#inosuke headcanons

[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.

[fawffy7]

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ tanjiro, inosuke, & zenitsu bf headcanons !! gender neutral reader

the cuties song -> www.spotify.com

𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ tanjiro !!

- literally the cutest ever.

- he’s soso respectful and genuine

- if you want a boy that will genuinely listen to you and how you feel about certain things, get a tanjiro.

- he deserves sm love and he’d definitely put you in his top priorities while also making sure you weren’t getting hurt in the process !!

- he’s a big fan of physical touch, so if you’re also training to be a hashira don’t be surprised when everytime he passes you he brushes his hand up against yours. (HES SO CUTE IMA EAT HIM)

- WILL defend you.

- like if someone’s talking bad about you he’s walking right up to them with no fear

- of course, he isn’t aggressive so he would handle the situation calmly

- “why are you saying that about [name]-sama? did they do something to you?”

- will purposely choose you each time they get to pick who they want to train with, and will get a little jelly if u don’t pick him

- but it’s fine !! as long as he sees you happy he’s happy.

- you’re one of the people he trusts with nezuko during the daytime, and will let you carry her box if you ask

- he enjoys seeing you and his sister spending time together, he feels like you’re genuinely apart of his family

- he finds comfort in you when he’s missing his family, and isn’t ashamed to cry or show his true emotions infront of you

- he likes it when you hang out with inosuke and zenitsu too, but gets a little embarrassed if they act weird.

- like, if zenitsu starts flirting with you or inosuke starts screaming like a grizzly bear

- he knows you wouldn’t judge him though, he just wishes his friends acted cooler around you !! because … you’re so cool !!

- “i want to be with you forever, [name]-chan.”

—

𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ inosuke !!

- ohh boy, you got this man’s attention.

- if you seriously got him to like you and date you, you’re the one and you don’t have a choice

- you’re definitely his top priority besides defeating muzan

- like genuinely you’re right up there, you’re over his basic needs like eating and sleeping

- he can get a little flustered if you’re a fan of physical touch and decide to touch him in front of tanjiro or zenitsu

- but he secretly loves it, although he’d never tell you that !! (just kidding, he absolutely would but would make you swear to never tell anyone)

- WILL flex infront of you during training, especially his arm and back muscles. since he’s so flexible he’d show that off too

- “hey babe check this out!” (cue him spinning on his head, crashing into 4 different hashiras and getting in trouble)

- he’d have those moments where he’d just stare at you and gawk, not even in a weird way but genuinely just because he likes you so much

- like you’re so attractive !! and nice !! and… amazing !!

- if you were as flexible and strong as him just know he’d be picking you and training everyday and not hold back

- like he’d throw you over his head and if you lost he’d laugh at you, but if you win and knock him over your head he’d be head over heels

- he loves it when you beat him, which sounds crazy considering the fact inosuke is a pretty sore loser .. but when it comes to you and seeing how strong you are he’s so impressed

- that was one of the main reasons he started to like you

- you’re basically his idol, and that MEANS SOMETHIMG BRO !!!! RAAHGG !!

- i think his love language would be gift giving, hes definitely showing up to the demon corps with a pretty rock he found and putting it on your nightstand and wait for you to notice

- “inosuke! did you get me this?”

- “no”

—

𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ zenitsu !!

- such a flirt we already know this

- but, he’s also extremely respectful

- he has pretty bad self control but if he genuinely likes you and who you are instead of just what you look like he’s actually a great guy

- he’s the definition of if he wanted to he would

- like, if you’re sad he’d get you 3 bouquets of roses and the other 3 would be outside because he couldn’t carry them all

- “zenitsuu!! you didn’t have to do that!!”

- “if it’s for my lady/man i’d do anything!!”

- his love language is love in any form

- physical touch, gift giving, words of affirmation

- but omg does this boy needs words of affirmation

- there’s a big part of him that feels unworthy of your love, like - you seriously love him? no way.

