#inosuke fluff

[mochiqa]

𓂃⋆.˚ ( kny ) "shut up, mom!" prank on kny men part 2 ! ⤷ ゛tanjiro, inosuke, zenitsu, douma, kokushibo, gyutaro, akaza ˎˊ˗ tw yelling (as part of the prank), threatening to harm genitals, threats of violence, actual physical violence part one here

masterlists

────────────────── kamado tanjiro

It takes a little self-motivation to go through with it, unsure of how your husband will react to it. But, you go ahead and tell your daughter to complete one chore or another - you don’t actually need her to do anything. She completed her chores hours ago when Tanjiro was at work.

“Shut up, mom!”

There’s the sound of breath hitching from across the room, a little distance away from where you’re lounging on the couch. Your daughter glances at you after saying her line, anticipating the worst. She sees the way Tanjiro’s shoulders tense and the deceptive calmness with which he places his book down and turns away from the bookshelf, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose.

“What was that?” he asks smoothly, approaching the two of you. “Am I hard of hearing or did you have a bad day?”

Your daughter swallows thickly and huffs out a breath through her nose. “I’m just t-tired of her nagging!” she manages, failing to loosen her tongue and not stutter in the face of her father. “She always wants me to do something!”

Tanjiro nods and sits on the couch, motioning with a finger for her to follow and take the empty loveseat in front of him. “Why do you think that is, the nagging and insistence?”

You’re hoping he’s not convinced that you nag - he’d have another thing coming.

Your daughter takes the seat as instructed. She only manages to maintain eye contact with Tanjiro for a few seconds before she averts her gaze and looks at you instead. Understandably, she looks awkward and unsettled by the whole prank - regardless of the fact that she was the one who saw it on her social media feed and suggested that you two do it.

“Hm?” Tanjiro prompts.

She blinks and shrugs, a half-hearted answer of someone who doesn’t feel like their words can do them justice in the present situation.

Tanjiro’s brows furrow at that. “Aside from the hours she spent pushing you out of her body, your mother is the one making sure that the money I bring in goes towards every hot meal you eat and each warm blanket you use. She is the one utilising my money to make sure that everyone in this household is happy and needs for nothing.”

She nods, still not able to articulate herself from the tension weighing her down.

“Do you think your reaction was appropriate, then? Considering your mother’s care and effort in everything she does for us - for you?”

She shakes her head. “No, dad. I’m sorry.”

Tanjiro mimics her movement and glances at her, then you pointedly.

She takes the hint and turns to you again. “I’m sorry, mom. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”

“It’s alright,” you say calmly, smiling. “It’s just a prank, after all.”

Tanjiro makes a choked sound. “What?”

“Yeah,” you and your daughter say simultaneously.

He sighs and pulls his glasses off, placing them on the coffee table. The sparkle in his eye returns and he huffs out a laugh at your giddy expression.

────────────────── hashibara inosuke

"Shut up, mom!"

Inosuke whips around to face the source of the voice, his expression a mix of confusion and anger. His daughter is staring straight at him, a challenging look in her eyes - a reflection of her father's.

"Hah? What did you say?"

Glancing at your husband, you feign dejection and sigh heavily. "This is what I get for trying, I guess," you mumble, inhaling through your nose to snuff out the laugh in your throat.

Inosuke shakes his head. "Nah, you listen to me," he grunts, pointing a finger at his own daughter. "That crap isn't allowed here. You get me? What, you think your mom asks you to do things just to be a pain in the ass?"

Pursing her lips, your daughter nods.

Inosuke laughs at that, incredulously. "Have you lost it, kid?"

When she doesn't respond, he grabs her shoulders and pushes her (gently, mind you) upstairs, towards her bedroom. You take care to follow after them discreetly, softening your steps even as you walk on the plush carpets. If your life was more novel, your ears would have already perked up like a bunny's at Inosuke's disciplinary tone.

"I'm talking to you here because I can't be angry at you without your mother hitting me," he says plainly, standing before his daughter who is sat on the edge of her bed.

She snorts out a laugh, failing to catch herself. Inosuke grunts and bends down so that he is eye-level with her.

"If I hear you speak that way again - especially to my wife - you're not getting food for a month."

She gapes at that. "Wha—c'mon! It's not that serious!"

"What?" he practically shouts.

"Nevermind, you're completely right," she mumbles, quick to avert her gaze and be completely conformist. "Sorry, dad. I won't do it again."

He eyes her carefully, raising a brow when she stares at him. It goes like that for about thirty seconds before he nods his head and awkwardly points towards her bedroom door. "Uh, that's all. Apologise to your mother."

The door swings open. She looks over her shoulder and yells, "it's a prank!" before darting out the room and rushing downstairs, giggling like a child.

You sigh, laughing under your breath. Inosuke stands frozen, as if slapped. He has that dumbfounded look on his face that makes your breathy laugh turn loud.

"Were you eavesdropping, woman?"

"Obviously."

"Damn you."

────────────────── agatsuma zenitsu

After asking him to clean his room, your son yells, "shut up, mom!" It is after he yells that does Zenitsu finally sit up straight on the couch, his ears twitching in sync with his right eye.

"Did he just...?" he mutters, turning to you as if to confirm whether or not you heard the same. You nod, resting your chin on your palm.

"Unfortunately. Seems he needs to be dealt with, hm?"

Zenitsu locks in. His wife just got disrespected and she's clearly upset. He must step up and defend her honour, even against his own son.

He stomps over to the teenager and crowds his space, raising a brow. When he says nothing, his son glances at you. "Did you... need something, dad?" he asks quietly, awkwardly.

Zenitsu grabs him by the ear and brings him closer, his breath hot against the side of his face. "If you ever talk to her like that again, I'm going to cut your balls off."

"W-what?"

He gets all up in his face then, grip still tight on the boy's ear. "Did I stutter, boy?"

Said boy shakes his head. "No, sir. You've made yourself very c-clear."

You move forward and nod, satisfied with Zenitsu's reaction. But just when you're about to tell him it's a prank, he grabs your son by his head and turns him to you. The younger man yelps in surprise, startled by the subtle pain in his neck at the forceful movement.

"Apologise."

"I was going to—"

"Ah!" he cuts him off. "Nothing but an apology."

Your son smiles sheepishly. "Sorry, mom."

With a devilish grin, you pull your son out of his father's tight grip and pet his hair. "How many times do you think he's going to fall for these?" you ask the teen, seeing his eyes sparkle with mischief reflecting yours.

"Fall for what?" Zenitsu looks between the two of you, now rather unsettled by your sudden companionship.

You ignore him and walk back into the kitchen with your son in tow. "Hot chocolate?" you suggest, to which he nods eagerly.

"Wha—honey! What did you mean by that? Am I missing something?"

Ignored - again. He only finds out about it all the next morning.

────────────────── douma

Douma's smile was always plastered on, sometimes toothy, other times flat and unamused. Whatever its condition, it was deceptive. To you, not so much anymore. You'd had trouble decoding him initially, wondering if the man you were in love with was to remain an enigma, but you gradually found bits and pieces of him to memorise.

That comforted you - knowing your husband a little better than anyone else did. You had a right to!

'Anyone else' was unfortunately inclusive of your son. He was your pride and joy, and while he had an amazing relationship with his father, he tended to confide in you when needing a straight answer that wasn't glossed over with subtle threats and almost menacing humour.

The best way about this was to not leave your son's side, even when he yelled, "shut up, mom!" He falls silent then and waits for something - anything - to happen.

A few silent seconds pass and you're almost encouraged to ease the tension in your body. Only when you exhale on the sixth second does Douma suddenly flicker into existence before you. That freaky teleportation of his was enough to knock your son's heart back into his throat.

"Is that a protective stance?" he asks you, laughing softly at the way you and your son stand side-by-side, arms pressed together. Douma strokes a hand down your hair. "Silly girl. Why are you protecting him? Do you know what I'm going to do to him?"

You deadpan. "Nothing, even if I weren't right here."

Your husband exhales through his nose, then his eyes dart towards his son. His sweet son, the boy who looked too much like him and too little like you; the boy who was too much like him in nature and so unlike you with your warmth and harmless sarcasm.

"If that is what you dream, my sweet," Douma coos at you, "then I shall tell you, here, what I am going to do."

You stare at him, unflinching, so ready to laugh at how seriously your husband is taking this. Your son, on the other hand, is about to wet his pants.

"Those eyes that he so graciously took from me will be popped out, but as I do not look to upset you, I shall only take one. I will allow him to have an eyeball to shed his tears, and so that you may watch as he does,” he says calmly. “That is the extent of my mercy today.”

“Douma,” you say lowly, warningly.

“Oh, do not fret,” he sighs, reaching a hand up to pat his son’s head tenderly, claws scratching against the boy’s scalp ever so slightly. The younger man has to resist the urge to flinch. “I know this is another one of your little jokes.”

“Wha—” you sputter. “How?”

He practically giggles and kisses the back of your hand almost reverently, looking up at you with unrestrained adoration. He doesn’t answer you, but he doesn’t need to. You know how he is, what he’s like. He’s aware of threats before they’re made, whether serious or lighthearted. You’re just glad he managed to pick up on this one and not be blinded by the rage simmering in his chest.

“Do not attempt such foolishness again,” he growls, lips still brushing against your skin but curled as he addresses his son. “Not at the expense of my wife.”

────────────────── kokushibo

So you were scared, to say the least. To execute this meant you had to be on edge the entire time, ready to call it off if things got overwhelming or, quite frankly, fatal. You were more terrified to do this than your son was - he was giddy on the idea that he could enrage his father. Why, you had no real understanding of. You had never suffered the consequences of angering or frustrating him that left the bedroom.

“Sweetie, can you—”

“Shut up, mom!”

You deadpan, turning to your son and lowering your voice into a whisper. “I didn’t even get to finish my line,” you mutter, smacking his arm lightly.

He grins. “He just needs to hear mine for this to work, mom,” he whispers back.

The two of you are out in the garden, tending to the flowers and taking pictures to send to friends and family, when you see a shadow cast over the flowerbed your son is observing. Before he can turn around, a familiar hand grabs the back of his neck and squeezes tightly, using the leverage to pull him up from his knees and to his feet. The teenager coughs and sputters at the sudden pressure.

“Michikatsu!” you gasp, brows furrowed. You launch to your feet and grab your husband’s arm, tugging him away from your son. “Unhand him!”

“It is a shame this boy has not truly taken to being humourous,” Kokushibo says, voice a low timbre in his throat. “This disrespect will not be tolerated.”

When you open your mouth to intervene, your son shakes his head and smiles at you - a wordless “it’s alright. I can handle this.”

“I didn’t—ow—mean it disrespectfully, dad,” he rasps, lightly slapping his father’s hands.

“So you lack sense, too,” the man growls, tightening his grip but turning the boy to face him fully. The teenager swallows thickly at the murderous glint in his father’s eyes. “You are my blood, but I have shed that of my own,” he warns. “You are not exempt from my wrath, boy.”

“I know, dad.”

“You know? I highly doubt that.”

“Michikatsu,” you repeat, now digging your nails into his thick arm. “Release him at once!”

This time, he heeds your command - albeit reluctantly. His mouth twitches when you smack his chest rather roughly. “You will not threaten our son!”

His canines flash when his lip curls up further, making your heart race. “He will not be allowed to speak to you with such insolence. I shall deal with him—”

“It’s a prank,” your son announces, holding his hands up. “Mom can attest to that.”

You huff, frustrated at his eagerness, but nod nonetheless. “We were just trying to test your reaction, dear.”

Kokushibo turns to you then, his thumb urging your chin up so that you may look up at him. “Truly?”

When you nod, he pulls you into his arms carefully, as if handling a porcelain doll. You instinctively relax in his embrace, your head resting on his chest and your arms wrapping around his torso. He doesn’t utter a word, content to hold you and ignore his son’s presence entirely. He is not a heartless man, but in this instance, he will pay no mind to the boy. He wants his wife and only her, preferably in his arms and away from the childish antics of the little devil he calls his son.

────────────────── gyutaro

It doesn’t last long, pranking Gyutaro. It never does. You don’t anticipate that this attempt will be any different.

The moment your daughter yells out the words “shut up,” directed at you, you know to focus and rapidly become aware of your husband walking into the bedroom, his eyes twitching and his nails digging into the skin on his neck.

“Haaah?” he snarls, approaching the two of you with a curious glint in his eye. “Did you finally cough out your last brain cell?”

Your daughter’s jaw drops at that, offended but not truly hurt - only startled by her father’s audacity.

He stalks closer, approaching you first. You smile weakly and grip his arm carefully, rubbing your thumb along the protruding veins. He’s not amused, but there’s a softer sparkle in his gaze as opposed to the initial vengeful glint. You fail to stop your heart from fluttering when he leans over, bony figure hunched over, and kisses your forehead.

More than that, he doesn’t indulge in.

One of his hands whip up and grabs his daughter’s jaw, a movement quicker than you can keep up with. By the time you register what he’s doing, Gyutaro has already placed his thumb on her top front teeth and began applying pressure. She tenses at the threat.

“Shall I use your own teeth to cut your tongue out?” he offers, as if proposing an alternative alongside it.

“Gyutaro!” you startle, landing a death-grip on his wrist and pulling his hand away. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Is she high?” he rasps, pointing in the general direction of your daughter.

“She’s pranking you. And even if you weren’t, you don’t threaten to cut out her tongue!”

He grunts and turns his head, averting his gaze. “Whatever.”

You sigh and kiss your daughter’s cheek apologetically, ushering her out the room before he decides to give her a stern talking-to instead. Only when the two of you are alone does he move closer and rest his chin on the top of your head, his lips pursed into something that resembles a pout.

“You’re annoying.”

“You’re too protective.”

“One is better than the other,” he mumbles.

You poke him in his ribs and he flinches like an unsettled cat.

────────────────── akaza

“Shut up, mom!” your daughter groans. There was no need to yell, Akaza was in the same room as the two of you. Even if he weren’t, he didn’t need to strain his senses to hear this particular retort.

You hear the beads of his accessories rattle before his breathing, all before you even manage to see him. He appears behind you, trailing a hand down to caress the base of your neck, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin there. His blood heats for a reason aside from anger when your breath hitches, even more so when your lips part as he kisses you.

Your daughter knows to avert her gaze - not because you forbid her from seeing her parents be affectionate. She does it for herself. She doesn’t want to see her parents devouring each other’s faces a few inches away from her.

Except the kiss doesn’t last long and Akaza moves on. He stands behind his daughter now, his eyes darkened but not unkind. When the tension in her shoulders alerts him that she has acknowledged his presence behind her, he rounds the couch and stands in front of her instead.

“D/n. Apologise.”

This is the reaction you expected from him. If there was one thing Akaza wouldn’t do, it was raise his voice or hand at the women in his life. That, you were grateful for, but it didn’t mean you weren’t curious to know if there was raw rage rising in his chest.

“Sorry, mom,” she mumbles.

He nods, satisfied, and that’s all it takes for him to calm down.

You grin at him, so infatuated with the tenderness reserved for those he deemed worthy.

He catches sight of your expression and raises a brow, amused by your unprompted grin. “What is it?”

"You're so protective. It's cute."

He blushes deeply and squeezes his eyes shut in an attempt to control his flustered expression. "It's my job."

"You're cute while doing it."

Instead of leaving the room entirely to cool his face down and calm his racing pulse, he lays his head in your lap and twists his lips oddly to stop his smile.

