#Inosuke Fluff | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

hinatastinygiant · 2 days ago

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✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: fractured encounters :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

protector x beloved enemy (fem!reader x inosuke)

back to... fated encounters, masterlist

The air in your village is thick with the scent of moss and pine, the trees that surround the areas swaying gently in the wind over well-worn paths. You’re used to this kind of peace- the hum of nature filling the spaces where words aren’t needed. But this morning feels different. Your clan leader- your mother- had informed you of the meeting the night before. A Demon Slayer, one of the Corps’ best, was coming to discuss an alliance. Lord Tengen Uzui, they’d said. The Sound Hashira, who's known for his unmatched skills and striking presence.

The thought made you nervous. You’d heard rumors about his strength, his charisma, and even his beauty. You’ve always prided yourself on your composure, but the idea of meeting someone like him makes your fingers twitch at your sides as the sound of footsteps approaches.

When you look up, your breath catches- not from awe, but from confusion.

The man who strides into the clearing at the front of your town is definitely not Lord Uzui. He’s shirtless, his chest bare and toned, with an animalistic aura that feels so completely out of place in the stillness of your village. Black and blue hair cascades around his face as he pulls off the boar’s mask on his head, which he now carries tucked under his arm.

You stare, your eyebrows furrowing. “You’re not Lord Uzui.”

The man stops in his tracks, tilting his head at you. “No kidding,” he says bluntly, his voice gruff and self-assured. “I’m Inosuke Hashibira.”

You hesitate, taking a small step back. “How do I know you’re a Demon Slayer?”

At that, he huffs in irritation and lifts the mask slightly as if to put it on, but then thinks better of it. Instead, he tucks it under his arm again and leans forward slightly, his sharp gaze locking with yours.

“You want proof?” He asks, the sunlight catching his blue eyes. For a moment, you’re stunned, unable to look away. His eyes are wild yet so captivating, and the way they bear into yours sends a shiver down your spine.

He pauses too, his gaze softening ever so slightly as he takes you in. Your robes, your steady posture, and the way your lips part slightly in surprise- he’s not sure why, but it makes him stop short.

The moment hangs in the air, both of you stiff and unblinking.

“I’m a Demon Slayer,” he says finally, his voice quieter but still confident. “Who the hell are you?”

You clear your throat, snapping yourself out of your daze. “Y/N L/N,” you reply evenly. “I will be escorting you to the clan leader.”

He frowns, tilting his head. “You’re not the leader?”

“No,” you say, motioning toward the village path. “Please, follow me.”

For a moment, he still doesn’t move, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he’s still sizing you up. Then, with a small grunt of acknowledgment, he slides back on his boar’s head mask and falls into step behind you.

As you walk through the paths of the village, you can feel his eyes on you. His presence is heavy, disruptive, and impossible to ignore. Like the complete antithesis of your village.

“What are you looking at?” you ask over your shoulder, your voice sharper than you meant. “You,” he replies without hesitation. “You’re odd. All quiet and proper.”

You resist the urge to roll your eyes. “And you’re rude.”

He shrugs, unbothered. “Yeah, so?”

You say nothing, quickening your pace slightly. If this is the Demon Slayer you’re supposed to be meeting with to form an alliance, it’s going to be a long day.

The council hall is quieter than usual, the heavy wood of the ceiling beams absorbing what little noise filters in from outside. You sit beside your mother, the clan leader, your back straight and your hands folded neatly in your lap. However, as you sit, the words Inosuke had said before cause you to shift slightly.

You’re odd. All quiet and proper.

Across from the two of you kneels Inosuke, his legs spread, his elbows resting on his knees as he leans forward in a way that makes him look both causal and ready to pounce at any moment.

Your mother clears her throat. “You are not Lord Uzui,” she says plainly, her eyes fixed on Inosuke.

“Nope,” he replies without hesitation, his chest puffing out slightly. “He’s retired. Lost an arm or something in a bit fight. Too bad I wasn’t there to save him.”

You and your mother exchange a nervous glance. Retired? The idea of such a formidable slayer no longer fighting sends a chill through you.

“I’ve heard Mr. Tanjiro speak of Mr. Inosuke before,” you offer quickly, trying to mask your unease.