- will wake up with a HUGE smile on his face every morning with you being the first thing on his mind

- would beg to share a room with you alone, not for anything weird (although zenitsu is lowkey so weird) he genuinely doesn’t want his friends to see you sleeping (╥﹏╥)

- he gets so jelly over every single thing, like - why do inosuke and tanjiro get to see you sleeping?! in your purest form!! ahhhhh!!

- would pick you every time during training and if you pick someone else he’s begging you to train with him until you finally give in and train with him

- if not and you’re adamant on training with somebody else he’s giving that person a death stare the whole time, no exceptions

- unless you tell him to stop, he’ll try - but he can’t help himself… you’re just so amazing

- he always talks to you about yalls future together and will actually get emotional as he speaks, holding onto your hands as he speaks about how yall are going to have 5 kids and a big house

- “i love you so much [name]-chan!!! i want you to marry me!!!”

—

yay that’s it !! thx for reading guys :3 i might do the other hashiras next, but if anyone has any demon slayer requests PLEASE send them in, demon slayer is one of my biggest interests right now and i will go OFF while writing for you guys !! send em in !!

REQUESTS : OPEN

[revverries404]

Kamaboko Squad Yandere Headcanons

A/N: Reposting this from my Wattpad book because I don't have any ideas for anything new 🥺

Warnings: Nezuko is platonic, mentions of kidnapping, mild language, and of course, yandere themes

Tanjiro:

➼ If he's the one who loves you as a yandere, you wouldn't even have to lay a finger if you don't want to.

➼ He's the kind who would definitely spoil you. Want some chocolate? You're getting your favorite kind of chocolates, homemade. Too tired to clean up after a long day? He'll help you bathe. He's super respectful, his eyes never wandering to where they don't belong, making you always feel safe within his company. He's definitely househusband material.

➼ He absolutely loves it when he's in both you and Nezuko's company. He adores the fact that you love his sister (probably even more than you love him, but he doesn't need to know that). You being Nezuko's sister-in-law would be his ultimate dream.

➼ He hates the fact that you're also a demon slayer. After almost losing his entire family, his biggest nightmare would be losing you or Nezuko. If he could, he would resign you from the corps immediately.

➼ Tanjiro is more of a protective yandere. Red flag? If you're talking to anyone he doesn't fully trust, you bet your butt he's lurking in the shadows watching you interact with them. If he gets too concerned for your safety, there's a very small chance that he'll kidnap you (it needs to be a very serious concern if he does that). However, he would make sure you'll be comfortable in your room where you're kidnapped, even if you're tied by chains. 

➼ He can't imagine himself being with anyone else. You're his and only his, and he's going to make you see that too. No matter what it takes.

Zenitsu:

➼ Oh god. He would be a handful to deal with.

➼ Hearing "Marry me!!!" would be a common occurrence for you to deal with every day. Your mans would do anything to please you. If you asked him to, he would probably climb Mount. Everest for you. Around you, he would almost always be blushing and giving you compliments. He would make sure you hear that he loves you every single day, which annoys others to no limits.

➼ Zenitsu would do anything to get alone time with you, which rarely happens as he's always surrounded by Inosuke and Tanjiro. When he does get alone time with you though, he would be over the moon. He likes to make you sweets sometimes when he's free, as he's surprisingly good at baking.                              

➼ He thinks absolutely about you is perfect. Fighting demons? You look so awesome. Drinking water? You're pretty as hell. Talking? His full attention is on your pretty face. Showering? He thinks your body looks- erm, never mind. 

➼ The only thing he dislikes regarding you is how Tanjiro and Inosuke are always around you. If they aren't, you're around Nezuko. Sure, he loves them too, but he loves you the most. Probably more than anything in the entire world.

