the sounds of the gravel beneath his feet were the other thing that kept himself from falling apart as he made the trek back to the butterfly mansion. the way that his face wouldn't show any signs of emotion upon it as he stared ahead of him, but his mind didn't seem to take in any scenery. he was running on autopilot all the way back.
it was suppose to be a normal mission, something about a lower demon taking men from their homes, there had been a few families torn apart because of it, and when he was face to face with said demon, it all clicked into place why the demon was doing what it was doing.
his father. the man that left him and his mother, the man that was the catalyst for everything that happened to zenitsu. that was the demon he was sent to face. and with him coming back without even a scratch upon his body, no blood on his clothes, it was clear who the victor was.
I HAVE NO SON! YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME!
echoes of his father's words to him screamed in his mind as he kept on the path. breathing in and out, in and out. just make it home, make it back to where you know you're cared for. don't think about him anymore. don't let the pain in your heart consume you.
zenitsu didnt see this as a victory, he saw it as a sword stabbing him in the gut, twisting it until there was a hole. even with the butterfly girls welcoming him home like they always did, zenitsu didn't acknowledge them. he just kept walking, silently, doing his best not to break down in front of them.
when he got to the garden, he watched the butterflies fluttering about and just—stood there. numb. even when chuntaro chirped upon his shoulder, his beak lightly pecking at strands of hair just to get him to come out of his trance--it did nothing to bring life back into those eyes of his.