“Yeah, he’d better have,” Inosuke mutters. “Lord Inosuke’s the best. That’s why I’m here instead.”

Your mother arches an eyebrow but says nothing, choosing instead to redirect the conversation. “This meeting should go swiftly,” she says, her tone diplomatic and firm. “We agreed to this truce under Master Ubuyashiki’s word that demon slayers would no longer barge through the village uninvited or destroy any property. Do you stand by this?”

Inosuke nods. “Yeah, Lord Inosuke agrees. As long as demon slayers can pass through and are permitted to stay as long as they pay.”

Your mother considers this for a moment before nodding. “Very well. That is agreeable.”

A beat of silence follows, and you can feel the tension beginning to fade. But then Inosuke leans back, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

“Oh, yeah,” he says suddenly, his tone far too casual for the setting. “Also, she should get a boar mask like mine.”

The words hang in the air, and your eyebrows furrow as you glare at him, confused. “What are you tryin’ to say, huh? You better not be calling me ugly!”

Your mother’s sharp intake of a breath is the only warning you get before she places a firm hand on your shoulder. “Settle down, Y/N,” she says calmly, though her tone carries a warning.

“I’m not calling you ugly!” Inosuke says quickly, his voice louder than it needs to be. He leans forward, waving his hands slightly in what you think is supposed to be an attempt to calm you. “I just meant… you’d match me! You’d look-” He stops abruptly, his face scrunching up as he tries to find the right word. “Like a boar warrior!”

You stare at him, your irritation only growing at his fumbling explanation. “Ugh, as if! I don’t want to ‘match’ you,” you snap, rising to your feet. “I’m not going to be your sidekick, you freak!”

“Wait, I didn’t-”

But you don’t let him finish. With a frustrated huff, you spin on your heel and storm out of the room. However, you barely make it to the door before your mother’s voice calls you back.

“Y/N.”

You stop, your hands curling into fists at your sides as you turn back reluctantly.

“As part of the agreement, you are to escort Mr. Hashibira to the top of Hikaraigami Mountain,” she says, her voice leaving no room for argument. “He will assist you in placing the ceremonial talisman at the shrine.”

Your jaw tightens, but you nod, knowing better than to protest though it’ll be a damn long walk with him at your side. “Yes, Mother.”

“And Y/N,” she adds, her tone softening slightly, “I expect you to represent our clan with grace and dignity.”

You bite back your snippy response rising in your throat and bow your head instead. “Of course. If you would please follow me, Mr. Hashibira.”

The mountain trail feels steeper today, though the air is cool enough to make the climb manageable. You walk beside Inosuke this time, as well. He carries an energy that feels out of place to your surroundings, but it’s oddly comforting. You notice the way his sharp eyes dart to every rustling leaf and distant bird call as if something was about to attack.

“You’ve got a lot of trees here,” he mutters, his tone a mix of curiosity and irritation.

“It’s a forest,” you reply lightly. “We’re surrounded by nature. That’s why the talisman ceremony is so important.”

He glances at you, his brow furrowed. “Yeah, but you don’t know what could be hiding around you. And what’s so special about some piece of wood? You know it’s the Demon Slayers who really save you.”

You pause mid-step, turning to look at him. “I don’t doubt that, Mr. Hashibira,” you reply, “but this tradition is older than the Demon Slayer Corps. It’s a way for us to protect ourselves and honor the spirits of the forest. Besides…” You glance at him with a small smile. “I’m sure it gives the Demon Slayers a little luck, too.”

For a moment, he doesn’t respond, his gaze fixed on you. The sunlight filters through the trees, catching on your hair and lighting your expression. Something in your smile makes his chest tightly, and he looks away quickly, mumbling something under his breath that you don’t catch.

As you near the mountain’s peak, the weathered stones of the shrine come into view. You hold the carved talisman in your hands as you approach the small temple at the center of the clearing.

“This is it,” you say, stopping just in front of the shrine. “The talisman goes inside the temple. It’s where we leave our offering to keep the balance.”

You turn to Inosuke, holding the talisman out to him. “You can place it this time.”

He hesitates as he takes it, his fingers brushing against yours. The touch lingers for a moment longer than necessary, and he freezes, staring at the talisman like it’s suddenly become far more complicated than you know it is.