➼ He would be more of a delusional yandere. Red flag? He gets jealous very often. Really often. If he thinks you're not giving enough attention to him, he'll probably go sulk somewhere till you grow worried and come to find him. Or maybe he'll try to make you jealous instead, by clinging to someone else, probably Nezuko (earning bonus glares by Tanjiro).

➼ In his mind, both of you are meant to be with each other. Maybe he's too scared to actually make a move on you for now, but he'll do it. Eventually. 

Inosuke:

➼ The only thing I can say is, SAYONARA.

➼ God, it would take him decades to realize his feelings for you. He often mistakes his feelings for competitiveness, so he would demand fights from you at least twice a day at minimum. He gets very reckless with you during fights to calm down his energy from simply seeing you. He would act the same around you as he does with Tanjiro and Zenitsu, but still somewhat calmer and more protectively.

➼ He's happy as long as he's around you, although he would never admit it. You taught him to read and write basic Japanese, so he even writes you letters when you're away on solo missions in distant places, although they usually look like "If you get injured by those bastard demons, I'll kill you." Yeah, Zenitsu taught him to write swear words.

➼ He craves physical touch, whether it's romantic or in a fight. He doesn't care as long as his skin is in contact with yours. It could be simply holding hands, but knowing that you're with him at the moment is very comforting for him. You probably don't mind holding hands with him either.

➼ He hates how you could be reckless and jump in to save someone if needed. Sure, he's even more reckless, but he can't understand why you would risk yourself in order to protect a random stranger. He would much rather sacrifice himself over you.

➼ In a fight, you both are a very good duo. Your abilities are very similar (the only thing is that Inosuke can't detect auras, but he's much better at things like spatial awareness), and his recklessness is often balanced by your strategic approach to battles. However, whenever you tell him strategies to continue a fight, he wouldn't listen nine out of ten times. But when he does get too injured to continue fighting Inosuke style, he puts your strategies into practice.

➼ He's a total possessive yandere. Red flag? He doesn't know how to express his feelings very well. Even if he wants to do something as wholesome as hugging, he's gonna ask for it in a very aggressive way like "OI (Y/N), HUG ME OR ELSE 🔪".

Red flag #2? His possessiveness can get out of control. He dislikes it whenever you make independent decisions and/or tell him to do something. He wants you to be fully dependent on him.

➼ If it were up to him, he would kidnap you and never let you out of his sight. You were his, no matter what.

Nezuko: 

➼ She absolutely adores you, just as much as she adores Tanjiro. She could never choose between the two of you, though. To her, you're both irreplaceable. 

➼ Nezuko. Absolutely. Loves. Cuddles.

She wouldn't be able to function normally if she didn't get her daily dose of cuddles and head pats. She hates how she's unable to talk to you normally because of her muzzle. If she could talk normally though, she would spend the entire day chatting with you. Not a single moment of boredom would exist.

➼ She can easily understand you most of the time, and you can understand her too eight out of ten times. In her perfect version of life, Tanjiro and you would be married and all three of you would live in the same home (maybe even along with Urokodaki). She tends to see the three of you and Urokodaki as a family.

➼ Like Tanjiro, she hates the fact that you have to put yourself in danger along with Tanjiro. What if something happened to you while she was peacefully sleeping? Just thinking about that makes her extremely paranoid.

➼ A high-pitched "mhm-hmm" means she's happy. If it's a low-pitched one, that means that she is determined to complete the task that she's been assigned. A single quiet "hmm" means that she's sad and/or craving your attention.

➼ She's a clingy yandere. Red flag? It's easy for her to manipulate you into doing something she wants. She's aware of her cuteness and she's not afraid to use it as a weapon. Nevertheless, she would never manipulate you into doing something that she knows would upset you too much.

➼ I would be willing to place my bets that the Kamado siblings are secretly conspiring with each other to make you know that you belong with them, and ONLY them.

dividers credits: @cafekitsune

[daisydaphne]

- 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑜 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒷𝑜𝓎𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹 -

Characters: Inosuke, Tanjiro and Zenitsu x GN

Warning: too fluffy for you, jk.

