𝖢𝖢'𝗌 𝖭𝗈𝗍𝖾: I’ve been in a bad mood these past few days and today, I had the worst shift in like a year, so I wrote this fic to unleash all my emotions💔 Happy Valentine’s Dayyy! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
3rd March, 1995
“Excuse me?”
You turned your head to the side, meeting the eyes of the boy assigned as your shoulder partner.
“Can I borrow a pen?”
“Oh! Of course.”
Digging into your pencil case, you pulled out a black gel pen and handed it to him.
“Thank you, I promise I’ll give it back after school.”
“No need, keep it. I always bring a spare for a reason.”
He smiled softly.
“Again, thank you.”
5th May, 2003
Your body felt heavier than it normally did as you dragged yourself out of bed, slumping to the bathroom. The clock read 1:08 PM as you began your morning routine.
The dark circles under your eyes seemed to be permanent, or not. You didn’t know. You didn’t care.
Not bothering to brush your teeth for the full 3 minutes, you spat out the toothpaste and rinsed your mouth. Splashing water on your face and drying it off, you didn’t bother with the moisturiser, skipping straight to the sunscreen.
Breakfast was also optional.
Skipping the kitchen, your feet carried you outside to grab the mail you hadn’t bothered to collect for the past few months.
The slippers dragging across the floor were the only sounds to accompany you in the empty and quiet apartment. Landing on the couch with a quiet grunt, you sorted through the letters without much focus.
One letter caught your eye. A small, square envelope decorated with cute stickers could only make you guess who sent it.
Tearing through the seam, the folded paper was left exposed for you to take and start reading.
Our dearest Y/N,
It’s been a while since we last talked, and even longer since we last met. I know how much you loved him, and maybe you’re still grieving, and that is okay. However, you have been MIA since the incident, and we are all very worried about you. Would you like to join us for coffee this weekend? It’s going to be our usual group from high school. You don’t have to talk about your feelings if you don’t want to, nor do you even have to talk at all. We just want to meet up for old times’ sake. Everyone would love to hear back from you.
Yours sincerely,
Kamado, Tanjiro
15/02/2003
“Shit…” you muttered silently under your breath, fingers grazing over the date written on the page.
You missed your friends dearly, but you couldn’t pry your eyes away.
“Three months… its been a while…” You mumbled to yourself, closing your eyes and throwing your head back with a sigh.
15th August, 1995
Genya’s cheeks were dusted a rosy colour, his heart pounding in his chest as he stood in front of you.
“I… uhm…” his hands shook, hesitantly holding a bouquet tied with a piece of string.
You tried to keep your own breathing regulated, your eyes wide.
“I… I think back about the day we first interacted, when you gave me that pen, and…” his voice trailed off as he swallowed hard. “And… I sometimes stay up late at night, wondering how my life would have been if I were more responsible… I probably would have just been classmates with you, maybe friendly at times in the best case scenario, and- and we wouldn’t have had this friendship between us…”
Genya felt panic rise in himself, his throat closing up as if he was going to throw up. “Uhm… it took… I’m so sorry-” he turned his head to the side, coughing nervously before quickly slapping himself, facing you again. “I was slapped by Zenitsu multiple times before I was convinced that I… that…”
“Take your time.” You managed to chuckle out, a small smile slowly forming on your lips.
“He had to slap me multiple times before I was convinced that I… I… I-I liked you… no, like. Yes, like. Present tense. Uh…” he stuck out the flowers for you to take. “I grew them myself… for you…”
Your cheeks only grew more flushed as you took the bouquet from his hands, your fingers grazing against his. “For me…? You grew all these?”
“I didn’t know what you liked, and I didn’t have enough money saved up to buy you a really nice bouquet, so I managed to get a few flower seeds and grew them for you…”
You stayed silent, watching the man before you stammer as he only blushed harder the longer you looked at him.
“I like you.” You said.
Genya looked at you with wide eyes, and you noticed he stopped breathing.
“You-“
“I really like you, Genya.” You smiled. “You can take your time asking me to be yours, but please know that the answer is yes.”
7th May, 2003
“I have a large mocha with hazelnut syrup for… Y/N!” The barista called out, placing your coffee on the counter before she hurried off to complete other orders in the busy cafe.
Your fingers burned slightly as you took the hot takeaway cup, taking a sip of the beverage. The temperature hurt your tongue, but it at least felt nice to leave the house for just a few minutes.
Walking out of the cafe, you began making your way back home.
“Y/N?” A familiar voice called out. A sweet voice. One you’d recognise even in a hundred years.
Managing a small smile, you turned around.
“Nezuko…”
“Oh my goodness!” She beamed happily, quickly walking up to you. “How have you been? It’s been so long!”
“I’ve been managing.” You chuckled softly. “And I’m guessing the bakery is doing better?”
“The bakery’s doing amazing.” Her smile grew soft. “Would you like to come over? For at least a few minutes, if you’re not busy.”
You hesitated for a few minutes before nodding. “Sure. I got some time to kill.”
“That’s amazing! We actually opened another branch nearby, and that’s where Tanjiro and the others are. Let’s go.”
With the same smile that earned her the title of one of the prettiest girls in the small town, she linked her arm with yours, leading the way.
The new bakery was bigger. The smell of baked goods filled the air, bringing a small sense of warmth and comfort through your body.
“Oh! Y/N!” Tanjiro’s eyes lit up before he waved at you with the biggest smile. “Give me a minute- Zenitsu and Inosuke are at that booth there!”
Nezuko led you to your old group of friends, sitting you across from the two men before taking a place near you.
“Woah- Y/N! How long has it been?” Zenitsu laughed softly, leaning against the table.
“I doubt it’s been that long. Why are you all acting like you’re seeing me for the first time in years?” You managed a small, genuine laugh.
“You don’t look like you’ve gotten stronger. At all. What, you spent all that time inside without doing anything to better yourself?” Inosuke scratched the side of his nose before earning a punch on the back of the head from Zenitsu.
“You bastard! That’s really insensitive, you know?! Did no one teach you manners?!” He hissed.
“No, no. That’s fine. I’ve just been… existing? I’ve been getting by okay.” You spoke through a tight smile.
“Listen-“ Inosuke uncrossed his legs, leaning forward with his expression turning serious. “I’m not joking when I say this. You can’t stay in this situation any longer. Tenya is dead. He has been dead for 3 years, yet you-“
“He was your friend for all of high school, yet you still don’t know his name?” You interrupted him. “And what do you know about grief? You haven’t had anyone taken away from you when you still have an entire lifetime with them, and-“
“Y/N-“ Nezuko gently touched your arm, but her small attempt at trying to calm you down didn’t work. Instead, you stood up, your chair sliding against the floor, creating a painfully sharp sound.
“I’ll grieve however I want to, for however long I want to. You have no right to tell me what to do when you yourself haven’t experienced something like this.”
Inosuke was one of your close friends. He was like a form of escape for you, because his mannerisms brought a genuine smile to your face.
But he wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t understand the grief you were experiencing.
With your mocha forgotten on the table, you stormed out of the bakery, your eyes stinging with tears.
You didn’t have enough time with Genya.
And you never will ever again.
28th June, 1996
“I love you.”
Your breath hitched in your throat, words unable to come out.
The shy boy who almost threw up confessing to you was staring right into your soul with eyes filled with genuine honesty, his expression serious.
“I love you.” He repeated. “I’m sorry it took me so long for me to realise it, but I do.”
The stars were in full shine, accompanying the beautiful light of the moon that made him glow.
“You… you brought me here to tell me you… You love me?”
“You told me you wanted to see the stars, and that our city doesn’t display the full beauty of them. So yes, I found a place that isn’t too far from home, yet was remote enough to see the sky clearly.”
You had never expected the roles to reverse in such a way. You always thought you’d be the one to confess first. Only once you find your courage, that is.
“You did all this… to tell me that you loved me?”
“Love.” Genya quickly corrected. “I love you. Present tense.”
A small smile slowly rose on your features, tears of joy filling your eyes.
Your body reacted on its own. Jumping into his arms, you held him tighter than you ever had before.