You never tell him that it was a prank. You want to let him think that he successfully defended you because it fuels him to do it more.

[weengoku]

premise : inosuke wants to…marry you?! | drabble & fluff

inosuke feels weird recently. and he’s frustrated that he can’t figure out why.

some time after him, you became a demon slayer, and the first time he met you he got this agonizing feeling in his chest.

he felt sick. like he had accidentally swallowed butterflies again. it was similar to the sensation he gets when he can sense something, but different.

he had to know what was wrong.

he visited the butterfly mansion multiple times, trying so hard to describe his grotesque feelings. but he got nothing.

the last thing he resorted to…was question you.

you were peacefully walking through the garden bordering the butterfly mansion. you’d just finish a grueling mission and just wanted some peace and quiet.

“HEY!!!” you heard a booming yell behind you and didn’t even have to look to know who it was.

you sighed softly and turned around with a small smile. “yes, inosuke?”

he stomped his way up to you, so pumped that he took off his boar mask. “you!…whatever you’re doin’ to me..stop it now!” he glared at you, the tips of his ears flushed red.

you tilted your head. “i…don’t know what you mean? i haven’t done anything to you…” you watched as he got even more visibly angry. “YES YOU ARE!!”

he reached up to grip his blue ombré hair. “every time i get close to you…it feels like something’s squeezin’ my organs! and—and my body gets hot!”

the longer he spoke, the more you realized what was happening. hashibira inosuke…had a crush on you. of course he didn’t know that. how were you even supposed to explain?

“uhh…” your hand came up to scratch your scalp. “how do i put this..it’s…not my fault?” “HAH?! so you’re sayin’ it’s MY fault?!”

“nonono! of coursee not, inosuke.” you gently placed your hand on his shoulder, and his face instantly started reddening. “you may have…a crush on me?”

inosuke paused and tilted his head, eye twitching. “…huh?” “it means that you have…erm. romantic feelings towards me. like—like a mom and dad do!”

he stood there. eyes widened. you were genuinely scared for whatever response he was going to have.

“…so i need to do ‘marriage’ with you?” “yes yes…WAIT WHAT?! that’s—inosuke that’s like wayyy too far in the future!—”

“no!” inosuke now had his hands on your shoulders, and that cheeky smile like he was about to utter something stupid.

“let’s get married.”

© WEENGOKU all work belongs to me, do not feed my work to ai or post anywhere else without my permission.

[inkedtension]

Love? whats that?

Inosuke x reader. enjoyy!

Wisteria blooms haunt your dreams. Their scent still clings to your fingers no matter how many times you scrub. At the chemical plant, you were a ghost among fumes and formulas, extracting poison from sacred trees with surgical precision. That life was stripped away when demons razed your town to ash.

You didn't scream. You survived.

Shinobu Kocho found you barely breathing beneath broken beams, your blood soaked into the soil. You had a pulse, and worse—a brain worth salvaging.

"Come to the Butterfly Mansion," she said. "You're wasted on factories."

So now you spend your days grinding flowers into death. Crafting demon-specific toxins. Staring at pestles and powders, comforted by the order of chemical reactions.

Until he crashes into your life.

Literally.

"YAAAAH! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

The door slams open and a whirlwind of limbs and animal hide crashes into your table, scattering glass and ash.

You stare at him, blinking.

"You absolute baboon."

The boar-masked boy cocks his head. "Did you call me a bamboo?"

warning, without reason, always with some absurd question:

"Can I eat this?"

"Will this make me stronger if I drink it?"

"What happens if I bathe in this goo?"

He picks up things with his mouth. Tries to fight jars. One time he tried to bite a vial of wolfsbane.

His name is Inosuke Hashibira. You learn it after Shinobu yells at him for traumatizing you and tells you to “be kind; he was raised by boars.” You think it’s a metaphor. It’s not.

He is feral. Loud. Constantly shirtless. Bursts through doors. Doesn’t understand “personal belongings” or “locks.”

“I LIKE THIS ROOM!” he shouts a week later, arms flung open, standing in your doorway. “IT SMELLS LIKE SPICE AND BURNY STUFF!”

“That’s arsenic, and if you inhale too much, your lungs will liquefy.”

“COOL.”

From then on, he visits you every day.

Sometimes barges in to watch you mix things.

Sometimes tosses mushrooms onto your table and goes “THESE KILLED A FOX. WANNA USE ‘EM?”

Sometimes tries to spar with the mannequins you test bandages on.

You hate it.

And, somehow, you don’t.

It starts with a stick.

He slams it onto your table during lunch one day, triumphant. “STRAIGHT!”

You blink. “What?”

“This stick. I found it. It’s super straight. Look!” He holds it up beside a ladle. “STRAIGHT! I found it and thought of you.”

“…Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“I saw a crow give another crow a stick once. And then they sat on a tree together and didn’t fly away! They just stayed there and squawked and bumped beaks! So I got you a better stick.”

You stare at him.

He stares at you.

You take the stick.

“Thanks,” you say, quietly. “It’s…very straight.”

He beams.

The next week, it’s a rock.

Perfectly round. Flat on one side, smooth like it was polished by the gods.

He smacks it down in front of you with childish glee. “It’s like your forehead!”

“…Thanks?”

“I licked a bunch of them to find this one. It tastes different. That means it’s rare!”

“You—” You drop your pen. “You licked rocks?!”

Zenitsu walks in at that exact moment and screams. “Inosuke! You’re courting her like a cave goblin! Girls don’t like pebbles!”

“I DO WHAT THE CROWS DO,” Inosuke roars, arms flailing. “AND SHE DIDN’T THROW THE STICK BACK!”

Tanjiro leans in from the hallway, concerned. “That…does kind of mean something in bird language.”

Zenitsu is having a meltdown. “That is NOT how you treat a lady!”

for some reason… you don’t hate it.

Tanjiro finds you in the hallway, trying to pry Inosuke off you.

"He JUMPED on me," you huff.

"It was an ambush!" Inosuke yells, arms still latched around your waist.

"Inosuke," Tanjiro says gently, peeling him off. "That's not how we show affection."

"WHY NOT? IT WORKED ON HER, DIDN'T IT?!"

Your face burns.

Zenitsu nearly combusts.

You try to ignore the way your face burns when he brings you things now. When he growls at anyone who walks too close to you. When he takes down demons twice his size just to drop a bloodied claw at your feet like a housecat begging for praise.

You can’t ignore it when he gets injured. You always patch him up yourself, knuckles brushing bare skin, jaw tight as he pretends not to notice how you linger. He always stares, wide-eyed, cheeks flushed.

“You like me,” you murmur once, testing.

He snaps upright, eyes wild. “NO I DON’T—!”

“Mmhm.”

“I—YOU—STOP MAKING MY CHEST STUPID!!”

Tanjiro looks at you gently one afternoon as Inosuke charges into the room shirtless, holding up a smooth shell like a trophy.

“He’s… trying really hard,” Tanjiro says, smiling softly. “You’re the first person he’s ever liked like this.”

Zenitsu groans from the corner, covering his eyes. “I can’t watch this anymore—he’s gonna hump her leg one day and call it a proposal—”

You hum, turning the shell over in your palm.

“He’s sweet,” you admit. “In his own barbaric way.”

They gape at you.

You set the shell down beside the round pebble. Your collection grows.

Sometimes, at night, you hear scratching at your door. He never knocks—he claws.

And sometimes…you let him in.

He doesn’t speak much then. He lays beside your futon, back to back, breath heavy with exhaustion and unspoken want. You don’t touch—but the air is thick with promise.

You can feel the warmth of his body, the pulse under skin. The soft grunt he gives when you murmur, “You did well today.”

Eventually, the grunts become softer. He starts saying your name instead. Not loud. Just under his breath, like a prayer he doesn’t know the meaning of yet.

*

You’re used to being needed.

You always thought that’s what you were made for—being useful, efficient, quiet in the right ways, explosive in the ones that counted. You weren’t trained for nurturing. But somehow, the Butterfly Mansion turned you into a tree.

A big, broad-shouldered one with sarcastic eyes and hands always stained purple from grinding nightshade.

And now? You have branches.

Or rather—children. Miniature war gremlins.

Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho treat you like a sacred beast. You lift them up on your shoulders so they can “spy from above.” You braid their hair in thick, quick weaves. You make disgusting teas when they’re sick, and they whine about it while drinking every drop. You once stitched Sumi’s scraped knee during a thunderstorm, and she burst into tears—not from pain, but from the “honor of being operated on by Papa Y/N.”

(That nickname has stuck.)

They run into your quarters without knocking. They tattle to you about Zenitsu crying in the laundry bin. They bite Inosuke when he’s annoying you.

You adore them.

Inosuke stomps into the hallway one afternoon, tracking muddy bootprints and screaming your name.

"Y/N! I FOUND A FANG-SHAPED ROCK! IT'S THE ULTIMATE GIFT! COME OUT AND FIGHT ME FOR IT—THEN I’LL GIVE IT TO YOU—"

He’s met with a flying sandal to the face.

“SHE’S BUSY!” Kiyo shrieks, standing on a table with a spoon like a sword.

“YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO TREAT A LADY!” Naho joins her, charging Inosuke at full speed and ramming into his shin.

Sumi climbs him like a mountain goat and yanks his ear.

“WE’VE READ THE RULES! STEP ONE: KNOCK FIRST!”

“WHAT THE HELL—” he bellows, flailing with all three clinging to him like angry barnacles. “GET OFF, YOU VIOLENT FAIRIES—!”

They scream in protest. You arrive just in time to see Kiyo dangling from his boar pelt by her teeth.

"Inosuke," you sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. "Did you bring another dead bird?"

"NO. IT'S A ROCK. FANG ROCK. FOR YOU."

He thrusts it toward you like a prize. It does kind of resemble a canine tooth. You hold it like a delicate diamond.

“You’re being mauled by toddlers,” you murmur. “Is that part of the presentation?”

They’re at war now.

The girls demand he apologize with a haiku. Inosuke tries to respond with a headbutt. Zenitsu drags him off by the ankles. Tanjiro—ever the patient peacemaker—tries to explain why jumping on women isn’t appropriate unless you’re being chased by a demon or on fire.

"She doesn’t even hate it!" Inosuke protests, lips pouty. "She lets me stay sometimes!"

“You... sneak into her room without permission!” Zenitsu screams.

The next time the gremlins see him, he’s sitting very politely on the engawa steps.

You’re inside, brewing a very complex demon paralysis poison that requires total silence.

The kids peer at him through the hallway.

“…What’s he doing?” Kiyo whispers.

“Waiting,” Naho says suspiciously.

Sumi squints. “Planning?”

They tiptoe in. One of them pokes his leg. Another throws a tiny leaf at his face.

Inosuke twitches—but doesn’t move.

“I’m...being good,” he growls. “She said she needed silence.”

They freeze. Sumi tugs his sleeve. “You’re... learning?”

He glares. “Shut up.”

Kiyo nods approvingly. “Acceptable.”

Naho hands him a leaf. “Peace offering.”

Sumi jumps on his shoulder again. He doesn’t even flinch this time.

“Wanna help us scare Zenitsu?”

“…HELL YES.”

*

Inosuke’s idea of being subtle is announcing at full volume:

“HEY, DON’T LOOK AT HER!! SHE’S MINE!”

The first time he yelled it, it was because a male crow sat too long on your windowsill.

The second time, it was Giyuu. The poor man was just complimenting your new antidote formula.

And suddenly, Inosuke flew out of nowhere, snarling, limbs flailing mid-air.

“BACK OFF, FISH MAN! SHE’S GOT A SMELL ONLY I GET TO SMELL.”

“...I don’t even know what that means,” Giyuu muttered, dodging out of instinct.

You stared blankly. “Inosuke.”

He looked up from where he’d landed in a crouch. “WHAT.”

“Go outside and count to ten.”

“...TEN IS WEAK.”

“Then count to whatever number you think is the strongest.”

He brightened. “A HUNDRED THOUSAND.”

And stomped away, chest puffed.

But it only got worse when people started noticing.

“You look so happy these days,” Aoi commented one morning. “Did something good happen?”

Before you could answer, the wall behind you exploded—Inosuke had kicked straight through the paper screen.

“YEAH SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENED—ME!! SHE’S WITH ME!! LOOK!!”

He shoved his face between you and Aoi’s and grinned like a wild dog who found a bone.

“DON’T BE JEALOUS, LADY,” he added dramatically, “NOT EVERYONE GETS A WOMAN THIS STRONG AND PRETTY.”

Aoi blinked. “…I was just asking if she got more sleep.”

You shoved a rice ball into his mouth before he could start describing your 'shiny eyeballs' again.

You were feeding Nezuko a peach. She was sitting in your lap, legs dangling, chirping like a happy sparrow. Tanjiro was smiling peacefully nearby, trimming flowers. Zenitsu, naturally, was swooning in the grass.

“She’s… so beautiful,” he whispered. “Like an angel…”

Inosuke, overhead in a tree, perked up.

“Who?”

“Nezuko-chan, obviously,” Zenitsu sighed, starry-eyed. “She’s the most beautiful—”

“WRONG.”

A thunderous voice shook the trees. Inosuke leapt from above, did a backflip, landed next to you, and pointed both fingers at you like you were a god.

“MY WOMAN IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEING TO EVER EXIST. MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN THE SUN. THAN FIRE. THAN... THAN THE STRONGEST MUSHROOM.”

Zenitsu jumped up. “Excuse me!? Nezuko-chan is the literal embodiment of moonlight!”

Inosuke roared, “MY LADY GLOWS IN THE DARK TOO!!! I CHECKED!!!”

Tanjiro choked.

You calmly handed Nezuko the rest of your peach and stood up. “I’m going to get more tea.”

Zenitsu slapped the ground. “Her smile could bring demons to their knees!”

Inosuke pounded his chest. “HER SCOWL MAKES MY HEART EXPLODE!!”

Zenitsu shrieked. “She smells like plums! What does your girl smell like!?”

“ACID. AND GLORY.”

They almost fist-fought right there.

Later that evening, after Nezuko had curled into your side for a nap and the Little gremlins had finished tying Inosuke’s shoelaces together in protest for “unruly yelling”, he sulked by your door.

You opened it to find him crouched, arms full of wildflowers, half of which were crushed.

“...They’re dead,” you said.

“SO WHAT! THEY WERE PRETTY. LIKE YOU.”

You stared. He stared harder. His cheeks were red under the mask.

“Are you mad?” he asked suddenly, voice lower than usual.

You sighed, crouched down, and pulled him close by the collar of his haori. “I’m not mad.”

He blinked fast. “You’re not?”

“I’m flattered.”

He beamed. You swore the stars above tilted.

Zenitsu: “Nezuko’s eyelashes shimmer like snowflakes!”

Inosuke: “Y/N’s arms are so nice I wanna BITE THEM!!”

Tanjiro: “Can we all agree they’re both very pretty—?”

Nezuko: MMPPHHHHHH!!!

*

It starts with him leaning against a porch post beside Tanjiro, under the silver moonlight. Tanjiro's sipping some warm herbal tea. Zenitsu, bored, twitchy, and always in need of drama, glances around and says—

“Y/N’s pretty, sure,” he said, “but not that pretty.”

Tanjiro’s teacup froze midair. “Zenitsu.”

There’s a rustle behind the pillar.

A growl. Then a war cry.

“I HEARD THAT, SPARKY!!!”