• • •

Tanjiro:

• He’s way too perfect.

• You confessed your feelings first because Tanjiro was so nervous that you couldn’t understand a single word from him.

• As your boyfriend, he is the best gentleman you’ve ever met. Want some tea? He’s already on it. Feeling sick? He’s taking take of you. He loves taking care of you.

• His red flag? Well, he doesn’t like your missions. After all he went through with his family, he’s really scared of death :(. It’s not such a bad thing, but he really hesitates all your missions.

• When you come back, he’ll cook your favourite food and will take a nap all day long with you.

• His green flag? EVERYTHING. He was comprehensive and know how to express himself in a good way. He’s a husband material of course.

• He loves how you smell. When you’re sleeping with him, he loves how your hair smells.

• Tanjiro, Nezuko and you are just a new small family. Tanjiro would kill for you two, but he always denies it.

• • • • • •

Inosuke:

• He’s a tough guy, you know?

• He confessed his feelings first, but it was kinda weird because he just said “I like you. You are mine now!!” And the rest is just history.

• He knows you’re the one because he’s a better person with you by his side.

• You teaches him how to write, so he sometimes send you letter from a mission far away from home, and it would be like:

“Betterrr be missinng mee, asshole “

• When he comes home, he would bring food and eat it with you. He also would tell you everything about the mission (and maybe exaggerates about some little details, but it’s funny tbh)

• Red flag? He doesn’t know how to express his feeling very well. He knows he’s a tough guy and doesn’t know how to be a perfect boyfriend, but he tries for you.

• You two always end your fights with a forehead kiss and go to sleep. Fighting is really tiring indeed.

• Green flag? He’s open to everything and want to learn more and more, and I have the feeling that he cooks very well.

• He can’t see himself with somebody else. He just imagines a life with you and that’s how it would be.

• • • •

Zenitsu:

• Oh boy….

• It’s pretty obvious who confessed first, isn’t it?

• You were so tired of hearing him that you just kissed him in response. (He passed out for a couple of minutes).

• He loves gifting you flowers. Every single flower in the village is on your bedroom. It smells amazing so you don’t complain.

• Red flag? He would do anything to please you. Even silly things that you said as a joke. You have to remind him that you’re not perfect and you also make mistakes.

• Green flag? Even though he’s a chicken, he transforms himself into a hero when you’re in trouble. And he always improves your self-steem when feeling lonely.

• He really makes your days better. You used to be a lonely person but now you have someone literally screaming “Why so pretty??? I can’t take it anymore”

• He wouldn’t write you letters. He tried really hard but cried everytime. Zenitsu can’t spend a whole week without you. It’s the most annoying person in the world.

[katwatcheskny]

Can I have a preference with tanjiro and two surprise characters of your choice? They realize reader has a crush on them and how they react afterwards (fem reader and mutual pinning) thank you 💕

you have a crush on them + confession

type: preference

pronouns: you/your/yourself (fem!reader)

characters: tanjiro, inosuke, genya

a/n: i really enjoy inosuke. when i first started watching the series, i was enjoying it and everything, but inosuke's introduction was where i felt like i went from casually enjoying the series to knowing i was gonna become obsessed with it. and after i finished reading the manga, i love genya a lot. he's so precious and i thought it would be fun to write a character like him into a scenario like this. enjoy~

TANJIRO KAMADO

Having a crush on Tanjiro is very easy because he’s a very kind and likable person, who would easily open up to you as a dear friend.

Tanjiro is definitely oblivious to your feelings towards him at first. Because he's oblivious to his own feelings. He likes you, a lot. But, he likes a lot of people, almost everyone in fact. It takes him a while to figure out that he likes you in a romantic way before he understands how you feel.

“I like you, Tanjiro,” you confess.

