A new chance

Sabito had always prided himself on being composed—unshaken even in the face of life-threatening danger. But the sight of the rookie Demon Slayer practically orbiting Giyuu like a persistent moth to a flame was testing the limits of his patience. The young Slayer—a fresh recruit, overly eager and annoyingly charming—seemed to have developed an obvious fixation on Giyuu. Everywhere Giyuu went, the rookie wasn't far behind, throwing compliments at him like confetti and finding flimsy excuses to spend time with him.

Sabito leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching the rookie animatedly talk to Giyuu. The latter stood with his usual stoic expression, nodding occasionally but not showing much reaction otherwise. Giyuu was oblivious to the attention, as he always was when it came to things like this. And that only made it worse. Sabito's jaw tightened as he caught the rookie's overly bright smile, their hand briefly brushing against Giyuu's arm.

Relax, Sabito told himself. It's nothing. Giyuu's not even paying attention.

But the knot in his chest tightened regardless. He hated how it made him feel—possessive, jealous, and a little insecure. Sabito had never doubted their bond, but seeing someone else admire Giyuu so openly stirred something primal in him. Still, he kept his composure, his expression carefully neutral as Giyuu eventually walked over to him, leaving the rookie behind.

"You're quiet today," Giyuu said, tilting his head slightly. His calm voice carried a hint of concern. "Did something happen?"

"Nope. All good," Sabito replied, his tone light as he shrugged. "Just enjoying the view."

Giyuu raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "We should head back soon. It's getting late."

Sabito nodded, pushing himself off the tree and falling into step beside Giyuu. But the silence between them wasn't the comfortable kind they usually shared. Giyuu noticed it, glancing at Sabito from the corner of his eye.

Later that evening, Sabito sat by the campfire, poking the embers with a stick. Giyuu sat across from him, studying him with quiet intensity. Sabito could feel the weight of his gaze but kept his focus on the fire, trying to suppress the storm brewing inside him.

"Sabito," Giyuu said finally, his voice cutting through the crackling of the flames. "You're upset."

Sabito froze for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. "Upset? Me? Nah. Just tired, maybe."

"You're not a good liar," Giyuu replied, his tone as direct as ever.

Sabito sighed, running a hand through his hair. He dropped the stick and leaned back, his sharp green eyes meeting Giyuu's. "Alright, fine. You want the truth?"

Giyuu nodded, waiting patiently.

"That rookie—" Sabito started, then stopped, the words catching in his throat. He looked away, his voice softer now. "They're annoying. Always hanging around you, trying to impress you. It's... frustrating."

"Why?" Giyuu asked, genuinely confused.

Sabito let out a bitter laugh. "Because they like you, Giyuu. Isn't it obvious? They're practically throwing themselves at you, and you don't even notice."

Giyuu blinked, processing Sabito's words. "I don't care about that. You know that, right?"

"I know," Sabito said quickly, then sighed again, his voice lowering. "But it's not just about them. It's me. I see the way people look at you, Giyuu. Admiring you, respecting you. Sometimes... I wonder if I'm enough for you. If you'll realize you could have someone better."

The vulnerability in Sabito's voice hit Giyuu like a blow. He stood, moving to sit beside Sabito. Without a word, he reached out and took Sabito's hand, intertwining their fingers. Sabito looked at him, startled by the unexpected gesture.

"You're the only one I see, Sabito," Giyuu said softly, his dark blue eyes locking onto Sabito's. "The only one I want. No one else could ever take your place."

Sabito's breath hitched, and he felt the tension in his chest begin to dissolve. Giyuu's words were simple but carried a depth that left no room for doubt. Before he could respond, Giyuu leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Sabito's forehead. The gesture was tender, grounding, and full of reassurance.

"You're more than enough," Giyuu whispered.

Sabito closed his eyes, a small smile forming on his lips as he leaned into Giyuu's touch. "You're really bad at this whole romance thing, you know that?" he teased, his voice lighter now.

Giyuu's lips quirked into the faintest smile. "Maybe. But it's true."

Sabito chuckled softly, his jealousy forgotten in the warmth of Giyuu's presence. He tightened his grip on Giyuu's hand, his heart full.

"Alright, alright. I believe you," Sabito said, his grin returning. "But if that rookie so much as looks at you funny again, I'm staking my claim right there in front of everyone."

"Stake your claim?" Giyuu asked, puzzled.

Sabito smirked, his mischievous side returning. "Oh, you'll see. And I'll make sure everyone knows exactly who you belong to."

Giyuu shook his head, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. But he didn't let go of Sabito's hand. And for the rest of the night, the world outside their little camp faded away, leaving only the quiet certainty of their love.