“Are you okay?” you ask, a light laugh escaping your lips.

He blinks, quickly jumping from his thoughts. “Y-yeah,” he stammers, his voice softer than usual.

You tilt your head slightly, your smile softening. He’s kind of cute, you think, though it’s not like you’re about to admit that. Your experience with Demon Slayers is limited, and his blunt, untamed demeanor is both strange and oddly endearing.

As he steps into the shrine, you bow your head, clasping your hands in front of you as you recite a quiet prayer. The words are familiar, comforting, and the forest seems to hold its breath just for you.

When Inosuke returns, the talisman is secured in the temple. He then stands awkwardly for a moment before clearing his throat. “So, uh… what now?”

You straighten, brushing the dust from your robes. “That’s all,” you say with a small bow. “Thank you for coming up here. It means a lot to my village.”

He crosses his arms, his posture loosening slightly. “Does the chief need anything else?”

You hesitate, considering his question. “I’m not sure. Maybe… could you come back in a week to check in with my mother?”

He nods immediately. “Yeah, sure. I can do that.”

“Great,” you reply with a smile.

Just as you’re about to offer to walk down the mountain together, he turns abruptly and sprints into the trees, his speed so sudden it leaves you blinking in surprise.

“Wait!” you call after him, stepping forward. “Come back!”

The rustling of leaves fades quickly, and you realize with a sigh that he’s already too far gone.

“Of course,” you mutter under your breath, your hands resting on your hips as you stare down the empty trail. “Guess it’ll be a long walk back alone for me.”

ONE WEEK LATER

The night is cool and quiet as you descend the mountain. The talisman ceremony had gone smoothly, as always, the offering placed in the shrine to honor the spirits and protect the village. You hum softly to yourself, your thoughts drifting as you step carefully down the uneven path.

But the moment you near the base of the mountain, your heart stops.

A dark trail of blood snakes along the dirt path, shining faintly under the moon. The metallic smell hangs heavy in the air, and a cold knot of fear twists your stomach.

Your legs move before your mind can catch up, pushing you forward as panic surges through your chest. You nearly trip over a loose stone, catching yourself just in time. The village lies ahead, covered in darkness, but the scent of blood grows stronger with each step.

You reach the outskirts and freeze.

A crash echoes through the night, followed by the unmistakable sound of your mother’s voice, laced with desperation.

“Stay back!” she shouts, her tone commanding but trembling.

Your blood turns to ice. “Mother!” you scream, your voice cracking as you sprint toward the sound.

You round the corner of a crumbling building and stop dead in your tracks.

A demon courches over her, his form hunched as he devours her with sickening pride. His claws rake against the ground, shredding the first as it tears into her lifeless body.

“No!” you cry, your voice burning as you lunge forward.

The demon’s head snaps up, his bloodied mouth twisting into a grotesque grin. He moves faster than you can react, his claws slicing into your legs and sending you tumbling backward. Pain explodes in your calves, and you hit the ground hard, gasping as tears blur your vision.

INOSUKE’S P.O.V.

Inosuke walks toward the village, humming to himself. He stretches his arms over his head as he walks forward, feeling rather pleased.

“Maybe they’ll have food ready,” he thinks aloud, a grin tugging at his lips. “That’d be nice. Something tasty…”

But his thoughts are interrupted when his eyes catch on the sight of blood before him. He stops abruptly, his grin fading as his body goes tense.

“What the-”

His gazde follows the trail, and he crouches low, sniffing the air like a predator. The scent hits him hard, and his heart pounds in his chest as the sound cuts through the stillness: your voice, sharp and desperate.

“Mother!”

Inosuke bolts forward, his instincts kicking in as he races toward the source of the sound. He rounds the corner just in time to see a demon looming over you, your body crumpled on the ground as you struggle to push yourself upright.

Without a second thought, he draws his blades.

The demon turns, his grin widening as he senses the new presence, but Inosuke doesn’t give him a chance to react. With a swift motion, he slices clean through its neck. The demon’s head hits the ground with a loud thud, his body collapsing in a heap beside it.

Y/N’S P.O.V.