He smiles, widely. It’s nice to know his friend who he cares so deeply about also holds him in high regard. “I like you too, (Y/N).”

And in your mind he just returned your feelings, and so you embrace him. Tanjiro hugs you back, thinking, aw this is nice.

Then you pulled back to give him a peck on the lips.

Tanjiro’s eyes widened and his entire body went stiff. Friends don’t kiss each other on the mouth, he thinks. The only people he had ever seen kiss on the mouth before were his mother and father.

Finally, he got a clue. You didn’t like him as a friend, you like liked him, the way his mother and father loved one another. That was the unique feeling he had felt towards you and that you felt towards him. 

Then he kisses you back, leaving you none the wiser.

Two years into your relationship is when you learnt that Tanjiro had basically started dating you by accident.

INOSUKE HASHIBIRA

Do not expect this wild man to figure out you are crushing on him.

He can sense that you behave differently around him than others like your heart rate is elevated, and you appear more flushed. But he would assume you are intimidated by the King of the Mountains.

If you’re crushing on Inosuke, the best way to get his attention and, ideally, earn his affection is to prove to him that you are a strong person. Inosuke is attracted to strong people, whether that’s being physically strong or even just having a strong personality.

Also, feeding him. Kinda like a stray dog.

When you finally get the courage to confess to him and say, “I like you”. He just kinda stares at you, waiting for you to give him your news.

Like, he already knew you liked him. Of course, you did. He’s great.

When he tells Zenitsu and Tanjiro about it, the former freaks out at how stupid Inosuke is. Tanjiro explains that you like him in a romantic way, and suddenly the little wheels in Inosuke’s head finally turn.

Everything Inosuke probably knows about courting a mate comes from observing animals in the mountains. So, he probably brings you some berries and nuts he foraged. And, like, a dead squirrel. 

He picked a fight with Tanjiro and Zenitsu right in front of you to show you that he could give you the strongest children.

Eventually, you realize that this is Inosuke’s way of telling you that he returns your feelings. This is great because, at first, you were heartbroken that he rejected your confession. Then you were profoundly confused.

For the rest of the day, Inosuke walks around with you with his chest puffed out, loudly marking his territory so everyone knows you're his.

GENYA SHINAZUGAWA

Your crush began when you realized that beneath his tough and aggressive appearing exterior, he’s actually quite soft and kind.

Unfortunately, trying to get closer to Genya is very difficult.

Anytime you try to talk to Genya, his brain stops functioning. All he can think is “(Y/N) is talking to me, she looks so cute and smells so nice. Wait, what is she saying? Oh no! I wasn’t listening! Wait, she’s looking at me! She’s waiting for a response! She has such pretty eyes-”

From your perspective, he’s just standing there with flushed cheeks barely getting mumbles out as he tries to hide away.

Genya’s mutual crush on you is evident to everyone on planet earth, actually. He lacks the ability to be subtle about it. 

And unless you’re as dense as a doorknob, you realize it too.

Or you don’t and Gyomei tells you, so that you can unburden Genya by either returning his feelings or rejecting them (Gyomei is a lowkey shipper, he always knows who's crushing on who and he’s never wrong).

You decide to confess because you realize that if you don’t, Genya might never be able to do so. Bby boy can fight demons daily but can barely say a complete sentence in your presence. You need to take the first step.

When you ask to speak with him, he freezes again and starts mumbling, and you decide to just push forward with your confession.

“I like you, Genya.”

Excuse me? What did you say? It’s already so hard for Genya to properly focus when you are standing so close to him, but he swore that you said that you “liked” him? Which doesn’t seem possible.

“Y-you do?” He asked, his voice was so quiet and unsure.

You nod, excitedly. The corners of Genya’s mouth quirk up into a shy smile, he can’t believe a cute, incredible, and kind girl likes him. He turns deep red and just kinda nods, “yeah.”

If you hug him, he may die of happiness.