Out lunges Inosuke, shirtless, barefoot, and feral. Eyes wide, a log still tied to one arm like he’d rolled out of sleep mid-dream and landed in a rage. He looks murderous.

“YOU DARE SAY THINGS ABOUT MY WOMAN??” He lunges. Zenitsu shrieks.

“AAHHHH I WAS JOKING!!”

“TOO LATE FOR JOKES, YELLOW LANTERN!!” He pounces.

His mask was off. His rage was not.

“UGLY?! YOU THINK SHE’S UGLY?!”

Zenitsu shot back with both hands in surrender. “I never said—!”

Inosuke pointed a finger so dramatically, it nearly bent reality.

“HER EYES COULD MELT ARMOR.”

“W-what—?”

“HER HAIR SHINES LIKE A DEADLY VINE IN SUNLIGHT!!”

“...That’s not even—”

“AND HER FACE—HER FACE IS A GIFT FROM THE MOUNTAIN GODS THEMSELVES! UGLY?!”

Zenitsu tried to hide behind Tanjiro, but Tanjiro was frozen in place, tea still midair, like his soul had left his body.

Inosuke stormed forward, each stomp loud enough to rattle the wood.

“HER SCOWL IS DIVINE! HER SILENCE? ART! HER HANDS COULD CRUSH YOUR HEAD AND MAKE TEA AT THE SAME TIME!”

Zenitsu wailed. “I WAS JUST MESSING WITH YOU!!”

“WELL SHE’S MY WOMAN AND I WON’T STAND FOR SLANDER—”

Tanjiro finally moved. “Inosuke!! Stop!! You’re waking everyone—!”

“I WANT TO WAKE EVERYONE!! LET THE WHOLE MANSION KNOW!! SHE’S BEAUTIFUL!!”

“Inosuke please—”

“I’LL BITE THE WORD ‘UGLY’ OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!!!”

In your room –

You’re half-covered in your blanket, pillow pressed to your face.

You were awake the second Inosuke screamed.

And now you’re full-body giggling, face flushed, breath wheezing, while Nezuko looks at you like you’ve lost your mind. Again.

“...He’s insane,” you whisper between laughter.

Nezuko tilts her head, then gently pats your shoulder like there, there.

Then a window crashes open somewhere and you hear:

“IF SHE'S UGLY THEN THE MOON IS UGLY TOO—YOU WANNA INSULT THE MOON, HUH?!”

You fall back into your futon, cackling silently, kicking your feet like a girl in love.

Outside, Zenitsu is still screaming.

Tanjiro’s holding him in a headlock.

Inosuke is standing shirtless on a bucket, pointing to the sky like he’s making a historical declaration.

“SHE’S SO BEAUTIFUL, I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT HER TOO LONG OR I FORGET WHERE MY HANDS ARE.”

Zenitsu wheezes. “THAT’S NOT—THAT’S NOT EVEN A COMPLIMENT!!”

“YES IT IS!!”

....

a/n: did you know that crow boyfriends really be out there like “hey babe, I brought you a stick.” And the crow girlfriends go, “omg 🥹 you shouldn’t have.”

[sft-chrries]

squads’ love language

pairings: n. kamado, t. kamado, i. hashibira, z. agatsuma, k. tsuyuri, g. shinazugawa x gn!reader (separately)

n. kamado ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ physical touch

loves patting your head whenever you’re upset or overwhelmed

hugs you tightly after every mission, refusing to let go until she’s sure you’re okay

snuggles close when she’s sitting beside you

t. kamado ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ acts of service

cooks your favorite meals when you’re having a rough day

he likes to cleans or mends your uniform without you asking

quietly leaves small helpful notes to cheer you up or remind you to rest especially when your scent is off

and when you’re sick, he’ll prepare tea for you and next to it will be your medicines

i. hashibira ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ quality time

he’ll drag you out to climb trees, race through forests, or stargaze in silence

gets annoyed when you don’t join training, claiming “it’s boring without you”

as hard it is to believe but he will sits beside you in silence after a long day,

he doesn’t like it when you’re busy because he thinks you’re wasting your time on something that is not him.

in order to make him feel better, you’ll have to spend lots of time with him

z. agatsuma ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ words of affirmation

constantly showers you with compliments: “you’re so amazing! so pretty! i’m lucky!”

writes dramatic love letters and slips them under your door

clings to your hand and says “please be safe” every time you go on a mission

and will DEFINITELY praise you whenever you come back with no scratch on your body

k. tsuyuri˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ quality time

follows you around quietly

sits beside you during breaks, occasionally offering a flower she picked

slowly starts speaking up more—with the coin—whenever you talk to her first

g. shinazugawa ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗ acts of service

silently passes you bandages before you can ask

gets flustered whenever you get too close to him

if you’re sick, he’ll try (awkwardly) to cook porridge and nervously hover until you eat it

likes to walk with you and he always walks on the side closest to the road, even if it means switching places five times while you walk

if you’re upset, he doesn’t know what to say but he’ll sit with you and hand you a steamed bun or drink, quietly keeping you company

🍒 reblogs and notes are appreciated !

🍒 sft-chrries 2025

[rottendolliezz]

Gem

inosuke/ fem reader

word count: 12k words

tags: entertainment district setting, Yoshiwara japan, reader is a courtesan in Ogimoto house, reader is implied to be female, Inosuke being inoko, inosuke crossdressing

Please pretend the trio at the end of the entertainment district weren’t as hurt as they originally were…if they did, their amount of moving around wouldn’t make sense lol

English is not my first language, so I apologise for any mistakes

That being said, please enjoy!

Read part two here

Read part three here

Inoko was her name. 

Her hair was as black as night, the tips of her delicate locks a lapis blue. Her eyes shone like stars, long lashes fluttering with each blink, purity and innocence swirling in her gaze. 

Her skin was flawless, polished and smooth. Plush, velvet lips veiled the rims of her mouth. 

She was beautiful. 

The whispers about her arrival spread like fire. The girls in your house tugged each other’s sleeve, hushing gossip into the shells of their ear. 

“To think such a beauty hid beneath that hideous makeup! It’s unbelievable!”

“I’m telling you, she’s gonna be Yoshiwara’s next oiran! I feel it!”

When you witnessed her for the first time, you were starstruck. 

The rumours were true. She was beautiful. Inoko truly was the new spectacle of the Ogimoto House. 

As a courtesan yourself, you couldn’t help but stare sometimes. Even when in the midst of your duties, your gaze couldn’t help but linger on her silhouette whenever she passed by.

She was mute, you figured. Although the madam hadn’t given a proper explanation for her silence, you eventually connected the dots yourself. 

It wasn’t like it mattered, especially with a face like hers. Her stillness had been brushed aside by the madam, the woman enchanted by her latest find. 

Inoko made a name for herself as someone who didn’t like to be bothered. Whenever someone talked to her, she’d often just redirect her attention to something else. Her gaze would wander, staring at her surroundings with those bright, peering eyes. 

The girls in the Ogimoto house were kind. They tried their best to make her feel welcome, to introduce her to a whole new life. 

Despite their best efforts, Inoko kind of…deflected any attempt at conversation. 

She was cold. Stoic. Unapproachable. 

“Careful Inoko!” A friend of yours called out. “You’ll hurt yourself if you rush like that!” 

She bowed politely before running away. 

Inoko’s mind seemed to be occupied. Those mesmerising eyes of hers were always squinting, always checking her surroundings for a sign she had yet to find. She stared at the walls, scanning the ceiling like a hunter seizing its prey. Sometimes, you saw her clash her teeth. 

As time went on, Inoko made a new name for herself. Instead of the newcomer, Inoko became the house’s doll.

You felt drawn to her. Perhaps it was due to her mesmerising beauty or her bizarre personality. You wanted to get closer to her. 

And so, your mission commenced. 

“Inoko-chan!” You called out from within your room, adjusting some adornments in your hair. You sat in front of a round mirror resting on a low table, your knees pressing against the floorboards. “Can you come for just a second?”

You could swear you’d hear a groan beneath that breath of hers. As you heard her approach your room, you couldn’t help but notice that her feet seemed to stomp a bit. 

The sliding door slid open, the silhouette of the young girl emerging in the doorway. You shot her a gentle smile, patting the spot beside you on the floor. 

“Come come!”

You watched her eyebrows knit in confusion, her head tilting in a silent ‘what do you want?’

“I just wanted to talk for a bit, you and I.”

Her eyes seemed to dart back and forth, scanning your face in suspicion. At the sight of your warm, welcoming smile, she obliged. Trying her hardest to muffle a sigh, Inoko copied your position as she sat herself down onto the floor. 

Her arms were crossed, her expression captivating a silent impatience. 

You chuckled at her reaction, your smile deepening as she accepted the invite. 

“I just wanted to get to know you better, Inoko-chan. I’ve heard so much about you, but we haven’t gotten the chance to talk much yet.”

You noted, glancing into the mirror. “My name’s (__). I don’t think I’ve introduced myself to you yet.”

Inoko didn’t reply. She seemed disconnected from the conversation you tried to make, distracted by the brush running through your hair. 

“Everyone here is really happy you’re here, Inoko.” You chuckled. “I’ve never heard such a rain of praise for a newcomer before. Everyone’s being kind to you so far, right?”

She stayed silent again, as expected. 

You put the brush down, perking up as you peered at the unmoving girl. Her eyes were opened wide, her stare fixated on the small table in front of you. 

A small bag of candy balls laid sprawled out on the wooden table, some of the sweet treats rolling out of its silk confinement. Since the oirans of the Ogimoto house were aware of your sweet tooth, they were kind enough to leave you gifts sometimes. A reward for your hard work, as they liked to call it. 

“Ah! Do you like candy, Inoko?” You asked, moving to grasp the small bag.

“If you’d like, you can have so-“

Before you were able to finish your sentence, you flinched as Inoko swooped the bag of candy from your lousy grip, claiming it as her own as she dashed out of the room. 

You gawked at her sudden reflexes, mouth agape in shock as you watched her disappear. 

Your dumbfounded expression softened, making way for a cheeky grin. 

You weren’t going to give up yet. 

——

Inoko was an impatient one. 

Every time you called her for help -hoping to disguise the attempts to talk to her-, she’d grumble in annoyance before plopping herself down. You apparently had some authority after all. 

“Did you hear? The Kyogoku house got a newcomer too. Apparently, she can play the shamisen really well!”

Her eyebrows were knitted in annoyance as you chirped, both her arms and legs flimsily crossed. She’d click her tongue sometimes, moaning beneath her breath. 

Her limbs were tense, her overall demeanor radiating impatience and restlessness. She wanted to leave. 

“How are you today?” You gently inquired, smiling at her despite expecting no response. 

She huffed, clouds of air leaving her nostrils. She stared at the ceiling, fingertips tapping onto her arm in a tense rhythm. 

“I’ve been thinking.” You noted. “Don’t you want a change of clothes, Inoko?”

She tilted her head in confusion. 

“Hmm…isn’t your kimono kind of plain?”

She blinked in bewilderment, casting a sheepish look at her current garments. 

Her kimono was an indigo one, a sky blue obi tied around her waist. 

It wasn’t like her current clothing was anything ugly, or anything resembling such. If anything, it matched beautifully with the hue of her hair and eyes. 

Still, you thought to yourself, she could do better. And you had just the idea. 

“Here. Let me show you.”

You got up from your seated position, approaching the small drawer of clothes in your private room. You pulled out a neatly folded kimono, humming to yourself. 

“There. Isn’t it pretty?”

You held up a sky blue kimono, paired with a lapis obi for its waist. The soft, light fabric was adorned with floral patterns and glimmering designs. 

“I got it as a gift once, but I’ve barely worn it myself. I don’t think it looks very good on me.”

You smiled, handing it to her. 

“Would you like to have it? I can help you put it on.”

Inoko stood still in front of you, lips pursed into a straight line. She stared at the clothing in silence, her expression conveying disbelief. 

You beamed when she sighed, giving you a slight nod. 

“Yay! That’s great!” You cheered. “Now, let’s-“

The moment your hands opted to touch the obi around her waist, Inoko quickly stepped back. She firmly shook her head, letting her hair sway. 

“Ah.” You replied, blinking repeatedly. “I get it. You’re a modest girl. You don’t want me to see you change.”

If you do, my cover gets blown. Inosuke thought to himself, trying his hardest to bite back his groan. 

“Here. I’ve got one of those thingies.” You noted, pulling out a tatami room divider that laid abandoned in the corner of your room. You hummed when you spread it out, granting Inoko some privacy. 

The young girl crawled behind the screen, opting to change. You hummed when you heard her fiddle with the hems of her clothes, hearing the small pile of fabric fall onto the floor. 

“Are you done?” You asked when the noise subsided.  A grumble was all you were met with. 

Accepting the invite, you peeked behind the screen, staring at the newfound sight. 

Inoko stood there, frustration swirling in her eyes. The kimono was clumsily folded around her body, almost slipping off her form. She grumbled as she grabbed a handful of fabric to cover her chest, letting her sleeves sway as she did. 

The obi was tied around her waist in the sloppiest excuse of a bow you’ve ever seen. 

You chuckled at the sight, smiling at her discontent. 

“Oh dear. Please, let me help.”

You approached her slowly, smiling as she grumbled furthermore with the pieces of fabric. 

With a touch soft and gentle, you gingerly grasped her wrists, redirecting them from her chest. You untied the obi from her waist, letting it fall onto the floor. 

“Always wear a kimono with the left side over the right. The opposite is for the deceased.”

You explained, layering the fabric properly. You tugged it gently, making sure the clothing hugged her shoulders in the right places. 

Aren’t her shoulders a little broad…?  You pondered, trying your hardest to pay it no mind. Her hands are larger than mine too…

As you fixed her kimono in silence, the atmosphere changed. 

Her breathing slowed. That continuous sense of unease stopped swirling in her eyes. 

Her gaze was focused on your tender movements, scanning your acts of generosity. 

You were kind to her. You didn’t scold her for not knowing how to do such simple things, nor berate her for being oblivious to rules. 

You were kind. Patient. Loving. Your voice was kind, your smile warm. 

For the very first time since she came here, Inoko did not seem like she wanted to leave. 

“There.”

You concluded after wrapping the obi around her waist, securing the ends in a neat bow. 

“All good.” You muttered, stepping back to witness the end-result. 

You gasped at the sight, eyes widening in awe. 

How beautiful she looked. You were mesmerised. 

“Oh Inoko, you look beautiful!” You gushed, clasping your hands together. “You look even more dazzling than before! I knew it would look good on you!”

You chuckled at her reaction, her expression resembling a deer in headlights. Perhaps she wasn’t very good at handling praise. 

“Please, keep it!” You ushered, swatting your hands mid-air. “Please do! It’s a gift from me!”

At your overflowing praise, Inoko started to twitch a little bit. You noticed her shift onto the balls of her feet, her cheeks reddening ever so slightly. She groaned beneath her breath, softly tugging at the fabric covering her chest. 

Inosuke sighed. Since when did your gaze make him feel so weird?

She sighed in relief when you perked up, your interest piqued at the sound of music playing. You gasped in excitement, making your way towards the window to view the spectacle. 

“Look! It’s Koinatsu-Oiran!” You gushed, cupping your cheeks with your hands. Your eyes were filled with adoration as you witnessed the woman walking down the street, a parade of young girls and older men surrounding her. 

Every bystander stopped and stared, gazes filled with combinations of worship and awe. She was breathtaking. 