You crawl forward on trembling hands and knees, your gaze locked on your mother’s bloodied form. The world feels like it’s spinning as you reach her, your hands shaking as you touch her shoulder.

“Mother,” you whisper, your voice breaking. “Please, no. Please…”

She doesn’t respond. Her body is cold and still, and the sight of her face sends fresh tears streaming down your cheeks.

Behind you, Inosuke sheathes and swords and steps closer. He hesitates for a moment before crouching beside you, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder.

“Hey,” he says softly, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.

You flinch at his touch, the shooting pain in your leg pulling you back to reality. Your breath hitches and you tilt your head up, blinking through the tears. “What am I going to do?” you choke out.

He frowns, his gaze dropping to your leg. “First, you’re gonna stop bleeding everywhere,” he says bluntly. “Sit back, let me see.”

You do as he says just before he kneels in front of you and gently pushes up the skirt of your dress. His fingers hook into the torn fabric of your tights, and with a tug, he rips the material to expose the wounds on your calves.

“What are you-” you gasp as he discards the material on the ground at your sides.

“Hold still,” he interrupts, his tone firm yet not unkind. He looks up at you briefly, the expression on his face softening when he sees the tears still streaming down your face. “I need to see better.”

He then pulls off his boar mask and sets it aside, revealing his intense blue eyes. The moonlight catches on his face, and for a moment, the vulnerability of the moment feels almost surreal.

“It’s not too bad,” he mutters, dipping a cloth into a nearby canteen of water and pressing it gently against your wounds. “You’ll be okay.”

You bite your lip, the pain sharp but bearable as he works. His hands are rough but careful, and his movements are surprisingly precise.

When he’s finished, he leans back on his heels and looks at you. “Can you stand?”

“I can try,” you whisper, though you’re sure this will go horribly wrong.

He nods and steps back slightly, giving you room as you press your hands to the wall and attempt to push yourself up. Pain shoots through your leg the moment you put weight on it, and you wobble. Before you can hit the ground, his arms are around you.

“Woah, hold on!” he exclaims, catching you with ease.

You sag against him, your breath hitching as the sharp ache in your leg refuses to fade. “I can’t,” you admit, frustration growing in your voice.

“Yeah, no kidding,” he mutters. Without another word, he shifts his grip, his hands sliding down your waist. Before you can ask what he’s doing, he hoists you over his shoulder.

“Mr. Hashibira!” you gasp, your hands pressing against his back. “This is indecent!”

“I know,” he replies flatly, adjusting his hold on you to make sure you’re secure before reaching down to grab his mask and stuff it back on his head. “But it’s easier to carry you this way if I’m gonna run. You’re lucky I’m so strong!”

Your face burns with embarrassment. “You could at least carry me properly!”

“Properly takes too long,” he replies, already breaking into a jog. “I know someone who can help better than me. We’ll get there faster like this. Don’t worry, I’ll send someone to watch over your mother.”

You sigh, realizing there’s no point in arguing with him. Watching your mother fade away, paired with the fading adrenaline in your system, leaves you feeling drained. “Just… don’t drop me, okay?”

“Not a chance!”

You wake up to the sound of soft footsteps and hushed voices, the sunlight filtering through the paper screens of the Butterfly Mansion a bit too bright for your liking. The room feels too big and too overwhelming, as people walk in and out.

Shinobu checks your temperature, and her soft smile never fades as she speaks reassuringly. “You’re healing well,” he says, adjusting the bandages on your leg next. “Just keep resting for now.”

Aoi comes in next, carrying a tray of food that smells of rice and miso soup. She sets it down on the bedside table with a quick nod. “Eat something when you can,” she hums before moving on to her next task.

Kanao also enters briefly, her quiet presence rather soothing despite all the chaos around her. She hands you a small cup of tea and lingers only long enough to ensure you’re comfortable before disappearing into the hallway.

The constant flow of visitors leaves you reeling, their kind but fleeting gestures piling up in your chest like an avalanche. Your breaths come faster, your hands trembling slightly as you grip your blanket.

“Y/N!”

The familiar voice of your bedside neighbor cuts through the haze and you glance up to see Tanjiro standing in the doorway.