“I love you too. I love you so much-“ you chanted like a mantra, cupping his face and placing kisses everywhere.
The sweetest version of the boy of your dreams loved you just as much as you loved him, and you’d never have it any other way.
7th May, 2003
Dear Genya,
I miss you. So much. I don’t know why I’m still grieving like this. You’ve been gone for 3 years, yet it still hurts as if I lost you yesterday. Actually, no. Every passing day without you hurts more. I think it just reminds me of how much time we could have had together.
I left the house for the first time in a while today. I thought I’d just get a coffee, but I met Nezuko on my way out of the café. She invited me to the Kamado family bakery, and there, I met our old friends again. Kanao wasn’t there, but it was probably because she was completing her medical course.
They knew I didn’t move on. Inosuke told me straight-on that I couldn’t live life like this, but it hurt so much. I said some really hurtful things to him, and I really regret it. I’ll apologise the moment I see him again. I just hope our friendship isn’t ruined.
I’m lost, Genya. I don’t know what to do. Everything I planned about the future was with you. I can’t find myself going forth without you by my side. I just wish you listened to me.
I love you, Genya. So much. You took my heart with you.
Your loveliest girl,
Y/N
07/05/2003
14th February, 2000
Genya’s fingers intertwined with yours as he brought your hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss on your knuckles.
“Are you being extra affectionate tonight because it’s Valentine’s Day?” You teased softly.
“I’m always this affectionate. Or at least I want to be.” He smiled softly, leaning down to press a kiss on your forehead. “‘M afraid you’ll grow tired of me if I give you too much love too often.”
“I’d never get tired of you. Also, you’ve never been this loving before, not even on our previous Valentine’s Days.” You chuckled. “Are you hiding something?”
“I don’t know.” He mumbled against your ear, stopping to pull you closer by your waist as he pressed sweet kisses on your cheek. “I just want to give you a little extra love tonight.”
“Ah, shit… wait…” You mumbled, pulling away. “I’ve just realised that we’ve been walking in the middle of the road. It’s a miracle we haven’t been hit yet.”
“Just one more second.” He mumbled softly, peppering more kisses on your cheek.
Just then, a loud CRASH snapped both of you out of your little love bubble. Just as quickly as you two turned around to face the direction of the noise, a car tumbled from a nearby turning point, speeding right towards both of you.
Genya had fast reflexes. Much faster than yours, but he always acted on instinct.
In a single heartbeat, you were pushed to the side, before you heard another extremely loud CRASH right behind you.
15th February, 2000
“Last night, at 9:37 PM in the neighbourhood of Chiyoda, a tragic accident took place. A man named XXX XXX was driving back home in his car, drunk and speeding on a narrow neighbourhood road. Upon crashing the side of his car when turning, he lost control of the vehicle, and a 21-year-old man, identified as Genya Shinazugawa, was hit and instantly killed at the scene. The car crashed into the victim before slamming into the rocky walls, which also severely injured the driver. He is currently being treated at the hospital and will be trialed after his recovery. At the scene, a woman named L/N Y/N, the lover of the victim, was present as a witness. She currently has not given a statement, but police have confirmed they have all the evidence they need for a conviction.”
Category: Enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, angst and fluff.
Warnings: Manga spoilers (if you squint), mentions of death, blood and injury and swearing.
Prologue
Kanae-sama and Shinobu-sama had taken you in as a child after a demon attack had brutally slaughtered your parents. From that day on, you harboured a deep resentment towards the foul creatures that had caused so much pain and suffering, not just to you but to countless others as well.
Despite the trauma you had endured, your gratitude towards the Kocho family never wavered. They had taken you in, provided you with a loving home, and helped you heal from the devastating loss of your parents.
While Kanao was timid and obedient, you were more like a replica of Kanae-sama's personality - kind, loving, and easy-going, except when it came to your deep-seated resentment towards demons.
Your bond with Kanae-sama was as tight as any sibling relationship could be. Shinobu-sama recognised your deep connection with her biological sister and would even let her strict personality slip around you. From dawn until dusk, you trained with Kanae-sama and shared meals with her every evening. You were inseparable, to the point where Shinobu-sama had to physically intervene to separate the two of you.
Until she died at the hands of Upper Moon 2. The news spread like wildfire, and you threw yourself into training with tireless resolve, determined to become the Tsuguko that Kanae-sama had hoped for.
Kanao and Shinobu-sama were worried about you day and night, and despite Kanao's silent presence, she never left your side. She was aware of the hole in your heart that may never be filled again after Kanae-sama's death.
A part of you, gone.
“You’re not going to like this,” Aoi said as a way of greeting. She was standing at the sliding door of yours and Shinobu-sama’s research room.
“Aoi-chan,” you looked up at her from your microscope. “What are you unhappy about now?” You teased.
“Oh, it’s not me who's going to be unhappy,” Aoi said, giving you a knowing smile. You raised an eyebrow in curiosity as you heard a pair of unfamiliar footsteps approaching.
Aoi stepped aside and introduced you to the boy. "This is Shinobu-sama's Tsuguko," she said, "She'll be giving you frequent check-ups, so please treat her with respect." Her words dripped with venom as she added, "And if you don't, I'll poison your medication."
The boy stood in the same spot where Aoi had been moments before, his impressive height looming over her. He donned the uniform of a demon slayer, and his muscular physique strained against the tight sleeves. As you observed him closely, you couldn't help but count the numerous scars that littered his body.
You also couldn't help but notice the unruly, unevenly cut hair on his head that resembled a rooster's comb.
“You’re fucken kiddin’ me,” were his first words.
You smiled in realisation, remembering clearly where you first met this boy.
Upon reaching the mountain top, you both were met with the discord of yelling and bodies shifting aggressively on the cobblestone path.
“This is for starin’ at me, ya yellow-headed freak,” the boy shouted as he grabbed the other young boy by his yellow kimono.
The examinees were scattered, murmuring, yet none intervened.
“I WASN’T STARING AT YOU!” He shrieked.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
“Ya were, dickwad,” the boy replied, his fist raised menacingly.
Without hesitation, you swiftly made your way towards the boy, grabbing his wrist tightly.
“It’s rude to assault strangers,” you said calmly, a smile plastered onto your face.
"The fuck," he said aggressively as he tried to retract his wrist from your grasp, you tightened your grip even more.
The yellow-haired boy fled the moment he saw an opening, tears streaming down his cheeks as he trembled uncontrollably.
“Let go, bitch,” he spat out, face turning red.
Kanao took a step toward him, a silent threat emanating from her.
“It’s okay, Kanao,” you said kindly, “Some people are unfortunate to not have been taught basic manners.”
The bystanders began to chuckle lightly.
"One day, I hope he learns to be kind," you said, twisting his wrist firmly. "Otherwise, his attitude will be the death of him." You then took hold of his elbow, manoeuvring it into a lock and guided him towards the ground.
A resonating thump followed as he hollered below you.
“YOU FUCKEN BITCH I’LL SLAUGHTER YOU!”
“Your attitude has not changed since then it seems,” you stood, slowly walking towards him.
He had grown an incredible amount in the short time since you last saw him, a clear indication of Himejima's rigorous training regimen and, most likely, his constant consumption of demon flesh.
"Thank you for bringing him here, Aoi-chan," you said, the boy was staring back at you with a bewildered expression. "You may go now," you added, dismissing Aoi with a nod of your head.
“Please come in,” you said, turning and leading the way towards the working desk, where there were two chairs on opposite sides of the table. “Please take a seat,” you gestured towards one of the chairs, noticing that the boy was still standing by the door.
"I'm not coming in," he declares, looking down the hallway, averting his gaze.
"Why is that? I won't bite," you joke with a friendly smile. But the boy remains rooted to the spot.
“What’s your name?” you asked politely.
“None of your business,” he snapped back.
“Okay, none of your business,” he scoffed at that. “I’m going to be putting my valuable time and efforts into you-”
“That was your choice,” he cut you off rudely.
Classic
“Himejina-san informed me all about your case,” You walked towards the cabinet, situated on the far side of the room, where you stored all sorts of medicinal concoctions. Your gaze scanned the shelves, searching for the specific one you needed, after a few moments of searching, you finally found the right vial and walked back towards him.