“Don’t worry Inoko.” You smiled. “Give it a few months. If you work hard in the meantime and save lots of money, that’ll be you.”

She bathed in the warmth of your smile. 

“At least dreaming costs no money, right?”

——

“I’M TELLING YOU!”

Inosuke huffed, expression laced with frustration as he lashed out at Tanjirou. 

The both of them sat on a rooftop, legs sprawled out over its spine. 

“THERE’S A DEMON AT MY PLACE!” He hollered. “A DEMON!”

“Well…” Tanjirou stammered. “Are you sure?”

“YEAH!” He affirmed. “IT WAS A THING LIKE THIS? YOU KNOW?” 

Tanjirou ogled the odd way in which Inosuke intertwined his fingers, letting them writhe and squirm as he tried to get his point across. 

He sighed, giving up on trying to understand his friend’s unrecognisable signals. 

“Fine. If you’re so sure Inosuke, I guess I’ll go check it out.”

Inosuke visibly perked up, eyes widening. A sense of pride laced itself in his grin, content that someone took him seriously. 

“As soon as night falls, I’ll head over to Ogimoto house.” Tanjirou’s expression tensed. “Wait for me until then. It’ll be dangerous to move on your own.”

“UUUEEEEGH!”

Inosuke whined, throwing his head back in a dramatic wail. He groaned in frustration as he harshly tugged onto Tanjirou’s kimono, opting to shake some sense into him. 

“WHY SHOULD I DO THAT? YOU SHOULD COME WITH ME RIGHT AWAY!”

“Inosuke-! Hey-!!” Tanjirou affirmed, trying his hardest to pry the slayer’s hands off his clothing. “Be careful, you’ll rip it!”

“IT’S YOUR FAULT FOR BEING STUPID, GONPACHIRO!”

“It’s Tanjirou-!”

—“Inoko?”

A third voice joined their conversation. 

In an instant, Inosuke froze. His limbs stopped in his tracks, his limbs awkwardly hovering midair. His eyes were blown wide in shock, his entire demeanour being drained of colour. 

As a demon slayer with a honed sense of touch, Inosuke found himself able to to notice whenever he was being watched. Peering eyes casted itchy, tingling sensations that crept beneath his skin, reminding him of the constant observation. 

And yet, he failed to notice you. 

“Is that you, Inoko-chan?”

There was no doubt about it. That kind, gentle voice belonged to you. 

He didn’t dare turn around. His limbs felt glued stuck in his movements as he stared into the distance, avoiding all possible forms of eye contact. 

How long had you been standing there? Long enough for his cover to be blown?

Somehow, the mere thought made his stomach drop. 

From the corner of his eye, he saw you. Dressed in a red kimono, velvet lips painted scarlet. A golden hairpin nestled into your scalp glimmered in the sunlight. 

You glanced at Tanjirou, who also seemed distraught by your sudden appearance. 

“Ah. Are you Sumiko-chan?”

Tanjirou, who could not make a straight face when lying, tried his hardest to seem normal. “Y-Yes Miss! How did you know?”

You chuckled. “Rumours spread like wildfire in this place. You matched the descriptions.”

Before an uncomfortable silence got the chance to settle, you patted the woven basket clutched between your arm. “I better get going. Be careful up there, both of you! I’ll see you later, Inoko-chan.”

He felt it. The warmth of your smile on his skin. 

The both of them waited until you left, staying quiet until the sound of your footsteps disappeared. As soon as you turned the corner, they both sighed in relief. 

“Who was that?” Tanjirou asked, breaking the silence. “Is that your friend, Inosuke?”

He groaned in response, his features contorting into discomfort. “Uhh….”

Tanjirou titled his head in confusion. “No?”

“WHATEVER! THAT DOESN’T MATTER RIGHT NOW!” Inosuke yelled, angrily patting the rooftop beneath him. 

“A-Ah! You’re right!” Tanjirou eagerly nodded, quick to match Inosuke’s resolve. 

“Right, as soon as night falls, I’ll head over to Ogimoto house!” He repeated. 

Tanjirou’s demeanour changed, his gaze growing stern. 

“Inosuke, make sure to keep your eyes and ears open. It’s up to us to protect our loved ones from harm.”

Inosuke blinked, registering the weight of his words. 

For a moment, he saw you in his mind. 

Innocent, kind you, who had no clue about the existence of demons. He wanted it to stay that way. 

In the end, Tanjirou smiled.  

“Let’s do our very best, okay?”

——

She was staring. 

Whenever she tiptoed around the hallways, fingers curled around a tray of steaming plates, you couldn’t help but notice her gaze. 

You always left the door to your room open when getting ready, appreciating the contact with the outside world. 

She’d ever so slightly slow down her pace, perking up while her ungraceful stomping shifted into gentle noise. 

“Hey.”

You chuckled when she visibly flinched, looking like a deer in headlights at the entrance of your room. 

“I caught you staring.”

You laughed, knees folded as you looked into the mirror resting on a low, wooden table. A wet sponge tapped against your skin, evenly spreading a thin layer of makeup across your face. 

“Do you want to come in?”

She stood there in silence. 

Inosuke bit the inside of his cheek. Throughout the days he’s been here, he still hasn’t gotten a clue about Makio’s whereabouts. He couldn’t afford to get distracted. 

No matter how much he enjoyed doing so. 

“Come. Just for a second.”

She wielded to your plea, succumbing to your hand gently patting the empty spot beside you. 

She sat next to you, copying your pose. She looked carefully at the makeup covering your face, eyes widened in fascination. 

She was like a puppy. 

“I see you made a friend. That’s good.” You said, referring to the girl you witnessed Inoko on the roof with. “It’s good to have friends in this place. It’ll make your stay much more enjoyable.”

You paused, dipping the sponge into some makeup again. 

“What house is she in? Tokito or Kyogoku? I forgot.” You continued without expecting a reply. 

Inoko merely titled her head. 

“I hope it’s not the Kyogoku one. If she did, she could be in trouble.” You chuckled. 

Inoko shot you a puzzled look. 

“Ah, right. You don’t know yet.” You stated, putting down the sponge you were using. 

“There’s an infamous Oiran living there. Although she is beautiful, she’s a bit…scary.”

You looked troubled. 

“She made quite a reputation. Not only is she really intimidating, she’s also frighteningly strong. She gets mad easily, and takes it out on others in return.” You shivered. “I don’t want your friend to get in trouble. Tell her to be careful, okay?”

A silence settled. 

“You know Inoko…” You muttered. “I didn’t want to tell you at first because I didn’t want to scare you, but I figured that if you’re going to stay here, you should know.”

She perked up in curiosity. 

Your face grew stern, your expression turning serious. You got up from your seat, swinging the tatami door shut. 

“People here have been disappearing lately.”

Inoko’s lips parted as she stared at your back. You slowly turned around. 

“At first, people started blaming it on Ashinuke. Do you know what that is?”

She shook her head. 

“To put it simple, it’s basically when a courtesan runs away from her house, leaving her Madam in debt.” You explained. “Some do it to escape their misery, some do it to marry the person they’ve fallen in love with…”

You sighed. 

“But lately, more and more people started to disappear. And rumours started to spread.”

Inoko’s eyes were widened, hanging onto your lips. 

“Instead of Ashinuke, people started making up other kind of stories to justify the recent events…” You paused. 

“Some believe in Gods. Some believe in spirits. Some believe in a higher being punishing humankind for not living up to their expectations. I feel like everyone made up a story of their own these days…” You sighed. “Whatever helps them sleep at night, right?”

A silence fell. 

“I had a friend once, you know.”

Inoko sat still. 

“We were best friends. We talked for hours every day. We did everything together.” You stared at the ceiling, reminiscing. A pained smile formed on your lips. 

“She fell in love with a customer. So she ran away.”

Your brows knitted. 

“I was the only one who knew about her plans. I felt like it was not my place to stop her. I wanted her to be happy.” 

You confessed. 

“It’s been months since she left, and I have never received a letter since.”

He could hear the torment in your voice. 

“I figured she’s either disappeared, missing, or she simply forgot about me….”

You sighed. Deeply. 

You got up from your position once more as you slowly approached the window, staring at the nightlife of Yoshiwara. 

“Inoko…”

You shakily inhaled. 

“I want to leave this place too….”

Although Inosuke couldn’t see your face, he felt it. The indomitable sadness laced in your voice, a cadence combined of deceit, anger and regret. 

“I want to fall in love with someone too. Day after day, I can’t help but feel like I keep waiting for some kind of miracle, when I know so very well that that miracle won’t come.”

You pressed your fingertips against the glass.   

“I’m sick of this life. I’m sick of using my body as a tool. I’m sick of this constant competition between me and everyone else.”

Your lips began to tremble. 

“We are women, Inoko. Our clocks are ticking. Our bodies are in their prime. If someone won’t love me while I’m still young and pretty, then what will become of me?”

You lifted your hand, pointing at the very distance. 

You inhaled again, trying to steady your rising emotions. 

“Did you know, Inoko? I like to take long walks. It’s a hobby of mine.” You added, a mourning smile adorning your face. “If you follow that gravel path over there, you’ll eventually leave the district. If you keep walking, you’ll end up somewhere beautiful.”

He was relieved to see you smile. 

“There’s a corn field over there.” You tapped against the window. “About two hours from here.”

Inoko blinked. 

“Its beautiful. But scary at night.”

You paused. 

“There’s a bench right in front of it. I like to sit there sometimes.” You added. “I guess it’s my kind of peace.”

You sighed, narrowing your eyes. 

“I want to leave this place and move to the countryside. I want to live amidst the corn and rice fields. Away from all the people. Away from the noise.”

Another silence followed. 

Little did you know Inoko was twitching behind you. An excruciating itch tormented her body, skin ablaze with the desire to reach out. 

You were nearly moved to tears. 

He felt it. How much you tried to bite back your emotions, to make yourself seem stronger than you needed to be. 

His stomach churned, his hands itchy. 

He didn’t want to see you like this. Where had your smile gone? 

With as much tenderness as the feral boy could possibly muster, he carefully reached out. His hand awkwardly hovered mid-air, twitching and writhing inches away from your shoulder. 

He wanted to feel you. Touch you. Remind you that you were seen, heard, looked at. 

He was here for you. 

“Inoko-chan.”

The sound of your voice set his heart ablaze. His hand froze. 

“When you get out of this place, write to me. Okay?” 

His eyebrows knitted, lips parting. 

For the first time in his life, he wished he could. 

His fingertips trembled, creeping towards your shoulder. 

Before his skin could linger on yours, you stepped back.

His very chance had slipped through his fingers. 

You blinked, staring at the tray of food Inoko had left behind. 

“Oh goodness! The food is about to go cold because of me!” You exclaimed. “I’m so sorry for talking so much! I completely distracted you!”

You apologised, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. “Finish up your chores okay? We don’t want the Madam getting upset!”

Inosuke grumbled on the inside.

He didn’t want to leave yet. 

Inoko bowed, carefully picking up the tray. 

“Oh, wait! Inoko! Before you leave…” You called out, voice soft. She turned around, casting you a curious look. 

“I know I talked a lot just now but…I’d like to ask you something….”

Your demeanour changed. You seemed bashful as you spoke, fiddling with your fingers as you avoided eye-contact. 

Were you nervous?

“Well…you see…” You chuckled, intertwining your fingers. 

“Tonight, I’m going to perform a traditional dance. I was uh….hoping…you’d come watch…”

You felt blood rush to the apples of your cheeks at Inoko’s dumbfounded expression. 

“It’s nothing big or anything! I’m just a small opening act for some of the more skilled dancers here. It’s nothing to be excited about, really….” You huffed, swatting your hands in an uncaring manner. 

“But…I worked hard. It would really make me happy if you’d come and see me…”

You smiled, your smile as warm as the summer sun. Your cheeks were flushed, clearly embarrassed by your request. 

Wait? Tonight??? This evening?? Today?????

Inosuke thought to himself, feeling his stomach sink. 

I can’t come tonight!! Me and Soichirou were supposed to find the demon together! Fuck!

He felt something bitter bubble in his core. 

He couldn’t make it. 

“Wait, here…” You mumbled, digging into the pockets of your clothes. 

“I got you a ticket. I made sure you have a good spot.”

You glanced at her hands, occupied by the tray. You chuckled, slipping the paper ticket beneath the steaming plates. 

You cupped her hands with yours, letting your skin touch for a moment. 

Hope swirled in your eyes. 

“I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

——

Inosuke had a stomach ache. 

He clutched the paper ticket within his hold, fingers brushing against the paper, eyes scanning symbols he could not read. 

You had already left. He heard you bid a goodbye to the Madam as you did, some of the other courtesans wishing you good luck on your performance. He heard the nerves in your voice as you thanked them. 

He groaned, teeth clashing in frustration as he sat abandoned in his room. Though the sun had already dipped below the horizon, Tanjirou hadn’t shown up yet. He crossed his arms, feeling his irritation rise with each passing second. 

“Tsk-!! Stupid Tantaro!! Where is he?” He scoffed, voice laced with annoyance. “Stupid assworm!!”

He hated this. Being alone with his thoughts. 

Everytime he glanced at the ticket you gave him, an overwhelming ache in the depths of his stomach tormented his being. He felt a crushing sensation press down onto his heart, feeling his teeth gnash against each other. 

What was this feeling?

 He got up from his seated position, approaching the nearest window. 

He stared. Emerald green eyes took in the sight that was Yoshiwara, observing the hustling crowds, swaying lanterns and traditional attire. 

Little did he know, your feet tapped against a stage hidden away from his line of sight. The clothing you wore flowed around your body, swaying to the rhythm of the song you performed.  

A small crowd had gathered, filling up the seats. Eyes filled with awe and adoration stared as they viewed the spectacle ahead.

A fox mask was pressed against your face as you swirled, stretching out your limbs in an ending pose. 

A gentle applause graced your ears, your chest heaving as you gently detached the fox mask from your face. 

Staring at the crowd ahead, your smile vanished as fast as it appeared. 

The seat ahead was empty. 

——

The next thing you knew was chaos. 

Blood. Collapse. Ruin. The entertainment district had turn into a carnage. 

It all happened so fast. 

The moment your dance ended, the crowd had erupted in a gentle applause as you walked off the stage. 

The moment your feet hit the ground, the attack began. 

An eruption of noise exploded in the distance, the aftermath of its shock reverberating through your body. Buildings collapsed in a haze of fire, piles of rubble covering the mangled corpses of many. 

Your breathing heaved as the crowd erupted into sheer panic, wailing screams causing a haunting symphony as they each tried to escape the chaos.

“EVERYONE! FOLLOW US!” You heard a woman shout, beckoning the crowd while carrying a toddler on her back. She was dressed in red attire, her hair tied into a ponytail with blonde locks enveloping her face. “HEAD NORTHEAST! EVACUATE THE DISTRICT!”

Two other women followed her lead, trying their hardest to lead the crowd to safety. 

Your chest heaved, panic surging through your veins as you tried to process the gravity of the situation. The utter, paralysing fear had immobilised your limbs, rendering you a motionless doll in the sea of chaos. 

Your yelped when fleeing pedestrians harshly bumped into you, forcefully punishing you for obstructing their escape. 

Your gaze locked onto a building ahead, its very centre slashed in half. A weeping widow clutched the body of her headless husband as she screamed, begging for help. 

The fox mask clutched between your trembling fingers fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. 

For a second, the noise subsided as you carefully observed the crowd. 