[saetoru]

𝐊𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐒𝐔 𝐍𝐎 𝐘𝐀𝐈𝐁𝐀 + 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐓𝐎 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍

includes: uzui tengen, hashibira inosuke, rengoku kyojuro, kamado tanjiro, shabana gyutaro (just pretend he’s human in this okay)

notes: i am a little fixated on demon slayer as of late if you haven’t noticed :,)

✰ 𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐍 groans, dragging his feet into the room stiffly. he curses under his breath as you stir in your sleep, eyes fluttering open as you give him a sleepy smile when you realize he’s home. “you’re back. how was the mission?” grinning at you fondly, he chuckles, cupping your cheek as he leans down to press a kiss to your forehead. “didn’t mean to wake you. i won a flashy victory, what else?” he moves to stand to his full height, and you grab his hand with a pout, staring up at him with tired eyes. “no,” you whine, “you only just got back.” you lift the blanket, staring up at him expectantly to join, and with a low chuckle, he gives in and crawls in beside you, pulling you flush against his chest. “i still have to bathe, you know,” he murmurs, but you press a soft kiss to his pec, snuggling your cheek against the firm muscle and smiling to yourself in content. “stay here a bit first,” you murmur, falling back asleep as he rubs your back, and a bath might sound nice right now, but the sound of your soft breathing as you shift closer is even better.

✰ 𝐆𝐘𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐎 walks in with his back hunched, scowl on his face as he slams the door shut behind him. you stare at him with a soft smile, lifting the blanket up and holding an arm out. almost instantly, the stress rolls off his shoulders as he slides in, head finding your chest while you kiss his forehead. “long day, huh?” you murmur, stroking through his hair slowly. “yeah, daki was being difficult,” he grumbles, looking up at you and pouting as he adds, “and my back is sore.” chuckling quietly, you bring the covers over his body, rubbing his back slowly and smiling as he lets out a relieved sigh. “maybe if you didn’t hunch all day, you back wouldn’t be sore,” you tease. he scowls once more, burying his head into your chest, and you press one more sweet kiss to his temple as you relax. “supposed to pick my side,” he mutters through a yawn, smiling to himself as you giggle, and he thinks as long as he ends each day with you, they can’t be too bad.

✰ 𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐔𝐊𝐄 shakes your shoulders, waking you as he complains loudly for you to get up. groaning, you pull the covers over your head, only for him to pull them down instantly. “wake up, you’re always sleeping,” he grumbles, prodding your shoulder with his finger harshly. huffing, you smack his hand away, and he growls under his breath in frustration. “leave me alone, inosuke, it’s too early,” you glare at him. he scowls, but his lips curl ever so slightly into a small pout, making your features soften as you take in the sight. “well i’m bored,” he mutters under his breath, staring at you with a raised brow when you lift the blanket up, ushering him to join you under the covers. “come back to bed then,” you murmur gently, and even if he complains under his breath, his body presses as close to yours as it can get. “this is a waste of a perfectly good morning,” he grunts, but he lets out a soft sigh when your fingers thread through his locks. “you seem to be enjoying it,” you snort.

✰ 𝐊𝐘𝐎𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐎 is a little concerned when you’re not jumping into his arms as he walks through the door, searching through your home to find you. he lets out a soft breath of relief when he sees you bundled under the covers, and a wide grin stretches across his face instantly. “baby, it got cold without you,” you pout, opening the blanket to signal for him to join you, hand out and grabbing for him. he chuckles, slotting his body next to yours and wrapping two strong arms around you as he pulls you against his chest. “we can’t have that,” he murmurs, pressing a sweet kiss to your forehead, “gotta keep you warm, then. that better?” your hand trails to rub his chest in slow circles, and he lets out a soft breath, curling his arm around you tighter. leaning up and kissing his jaw, you hum as you nod, and he’s glad he gets to come home to you, always keeping him warm on the coldest of nights too. “way better.”