As you approached him, you noticed he was watching you every step of the way. You held out the vial and said, "I've created this specifically for your special case. It's designed to help mitigate any extraneous effects that may arise."
The boy's eyes narrowed sceptically as he glanced back and forth between you and the vial. He hesitated before finally speaking up, "What if you poisoned this shit?"
"Don't worry," you said. "It's completely safe.”
He took the vial and inspected it closely. "Should you ever feel overwhelmed with the powers of the demons you consume, this should help ease it," you explained. "I recommend that you drink a tablespoon every half day and come back to me every week to check in on your progress."
You took a step back from him and flashed a teasing smile. "And maybe then, you'll finally feel comfortable enough to share your name with me!"
His face contorted into an irked expression, and he turned to walk away upon hearing your comment. As he strode down the hallway, you noticed him tuck the vial into his pocket and observed his ears turning red.
A few days later, a group of three new demon slayers arrived at the Butterfly Mansion and were granted the privilege of staying there. You recognised each one of them from the mountain top of the final selection. Among them was the yellow-haired boy named Zenitsu, who seemed to recognise you even more. He took a considerable liking to you, constantly fawning whenever he catches sight of you.
But what surprised everyone was the presence of a demon among them. It was unprecedented to have a demon among the ranks of the demon slayers; however, despite this, you have taken a liking in investigating the demon named Nezuko.
Kanae-sama had a goal of eventually living in peace with demons. If Kanae-sama were here, she would have loved Nezuko, a sweet young girl who can easily be seen as a younger sister figure to almost anyone.
“Zenitsu-san, your drool is creating a puddle on the ground,” you said as you were training.
He sighed dreamily, “You’re so radiant, etherial, powerful-”
You promptly resumed your training as Zenitsu's words started to sound like white noise.
As he continued to ogle over you, another presence approached the training grounds. He stopped immediately upon seeing you training, his eyes scanning over your movements with interest.
He watched as you effortlessly destroyed every single bamboo target with just a few swings of your Nichirin blade. Your movements were so swift and precise, as if you were dancing through the air. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy and spite as he watched you move with such ease and grace.
He wondered how many hours of practice and dedication it must have taken to reach such a level of skill.
He could tell that you had been a Tsuguko for quite some time, likely honing your skills through rigorous training and practice. If you continued at this pace, he couldn't help but wonder if you might become a Hashira in a matter of months. And what was even more impressive was that you would be the second youngest among the Hashira, which made your potential all the more remarkable.
The thought of someone else reaching such a high level of skill and potential while he remained stagnant infuriated him. It stung even more because he had always wanted to impress his brother, the only person he ever truly wanted to please. But seeing your abilities, he couldn't help but feel like he would never be good enough in his brother's eyes.
You turned around, a smirk spreading across your face as beads of sweat rolled down your serene complexion. "Oh, didn’t see you there," you said with a chuckle. "I'm glad you came back."
Zenitsu's eyes snapped to where you were now looking and he yelped, "SCARY MAN!"
The boy turned to face Zenitsu and said, "Piss off, creep.”
His words made Zenitsu run to where his other two companions were within the mansion.
You headed towards the engawa, where a carafe of water was waiting for you. As you walked away, he couldn't help but survey the damage you had done to all of your targets. It was clear that you had accomplished it all without using any specific techniques, leaving him in awe. "How did you do that?" he blurted out.
As you finished gulping the water, swiping the rouge droplets from your chin you asked, “Do what?”
He pointed towards the targets, now reduced to mere fragments joining with the dirt on the ground.
You let out a small laugh, "How did I do it without using any breathing technique?" You walked towards his side, "You're quite observant. How about you tell me your name and I'll teach you a thing or two?" You teased.
"Genya Shinazugawa," he replied straight to the point.
You grinned and said, "I meditate for an hour every morning and night."
He looked at you with disbelief and asked, "Ya kidding, right?" He visibly deflated and continued, "Ya tellin’ me you sit on your ass and breathe for two hours a day? That's fucken ridiculous," his tone laced with disdain.
"You'll understand one day," you replied, a hint of amusement in your voice, and then pivoted on your heel. "Let's start your check-up, Genya-san."
“Take off your shirt,” you instructed.
Genya stuttered in surprise, “What?”
As you reached for the stethoscope from the table drawer, you said, "I need to listen to your lungs and heart for any defects.”
“Oh.”
Respecting Genya's privacy, you continued facing the opposite direction as he removed his upper layers. You could hear the rustling of clothes and then the sound of them falling to the floor. Once you sensed that he had finished, you turned around to face him.
You couldn't help but marvel at his physique. At his age, he was unbelievably ripped with muscles and scars that seemed to accentuate his sculpted form, as if he was crafted from the finest quality marble. You rubbed your eyes, pretending as if something had gotten into them and then looked at him, only to find that he was already staring back at you.
“Please have a seat,” you gestured towards the chair beside the table.
He complied, appearing to be more cooperative than before. You pulled a stool in front of him and noticed him tense up, every muscle in his body taut.
You clenched your jaw, put on the earpieces, and carefully placed the stethoscope on his left pectoral, listening to the booming beat of his heart.
"Why is your heart beating so quickly, Genya-san?" You prodded, looking up at him through your lashes.
"Drank tea," he replied too quickly.
As you removed the stethoscope from his pectoral and stood up, you noticed that he was staring out the window.
"Are you nervous, Genya-san?" you asked, trying to provoke a response.
He snapped his eyes toward you. "Fuck no," he said, his voice tense.
You towered over him as he remained seated in the chair, observing the way his jaw clenched and unclenched and his hands balled up in fists. Maintaining eye contact, you slowly walked around to his back and brought the stethoscope above his scapula.
“Genya-san,” you said softly.
"What?" he said sharply.
"Your lungs aren't expanding and contracting properly," you pointed out, a clear indication that he was holding his breath. "I'm going to need you to take some deep breaths for me."
Reluctantly, he complied and you listened carefully to his breathing. His lungs seemed to be contracting more than they should for someone at rest.
You took a step back and removed the stethoscope, gaping at the size of his back. Quickly, you shook your head, trying to clear the improper thoughts that had crept into your mind.
He hastily gathered the clothes lying on the floor and put them on. “Has the medicine been helpful to you in any way?” you asked.
He responded with a grunt.
“I need you to respond verbally, Genya-san,” you insisted.
“Yes,” he snapped.
"Very well," you said, making your way to the table and focusing on the array of ingredients on your shelves, trying to regain your composure.
"You're healthy. I'll just need you to avoid drinking tea before our next check-up," you concluded.
You heard the sound of the door sliding opening. "Please close the door on your way out," you said delicately, not turning around to face him. He did exactly that, saying nothing but walking out of the room. You swore under your breath.
As he sped down the hallway, his mind raced and his heart pounded with a sense of urgency.
He knew he couldn't deal with you anymore. The thought of being trapped within four walls with you made his stomach leap, a clear indication of disgust.
Your soft spoken voice, loving eyes and kind touches had a way of making him feel at ease. He couldn't help but notice how you treated everyone with kindness, even those who mistreated you. It was intoxicating and he couldn't comprehend how someone could be so selfless.
Your angel eyes saw good in many evil, it was something that both repulsed and charmed him at the same time. He couldn't understand how you could be so forgiving and compassionate, yet he found himself drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
As he rushed out of the mansion, he bumped into a red-headed boy, barely registering his presence. The boy yelled something after him, but all Genya could think of was getting away from you. He needed to breathe, to clear his head, because the more he allowed himself to be drawn towards you, the more his carefully constructed plan to reach his brother began to crumble.
He knew he couldn't afford to let himself catch feelings for you. It would only make things more complicated and could jeopardise everything he had worked so hard for. But the more he thought about you, the more he found himself unable to resist your angelic nature.
Genya's frustration boiled over as he ran his hands through his hair, yanking on his locks in anger. "FUCK!" he shouted, lashing out and kicking a nearby rock, sending it careening into the trees.
Today was the day of another weekly checkup.
