Sanemi's boots thudded against the stone floor, the rhythmic sound of his steps echoing in the silence of the forest clearing. His gaze was sharp, and focused, his eyes darting around, attentive in the dark. He felt angry and restless, like there was an unsettling tension in his chest. His hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, the metal cool against his skin, but it did nothing to ease the storm he felt in his stomach.

Giyu stood a few paces away, his expression unreadable as always. He was looking up at the sky, mouth drawn in a line and eyelashes swept upwards. When he heard Sanemi approaching, he turned and looked over, his mellow expression shifting a bit.

"You've been avoiding me," Sanemi accused, his voice low, almost dangerous. He took a step forward, his broad frame casting a shadow over Giyu, who didn't flinch.

Giyu's eyes moved to the ground, and his shoulders tightened up. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, his voice steady, but softer than usual.

Sanemi's smirk grew, but it was hard-edged, as if the truth he was so desperate to hear was something that might break him. "Don't lie to me," Sanemi growled. "I've been able to see it, you know? The way you look at me, the way you act around me. You think I'm blind?!"

Giyu's eyes snapped up for a moment, and blue met purple in a clash. Then he quickly looked away again. He refused to answer verbally, but his hands twitching at his sides, spoke volumes in body language. His heart hammered in his chest, and the heat rising to his face betrayed what he was feeling inside. However, before Giyu could take another breath, Sanemi closed the gap between them, his hand shooting out to grab Giyu by the collar and slam him back against the nearest tree, the force of the impact making the leaves rustle around them.

"Shinazugawa—" Giyu's voice caught in his throat, startled by the sudden shift.

Sanemi's face was inches from his now, their breaths mingling in the quiet air. "I'm not asking, Tomioka," he growled, his hand tightening on Giyu's collar, forcing his head back, exposing the fragile curve of his neck. His fingers lingered, just barely brushing the skin. "Tell me how you feel. Right now."

Giyu's breath hitched, his heart racing so fast it almost hurt. His eyes darted around, desperate to escape the intensity of the moment. He couldn't face Sanemi; not like this. He couldn't form the words. But his silence only made Sanemi's grip tighten, fingers pressing harder into his collarbone.

"You're not leaving until you tell me," Sanemi murmured, his voice dark and commanding.

A bit of spit landed on the bridge of Giyu's nose, and he flinched nervously. Suddenly, Sanemi's other hand slid to his chin, tilting his head back even further, forcing Giyu to make eye contact. Giyu's breath caught, and he tried to look away, but Sanemi's relentless gaze bore into his soul.

"Tell me, Tomioka," Sanemi pressed, his voice almost a whisper now, but with an authority that made Giyu's body tremble. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

Giyu swallowed hard. His throat felt dry, his mind clouded with conflicting emotions. He couldn't say it. He just couldn't.

"I... I can't," Giyu stammered, his face burning with embarrassment. "Please, Shinazugawa…"

Sanemi's lips curled into a smirk, his grip tightening on Giyu's chin, expression taking on an almost predatory gaze. "You can't or you won't?" he teased, the edge in his voice softening into something darker.

Giyu closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his ears. "I… I can't. I don't know how."

Sanemi's expression faltered for just a moment, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Then, with a sigh, he leaned in close, his breath warm against Giyu's neck. His lips brushed against the delicate skin, sending a shiver down Giyu's spine.

"I'll make you," Sanemi whispered, his voice low, intimate. His ducked his head to kiss again at Giyu's neck, sending a wave of heat through Giyu's body, causing him to instinctively tensed up. Something hot started in Giyu's belly, and he felt his chest rise and fall erratically, his hands trembling at his sides. He wanted to run, wanted to disappear, but his body refused to move. He felt as if the weight of Sanemi's presence was pressing down on him, demanding a response, forcing him to confront what he'd been hiding for so long.

"I- I like you," Giyu whispered, his voice breaking as the words left his mouth, barely more than a breath. His eyes stayed locked on the ground, ashamed, not daring to meet Sanemi's gaze.

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Teased Sanemi, greedily taking in Giyu's insecure expression; his usual pale and stoic face flushed and twisted into something both uncomfortable and alluring. The sight made Sanemi's heart skip a beat unexpectedly, and he loosened his grip on the black haired boy with an unfamiliar warmth. He pulled back just slightly, and forced Giyu's head up once more so their eyes met. Giyu flinched, unable to hold his gaze for more than a split second before he looked away again.

"I- I can't…" Giyu's voice was barely audible, his lips trembling. "I can't look at you…"

Sanemi's hand moved from Giyu's chin to gently cup his face, guiding it back up. "Look at me," he commanded softly. "You're going to look at me, Giyu."

The gentleness in Sanemi's voice made Giyu's heart ache, and the fact that Sanemi used his given name for the first time, didn't help. Tears welled in Giyu's eyes, the weight of the moment too much for him to bear. His body trembled as he finally met Sanemi's gaze, his vision blurring from the tears. His voice cracked, the words coming out in a rush. "I-I'm sorry… I didn't mean to-"

Sanemi kissed him then, roughly and aggressively. It made Giyu's legs buckle, and his hands fisted in the front of Sanemi's white haori just in time. Sanemi stood in a protective and eager stance above him, barely letting Giyu move. Giyu's breath caught in his throat, and he sobbed softly against Sanemi's lips. Sanemi pulled back, just enough to whisper against his ear.

"I like you too," he murmured, his voice soft, sincere. A total contrast to the animalistic display of physical affection he had just shown. "And I've been waiting for you to say it."

Giyu's face flushed crimson, his chest tight. He buried his face in Sanemi's shoulder, unable to look up, unable to stop the tears that fell freely now. He clung to Sanemi, overwhelmed by the release of emotions he'd kept locked away for so long. Sanemi held him close, pressing his cheek against Giyu's hair, feeling the warmth of his body against his.

"Sanemi," he sniffed, pressing his nose into Sanemi's collarbone, and feeling the taste of his given name on his tongue for the first time. "Y-you…" He stuttered, "I…"

Sanemi chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating from his body and passing into Giyu's. "You don't have to hide anymore, Giyu," he said softly. "I've always known."

Giyu nodded into his shoulder, too overwhelmed to say anything more. He felt exhausted, and his legs finally gave out from under him. Sanemi caught him as he was falling to the floor, and they both ended up in a crumpled mess, pressed up against the tree.

Sanemi began to slowly rub circles on Giyu's back. "You have no idea," he confessed, "how long I've been waiting for this moment."

Giyu closed his eyes tightly, and just clung a little harder.