You started recognising people. You noticed the familiar faces of your colleagues, along with the distressed expression of the Madam herself. You counted their faces, trying to steady your nerves as you collected the evidence of their existence. 

Utter dread washed over you at a sudden realisation. 

Inoko. 

Your eyes widened. Your stomach sank. An unbearable nausea churned in your core. 

Breaking free from the chains of your fear, you turned away, sprinting towards the source of violence with a terrifying speed. You panted, swiftly avoiding all obstacles as you swam against the tides of the crowd, hissing each time an elbow jabbed into your side. 

What if she’s trapped beneath the rubble? What if she’s in pain?

You felt your eyes water at the thought, the utter hopelessness of the situation clouding your judgement. Your feet carried you as quick as they could, leading you back towards the remnants of Ogimoto house. 

The further you walked, the more the crowd ebbed away. You figured most of the people had fled the scene by now. 

You yelped when a lean statue harshly bumped into you, hissing as you quickly recollected your stance. You blinked in bewilderment, staring at the unknown culprit. 

You gawked at the sight. 

A muscular young man had bumped into you, his head entirely covered by a peculiar boar-mask. His upper body was entirely naked, toned by muscles, scratches and bruises. Baggy Hakama pants enveloped his legs, a fluffy brown set of fur adorning his waist. 

The beady blue eyes of the headgear peered at your form, making you stare in bewilderment at the odd-looking stranger. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???”

A gruff, harsh voice emitted from the boar-mask, the stranger’s question asked with a suspicious amount of urgency.  

You heaved, panting, noticing the two swords he clutched firmly within his hold. Their edges were jagged and sharp, resembling the fangs of a beast. 

“I’m—.” You panted. “I’m looking for my friend, Inoko.”

You swallowed. “I can’t find her anywhere. What if she’s trapped? I need to find her!”

The boar paused for a second, dumbfounded by your answer. 

You came back for him. You plunged yourself into danger just for his sake. 

He felt his heart throb. 

You watched as the stranger stayed quiet for a moment, the cogs in his head seemingly spinning at maximum capacity. 

“SHE ISN’T!” The boar concluded, puffing his chest out with an odd sense of confidence. Again. 

Your eyebrows knitted in confusion. “What the?” You angrily huffed. “How the hell do you know who I’m referring to? Do you think I’m dumb?”

The boar mumbled something beneath his breath, clearly displeased by your bratty response. “BECAUSE I KNOW HER, DAMN IT! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!”

Your eyes widened. “You do? So you know she’s-“

“YES YES GREEN EYES DARK HAIR I KNOW. NOW LEAVE!”

You sputtered in displeasure when the stranger gripped your shoulders from behind, abruptly moving you away from the heat of the battle. 

Taking his word for it, you eventually obliged, letting him push you towards safety as he himself turned around, heading towards battle. 

When you looked behind you, the stranger disappeared. 

——

You got lost. 

Although you knew the district like the back of your hand, it was surprisingly difficult to navigate through the piles of rubble and rising specks of disintegrating ash. 

Everyone had fled by now, leaving you alone in the sea of ruin. You were a spectator of what remained of Yoshiwara’s beauty, mourning what once was. 

You wandered through the maze, peering at the moonlit remains. All sense of familiarity had disappeared, leaving you alone in the dark abyss. 

You perked up, a sudden sound piquing your interest. 

Hushed voices muttered in the distance. 

Feeling a new sense of determination bloom into your chest, you followed the trail of sound. The gravel crunched beneath your feet with each step. 

After turning a final corner, you saw them. 

Four teenagers weeping into each other’s arms. 

“We did it! We all survived!” 

A young boy sat in the middle, two arms clutched around two others, pulling them in. His skin was tanned slightly, a scar adorning his forehead. He was dressed in a checkered haori, his face contorted in an expression of happiness and gratitude. 

You narrowed your eyes. You recognised him from somewhere. 

The boy on his left was a blonde, wailing childishly. Uneven, choppy bangs brushed against his forehead as the ends of his hair were tied into two high ponytails. His cheeks were dusted red, his blush smudged by his pouring tears. 

In the very middle sat a young girl, one with the statue of a toddler. She had bright, innocent pink eyes, along with long, black hair enveloping her face. A thick rope was attached to her mouth. She seemingly did not mind. 

Clutched within the stranger’s right arm was the one you bumped into earlier. The young boy with the gruff voice, whose face hid underneath that ferocious boar-mask, dug its snout into the shoulder of his friend. 

You gasped at the sight. 

He knew where Inoko was. 

You grumbled as you tactically shielded yourself behind an abandoned building, hiding behind a large pillar that had somehow survived the war. 

It seemed like such an emotional reunion. You really didn’t want to intrude. 

You sighed deeply, feeling nerves pool in your stomach. You dug your nails into your palms, making up your mind. 

It was now or never. 

You inhaled briefly before letting go of the pillar, tiptoeing towards them. 

A wooden plank cracked beneath your feet. 

All of them turned their head towards the sound, eyes blinking in confusion at the stranger who had suddenly emerged. 

You felt shame boil in your stomach, feeling your cheeks grow red in embarrassment. This was humiliating. 

You inhaled once more, straightening your shoulders as you slowly approached the group. 

Until only a handful of feet separated you all, you spoke up. 

“U-Uhm..” You mumbled, trying your hardest to stand your ground. You felt embarrassed as their eyes fixated on you, making you fiddle with the fabric of your clothes. 

Now that you were closer, they all looked seriously beat up. Various amounts of slashes, wounds and bruises decorated their bodies, painting their skin with fresh blood. 

Your lips parted at the sight as you tried to get ahold of yourself. 

“W-Who’s that?” The blonde spoke up, breaking the silence. He looked back and forth between you and his friends. 

“Are you lost, young lady?” The boy in green asked, tilting his head with genuine care. “Didn’t you evacuate with the others?”

You shook your head. “No. I came back here because I was looking for someone…”

Tanjirou and Zenitsu flashed each other a bewildered look. Nezuko merely blinked at you, staring at you like a lollipop in a candy shop. 

“Uhm, you sir…” You stated, glancing at the boar-head whose eyes had been fixated on your form. 

“I’m looking for Inoko. You said you knew where she was…”

A silence followed. For a while, the four young boys struggled to comprehend the weight of your words. 

“OH. MY. GOD.” The blonde shouted, his high, shrill voice a high cadence. He looked at the boar-man with anger, eyes widened in shock and disbelief. 

“INOSUKE???? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” He yelled, his hands flying towards his friend’s throat. 

“A GIRL AS NICE AS HER ENDANGERED HERSELF FOR YOUR SAKE AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY HER?????” The blonde accused, making you wince at his cries. “I’M GONNA KILL YOU! I’M GONNA KILL YOU!”

You stared in disbelief how Zenitsu’s hands were firmly clutched around his friend’s throat, opting to fling the mask from his head. The boar grumbled in annoyance as he tried his hardest to counter his attacks, doing everything he can to keep his mask attached. 

“SHUT UP, MONITSU!” The beast roared. “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!”

“NO! I’M GONNA HAVE MY SAY!” Zenitsu screeched. “THIS GIRL DESERVES TO KNOW THE TRUTH RIGHT THIS INSTANT!!”

“UEGH!! LET GO!!”

“NEVER!!”

You stared in bewilderment at the young boys fighting, making you lock eyes with the one who had been stuck amidst it all. 

The boy in the checkered haori smiled at you. The overflowing warmth of his gaze made your heart skip, feeling twitchy at how the gratitude in his eyes was now directed at you. 

Little did you know, Tanjirou admired you more than anything. 

To think you had potentially risked your life for his sake. 

Zenitsu, erupting a battle cry, manifested the remnants of his power in a final attack. With one swift motion, the boar-head detached itself from its owner, falling onto the ground with a gentle thud. 

Your lips parted in recognition. 

Hair as black as night swayed as he turned his head. Bright, shining eyes of an emerald green widened at your sight. Soft, smooth, snow-white skin gawked at your presence, taking in your form. 

You found her.

“Wh-“

A silent wail emitted from your lips, shifting into silence. Your eyes widened in utter disbelief as you registered the sight, the sheer revelation dawning on you. 

That lean statue. Those toned arms. 

Inoko was a man. 

You chuckled in disbelief, although no hint of joy reached your eyes. 

“You’re a—“ You huffed. “Huh?”

A silence settled as you stepped back, finally connecting the dots. 

Inoko was no girl. She had been lying to you since the very beginning. 

She had never been your friend. She didn’t belong here. 

You glanced at the faces of her comrades, Tanjirou’s expression forming a mirror of your pain. 

She was part of a different life. 

A life you were no part of. 

Your lips began to tremble as moisture clouded your eyes, obscuring your vision. You shook your head in disbelief as you stepped back, biting the inside of your cheeks. 

The pure, utter betrayal you felt broke your heart in two. A suffocating pressure engulfed your being as dread itself forked your veins. 

Not wanting any of them to see you at your most vulnerable, you took off. You ran away, dashing towards the darkness as fast as your feet could carry you. 

Far, far, away from the reminder of your pain. 

“Look at what you’ve done, Inosuke!” Zenitsu scolded as he watched your frame disappear. “Now she’s upse—“

He didn’t get to finish his sentence. As if the young boy had suddenly mastered thunder breathing himself, Inosuke took off, leaving a cloud of dust behind. 

Zenitsu gawked at the sight, his jaw hitting the floor. He had never seen him move with such urgency before. 

He heard it. A sound so sorrowful and painful coming from Inosuke, it made him want to cry. 

“That guy…” Zenitsu muttered. “What’s gotten into him?”

“Let’s give them some time, Zenitsu.” Tanjirou replied. “I’m sure it will be alright if Inosuke follows his heart.”

The blonde huffed. “Let’s hope so…”

You panted, heart beating in your chest. Your stamina had abandoned you. 

You stopped in the middle of your tracks, satisfied with the distance you covered. You plopped yourself down onto some piles of rubble, gasping for air. 

You heaved, trying to calm your frantic breathing as you processed the situation. 

Your home burned down. Your friends were most likely dead or missing. 

You were jobless. Broke. Lost. 

And yet, nothing hurt as much as the reminder of Inoko’s betrayal. Tears welled up in your eyes as you lamented, feeling your heart throb in pain. 

You couldn’t keep it in anymore. 

Sobs rocked your body as you cupped your cheeks, rivers of hot tears pouring from your eyes. Your shoulders shook violently, pitiful wails emitting from your lips. 

You didn’t even register the approaching presence, making you perk up at the sound of crunching wood. 

There, amidst the piles of rubble, stood Inosuke. 

He heaved, panting, his chest moving up and down. You stared at him with bloodshot eyes, your sobs coming to a halt. 

Inosuke hurt. 

Although he’d never admit it, the battle had taken a toll on him. Every inch of his body throbbed in discomfort, searing with pain. 

And yet, the sight of you crying stung a thousand times more. 

The sheer reminder that he was the root of your misery was nothing compared to his battle scars.   

At the sight of his approaching form, your sorrow had shifted into anger. Feeling rage bloom into your stomach, you scowled at his presence. 

“Leave.” You spat. “I have nothing to do with you.”

Inosuke grumbled, his brows contorting into a frustration that matched your own.  

“JUST—!” He sputtered. “JUST HEAR ME OUT OKAY! IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!”

His voice was rough. Husky. Nothing like you expected the gentle Inoko-chan to have. 

“WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO UNDERSTAND?” You shouted back. “YOU LIED! YOU LIED TO ME!”

Your voice cracked. Your eyes filled themselves with tears. 

A sob rocked your body once more. 

“JUST LISTEN!! SHUT UP AND LISTEN!!!”

Inosuke yelled, his own hurt disguised as aggression. 

You sniffled, wiping away your tears in silence. You helplessly stared at your feet, awaiting his explanation. 

“My real name.” Inosuke huffed, pointing at his chest. “Is Hashibira Inosuke. And I’m not a girl.”

You looked up at him with glimmering eyes. 

“My friends and I are demon slayers. We were sent here to kill one of the most powerful demons in existence.” He explained, his rough voice shifting into a gentler tone. 

“We were told the upper rank inhabited the entertainment district, disguised as a human. That’s why we each infiltrated a different house to find as many clues as possible.” 

You blinked in bewilderment. 

Inosuke huffed, the results of his blood-loss making his head spin. He inched closer with trembling legs. 

A silence settled as the young man momentarily stared at his feet, the cogs in his head spinning at maximum capacity. 

His brain felt clouded, hazy with the thoughts of a thousand different confessions. Now, beneath the weight of your gaze, his throat went dry as his train of thought vanished. 

“I’m—“

Your eyes widened in bewilderment as the slayer drew near, his wobbly legs carrying his weight. Bridging the gap between you two, you blinked in astonishment when his hands nestled itself onto your shoulders. 

“I—-“

Inosuke sputtered, both the unfamiliarity of apologies and the results of his exhaustion mingling with his words. 

His lips parted. His grip became tighter.

“I’m sorry.”

With astonishment dressed in silence, you stared at him in disbelief. A pitiful wail emitted from his lips as you witnessed regret bloom onto his features. 

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. For pretending to be someone I’m not.”

Instead of the loud, beast-like cadence you had heard from him earlier, his tone shifted. His voice was soft, murmuring, his sorrow laced in tenderness. 

His confession was a slow one. Each word was tactically chosen, forming the purest expression of his heart. 

“I’m sorry for leading you on. I’m sorry for keeping secrets.”

Inosuke blinked. Those emerald green eyes were fixated on your features. 

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you dance.”

You heard it. Felt it. How honest he was. 

Each syllable slipping from his tongue painted your skin in goodsbumps, making tears swell in your eyes as your heart throbbed in your chest. 

He wanted to make things right. 

You felt your lips start to tremble. 

“You had been kind to me the whole time. You were always gentle and never scolded me for being rude or inexperienced.” 

Inosuke’s stare intensified. 

“You spoiled me. Gifted me your clothes. Talked to me. Looked out for me. Cared for me. And in the end, when you invited me to something important to you, I didn’t even bother showing up.”

Tears slipped from your eyes again. 

“And I’m so, so sorry.”

You felt Inosuke’s hands start to shake. They hadn’t moved an inch from your shoulders. 

“I—“ You sputtered. “I don’t know what to say…”

“I followed you.” Inosuke stated, his sorrowful expression now shifting into one of determination. “Because I wanted to make things right.”

You blinked in bewilderment. 

Inosuke’s tender hand moved to clasp yours, shielding your palm in his warm embrace. 

“Come with me.”

For a moment, the world stopped spinning. 

“What?”

“Come with me.” Inosuke repeated, face contorted into sheer determination. 

“Become a nurse at the butterfly estate. Spend the rest of your life tending to demon slayers.” He professed. “You’ll be free from this place. You’ll live the rest of your life surrounded by all the corn- and rice fields you can ever imagine. Away from all the people. Away from all the noise.”

A silent choke was all he was met with. 

You couldn’t believe he had perfectly recited what you had told him once. 

“Isn’t that what you wanted?” Inosuke inquired, squeezing your hand as his face inched closer.

“Isn’t that what you’ve dreamt of?”

Hope shimmered in his eyes. 

Your lips were parted, frozen in the desire to speak. 

“I couldn’t possibly….” You murmured. 

“YOU CAN!” Inosuke interrupted, his hope and determination shining through his face. “This is your chance to start a new life! To make your dreams come true!”

“I—“ 

You babbled, stepping back. You watched Inosuke’s face contort into utter heartbreak when your hand slipped from his. 