You were prepared, steeling yourself to remain professional and composed despite the tension that lingered between you.
As you waited for Genya's arrival, you reviewed your notes and made sure everything was in order. Despite trying to remain composed, you couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety in the pit of your stomach.
It was a little late, later than he had previously arrived. You tried to push the feeling aside, reminding yourself that anything could have delayed him and it was better to wait patiently.
The sun had already set and the night stars were becoming prominent outside your window.
"Where is he?" you muttered to yourself, glancing at the clock on the wall.
You couldn't help but wonder if he was deliberately avoiding the appointment, perhaps because of his stubborn nature or his reluctance to be confined in the medical room.
So be it, Genya.
Despite trying to distract yourself with training, your thoughts kept wandering back to Genya. It had been several days since you last saw him, and you couldn't help but wonder where he was and what he was doing.
But you pushed those thoughts aside and focused on your role as a mentor to Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu. You spent long hours helping them hone their skills and improve their techniques. Tanjiro, in particular, showed remarkable progress and you couldn't help but feel proud of him.
"Tanjiro-san, you're improving at an astonishing rate!" You praised him.
"It's all thanks to everyone here, including you," he replied with a grin.
One of the things that made you happiest was being able to help others. You had a big heart and always went out of your way to offer assistance, even when it wasn't necessary. Seeing others improve and achieve their goals gave you a sense of fulfilment that was hard to describe.
"You too Inosuke-san, well done!" You gave his arm a genuine squeeze, acknowledging his effort.
Inosuke mumbled something behind his mask, but you could sense the delight in his tone.
Zenitsu, on the other hand, couldn't help but interject.
"But what about me,” he whined. "Am I improving too?"
"Well, Zenitsu-san, you're definitely...trying," you said diplomatically.
Zenitsu pouted, clearly hoping for more praise, but you knew he had a lot of work to do before he could truly become a skilled demon slayer.
Despite his flaws, however, you couldn't help but feel a soft spot for him. You looked around the training grounds and realised you needed to get back to your research.
"I'll leave you all to your training," with a wave goodbye, you turned and walked away while they bowed in response.
As you strode, you heard the sound of yelling and pleading coming from inside the mansion.
Your curiosity piqued, you quickened your pace and soon noticed droplets of blood on the hardwood floor. Your hand instinctively reached for the hilt of your sword.
Running, you followed the trails of blood and desperate cries, your heart racing with fear and anticipation. Finally, you skidded to a stop, frozen at the sight before you.
Genya had always been aware of the risks that came with being a demon slayer. But this particular demon had been stronger than he had anticipated and had managed to inflict injuries that were more severe than he was used to.
Genya relied on consuming the flesh of other demons to heal his own wounds, but this time he had not been successful in consuming a single thing from the demon. This lack of regeneration made the wounds even more excruciating and difficult to deal with.
Despite the pain, his first thought was to find you, the medical expert who could treat his injuries. He knew that he needed your help to heal and get back on his feet. With that in mind, he had managed to make his way to the mansion, gritting his teeth through the pain as he focused on reaching you.
Naho, Kiyo, and Sumi trembled in fear as Genya strode through the gates of the Butterfly Mansion, paying no heed to his open wounds.
He was stubborn to reach you. He trusted only you to treat him or even touch him.
Blood dripped from his wounds, leaving a trail on the floorboards of the mansion as he made his way towards your office. He ignored the cries of the three girls, driven solely by the hunger to reach you.
“You’re dripping blood on the floor, please stop!” Naho begged.
“Let us help you, Genya-sama, it will only get worse!” Kiyo added.
“Shut up,” he snarled. He didn't mean to sound so hostile, but he needed to reach you without distractions.
The sound of the girls’ screams echoed in Genya’s ears as he shoved his way towards your office, ignoring the pain that shot through his body with every step.
His hand left bloody smears on the door as he pushed it open, desperate to find you. But when he stumbled into the room, he found it empty.
His vision was blurry, and he was seeing spots, the pain almost unbearable. He staggered backwards, using the wall to steady himself as he tried to call out for you.
Suddenly, he heard the skid of someone stopping behind the three girls who were still screaming in terror. He turned his head, his eyes fixing on you as you stood there with your hand on the hilt of your sword.
You were frozen in place, clearly shocked by the bloody and battered figure of him.
“Genya Shinazugawa!” You gasped in shock, your hand instinctively flying to cover your mouth.
You gently moved Sumi out of the way to reach him. As you got closer, you saw the bloody handprints on the door and the exhaustion on Genya's face. Your heart sank at the sight of his injuries.
“Please prepare the first aid materials in the infirmary,” you commanded the three girls, they ran quickly.
"Genya, what happened?" You asked, your voice trembling with concern as you took a closer look at him.
“Demon,” he said softly. “In a lotta pain,” he added.
You nodded, your mind already racing with what needed to be done. "Let’s get you cleaned up,” you said.
You gently took Genya's hand and led him towards the infirmary, careful not to aggravate his wounds. Despite the excruciating pain he must have been experiencing, he stiffened at the sudden contact. You noticed this and quickly dropped your hand, apologising, "Sorry, I should have asked."
Genya grabbed your hand and held it tightly. "No," he said, "I liked it."
Your eyes widened at his bold statement, and a blush crept onto your face. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest as you led him into the infirmary.
After a few hours of tending to Genya's wounds, he finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep slumber.
You sat by his bedside, watching over him as he slept. As you gazed at him, you noticed how peaceful he looked, with his breathing slow and steady.
With your heightened senses, you slowly turned to catch a glimpse of a white-haired man standing silently by the door.
He lifted his index finger to his lips, signalling for you to stay quiet.
You nodded in understanding, still surprised by his unexpected arrival.
He sat himself softly on Genya's bed and pressed a kiss onto his forehead. Your eyes widened as you pieced together the resemblance between the two of them.
Sanemi Shinazugawa left a kiss on his brother's forehead.
After Sanemi finished looking at his brother, satisfied with the amount of care given to him, he walked towards you and whispered in your ear, “Thank you.” He then walked out of the room.
The next morning, you decided to bring breakfast to Genya, wanting to compensate for his sore body with a meal served in bed. As you entered the room, you found him sitting up and staring out of the window, watching the lush trees dance in the fresh air.
"Good morning," you greeted him with a beautiful smile, holding a tray of food in your hands.
"Mornin’," he grumbled, his voice still heavy with sleep.
You couldn't help but feel a little flustered at the sound of his voice.
"I brought you some food," you said, making your way to him. "May I sit?" you gestured towards the bed.
"Feel free," he replied softly.
You sat down next to him and placed the food on his lap, pouring a glass of water from his side table. Genya was about to grab a spoonful of food for himself, but you gave him a warning glance.
"What?" he looked confused.
You took the spoon from his fingers and guided it to his mouth, feeding him yourself.
His face turned bright red as he promptly covered it with his large hand, grabbing your wrist. "I can feed myself," he whispered.
"I know," you replied with a teasing smile. "But I can't help enjoy seeing you blush.”
He stared at you intently, as if searching for something in your eyes.
“You need to eat, Genya-san,” you reminded him.
He opened his mouth and you brought the spoonful of food towards him. He gratefully accepted it and sighed in satisfaction after swallowing it. Then, you brought the glass of water to his cracked lips.
Water escaped from his mouth and dribbled down his chin. You quickly wiped it away with your thumb, but as soon as your skin made contact with his, you felt a jolt run through you. You looked up at him and noticed that his eyes had clouded over and his ears were red.
"I'M SO JEALOUS!" Zenitsu exclaimed loudly.
"Shut up!" Inosuke swatted Zenitsu’s head.
Genya turned his attention to the door, where Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Tanjiro were peeking in.
"Nezuko-chan," you said while sitting on the engawa, gently smoothing out her hair. She was lying on your lap as the two of you basked in the moonlight.
She let out an enthusiastic hum, and her small hands reached up to grasp yours, nuzzling her cheek against your palm.
The gesture made your heart swell with warmth, and you couldn't help but think that this is how Kanae-sama must have felt when you were younger.