✰ 𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈𝐑𝐎 sits down at the edge of the bed beside you, smiling to himself as you sleep. he cups your cheek, rubbing a thumb in slow circles as he admires your features. “you’re so pretty,” he hums, leaning to peck your lips softly, but he’s shocked when you return the kiss, cracking an eye open slowly. “welcome back,” you yawn, “why’re you staring at me like a creep?” you’re blinking up to look at him as he sends you a soft grin, and he feels his chest swell with affection as you rub the sleep from your eyes. “why’re you pretending to sleep like a creep?” he counters, and you giggle as your hand takes his into your grasp, tracing over the scars slowly before planting tiny kisses along each one. it’s quiet for a bit, and then you scoot over to the side, lifting the blanket up and staring at him expectantly. “come to bed, i missed you,” you whisper, and as he slips under the covers with you, both of your quiet laughs mingling against the fabric as your limbs tangle, tanjiro knows he’s home.

[quirrrky]

THESE KNY BOYS WANT YOU TO SIT ON THEIR LAP

𖧵 ft. my boys, y'all know the drill; fluffy fluff fluff 𖧵 Yes, I know y'all missed KNY Mondays and so do I, so here it is and enjoy!

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TANJIROU You were hanging your newly washed sheets when Tanjirou surprised you with a back hug. You were both giggling as he peppered kisses on your cheek. He squeezed you tight which had the both of you stumbling on the grass.

You ended up falling on top of him as you laughed and giggled like school kids.

Tanjirou sat up and held you in his arms, so you were seated on his lap. His arms tightened around your waist.

"Welcome home, love." You greeted.

"Yes, I'm so glad to be home." He snuggled against you, a smile forming on his face as he nuzzled his nose on the crook of your neck, breathing in the comfort and warmth of your presence, of his home.

INOSUKE He was getting bored with you minding your own business not paying him the attention due to him. He kept groaning and grunting but it didn't seem to have any effect.

"Hey woman!" Inosuke finally called out straight. "Know your place." He demanded and you came back at him with a questioning look.

He caught you by surprise and pulled you by the wrist. Inosuke never failed to take you aback all the time. Now, your heart raced fast as you were met by his handsome face and his sturdy built caged you protectively. "Here is what I mean."

ZENITSU "Y/N-chan! Look what I got you! When I passed by them I immediately remembered you." He cheerfully announced as soon as he arrived home, however you were gloomily looking at the window.

Zenitsu gulped hard. Have you already woken up and decided that he's no match for someone as wonderful as you are.

"What's this? Why is my Y/N-chan sad?" He asked, hugging you

"Oh, Zenitsu-kun. You're finally here. Don't worry...I guess it's just the weather." You answered but he noticed that you're just lightening things up.

He sat the both of you down, positioning you on his lap. Reflexively, you rested your head against his chest. There, you heard him humming your favorite song in a sweet melody only he could do. There's no way Agatsuma Zenitsu was undeserving of you.

KYOJURO The smile on his face was merely just facade by now. Kyojuro just arrived home after a tiring day and you're just...there doing chores not paying him any attention.

It's not that Rengoku Kyojuro was a clingy boi. Oh no, in fact, he yeah he could be. This noble man had a tendency to enjoy your presence a little too much, because if it's Kyojuro time, it means it's Kyojuro time.

He told you the recent adventure he just had but you were just humming in response. That's why when you passed by to sweep the floor on the very area where he was positioned, he grabbed you by the waist with one arm, sitting you on his lap.

"Kyo! What're you doing? I'm cleaning."

He laughed and held you more firmly. "How about you go back to doing that after I have you all by myself?"

You playfully swatted him and he just chuckled. He ended up winning though.

GIYUU You were both quietly seated at the engawa watching the day turn into night. Your face was highlighted by the 6 o'clock shadow, a mixture of pink, purple and orange danced well with your features and Giyuu couldn't help but marvel at how lovely you were.