“I can’t, Inosuke.”

Your brows were furrowed, eyes locked in a gaze of hurt.

“I don’t even know who you are…”

The words that left your lips just now inflicted a pain no amount of wounds could match.

“Besides…” You noted. “I have no medical knowledge whatsoever. I’ll just be a nuisance to whoever’s in charge.” 

“Then they’ll teach you.” 

The unmoving, steadfast resolve in Inosuke’s voice crept beneath your skin.

He wasn’t going to let you go. 

“They’ll teach you everything they know. They’ll accept you with wide open arms. Because that is what kind of people they are.” 

He thought of the girls at the butterfly estate. 

Aoi. Sumi. Kiyo. Naho. 

“There are hundreds of demon slayers out there, and only a handful of nurses. And three of them are little kids.” He added. “Don’t you understand? We need you.”

A silence followed. 

Despite the outstretched landscape enveloping you both, you’ve never felt so claustrophobic in your life. Your surroundings pressed down onto your shoulders, the pressure of your options weighing down onto your core. 

You glanced at your surroundings. 

Ash. Blood. Destruction. 

Was there anything for you to go back to?

“I promise.” 

Inosuke’s outstretched hand of hope filled your vision. 

“I swear on my life I will never lie to you again. I’ll make you happy. I’ll beat up everyone who doesn’t accept you.”

His fingertips trembled. His voice cracked.

“Just come with me. Please.”

Slowly, hesitantly, you reached out, longing for his touch, savouring the cherished dream that was about to come to fruition. 

The seed of your hope had finally been fertilised. 

His fingers wrapped around your skin in a tender embrace, determined to never let go ever again. 

You were coming with him. 

——

“TANJIROUUUU!” Zenitsu’s whining voice cut through the silence. “I DON’T WANNA WAAAAAALK! MY LEGS HUUUUUUURT!”

Tanjirou sighed, leaning against the embrace of his young sister who carried his form. “I’m sorry, Zenitsu. There’s only one Nezuko, and I can’t walk anymore.”

Zenitsu whined, moaning about something inaudible under his breath. “This is so unfair! I wanna be carried too! Why can’t I—-“

The three of them perked up at the sound of two approaching set of footsteps. 

Inosuke paved the way, his hand firmly clasped around yours as the both of you navigated through the rubble. Inosuke’s sublime senses had reunited the five of you once again. 

Behind him, you trailed. A bashful expression rested on your face as the trio came to a halt, eyes widening in surprise at Inosuke’s companion. 

“She’s coming with us.” Inosuke stated, the tone of his voice indicating that this was no discussing matter. 

“Ah! It’s the girl from before!” Zenitsu noticed. 

Now that Tanjirou was able to take a better look, he recognised you. You were the girl who talked to them on the rooftop.  

He remembered you. That warm, kind smile you emitted. 

He was happy Inosuke made such a loving friend. 

“We’re delighted to have you with us.” Tanjirou smiled, looking at you in curiosity. “What is your name?”

“(__).” You stated. “My name is (__).”

“UUUUUEUEAAAAAA!!!!!” Zenitsu screeched, seemingly having some leftover energy from the battle. “A PRETTY GIRL IS COMING WITH US???? UNBELIEVABLE!! UNBELIEVABLEEEEEE!”

You watched in awe at how the blonde kneeled down in front of you, clasping your leftover hand with a blazing intensity. 

“MY NAME IS AGATSUMA ZENITSU! RANK KANOE!” He screeched. “YOU—!! YOU——!!!! WE HAVE TO GET MARRIED RIGHT AWAY!!!!”

Zenitsu watched how your face contorted. He felt his jaw drop to the floor when the corners of your lips tugged upwards, curling into a smile. 

You wheezed, laughing wholeheartedly at the silly confession. 

Zenitsu felt his heart stop. This was the first time a girl he asked to marry had replied with a smile. 

“Get lost.”

Inosuke’s grip on your hand grew tighter as he tugged you away from the blonde, creating as much distance as he could. His voice was low, husky, a sudden intimidating aura radiating off of him. 

He didn’t understand why, but seeing Zenitsu cling to you irked him terribly. 

“Let’s get moving, everyone.” Tanjirou suggested. “It won’t be long until the Kakushi arrive.”

The rest of you nodded in agreement, four exhausted bodies dragging themselves forward. 

“Excuse me…” You uttered, making everyone stare at you. “You all look…terribly beat up, and I’m sure I have some energy to spare…”

You glanced at the blonde, remembering his previous whines about his aching legs. 

“Zenitsu-san, if you’re in pain, I don’t mind carrying you…”

You tried to stifle a smile as you witnessed his expression turn into that of melted butter, heart-eyes clouding his vision. 

“Teeheehee! I won’t mind~♥︎”

A creepy, unsettling giggle emitted from his windpipe as he inched closer to you. 

With a rough huff, Inosuke yanked you forwards, almost making you stumble. He groaned, creating as much distance between you and his whiny friend, much to the former’s irritation. 

“He can walk.”

You chuckled, feeling your heart throb at Inosuke’s display of sudden possessiveness. 

As soon as Zenitsu’s protests died down, the five of you continued in silence. 

Throughout the entire trip, Inosuke had not let go of your hand. 

——

Eventually, the Kakushi were reached. 

Clothing draped around their bodies, leaving only a small gap around their eyes. 

You were amazed at their teamwork, at how quickly they all divided themselves into groups with different tasks. They spread across Yoshiwara, cleaning up the battlefield and taking care of the wounded. 

Tanjirou, who had been the most severely injured of all, got carried away by two Kakushi on a carry sheet. The adrenaline of the battle had eventually worn off, allowing him to slip into unconsciousness after the Kakushi tended to his wounds. 

Zenitsu, who seemed rather disappointed by getting carried by Kakushi instead of you, huffed in defeat. Even Inosuke, who swore he had some energy to spare, succumbed to the exhaustion. 

The walk to the butterfly mansion was a quiet one. 

Only the crunching of feet hitting gravel and the swaying sound of footsteps filled the air as you trailed behind the Kakushi, letting a small distance roam in between.  

You noticed it. Their swift, careful glances as they peeked at your form. 

None of them said a word. 

The walk to the butterfly estate was a long one. 

Despite the aching tormenting your feet, your eyes were focussed on your surroundings as you took everything in. You closely observed each turn the Kakushi took, trying your hardest to remember the layout of the route. 

After hours of strolling through the moonlit fields, you reached your destination. Three young girls had opened a dark-wooden gate, politely greeting the Kakushi as they swiftly manoeuvred the bodies of the injured slayers inside. 

After the Kakushi disappeared, the girls turned around to face you. You watched how they all shared a look of confusion before flashing you a kind, sheepish smile. 

A short, fair-skinned girl approached you, politely glueing her hands together as she smiled. Her hair was a dark brown, adorned by two pink butterfly hairclips on each side. 

“Onee-san, are you lost?”

Her voice was high-pitched and squeaky, laced with the innocent curiosity of a young child. 

You briefly inhaled, steadying your nerves. 

The time for introductions had commenced. 

——

They were triplets. Although not related by blood. 

Sumi, Kiyo and Naho were their names. 

Their young, gleaming eyes sparkled in curiosity as you told them the events that led you there, including your very first encounter with the slayer in disguise. You told them all about your conversations with Inoko, how his sheer determination had been the final push towards your renewed destiny. 

“Miss, that is amazing!” Kiyo cheered. “To think you travelled this far!”

The other two nodded, gasping in awe. “It’s amazing! It’s amazing!”

“You must be tired right, onee-san?” Sumi suggested, gently patting your arm with her own dainty fingers. “We have enough beds to spare!”

“We’ll get you something comfortable to slip into.” Naho chirped. “Just follow us, okay?”

You nodded, trailing behind the tree sisters as they led the way. 

Luckily for you, the butterfly mansion was enormous, large enough to gift you a room of your own. 

The room itself was minimalistic. Tatami walls enclosed the very space, the floor itself being a dark-wooden hue. 

It looked familiar.  

A pang of guilt shot through your heart. 

It reminded you of Ogimoto. 

“There are some spare clothes in the drawer over there!” Sumi said, pointing at a small closet in the very corner of your room. “They’re very comfortable and warm! I’m sure your size is in there too!”

Kiyo, who had already occupied herself with prepping your futon, gently patted the fluffy blanket with her tiny hands. “And this futon is nice too! Make sure to rest up, okay?”

“We’ll introduce you to our friends tomorrow morning!” Naho cheered. “I’m sure Aoi, Kanao, and Miss Shinobu will welcome you with open arms!”

You smiled at them, translating your gratitude for their hospitality and kind efforts into a bow. 

“Thank you so much, you three. Thank you for being so kind to me.”

They all shook their head, smiling. “No problem, Miss!”

They all inched towards the door, bidding you a farewell as they each opted to go their separate ways. 

“We wish you a goodnight, Onee-san!” Kiyo whispered. “We’ll see you in the morning!”

You waved them a farewell as they gently closed

the door, leaving you by yourself in the darkness of night. 

The smile melted off your face. Your waving hand came to a halt. 

Despite the kindness of the triplets just now, you felt weird. 

An odd, churning sensation tormented your stomach, a heavy weight nestling itself onto your shoulders. 

You inhaled briefly, inching closer towards the drawer in your room. You untied the Kimono around your body, letting it fall to the floor with a quiet thud. 

You changed into one of the dark-blue uniforms that happened to be your size, humming in approval at the sight. 

The girls were right. It was soft and warm on the inside. 

You sighed deeply, glancing towards the futon in your room. 

The sight of the warm, cozy covers seemed to call your name. 

You nestled yourself amidst its warmth, savouring the silence as you stared at the ceiling. 

The feeling did not go away. 

Hours passed as you bathed in solitude. 

Eventually, you gave up. Sighing in defeat, you flung the covers off your body as you got up, quietly tiptoeing out of your room. 

You inched towards the estate’s garden, sitting yourself down onto the wooden engawa. You shuddered at the cold, rubbing your arms as you peered towards the moonlit plants. 

It was guilt you’re feeling. 

Guilt from running away. Guilt from leaving your friends. Guilt from leaving your debt unpaid. 

Guilt for choosing happiness. 

The ache in your stomach intensified.

Is it really alright for me to be here? You pondered, the moon the only witness of your inner frustrations. Did I make the right decision?

You got up from your seated position, staring towards the estate’s exit. 

It’s not too late.

You dug your nails into your palms. 

I can still-

“(__)?”

You flinched at the sound of a voice. 

You turned around, witnessing the unknown entity. 

Zenitsu stood on the engawa, dressed in light-blue pyjamas. His eyes were narrowed in exhaustion, his blond hair unkempt and unruly. 

You gasped, feeling guilt seep into your pores. 

“Zenitsu!” You called out, whispering. “I’m so sorry. Did I wake you?”

He shook his head, smiling gently. 

“I couldn’t fall asleep in the first place.” He sighed. “I heard a sound pretty distressing, so it worried me…”

Your eyebrows rose in confusion. 

“Ah.” Zenitsu added. “I have good ears, you see. The sound people emit tell me what they’re feeling. What kind of person they are.”

Your lips parted. “Oh. That sounds….”

“Amazing?” Zenitsu interrupted, chuckling. “I get that a lot. But I honestly wish I could just turn it off sometimes…”

You nodded in understanding. 

Feeling awkward about your odd standing position, you silently returned to your seat. You watched as Zenitsu copied your movements, leaving some distance in between as he sat down onto the engawa. 

“What were you thinking about?” Zenitsu asked, glancing at the grass. 

His voice was hushed. Gentle. 

Although you didn’t know him very well, it was unfamiliar to see such a calm side of him. The Agatsuma Zenitsu you’d seen so far was loud, whiny, and a tad bit overwhelming. 

This was nice. 

You stayed quiet for a while, trying your hardest to convey your feelings into words.

“Zenitsu…” You spoke. 

“Do you think it’s okay for me to be here?”

The blonde perked up, casting you a look. 

He didn’t reply, letting you finish. 

“I just….” You sighed. “Inosuke was right. I wanted to leave that place more than anything. I wanted to move to the countryside and never have to worry about debt again.”

A short silence fell. 

“And in the end, he gave me what I wanted…” 

Your face contorted into pain. 

“So why is it that I’m not happy?”

You cursed yourself at the sound of your shaking voice. 

“I left so many people behind, Zenitsu. I didn’t pay off my debt. I disappeared without bothering to leave a note. Without telling anyone that I’m okay and unhurt.”

You shuddered. Zenitsu saw. 

“Is it okay for me to be here when all of my friends are still working the same, miserable life? Is it okay for me to be selfish? Is it really okay for me to be happy?”

You bit the inside of your cheek. 

The humming of cicada filled the gaps of your silence. 

“You know.” Zenitsu spoke up. 

“Both me and Tanjirou thought you were really brave.” He professed. “To think you came back for Inosuke’s sake while potentially endangering your own life. That’s really selfless of you, (__).”

He paused. 

“When I finally managed to detach Inosuke’s mask from his face…I could hear your heart break.”

You stared at him in awe. 

“You made a sound so sorrowful and painful, it made me want to cry. You looked so hurt, so full of betrayal. I think it deeply affected all of us…”

Zenitsu looked up, staring at the swaying plants. 

“But of course, on Inosuke’s behalf, it was a completely different story.” He continued. 

“All of us were in really bad shape after the battle ended. And still, battered and bruised, Inosuke took off running to chase after you. He made a sound so determined and confident, it knocked the air from my lungs.”

Zenitsu turned his head to look at you, making you drown in the amber hue of his eyes. 

“I don’t know when you two met, how you two met, or any of the things that happened during his stay…” He paused. 

“But at moment, something instantly became clear. That guy cares deeply about you, (__)-chan.”

Zenitsu radiated an air of resolution. 

“You see…” He noted. “Inosuke grew up in the wild. He’s not used to human customs, and therefore lacks a lot of social awareness. He also has a really weird way of interacting with people too. He’s blunt, delusional, and never thinks before he speaks.” 

He chuckled at the thought. 

“But, what I admire most about Inosuke, is that he never gives up.” He professed. “He’s courageous, brave, and stupidly confident. Once his gaze is locked onto something, he’ll never let go again.”

Zenitsu smiled at you. 

“You were worth the effort to come back for. You are worth never giving up on.”

His smile deepened. 

“I think it’s okay for you to be happy, (__).”

At his heartfelt confession, you felt moisture cloud your eyes. 

“We can always send a letter to the friends you left behind. The master of the demon slayer corps is unfathomably rich, so I’m sure he won’t mind paying off your debt.” Zenitsu suggested. 

“And in the end, if you are not happy here, (__)…”

Zenitsu smiled. 

“You can always leave.”

You chuckled at his sudden bluntness too. 

“I know that change is scary.” He continued. “Sometimes, we live in misery for years because we assume it’s the only way to be. And it takes even longer to see that isn’t doesn’t have to be that way.”

The blonde before you shone brighter than any star. 

“Let’s go to sleep, (__)-chan.” Zenitsu smiled. 

“Tomorrow is another day.”

——

It took three days for Inosuke to wake up. 

His entrance was a loud one. He woke up with a scream as he jumped out of bed, kicking the blankets off of him as he stormed out of the room. 

You were folding laundry in the garden when the sound of stomping footsteps abruptly grew louder, its rhythm laced with urgency. 

Before you could even register who the hasty trail belonged to, you found your body to be crushed in a pulverising embrace. A pair of strong, lean arms curled themselves around your waist, knocking the air from your lungs as they nearly shattered your limbs. 