You chuckled softly as you noticed Genya’s attempting to spy on the two of you from the hallways of the mansion. "Ganya-san thinks I can't see him spying on us," you said with amusement.
He made his presence even more obvious by speaking up, "Ya know you got a demon on your lap, right?" he said.
"I am most aware," you smiled at him.
The moonlight highlighted your features even more, making you look ethereal.
"Why do you smile," he asked, his curiosity piqued. "When you feel so angry all the time?"
His sudden analysis caught you off guard, and you couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
Nezuko gazed up at you, her eyes full of curiosity and admiration. You couldn't help but think of Kanae-sama and how she used to play with your hair in the same way you were now with Nezuko.
Genya's words had stirred up memories of Kanae-sama and the pain of her loss came flooding back. Your throat started to tighten, and tears welled up in your eyes. "Fuck," Genya was taken aback by your sudden change in attitude.
Nezuko's sudden embrace took you by surprise. You cried hard on her shoulder, the memories of Kanae-sama and the pain of losing her flooded back to you. Your tears wet her kimono, but she didn't seem to mind. It was as if she understood your pain, despite being a demon.
Genya watched with a mixture of confusion and concern. He had never seen this side of you before, and it made him realise how little he knew about you. He always saw you as the kind-hearted person with a beautiful smile on your face, always ready to help anyone in need.
It was difficult for him to see you in so much pain, and he didn't know how to comfort you.
He hesitantly placed a hand on your head, and you made a muffled sound of surprise from the sudden touch. You turned around and looked at him through your wet lashes, tears still running down your cheeks.
“I got you,” he said, looking you in the eyes and giving you soft smile.
He sat down next to you, allowing his shoulder to touch yours. You felt a flutter in your chest at the contact and didn't dare move, afraid the moment might end.
You looked down to check on Nezuko, she had fallen asleep in your embrace.
Genya's took your hand in his, it was so warm in yours as he ran his thumb along your knuckles.
You leaned your head on his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of being close to him as you both gazed up at the night sky.
“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” You asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
Genya shifted slightly, looking down at you. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "So beautiful."
Two months had passed since Genya started his frequent check-ups, and your relationship had blossomed into something beautiful. You found comfort and joy in each other's company, and Genya seemed to have found a sense of purpose being around you.
On this particular day, the two of you were sitting on the engawa, overlooking the stunning garden of the butterfly mansion. The fragrant scent of flowers wafted through the air, and the gentle rustling of leaves added to the serene atmosphere.
You had previously mentioned to Genya that you would meditate for two hours a day, and he had expressed interest in joining you.
Sitting in silence, Genya found it increasingly difficult to stay still. His legs were losing feeling, his nose was itching, and he was just so close yet so far from you. It was pissing him off that he couldn't hold your hand, kiss your forehead, or have you play with his hair.
As he tried to resist the urge to sneeze, Genya's nose continued to twitch uncontrollably. He was growing increasingly uncomfortable sitting in silence next to you, struggling to maintain stillness during meditation. He wanted nothing more than to hold your hand, feel the warmth of your touch, or have you play with his hair. But he knew that any movement on his part would break the stillness of the moment.
Despite his discomfort, he refused to touch his nose. He had noticed that you had an amazing sense of spatial awareness, and he didn't want to risk breaking the peaceful atmosphere with even the slightest movement. So, he tried to hold on as long as possible, hoping the sneeze would subside on its own.
It did not, it only got worst.
He slowly opened one eye, feeling a bit apprehensive about disturbing your meditation, but then he couldn't resist the urge to steal a glance at you. However, he quickly regretted it when he realised that you were already staring back at him, a small smile on your face.
"Have you been starin’ at me all this fucken time?" he snarled.
"Yep," you chirped.
"You little-" Genya was about to say something but you jumped up, giggling, and ran towards the garden.
As you both tumbled to the grass, laughter filled the air. You could feel the soft blades of grass tickling your skin as Genya playfully pinned you down, his weight making it impossible for you to move. You looked up at him, his chest heaving from the chase, his eyes burning with mischief.
You playfully pouted, pretending to be upset that Genya had caught you, but your smile gave you away.
Genya couldn't help but notice the pout on your lips, and his eyes flickered back and forth between your eyes and mouth. He hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should make a move, but before he could do anything, you took the initiative.
You pulled him towards you and pressed your lips against his.
He was frozen at first, hands grabbing chunks of grass in an attempt to restrict himself, but he couldn't resist your allure. You whispered his name, which undid him, and he responded by deepening the kiss.
As the kiss broke, both of you were left breathless. Genya looked into your eyes, his gaze intense and filled with emotion. Without a word, you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer to you, while he pulled you onto his lap.
For a few moments, both of you remained entranced in each other's presence, the world around you fading away as your hearts beat as one.
WARNINGS: heavy angst, gender neutral y/n, suicide, heavy gore, y/n having no self-worth, large mentions of blood, reader commiting suicide, tanjiro watching, cursing, self blame, mentions of poison, mentions of organs, mentions of fungi, numbness, a bit of spoiler at kanao's part, kanao's part leaning a bit more towards fem, and reader is mentioned as a girl in inosuke part, + more read at will
@massivelystupidlevisimp
A/n: I made a hashira version this, I might do demons, too, but have fun reading. I feel like the hashira one is better.
Tanjiro kamado
● Since he has a really strong sense of smell, tanjiro always smelled a looming cloud of sadness that sat heavily over your head. But whatever he smelled, it contrasted so thickly with your expressions. If you were angry on the inside, you were sad on the outside, If you were happy on the inside, you were angry on the outside, so that always confused him. Tanjiro, all so loves helping people out, so as soon as he smells or even senses something wrong with you he'll as about it.
● Tanjiro sometimes daydreams the time when y/n killed themselves. He thinks about himself breaking down, falling onto his knees and tears bluring his eyes. He thinks about those few rare moments where he could smell the happiness inside of you and actually see it on your face. When you weren't wearing some sort of stupid mask. Speaking of masks, you, too, once were a student of urodaki alongside tanjiro, giving him your fox mask from final selection.
● And what makes it worse is that he was on a mission with you when it happened. You guys had just split up to catch the other demons faster, and them bam, you were dead. He saw it too, god, he saw it, tanjiro watched as you slayed that last bit of the demon, then he watched as you stared at your blood covers hands that had held the last warmth of the people you loved leaving. Tanjiro watched as you took your blade and stabbed it through your stomach like some goddamn fool. He watched as your guts seeped out of your stomach and onto the ground with slow sounds of splats and plats
Tanjiro's words:
Y..y/n- Y/N NOOO, WE STILL NEED YOU... I still need you
Zenitsu agastuma
● You and him were like the moon and the sea. Zenitsu was the moon, always reflecting off the light of others. And you were the sea, had so many good things in you but were slowly getting killed. You and him were two peas in a pod until he was the only one. Both of you guys were best friends even before either of you met tanjro or inosuke. You screamed at him when he flirted with girls, yelled at the older slayers that would pick at him, and you understood why he cried so much. Even though you both didn't know much of either of your pasts, your bond was enough, until it came undon.
● You didn't know much about zenitsu's past, and he didn't know much about yours either. But what mattered is that he cared for you and you cared for him. But at last things need to go wrong when the universe doesn't car enough for you, and the least it could do is spare you some time to give zenitsu something. It was a small bow for his sparrow and a flute for zenitsu that you had given, it wasn't much, in fact it was the very least, you could've gave him something more meaningful, something more important, something more specific, but no if you thought you weren't any of those, then why give them?
● At last, the time had come, and it was just when you and zenitsu had arrived at a wisteria house to heal. You told him a lie, of course, that you were going out for some air, and after some begging and tears and zenitsu passing out to sleep, you finally got a chance to step out. And it was the very thing zenitsu hated, demons. You heard me. You had stepped outside after dark and took your katana, making a few cuts on your wrists, letting the smell of blood fill the air. A demon with an ugly amount of eyes and pale legs wrapping around its body from head to toe had beaten you to death and devoured your body. You didn't shed a single tear, fearing zenitsu would wake up and hear. But he did wake up, and he did hear.