He just couldn't simply believe that you were his. Somehow, he felt like he needed proof, a tangible proof that you were not just a mere bubble that could burst into thin air anytime.

Without saying a word, he wrapped an arm around the middle of your frame and pulled you close to him. "Giyuu-" you yelped as he seated you on his lap, cradling you so warmly in his arms like a precious baby. His precious one he wanted to protect with all his life. His forehead touched yours as his eyes closed just nuzzling your nose against his. "Let's stay like this, Y/N." Forever.

SANEMI Nobody could paint how livid he was. What the hell was this? Today was supposed to be a good day for the both of you but you ended up bickering over a very small and petty thing. Now, you're threatening him that you'd rather spend the day with your friends.

"I hope you enjoy yourself here. I'm out, Nemi."

Are you kidding him? Sharply, he grasped your wrist and pulled you to his lap. You were surprised to be face to face with him like this. So close. You could feel his breathing against your face.

"Geez," he let out, avoiding your gaze. "I didn't mean what I said. Okay?" His cheeks were all red and he mumbled with a pouty face, "Just stay here with me and let me make it up to you." You could totally feel him melting from embarrassment.

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COLLECTIONS: KNY ✧ DAYDREAM MUSEUM

[unpopularwriter25]

Hello pookie! I was just wondering if you still take requests? If not then just ignore this! I completely understand!

Could you do a headcanon on how the kamaboko trio react on a demon slayer like them (and they have the same rank as them since they took the same test as them at the same time) with an angel breathing style? And they're introverted and naturally VERY sweet.

If you ever write this request, thank you so so so much 🥺 I was scared on asking a request because this is my first time on asking a request 😭 But anyways! Always remember to take care of yourself! And always eat and drink water!

Bye bye!

I love this!! I hope this is what you wanted!! I'm still getting use to request.

Warnings: None.

Tanjiro Kamado:

Tanjiro would be immediately drawn to the new slayer's kind and gentle demeanor, sensing a kindred spirit. He would admire their Angel Breathing style, finding it both beautiful and inspiring, and would likely ask them to demonstrate it multiple times. Tanjiro, being empathetic and friendly, would make a conscious effort to ensure they feel comfortable and included despite their introversion. He would offer to train together, understanding that their quiet nature might make it difficult for them to ask for help.

Tanjiro would often check on them, offering support and encouragement, perhaps bringing them small gifts or food to show he cares. He would seek their advice and input during strategy sessions, recognizing the wisdom that often comes with a gentle spirit. Their calm presence would be a source of strength for him, especially during moments of doubt or sorrow.

Zenitsu Agatsuma:

Zenitsu would be in awe of the new slayer's Angel Breathing style, viewing it as something out of a fairy tale. His dramatic personality would contrast sharply with their introversion, leading to many humorous and awkward moments. He might initially be too shy to approach them, fearing he isn’t good enough to be in their presence, but their sweet nature would slowly draw him out of his shell.

Zenitsu would try to impress them with his own skills, albeit clumsily, and might often end up embarrassing himself. However, he would find solace in their gentle reassurances and kind words. Over time, Zenitsu would deeply appreciate their sweet nature and look to them for comfort, particularly during battles. Their serene presence would help calm his nerves, and he would grow protective of them, despite often needing protection himself.

Inosuke Hashibira:

Inosuke's initial reaction would be one of curiosity mixed with confusion. He might challenge the new slayer to a duel to test their strength, only to be bewildered and impressed by the elegance and effectiveness of their Angel Breathing style. His loud and boisterous nature would initially clash with their quiet demeanor, but he would quickly come to respect their abilities.

Despite his rough exterior, Inosuke would grow to appreciate their gentle nature. He might not fully understand their introversion and would often try to drag them into more extroverted activities, but he would fiercely defend them if anyone else questioned their quiet nature. He would also begin to look out for them during missions, making sure they were safe and not overexerting themselve