“(__)!!!!!!!!!!”

A rough, husky voice yelled a mispronounced version of your name. 

You smiled at the recognition of the guttural scream. At the sound of air leaving your nostrils, his grip lessened. 

—“Inosuke!”

You heard Aoi’s scolding voice berate as she entered the yard, her hands planted on her hips. 

“You’re not supposed to be moving around! Get back in bed!” 

You chuckled. 

Throughout the few days you’ve been here, you and Aoi were getting along well. 

You were nervous to meet her at first. Just like the young triplets however, Aoi was amazed by the story you told, leading up to the very moment you crossed their doorstep. 

You looked up to her. Not only did she have a knack for working with her hands, she was incredibly knowledgeable in the medical field. You watched how swiftly she made critical decisions, figuring out the best way to operate as she stitched wounds back together. 

Aoi really was amazing. 

Despite her strict and serious nature, you were relieved to see her smile every so often. You watched her scowl fade when you talked, witnessing her muscles relax in your presence. 

She felt comfortable around you. 

You were amazed when Aoi introduced you to her master, Kocho Shinobu. Not only was she a breathtaking woman, she was kind enough to take you under her wing. 

Just like she had done to Aoi, Shinobu had been determined to teach you the ins and outs of everything that was to know about the medical field. 

You were a quick learner, according to Shinobu. You asked all the right questions, and kept your head up in times of doubt. 

“It’s nice, you know.” Shinobu had told you once. “I’m really happy Aoi has a new friend.”

You smiled at her. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “I’m sure you noticed this yourself, but Aoi-chan can be kind of…tough. While she’s great at what she does, her overall demeanor sometimes causes her to push people away.”

You glanced at her, hanging onto her every word. 

“That’s why I’m happy you’re here, (__). You’re a year older than her, right?”

You nodded. 

She smiled. “That’s nice. You see, Aoi was the oldest of the triplets. She had always taken the role of the older sister and cared for the girls like they were her siblings.” She added. “I think Aoi feels happy she’s not the oldest anymore. Instead of always looking out for others, someone else is there to look out for her too.”

You felt your heart swell at the thought. 

Besides Aoi, the triplets, and Shinobu herself, you were pleased to get along with the other slayers as well. 

Unlike Aoi, you were much more lenient and gentle in your ways. You were relieved to see the slayers light up at your presence, expressing an obvious fondness of your care. 

You gasped for air when Inosuke released you from his death-defying grip, stumbling back. 

“YOU’RE HERE!!!” Inosuke cheered, seemingly overjoyed at your mere presence. 

“…Yes…?” You blinked in confusion. “I am here..!”

Inosuke smiled. 

——

The following days, he was inseparable. 

Wanting to show your gratitude for taking you in, you were determined to work harder than ever as a result of your appreciation.

Inosuke followed you around like a lost puppy. 

When you were chopping vegetables, dicing up ingredients for some nutritious meals, he sat and watched. When cleaning, he scanned the way in which the sponge washed away the germs. When folding laundry, he observed you, sometimes even betting that ‘he could do this better than you.’ 

Wherever you went, he followed. 

He loved your company. 

He’d jump onto the bed you were momentarily sitting on, making the mattress bounce with his impact. 

He talked with you for hours. 

He told you in great detail the tales of his journey, about his upbringing amongst the wildlife and his life as a demon slayer. He told you how he met Tanjirou and Zenitsu, the loss of Rengoku, the stories of demons he had defeated with his own two hands. 

He was enthusiastic. Inosuke was overflowing, overbearing, brimming with energy and passion. 

With each story he told, his eyes glimmered with anticipation, enhancing his tales by sporadic movements with his hands. 

You hung onto his lips, absorbing each syllable that rolled off his tongue. You asked questions in disbelief, chuckling at his overflowing pride. 

Both Tanjirou and Zenitsu were absolute sweethearts too. 

Honest and kind Tanjirou, who always greeted you with a smile. Wailing and screaming Zenitsu, who never made a single day boring. 

You were happy Inosuke had such nice friends. 

Despite your thriving social life in the butterfly estate, it was awfully clear. Inosuke and you had a special kind of bond. 

That boy was clingy. His slight stalking had developed over time into a ‘you should bathe with me’, or a ‘you should let me sleep with you’, much to Zenitsu’s disbelief. 

You understood what the blonde meant that night. Inosuke’s communication was one of a kind. 

That was something you loved so much about him. His lack of social cues and gender roles gave him an innocent purity, a wholesome, earnest gaze swirling in his eyes. 

Inosuke didn’t go easy on girls in training, nor did he understand why a shared onsen would be forbidden. Why would it, when skin was just skin?

Inosuke was a show-off too. 

You had never met someone with that raw amount of confidence, so imbedded with the desire to grow stronger than yesterday’s self. You admired his hunger for strength, that constant craving towards perfection. 

You noticed it. How he seemed just a little more fired up when you walked by during their training sessions. How he yelled a ‘HEY! I CAN DO THAT TOO!’ every time you glanced too long at either of his friends. Or how he screamed a ‘HEY (__)! LOOK AT THIS!’ before curling his spine in an angle that didn’t seem humanely possible. 

He loved it when your eyes were on him. 

One thing you also noticed, was Inosuke’s tendency to take his mask off whenever you were around. Although it seemed like a subtle hint, it failed to slip from your eyes. 

It was a thoughtful gesture. 

However, there were times in which Inosuke could be serious. 

Sometimes, you heard knocking in the middle of the night. Inosuke would creep into your room, digging his head into your shoulder like a cat craving attention. 

“Are you mad at me?”

You blinked at him in disbelief, confused by the lack of context on why he would think so. 

-“Of course not! Why would I be mad at you?”

He stayed silent for a while. 

“For being a boy when you thought otherwise.”

Your lips parted in understanding. He was talking about that. 

You chuckled, gently petting the top of his head, beaming when he evidently leaned into your touch. 

“Well…I had to get used to some things for a while…” You confessed. “The version of Inoko I had in mind is a lot different than the Inosuke you turned out to be.”

Inosuke stayed silent. 

You smiled. 

“But luckily for you, I like both.”

You watched how the corners of his mouth curled into a smile, a glimmer of hope shimmering in his emerald green eyes. 

“(__).”

He spoke, correctly pronouncing the syllables of your name. 

“Are you happy here?”

Tenderness swirled in your eyes as you grasped his hand, interlocking your fingers with his just like the strings of your fate had done. 

-“Yes.”

“That’s good…” Inosuke whispered, feeling his heart race in delight. 

You smiled, wrapping the boy in a sweet embrace. He rested his head atop your chest, breathing in the scent of your essence. 

You ran a hand through his hair. 

Inosuke huffed, his breathing slowing as a result of your presence. 

You glanced at the estate’s garden, peering at the moonlit fields and swaying trees. 

Flourishing in a place you belonged.

[ripe-peach]

hand holding , multi. ₊˚ ♱

♱ note . aaa hi my loves ! sorry for the lack of inactivity (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞.. i’ve got a few fics in the drafts to make up for it! here is part one.

♱ characters . muichiro , inosuke , zenitsu , genya , tanjiro

♱ warnings . head canons, angst on genya’s part if you squint

muichiro’s hands are tough from the consistencies of training and hard work, didn’t became a hashira in 2-3 months for nothing. but it isn’t sandpaper bad. cuts liter his palms often — also gets some what clammy

his hands are average in size for his age, or even dainty. he has slim fingers with average sized palms.

his nails run a little unkempt and are sometimes cracked, his cuticles are a little roughed up from fighting. also doesn’t care much for nail care but likes it when you take care of it for him, or even tells you to do it — he likes the feeling of your hands on his; the warmth radiating from your hands is pleasurable.

he gets a lot of cuts often, sometimes when he’s reading he gets on purpose to ask you to help him tend them or bandage his wounds, he likes your touch, a lot.

extra. physical touch is actually one of his love languages and quality time, which is why he does these on purpose.

if you scold him he would have puppy eyes and say it won’t happen again ( it will ).

^ but is happy you care for his wellbeing!!

defiantly plays and / or massages with your fingers. traces the wrinkles on your hands, oh and also kisses your fingers one by one so very gently and lovingly, like if he pushed down too hard you’ll shatter like glass

his fingers are cold but not uncomfortably so it’s comforting to feel on a warm day

swings your hands when your holding hands

his grip is soft and he likes intertwining your hands, he gets this stupid little smile and can’t stop staring at both your hands intertwined

he doesn’t care who stares or comments he loves holding your hands so it happens often, if he can’t for some reason he’ll hold your inner arm or a piece of your clothing ( most likely your hoari / back of your shirt )

genyas’s hands are on the rough side, but his touch is still just as gentle despite the textured skin. because of him eating demon flesh gives the after effects of his skin being more thick and hard.

especially his fingers from using a gun instead of a kitana

his hands are above average with wide fingers, most likely from him eating demon flesh. but nevertheless his hands temperature can go from warm and cold, it mostly runs on cold though.

he has a few cuts littering his fingers but they disappear as much as they appear.

when he ‘becomes’ a demon his nails grow more than his average and more sharper, has a hue of yellow and black — naturally, his nails are sorta uneven and short.

he likes it when you offer to cut his nails and take care of it for him, it saves him trouble but feels bad he’s letting you take care of it and not him, so he tries to help the best he cans.

his hands are clammy when you hold hands cause of how flustered and nervous he is, but you don’t comment or mind it.

his grip is loose, but tender. it firms up at times—like while in a crowd so he won’t lose you or in vulnerable moments

sanemi used to hold his hands when younger and those memories come around his minds when he spaces out while holding your hand, it usually causes his grip to firm up and if you comment how hard he’s squeezing your hand he’ll apologize and stop

he’s flustered and embarrassed holding your hand in public but is proud of himself if he initiated it first. generally way more affectionate in private but still gets red

extra . you two could be watching fireworks at a festival and then he goes in and holds your hand while your looking at the fireworks aaa

so by that, holding hands with him is somewhat rare, unless if your overly affectionate then it would be way more, he doesn’t mind it or anything he’s just shy doing pda — you could just hug him and he’s tomato red.

tanjiro’s hands are pretty rough for the high amounts of training and combats he’s endured especially after the hashiras’ training, but nothing like sand paper bad like inosuke’s. there’s a few cuts littering his fingers but it isn’t major

his hands are above average with slightly slim fingers.

his hands run on the slightly above average size, his hands run warm; good for the winter!

his nails are taken care of, not as much as it was before. trims his nails short from time to time since they grow a bit long since he neglects nail care often.

but offers to do yours! if you aren’t good at taking care of yourself cause of your living circumstances as a demon slayer then he’s happy to do it for you even if you can for yourself — he’s happy to help you.

likes it when you do it for him also, the touch of your hand will always be a enjoyment for him!!

tanjiro’s grip is tender yet firm, you’re one of his reason to live and fight for and would do anything to protect you at all costs. he squeezes your hands especially if either of you came back from a mission.

hand holding with him is regular, if you are a demon slayer then he holds your hand while walking to or back from your missions. he also holds your hands for comfort, expect in serious situations.

inosuke’s hands are rough, he grew up on the mountains so his hands are somewhat close to sandpaper texture, though his hands get clammy. he has scars and cuts on his hands—one or two bruises—cuts regularly pop up.

his hands are above average with big palms and thick fingers, it’s regular for his hands to have dirt on them

his nails and cuticles aren’t the greatest compared to when you took care of them for him, he does a lot of training so his hands’ appearances take the brute of it.

more times than none he’ll accept your help on keeping them trim and dirt free, but he doesn’t really try much to help since it feels a tad pointless to him, but he likes your hands on his.

while training he’s prone to a lot of nail crack/breaking and half the time it slips his mind unless it scratches his skin or something. in which he stops training to search for you to help him clean it.

extra . the same actually goes to muichiro and genya ^ lmao

inosuke’s grip is all over the place, his hold is clammy and there’s always dirt involved to an extent. he’s not really sure how to do the whole hand holding without squeezing too hard and breaking your hand or holding it too loose he loses your hand

he gets jealous if you hold someone else’s hand for helping them and will turn it into a competition for the other person of who held your hand the most, and the person is like : ????

you can scold him but it doesn’t sound very scary coming from you, but it makes him feel fuzzy when you express you care for him.

extra . probably ruins the pure moment by saying lord inosuke can handle anything and then you go along saying that you forgot he’s the the king of the mountain and that he can endure anything LMAO

holding hands with inosuke he’s secretly touch starved so he’ll sometimes take to holding other parts of you if your hands are busy or he really tends to silently hug you

zenitsu’s hands are average in size, they run stupidly warm and occasionally clammy when he’s flustered.

his cuticles and nails are unbothered, surprisingly his nails are cut since he takes care of himself often.

LOVES it when you take care of his nails and you both talk about everything and nothing, or just a silence is so nice with your hands on his — and defiantly looks at you with a awe expression

holding hands with zenitsu is common. he’s lovesick and touch starved, especially for comfort or reassurance when he’s scared.

when you first held his hand was probably for reassurance, his hands was clammy during the time since he was flustered by your action — and scared of the demons — but it was nothing you minded

another one who would swing your hands ^^

saying he will protect you while holding your hand tightly and eyes moist, threatening to almost sob from fear.

extra . he probably feels ashamed because all he did was cry and then you reassure him it’s alright since it’s literally flesh eating demons and you both were about to piss your pants

defiantly sees couples comparing hand sizes and intertwining their hands slowly, then has a thought of wanting to do it with you. ( you both did )

his grip is firm and soft, he knows how to hold a woman’s hand and treats you delicately, though what i said before he does hold your hand too tight, apologizes if he thinks it’s too tight but sometimes doesn’t notice because of the fear he’s accumulating

[urumashunistheonlyone]

Hey so how do you think Inosuke, Tanjiro and Zenitsu would deal with having a crush who has a note pad they sometimes write or scribble on. And the boys are like “hey, can I see that? You’ve been writing things down and I’d like to check something?” And crush is like “… I don’t think you’ll understand it, so I don’t think that’s a good idea”. And the boys are like “THAT IS NONSENSE. It can’t be that bad/I AM SMART ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND IT” and they look and s/o book reads like complete nonsense they can’t understand a thing. There’s an unreadable map in there. (Crush has been using this unreadable map they created to help them not get lost. And they’ve never gotten lost). Things crossed out and written over the crossed out area, looks like a massive mess. Crush can read it fine?

notepad warrior

pairing: kamaboko squad x reader

genre: humor, fluff, light romance, slice of life

warnings: none

synopsis: each of the boys from the kamaboko squad reacts differently when they discover your strange, indecipherable notebook

inosuke hashibira

inosuke wasn’t exactly known for his patience or curiosity that didn’t involve food, fighting, or weird animals — but for some reason, you scribbling in that little notebook of yours had been driving him insane. it started a few missions ago, when you stopped mid-path, flipped open your notebook, and began marking something on a page filled with—well, he couldn’t even describe it. lines, arrows, words that didn’t look like words. it looked like a crow got its feet dipped in ink and started dancing across the paper.

“oi!” inosuke grunted one afternoon, pointing at you with both hands. “you keep scribbling in that thing! what is it? are you drawing? is it a secret battle plan? lemme see!”

you looked up from where you were crouched near a tree stump, tilting your head slightly. “it’s just notes. you wouldn’t really understand it.”

the boar-headed boy froze mid-step, affronted. “what do you mean i wouldn’t understand it?! i understand everything! i’m the king of the mountain!” he stomped over to you, puffing his chest out as if sheer confidence would translate to comprehension.