Zenitsu's words:
What? What's all that noise it's too loud
Inosuke hashibara
● You and him were Ying and Yang. He was rude but had a small speck of kindness in him. You were kind but had a small pearl of rudeness in you. It's not all that bad if you think about it. You were his calm, and he was your rage. Like when someone made fun of you or mocked you, inosuke already had his foot up their ass and throwing them into a tree. "AHAAH DON'T YOU DARE TALKE ABOUT T/N LIKE THAT." It got a bit carried away. You didn't mind. It was nice to have some protection next to your side, whether it's beating up rude people or killing demons that you couldn't defeat.
● From time to time, you'd see inosuke without his mask and absolutely treasure the moment. I mean, can you just LOOK at him ? No wonder girls often found him cute despite his craziness. Speaking of looks once on his birthday, you took him out to eat (rip your wallet), and by the end of it, you slid a coin. It was copper with a hole through the top of it. "Think of it as a good luck charm, NO INOSUKE DON'T EAT IT" it was indeed a good luck charm but it also had a small carving on it, and since inosuke had the IQ of a boar he couldn't read it but the carving read April 22nd
● Later, much, much later inosuke would as shinobu or tanjiro what it read and they would tell him it said his birthday. But now here we are, where your body was rooted, missing body parts and chunks of flesh flicked around, ants ate at your body and fangled had started to grow out of what used to be your eyes. Inosuke had gotten their a week late after you had gone missing, the reason was of some girl eating demon, eating girls on their 16th birthday. He had nothing to say well except this.
Inosuke's words:
Happy birthday y/n
Genya shinazugawa
● You both trained under Gyomei Himejima, and you both were simple fine with that. The stone piller took you in because you always seemed to kill demons with too much care for what happened with others. So he decided to try and make you gental. And as for genya, as soon as Gyomei heard that the boy had been eating demons, he took him in. To be honest, genya was kind of scared of you since you reminded him a bit too much like his brother. With scars maping your skin and a personality that made you seem like you belonged as a cafeteria worker.
● Genya sorta avoided you from time to time after missions since it was either awkward or tense. But on other times when you were happy or normal as they suggested you, him, and Gyomei went to the waterfall or a shrine. Other times, the three of you go to the nearby festival to get ramen and food. With getting odd looks mostly because you are a 7-foot bulky ass man walking while crying beside two angry children that were glued to his side. Oh, and at the festival, you disappeared for a bit, only to come back with a pair of brand new geto sandles. Genyaxs had been torn after a mission with tanjiro and refused to change them.
● Maybe you were too angry, maybe you couldn't be soft or kind like gyomei had tried to make you be. Maybe you were just stuck in an endless loop of anger. Because that's how you felt when you pressed a short of sharp blade to your the sides of your neck and begain to cut. It looked like a cat scratch at first, or maybe that's what you always said. Then, it got deeper and deeper. Your vision was blury and your head was bagging, "God I'm so fucking useless, instead of killed demons I'm killing myself like some goddamm pick me." That ringed in your head a bit to loud and you got a bit carried away (if you even can when your killing youself) and genya knocked on your door because he could smell the blood. Yours and only yours. But when he opened the door, your back was slumped against the wall, and the blade stared at genya as if saying, "You failed demon," he cried.
Genya’s words:
"Maybe you too were a bit too much like nemi"
Kanao
● The moon and the sun vibes, you've been together ever since the start, yes even when kanao was an orphan so we're you. And then came along Kanae and Shinobu, adopting you both as butterfly girls and their sisters. Unlike kanao, you had a name, which was y/n l/n, a pretty name too. When she went on missions, so did you. When you went on missions, so did she, always together like a magnet, you being the north and her being the south. You were kanao's favorite person, even more so than shinobu.
● Your master was Kanae, and hers was shinobu, but at last, when kanae died, a part of you died too. Shinobu noticed you becoming more and more like her, but you acting as kind as Kanae. It seems as if you couldn't get out of this circle or loop. You liked rectangles better they seem to look nicer, speaking of rectangles. The gift you gave to kanao was a small rectangle keychain that had the print of 8 butterflies, each one representing the butterfly pins you wore, each one being kiyo, sumi, naho, aoi, kanao, y/n, shinobu, and kanae. You gave it to her before final selection as a good luck charm, and she hung it on the barrel of her katana. Too bad you didn't make it to final selection.
● It's such a shame, though, You wouldn't even dare step into final selection, too afraid of seeing someone die. Or kanao staying with you throughout the entire thing, if that happened, your plan would've failed, and you would've lived. What was your plan, might I say? Simple the wisteria poison was harmful to humans in large doses, so you plucked the purple flower, mixing it with water and drank it. It seeps from your mouth into your lungs as you begin violently coughing, then it spread to your arms and legs, paralyzing them. At last, it reached back up to your heart, forcing it to spasm into a heart attack. When kanao found out you weren't the 5 that had passed the final selection, she couldn't cry. She never could. But when she told shinobu, shinobu did cry, and I believe her thoughts were 'The same thing that y/n used to kill themselves, it's currently pumping through my veins.' From time to time, the butterfly girls will visit your grave
↪︎ Tanjiro never made it to Genya on time, causing the boy to lose his sight from his own older brother. Sanemi finally got his wish of Genya quitting the corps, but now he had to live with the fact that his baby brother was living alone in a shitty hut while struggling through everyday tasks and on a tight budget
Part 1
Genya woke up to the birds chirping, but to a pitch black vision. He reached out to the side of his bed, finding the blindfold he was searching for before tying it around his eyes.
He didn’t want to do it. It was too much of a hassle to search for it amongst everything he had on his messy nightside table, but even though he could clean up, he couldn’t since that was now how he navigated life and reorganising everything would be too much of a hassle to get used to. No one wanted to see his empty eye sockets anyways.
He slowly got out of bed, carefully trying to find his walking stick.
He hated how dependent he was. Himejima was blind himself, but he didn’t need anything to get to places. He could go from one place to a new place with ease like he never lost his vision.
Unlike Genya. He needed his walking stick to navigate through his own house.
Food was a bit of a problem. He had given his hand a nasty burn once when he tried to cook, which resulted in him eating just fruits, bread, and anything which didn’t need to be cooked to be consumed.
He felt the air blow past his face as he sighed, facing the open window.
He wished to see the sun and sky again. The way the clouds looked so flawless just by floating, the way he would often see his kasugai crow fly with the other crows, just enjoying themselves when there were no attacks.
He missed the moon and stars, his only company when he trained in the dead of night when he trained till his muscles tensed so hard that it became hard for him to even move a small step just so he could be a hashira and make his brother proud.
Brother… Sanemi…
Genya shook his head to get rid of the thoughts, not wanting to think about him much longer.
He reached up to feel for his cabinet as he opened it, searching around for some berries or literally anything he had. He got a hold of some grapes which he happily had as his breakfast. He was a blind teenager who lived alone with no job or income anymore since he quit the corps, so having slightly mouldy grapes was the least of his problems.
He knew he had to go shopping anyway. Tanjiro’s crow had flown to him the other day to inform that him and the others would be visiting.
“Hey, hey! Stop causing a ruckus!” Genya yelled while laughing when he heard Inosuke go through all his stuff while cackling.
“Inosuke! Genya organised everything for himself! Don’t ruin it all!” Tanjiro tried to stop him while desperately trying to put everything back.
Genya sat on his bed, chuckling. He enjoyed the noise which he once used to hate. It felt nice to finally have some company over to fill the quiet loneliness of his house. He felt a small shift on his side.
“So…” Zenitsu sat down next to him. “How are you doing?”
“Pretty okay, not going to lie. Himejima-san’s senses are really sharp which is why he is able to navigate and train despite being blind, so I guess that’s why I can sort of do the same. Does that make sense?”
“I mean… I guess?” Zenitsu chuckled. “But damn. This place is actually not too shabby. Heard you found it after you quit the corps.”
“Yeah. I got some help from the other slayers we were training with.”
The only sounds heard were Tanjiro trying to stop Inosuke from causing further mayhem to his house. Genya didn't mind at all.
