the Water Estate, not without Giyuu saying it in person.

This didn't bode well.

Giyuu stepped outside.

This boded incredibly.

Giyuu's hair was combed over his shoulder into a braid, a couple of his garden's flowers woven into the strands. His haori had been freshly cleaned, carefully tended to. The yukata he wore was a dark blue, lined in a light blue pattern of waves and wind. As Giyuu walked closer, he could see that Giyuu's katana had been carefully tucked into the obi so it would remain hidden under the haori.

Sanemi swallowed, mouth dry. He felt so incredibly under dressed. Maybe he could bolt to the Wind Estate and put on… something. Actually, now that he thought about it he didn't have anything to really put on.

Giyuu smiled up at him and Sanemi was pretty sure the sun wasn't supposed to be high in the sky at this time. "Mitsuri sent me a letter," he said, "she mentioned that she knows you were going to ask me to dinner so I… asked her for some help with clothing…"

Maybe Mitsuri was the real goddess.

"She also mentioned that she's pretty sure you don't have anything."

Nevermind.

"So she picked something out for you too, if you… want to come inside to see if it fits? Unless you'd rather stay in uniform."

Nevermind, again. Mitsuri was in fact a real goddess.

Sanemi cleared his throat. "I guess. It wouldn't hurt to see if it fits me."

Mitsuri was a goddess.

Giyuu walked beside Sanemi, glancing at him from time to time. The yukata had fit perfectly—a bit tight so Sanemi had an excuse to keep it loose around his chest—colored in dark purples with careful red flowers decorating the edges.

Giyuu had never seen Sanemi in anything but their uniform. Maybe it was for the best, he needed to keep what remained of his sanity.

"What's the restaurant like?" Giyuu finally asked, midway to the town Sanemi had mentioned.

"Ah… nothing really fancy, just a small family owned thing. The food's good though."

Giyuu hummed, tilting his head. "What are some dishes?"

"Well… several noodle dishes, uh… some fish dishes… I think one is salmon daikon," Sanemi said. Giyuu's eyes widened, perking up when he heard. Did Sanemi know that was his favorite dish? He said it so casually. Giyuu looked at him carefully. Did he really not know that was his favorite dish?

"Really?"

"Uh… yeah."

"Okay."

Sanemi blinked at him, Giyuu only grinned.