“trust me,” you said carefully, shutting the notebook halfway, “it’s… not written in a way other people can read. it’s kinda just for me.”

inosuke crossed his arms, the sound of his fur pelt shifting against his skin. “nonsense! i can read anything. words are just lines, right? gimme it!”

and before you could react, he snatched it from your hands.

his eyes narrowed as he stared at the chaotic page — an impossible web of circles, symbols, arrows pointing to other arrows, entire words crossed out, then written over the crossed-out parts, and what appeared to be a crudely drawn pig in the corner labeled “maybe mountain???”

“...” he blinked once. twice.

“so?” you asked, watching his expression shift.

inosuke turned the notebook upside down. sideways. even leaned back and held it over his head like maybe the sunlight would translate it. “this—this is some kind of code!”

you bit back a laugh. “no, that’s just… a map i made.”

“MAP?!” he barked. “this—this looks like a demon’s nest exploded! how can you even read this?! there’s an arrow pointing to another arrow that points to nothing!”

“yeah,” you said casually, “that’s the direction of the waterfall we passed earlier. it helps me not get lost.”

inosuke’s head snapped toward the trees. “but you never get lost.”

“exactly,” you said, smiling faintly.

for a moment, he stood there, mouth slightly open under the boar mask, like he was trying to find a comeback that made sense. finally, he thrust the notebook back at you. “fine! you win this time, notebook master! but if you ever draw another pig and it doesn’t look like me, i’m tearing it up!”

you laughed, tucking the notebook away. “deal.”

he stomped off muttering something about “secret notebook warriors,” but every now and then after that, he’d peek at you writing and scowl quietly — not because he didn’t understand, but because part of him wanted to.

—————————————————————————

tanjiro kamado

tanjiro had always been gentle with curiosity. where inosuke charged in and zenitsu panicked, tanjiro would approach things carefully — soft voice, kind eyes, like the world was something to be understood, not conquered.

he first noticed your notebook during a mission up north. the snow made the forest paths confusing, every tree looking like the last, but somehow, you never hesitated. you’d take a quick glance at your notes and keep moving forward confidently.

tanjiro watched you for a while before asking, “hey, y/n… that notebook of yours, you use it to keep track of where we’re going, right?”

you nodded, still walking. “mm-hm. it’s just something i made to help me remember paths. it’s kind of messy, though.”

“messy?” tanjiro tilted his head. “can i see?”

you froze, just for a second. “uh… i don’t think you’ll understand it. it’s a bit hard to follow unless it’s mine.”

his expression softened, smile brightening like sunlight through leaves. “oh, don’t worry about that! i’ve seen nezuko’s drawings when she was little, i can handle anything.”

you hesitated again but eventually handed it over. “okay, but don’t say i didn’t warn you.”

tanjiro opened the notebook and was immediately met with something that looked like chaos itself. there were doodles of trees next to words that weren’t even full sentences — “left? maybe left?? no! rocks!!!” — lines crisscrossed through other notes, and in the middle of one page, there was a large circle labeled “bad smell zone.”

he blinked. once. then twice.

“um…” tanjiro said slowly, eyes scanning the page like it might suddenly start making sense if he stared hard enough. “this… this is… very creative.”

you tried not to laugh. “you can’t read it, can you?”

he looked up, sheepish. “well… i can, technically. but I’m not sure I understand it.”

you leaned in, tapping one of the chaotic lines. “that’s a route i took before — it looks confusing, but if you follow this part here and skip the crossed-out section, it’s easy to tell which direction leads to the river.”

tanjiro blinked, processing. “oh! so these marks here—wait, why is this part circled and crossed out at the same time?”

“because i got attacked by a demon there,” you said casually. “i thought i’d mark it as both dangerous and memorable.”

he gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “you really think differently, y/n. i respect that.”

you smiled, taking the notebook back. “see? told you it wouldn’t make sense.”

tanjiro’s grin widened, genuine and bright. “it doesn’t. but it feels very you.”

and later, when he caught you scribbling something new by campfire light, he leaned over curiously — not to read it, but just to admire how focused you looked. “you know,” he said softly, “i think that notebook’s a part of your heart.”

you laughed, flicking his forehead lightly. “you’re too poetic, tanjiro.”

he smiled, rubbing the spot. “maybe. but it’s true.”

—————————————————————————

zenitsu agatsum

zenitsu had been staring at you for the past ten minutes. you weren’t even doing anything dramatic — just sitting by the roadside, notebook balanced on your knee, scribbling something that clearly had your full attention. but to him, it was like watching someone cast a spell.

he’d noticed that notebook before — the one you always pulled out after every mission, muttering to yourself as you wrote or drew or crossed things out. and he’d been dying to ask about it.

finally, he gathered all his courage (which wasn’t much, but enough for now). “uh, h-hey, y/n…?”

you looked up. “yeah?”

he pointed nervously at the notebook. “what, um, what’s that? you’re always writing in it. is it, like, a journal or something?”

you hesitated. “sort of. it’s my notes. i use it to track paths so i don’t get lost.”

“oh! that’s really smart!” he said, leaning forward. “can i see? i mean, if it’s not private or anything.”

you raised a brow. “i don’t think you’ll understand it, zenitsu.”

his jaw dropped. “wha—what do you mean i won’t understand it?! i’m literate! i can read! i’m a demon slayer!”

“it’s not about reading,” you explained, holding it protectively. “it’s just… written in a way that only i get.”

“no, no, no,” he waved his hands dramatically, puffing up his chest. “you’re underestimating me, y/n! i have the sharp mind of a warrior! show me!”

you sighed but passed the notebook over.

he flipped it open and immediately froze.

“what… what is this?”

the pages were absolute madness — crooked arrows, uneven handwriting, entire sections scribbled over, then rewritten in smaller, slanted letters on top. one corner had a doodle of a chicken. another said, “don’t trust the rock that looks like a face.”

zenitsu’s eye twitched. “is— is this supposed to be words? there’s a sentence here that just says ‘left? left left left NO.’”

“yeah,” you said calmly. “it means don’t go left there.”

he squinted harder, eyes darting all over the page. “and what’s this… this little blob here?”

“that’s the field we crossed two days ago.”

“and this weird squiggly thing?”

“the road.”

he gawked at you like you were some kind of cryptic genius. “this—this doesn’t look like a map! this looks like my handwriting after a thunder strike!”

you tried to hide your laugh, covering your mouth. “it works for me.”

zenitsu stared at the notebook for a long moment, then at you — how calm you were, how confident. “you really understand all of this?”

you nodded. “of course. i haven’t gotten lost once, have i?”

he blinked, realizing you were right. “that’s… that’s actually amazing,” he admitted, voice softer now. “i don’t get it at all, but… it’s kinda cool.”

you smiled at him. “thanks.”

he handed the notebook back carefully, like it was some kind of sacred artifact. “you’re so weird,” he said, blushing a little, “but in, like… a really impressive way.”

and the next time you started scribbling something new, zenitsu leaned over, whispering, “can you draw a thunder bolt next to my name? you know… so i don’t get lost either?”

you smirked. “sure thing.”

he nearly fainted.

[babydollmarie]

SWORDSMITH VILLAGE HOT SPRINGS

-inosuke x fem reader

-SUMMARY: After a long mission, the demon slayers go to the Sword Smith Village to use the hot springs to heal. But all Inosuke wants to do have alone time with his mate

-FLUFF

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The trip to the Swordsmith Village hot springs was supposed to be for recovery. After weeks of brutal missions, the slayers were finally allowed a few days to rest, heal their bruises, and train again once their bodies recovered. But Inosuke had other priorities. Ever since arriving, the boar headed slayer had been practically glued to your side. He hovered near you at meals, sat too close during training breaks, and followed you around the village like an overexcited wolf who hadn’t seen his mate in ages. Right now, though, was the worst situation possible for him.

The hot springs.

Steam curled through the air as you both sat in the warm water. Other slayers relaxed nearby, chatting quietly.

And unfortunately…

Everyone was naked.

Inosuke had been strangely quiet since entering the water. Not because he was shy no, never that, but because the second he slid into the spring next to you, his brain short circuited.

His arms immediately wrapped around your waist.

You yelped softly.

“Inosuke!”

“What?” he grumbled, pressing his chin on your shoulder like a sulky animal. “I’m just sittin’ here!”

“You’re sitting on me.”

“Yeah.”

You tried to gently pry his arms off, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention.

“Inosuke, people are here.”

“So?” he huffed.

His fingers tightened slightly around you, almost instinctively.

“You’re my mate.”

Your face burned hotter than the spring water. He clearly didn’t understand the concept of public hot spring etiquette.

“Inosuke,” you whispered, nudging him away, “you can’t just cuddle me here.”

He stared at you like you’d just insulted his entire existence.

“Why.”

“Because we’re naked.”

He blinked.

Then he looked down.

Then back at you.

Then down again.

His face went completely red.

“Oh.”

For about three seconds he sat completely still. Then he dramatically flopped backward into the water with an annoyed growl.

“This place is stupid!”

You laughed softly. A few moments later, the silence clearly became unbearable for him.

Suddenly…

SPLASH.

“Inosuke?!”

You turned just in time to see him attempting some kind of wild flip in the spring. The problem? Hot springs are not lakes.

“AAAA HOT HOT HOT!”

He burst back out of the water, hair soaked and sticking everywhere, scrambling toward you with wide eyes.

“Why’s the water ATTACKING ME?!”

“It’s a hot spring!” you said between giggles.

He pouted immediately.

Actually pouted.

His arms crossed as he sank down beside you again, grumbling like a scolded animal.

“That hurt.”

“You literally jumped into boiling mineral water.”

“You shoulda warned me!”

“I tried!”

He turned his head away dramatically.

“Hmph.”

You knew that pout.

You sighed fondly and leaned over, patted his head and gave a quick kiss to his cheek.

“There. Better?”

His head snapped back toward you.

“Again.”

You laughed and kissed him again, this time closer to the corner of his mouth.

Immediately his mood improved.

His arm slipped around your waist again, though slightly more carefully this time.

“Still dumb I cant protect you here properly,” he muttered.

“You’ll survive.”

He grumbled something about “stupid hot springs” and “no privacy anywhere.”

Does he even know what privacy means?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner, the village had grown quiet. Lanterns glowed softly along the wooden walkways as you headed back to your room, tired from the long day. You slid the door open. And immediately froze.

“…Inosuke.”

From the ceiling, two bright eyes stared down at you.

He was literally clinging to the wooden beams like some feral raccoon. Or some sort of huge spider

“You’re back!” he whispered excitedly.

“How long have you been up there?!”

“Since dinner.”

“That was two hours ago.”

“I was waiting.”

Before you could even react, he dropped down silently in front of you. The moment your door slid shut behind you, his hands grabbed your shoulders.

“There’s no people here,” he said seriously.

“Yes.”

“No stupid hot spring.”

“Correct.”

His eyes lit up like he’d just solved the world’s greatest problem.

“Good.”

Then he pulled you into his arms.

Not rough. Not chaotic. Just tight. A little too tight. Like he’d been holding that urge in all day. His face buried into your neck as he breathed in slowly. Inhaling your scent.

“Missed you.”

You laughed softly, wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

“Inosuke, we were together all day.”

“Doesn’t count.”

He lifted his head, eyes soft in a way he only ever let you see. Then he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to your lips. At first it was quick. But when you didn’t pull away, he kissed you again longer this time.

Very clumsy.

Very eager.

His hands slid around your waist, pulling you closer until you were practically pressed against him. When he finally pulled back, he looked ridiculously proud of himself.

“See?” he said smugly. “Way better than the hot spring.”

You laughed.

“Is this why you were on my ceiling like a gremlin?”

“Yep.”

He immediately tugged you toward the futon and flopped down, dragging you with him.

The moment you landed beside him, his arms wrapped around you again like a possessive blanket. Finally satisfied.

“No people,” he murmured.

“No hot spring.”

“Just you.”

Within minutes, the wild boar slayer who could fight demons without blinking had melted completely, holding you close like a sleepy, affectionate puppy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning light filtered through the paper windows, warm and soft across the futon. You stirred slowly, half asleep. Something heavy was draped over you.

An arm.

A leg.

Actually, an entire Inosuke.

Your boyfriend was practically sprawled across you like a wild animal claiming territory. His arm was locked tightly around your waist, your back pressed against his chest while his chin rested on your shoulder.

You tried to shift. Immediately, His grip tightened. A low, sleepy voice rumbled behind you.

“Don’t move.”

You sighed softly.

“Inosuke it’s morning.”

“Good.”

“That means we have training.”

“Don’t care.”

You tried to sit up anyway.

That was a mistake.

Inosuke reacted instantly, dragging you right back down into the futon with a firm tug of your waist. Before you could protest, he rolled so you were facing him. His messy hair fell around his face, eyes still half-lidded from sleep, but the moment they landed on you they sharpened slightly. Like a wolf making sure its prize hadn’t wandered off.

“Where’re you going?” he asked.

“To training.”

“No.”

“Inosuke”

His hand slid up your side until it rested securely on your back, pulling you closer until your chest bumped against his.

“You’re staying here.”

You raised a brow.

“That’s not how schedules work.”

He stared at you for a moment like you had said something incredibly stupid. Then he leaned forward and pressed a slow kiss to your lips. When he pulled back, his forehead rested against yours.

“Mine.”

Your heart fluttered a little.

“You’re very intense in the mornings.”

“You’re my mate,” he said simply, like that explained everything.

Honestly… for him, it did.

You tried to push yourself up again. He immediately grabbed your wrist.

“No.”

“Inosuke!”

“You’re leaving.”

“I’m getting up.”

“Same thing.”

Then, before you could react, he suddenly rolled you underneath him, pinning you gently into the futon.

Not rough.

Just firm enough that you definitely weren’t escaping.

“Inosuke!”

He stared down at you, clearly very pleased with himself.

“You keep trying to run.”

“I’m not running!”

“You are.”

His hands planted on either side of your head while he leaned down closer, hair falling around both of you.

“You’re supposed to stay with me.”

“We were together all night!”

“That was sleeping.”

He lowered his head slightly, nose brushing yours.

“This is different.”

Then he kissed you again. Longer this time. Slow at first until he got a little eager, like he always did. When he pulled away, he looked ridiculously satisfied.

“See?”

You were trying very hard not to smile.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“I know.”

His arm slid under your back and pulled you against his chest again, trapping you there like a human blanket.

“You smell like me now,” he mumbled proudly.

You laughed.

“That’s because you haven’t let go of me since last night.”

“Good.”

“I still have to train.”

He squinted suspiciously toward the door like the other slayers were enemies.

Then he looked back down at you.

“Two more minutes.”

“That’s what you said ten minutes ago.”

“Two more.”

“And then?”

He thought very seriously about this.

“Maybe five.”

You laughed again. Before you could argue further, he pressed another quick kiss to your lips.

Then another.

Then one on your cheek.

Then your forehead.

“Inosuke.”

“What.”

“Are you just going to keep kissing me until I forget about training?”

“Yes.”

He pulled you tighter against him, burying his face in your neck.

“You’re my mate,” he mumbled again.

“Stay.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-I haven’t really looked over this one so i’ll back and edit the grammar mistakes later this took forever to type and now i’m half awake lol! 🌸💕🍵🤍