“What about your brother?” Zenitsu broke the silence.
He knew he fucked up when he heard Genya’s breathing hitch ever so slightly as his small smile faded.
“Dead.” Genya replied. “My brother is dead.”
That was enough for Tanjiro and Inosuke to both stop.
“Hah?!” Inosuke scoffed. “Nonsense! That hashira guy is still alive! What kind of-”
Tanjiro managed to clasp his hand around Inosuke’s mouth by quickly removing his boar head.
“Uhm- Genya… I think you were misinformed? Shinazugawa-san returned from his last mission safely.”
“Doesn’t matter. My older brother is dead.”
From the eerie silence, Genya knew the others wanted an explanation. The proper explanation from his side.
“My mother got turned into a demon when I was a kid. Killed all my younger siblings when my older brother went out to search for her. She almost killed me as well, but he managed to push her out of the way before she could. He had a butcher’s knife. I watched him kill our mother until sunrise… before he also died.”
He sighed.
“That man is not my brother. My brother was nice. That man is not. He’s something – like a spirit. Something worse than a demon, who took control of my brother’s corpse. That man is not my brother, and never will be.”
Sanemi followed behind the trio, his steps quiet.
“Caw! Continue west!” the kasugai crow shouted in its regular gruff voice, sitting on a branch to quickly peck its wing before getting back to the sky.
Sanemi looked up from his feet, looking at the back of Tanjiro’s head as he clenched his fists.
He hated him. He knew he shouldn’t really because Tanjiro was a strong and genuinely kind kid who did his best, but he resented him. If only Tanjiro had been faster, he would’ve reached Genya in time to push him out the way.
He also hated Genya for forgiving Tanjiro so easily. He knew he himself wasn’t the best and that he was far worse, but still.
“I’ll stay outside.” Sanemi mumbled. “You three go in and talk to him. I’ll stay out and just… listen.”
“Eh? But Mr. Shinazugawa, I think Genya would be really happy to see you-” Tanjiro quickly cut himself off, realising his mistake when Zenitsu pinched his arm. “I mean-!”
“No, no. Save it. I’ll stay outside.”
“Okay…”
Oh, how much Sanemi wished he was also inside. He couldn’t help the smile which graced his lips when he heard the pure joy in Genya’s voice when his friends talked to him.
He was glad that Genya had friends he could trust. He looked around the area and the house.
It was a bit shabby, and in a somewhat open space. He wondered if he should quietly plant wisteria trees, but it would be impossible without Genya accidentally crushing them since he wouldn’t know about them.
Another small perk was that Genya wasn’t too far. About an hour away by walking, Sanemi was sure he would reach Genya pretty quickly if he ran at top speed.
Looking around a little more, he was thinking about how to subtly strengthen the house a bit more. Probably by adding some extra pillars little by little, but Genya was sharp. He would know something was off. Maybe he could silently and anonymously get a villager to deliver money to Genya every once in a while so he didn’t really have to worry about finances. He had a lot of money anyways, so sending some everyday wouldn’t hurt his savings. Around 10,000 yen would–
“Dead. My brother is dead.”
Sanemi froze on his spot. It was okay, right? He was probably talking about their younger siblings. Genya couldn’t possibly mean Sanemi. He was right outside. He had returned from his mission safely and Genya was probably misinformed. He loved his brother, right?
Sanemi could barely hear the world. He never expected such simple words would shatter him so bad, especially knowing who said it.
He had probably said worse to Genya, though. He had also blinded him, so he sort of understood why Genya would technically think so. It still hurt so bad especially since Genya ended up bottling his feelings, walking around with the painful weight of his brother’s cruel words but still managing his pure smile.
“That man is not my brother. My brother was nice. That man is not. He’s something – like a spirit. Something worse than a demon, who took control of my brother’s corpse. That man is not my brother, and never will be.”
Sanemi slowly stood up and walked away.
By the time the three left Genya’s house, they were confused on where he had gone, but didn’t really question it much.
Zenitsu, however, couldn’t shake off that quiet and distant sound of crying he could hear echoing through the trees.
Sanemi looked at himself in the mirror that night. His eyes were puffy, the tip of his nose red, and his body littered with scars. The fact that his hair was white didn’t matter, because the longer Sanemi stared at himself, the more he realised he looked like a carbon copy of his father.
he closed his eyes and felt his descent into darkness, when he opened his eyes there you were, smiling softly at him as you always did. tears began to form in his eyes “no…you’re not supposed to be here.” he reached out and cupped your cheeks, with fresh tears running down his face. “just a little more time.” you smiled at him “i guess my time is up too.” he looked you in the eyes and slightly snapped “don’t give me that crap, i know you still have life in you, wake up!” before you knew it tears started to stream down your cheeks too, ashamed to cry you gently removed yourself from his hold to hastily wipe them away. “but what about you i don’t want to leave you behind and i don’t-“ he silenced your rambling with a tender kiss “forget about me you have your whole life to live, make it count okay?” you hugged him tight and nodded at his words, before you regained your consciousness you whispered “i love you”. your eyes snapped open, your emotions overcame you and so did your tears.
𝐆𝐘𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐈 𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐀
he closed his eyes and there you were with the children smiling happily with them. he smiled happily at the sound of your voices, but above all the children your voice rang the loudest to him, how he longed to see you just one more time. “my love?” you perked up at the sound of his voice and ran towards him hugging him tightly. he hugged you securely almost as if he let go you would be gone, “i missed you so much.” he choked as he tried to contain the sobs, you looked at him with a smile and that was all he needed. he’s back home with you. he cried and you quickly wiped away the tears. “it’s nice to see you again gyomei.” you said with a bright smile, which he swore not even a thousand suns could compete with.
You all have spoken and here he is! Finally some Genya on this blog, I hope I did him justice~Amanda
Warning: Swears, Angsty and Fluffy kinda shit, Spoiler Warning!
( 1.2K words)
No matter how much time passed, Genya still was a little hesitant around you, hiding himself away in his training far from where you could find him. Not because he didn’t trust you, there wasn’t a living human he felt more comfortable with, but because he hated watching you worry. Only once had you trained with him (after a lot of begging) and it didn’t go well. He hated how your pained eyes watched as his spent body pushed itself past a point that even he knew was dangerous, watched the anguish he was causing you. That was the only time you’d ever fought so intensely with one another, a screaming match lasted for more than just a that night and had the potential to end your relationship had you not loved each other so much- it was definitely a rough patch to get through. You couldn’t understand why he sacrificed so much of himself, why he couldn’t just be a little selfish so as to rest. Genya couldn’t allow himself to stop though, not for his sake or for yours; he’d do anything for you, including protecting you with his life and that required him to be strong. Now, after he disappears without a word before you wake and returns sweaty and exhausted, all you say is “How was training?” receiving only a curt nod as a reply every time.
You wandered the corridors all afternoon, peaking your head into random rooms from time to time in search of a certain Shinazugawa. You knew Genya had training this morning, but it was almost sunset and still you hadn’t seen him. “Where the hell are you?” your thoughts swirled with a mix of frustration and panic, he was never out this late and at the very least he’d have eaten lunch with you and the others. Consumed by the scenarios playing in your head, you ran flat against a hard pillar that towered over you- the pillar being your dear brother-in-law. “Ah Sanemi! I’m so sorry!” you apologized, quickly bowing over and over again. Genya may not voice it, but you know how much his brother means to him and because of this, you’ve always tried to gain his approval or any sliver of acceptance from the Hashira. Yet as you stare up at his menacing glare, you are reminded that Sanemi was an even harder wall to crack than his younger brother.
“Oi! Stop apologizing, brat! It's obnoxious” he complained, halting your movement. “What’s got you in such a hurry anyways, need to take piss or something?” he scowled as his large amrs folded in front of his chest, “No actually I was looking for Genya...have you seen him?” you doubted he actually knew but you were desperate at this point. “That brat? Yea I heard he’s been holed up the training room at the other end of the estate” his response was nonchalant but it was music to your ears. “Thank you!” you moved to rush over when Sanemi’s palm gripped the top of your skull. “Wait a second! Shit it’s not like he’s dying” he grumbled with a solid, painless grip on your hair. ‘Go easy on the kid, he...he needs you around. You’re all he really has.” his eyes never reached yours but the slight pink on his cheeks brought a smile to your lips. “Don’t get the wrong idea though, if you ever tell him I said that I’ll carve your tongue out, damn it!” he wiggled you around like a rag doll before releasing your tresses, leaving without another word. “What a softy”
Loud grunts from the other side of the wooden doors filled your ears as you reached the room, your arms immediately reaching to slide them open. Your orbs widened as they fell on Genya, fist bloody and purple, wreaking havoc upon a wooden dummy and, if the mess is anything to judge by, it wasn’t the first one he’d hit. A booming crack rang throughout the room as wooden shreds scattered about, falling like wooden flakes. Out of the corner of your eye you caught Genya reaching for another dummy, “Genya stop!” you yelled, throwing yourself between him and the dummy, his fist halting centimeters from pummeling your face. “No one called you here shitty women '' he protested without lowering his arm, his gaze boring into your eyes. “What the hell are you doing?! Genya I get you want to work hard and I can’t change that, but you’re hurting yourself! This isn’t healthy” you pleaded, “please just listen to me” you held his fist, not carrying that his blood was staining the clothes you wore. “I don’t fucking get it” he started sourly, allowing you to hold his hands, “no matter what I fucking do, how hard I train, I still can’t compare to those jackasses with their breathing techniques. Compared to them I look like a weak idiot” he seethed. You lifted his chin speaking softly, “Genya you don’t have to be like them to be strong, you’re the only person who can do what you can. I wouldn’t want anyone else at my side protecting me because I believe in you Genya, one hundred percent I believe in you with everything I have”
You were quick to catch the stray tear that fell down his cheek, “This sucks” he chokes, “Sometimes life feels like it does, but things always get better”. “Lets go get those hands bandaged and you in a bath, you smell” the fingers pinching your nose distorted your voice a little, but it was enough to make Genya blush, “Shut up!”
The steam rolled off the water filling the room in its delicious warmth, “You should get in while the water is still hot” you urged grabbing the shampoo and a fluffy towel, placing them at the edge of the bath. Genya watched you expectantly as if waiting for you to do something, “What?” you questioned. Genya’s cheeks blazed red, his eyes not reaching yours as he stuttered, “Turn around if you want me to get into the water, dumbass”. You stared for a moment before turning around, “But I’ve seen you naked more than once” you laughed. Some seconds passed before you heard the plop of Genya’s body submerging itself into the warm water, “Done” he gurgled from underneath. “I’m not a kid Y/n, I can bathe myself” he squirmed as you squeezed the bottle of shampoo into your palm, “Yea but everyone should be spoiled every once in a while”. You took your time scrubbing his dark curls and rubbing the soap into the shaved sides, the slight brush of your nails over his scalp had Genya almost moaning in content. A warm silence took over the atmosphere, only the splash of water could be heard as you rinsed the suds from his skin and scalp.
“Let me see them” you whispered cooly, disrupting the still air. Genya’s heavy lids fluttered open to find you now next to the tub, the medical kit open on your lap. Shyly, Genya placed his abused fist in your care, wincing every so often when you dabbed the scabs with antiseptic. “You don’t have to tell me everything all the time,” you started, peppering soothing kisses to each freshly bandaged knuckle, “but I’ll be right here” you cupped his calloused palms with your own, offering a gentle smile and kind eyes as if saying “I love you”.
You waited patiently in bed for Genya to finish and dress, cozy in your own pair of fleece pajamas. You felt someone slither in beside you, cautiously pulling you against their chest. Limbs tangled together, you both fell into a peaceful sleep, lulled away by Genya’s unwavering heartbeat and your even breathing.
↳ (n.) A love that doesn’t cling, but frees, rooted not in fear, but in trust.
A devotion that says, “Grow, and I’ll grow with you.”
ᴋɴɪɢʜᴛ!ɢᴇɴʏᴀ sʜɪɴᴀᴢᴜɢᴀᴡᴀ x ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇss!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ
Includes: Very very minor angst, forbidden love, some fluff.
Sitting in the garden, you absentmindedly stared out into the horizon, littered with flowers and accompanied by the light of the moon.
Royalty was a gift. That was what everybody had told you your whole life. Having unlimited access to food, water, clothes, servants… it was a privilege.
But growing up with that made questions rise. If one had access to so much, why do they not have a say on who they marry?
You didn’t want to marry him. The prince your father so carefully chose for you brought extreme boredom. He was nice, yes, but he wasn’t enough. You couldn’t say that, though. Your poor father had already gone through hell and back to find someone you were willing to marry, and your heart couldn’t take it to give him more stress.
“Your highness.” A familiar voice behind you spoke, snapping you out of your thoughts. Turning your head to see who it was, your heart felt at ease.
“Sir Shinazugawa. I see you are still in uniform.”
He gave you a small nod. “I am on night duty tonight, your highness. Is it okay if I ask why you are not at your chambers?”
“Just wanted some fresh air.” You turned away, breathing in deeply. “You must be tired. Come, sit next to me.”
“I possibly can’t… not when I’m on duty.”
“Think of it as being a one-on-one guard for the princess. I could use a bit of company as well.”
With a small chuckle of amusement, the knight obeyed. He sat next to you, placing his sword next to him.
“What is on your mind tonight, Princess?”
“The wedding…” you sighed softly. “I don’t want to get married… not to him, anyway…”
“But your prince is a good man, is he not?”
“I do not want a prince.” You turned your head to face him, a somber expression on your face. “I… I want the man I love.”
“The man you love, your highness, can’t give you the life you deserve…”
“And why not?” You straightened your back, your voice holding a bit of sternness. “What kind of life do you think I deserve?”
He was silent, avoiding your gaze. He turned away and stared up at the stars, sighing softly.
“Comfort. One where you’re devoid of any stress, and you do not have to worry about when your next meal will have to be.” He answered.
“Do you not think I deserve a life of love?”
“I know you, Princess. You cherish love over anything. Of course, I want you to be married to someone you love, but I also want you to have comfort.”
“And what if all I care about is love? What if I don’t care about money?” You stuck your hand out to gently hold his hand, his armour cool against your skin.
He was silent for a few seconds, his fingers slowly and gently tightening around your hand.
“Then… I’d spend the rest of my days loving you. Not like how a knight cares about the princess enough to protect her without question, but like a man with his feelings out in the open for you. I’d love you until time itself restarts.”
Your eyes slowly welled with tears. “Then why won’t you take me away…? Genya, you know I do not want this marriage-“
“It’s not my destiny to have you… maybe in a previous life, or maybe the next, but not this one. You are far too precious to belong to someone like me.” He held your hand tighter, his own hand shaking slightly as he brought your intertwined fingers up to place a soft kiss on your knuckles.
You couldn’t cry. You wanted to, but you couldn’t. Your tears just wouldn’t come out.
“Then… then what happens…? Will you still be mine? Will you still kiss me? Will you still love me?”
“I will still be yours, I promise. But we cannot continue this after your marriage, your highness…”
“Then let’s run away. We can get married — we can elope. I will be yours, and you will be mine…”
“If we are found, it’s punishable by death. I don’t want you to die-“
“I don’t-“ your voice cracked. “I don’t want a life without you by my side…”
Your words seemed to hit something in Genya, because he finally faced you with his eyes filled with pain.
“I…” his voice was quiet. “Your highness, in all honesty, I don’t know what to do…”
“Where does your loyalty lie, Genya? To the throne, or to me?”
“You, your highness. Forever and always.” He answered without hesitation.
“Then please…” With both your hands, you grasped his and placed it against your chest like you were praying. “Run away with me. I’ll be yours. Truly. I… I’ll learn how to fight to protect you if they find us… please.”
You managed to earn a small laugh from Genya’s lips.
“Okay, then. Princess’s order.”
“No. Not the Princess,” you leaned in and gently pressed your forehead against his. “But as your to-be wife.” You whispered.
“You promise to marry me?” Genya closed his eyes. “I’d be really hurt if your highness was jesting…”