“Hey,” he says, stepping inside and pulling a chair between your two beds. “I thought I’d stop by this afternoon to check in on you again. I figured you might need some company.”

You manage a small smile, grateful for his presence. “Thank you, Mr. Kamado.”

“Just Tanjro,” he corrects gently, his tone rather cheerful. “And don’t worry- I’m here to cheer you up!”

He gets to work quickly, his attempts at humor and antics so genuine they bring the first real smile to your face since the attack. He balances a spoon on his nose, makes exaggerated impressions of the blond-haired boy that wouldn’t leave your room for anything this morning, and even tries to show you a breathing technique that leaves him red-faced.

“See?” he says with a bright grin. “You’re already feeling better, right?”

“Maybe a little,” you admit, the corners of your lips twitching.

He leans back slightly as his expression softens. “Can I ask where you’re from, Y/N?”

“Sure, though I doubt you’d know the place- the village at the base of Hikarigami Mountain.

His eyes widen slightly. “I know that place. I spoke to the chief there once.”

Your throat tightens at the mention of your mother.

Tanjiro continues, not noticing the water in your eyes. “She and I talked about a treaty with the Demon Slayer Corps. It was after my friend, Genya, got into some trouble when we tried to stay there. She was firm, but very kind.”

His words hit you like a wave, and before you can stop yourself, tears stream down your face.

Tanjiro immediately freezes, his face crumpling into regret. “Oh no, I’m so sorry- I shouldn’t have said anything!”

“It’s alright,” you whisper, though your voice trembles. “It’s just… a lot. Everything feels so fast.”

He hesitates for a moment before moving to sit on the edge of your bed. His arms wrap around you in a gentle hug, pulling you close. You bury your face in his shoulder, your tears soaking into the fabric of his haori as you sob.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmurs again, his voice soft and soothing. “Take your time.”

You cry for what feels like an eternity, the grief and shock finally pouring out of you. When the tears begin to fade, you pull back slightly and wipe your eyes with a shaky hand.

“Thank you,” you say quietly. “For the treaty. Without it, I’d probably be dead too.”

His grip on your shoulder tightens slightly. “No,” he says firmly. “You’re here because you’re strong. But you’re right- if it weren’t for Inosuke, things could have been much worse.”

You nod, your tears slowing as you take a deep, shuddering breath.

INOSUKE’S P.O.V.

From the hallway, Inosuke watches.

His arms are crossed over his chest, the boar mask hiding most of his face, but his narrowed eyes are locked on the scene before him: Tanjiro sitting on the edge of your bed, holding you close as you cry into his shoulder.

He huffs loudly through the mask, his irritation bubbling to the surface. “What’s he doing in there so long?” he mutters to himself.

“You’ve got it bad for that girl, huh?”

Inosuke startles, spinning around to find Zenitsu standing behind him with a smirk on his face.

“I don’t got anything bad!” he snaps, his fists clenching.

Zenitsu rolls his eyes. “That’s not what I meant, dummy. I mean, you like her, don’t you?”

But before Zenitsu can finish, Inosuke turns on his heel and storms off, his voice echoing down the hall. “I don’t like anything! In fact, I hate everything!”

Zenitsu sighs, scratching the back of his head as he watches Inosuke disappear around the corner. “Sure, sure,” he mutters to himself, his smile returning. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Y/N’S P.O.V.

The dining room is quiet when you and Inosuke arrive, the faint hum of conversation and clatter of dishes from earlier long gone. Aoi had insisted that since it’s been a couple days, you should walk (with Inosuke’s help) to the main room to eat. And though Tanjiro had insisted on waiting for you both, even he had caved when training called.

Now it’s just the two of you, sitting across from each other at the low table. The plate of food before you are still warm, though the room feels almost too big in its silence.

You eat normally, taking small bites and focusing on your food to distract you from the strange energy lingering in the air. Inosuke, h however, doesn’t share your restraint. His mask sits off to the side, revealing his wild hair, and he eats with his usual unrefined demeanor.

But as you glance up briefly, you notice he isn’t eating as much as usual. Instead, his eyes are fixed on you, watching your every move with an intensity that makes your stomach flip.

“What?” you ask, frowning slightly as you set your chopsticks down.

He keeps looking at you for a moment longer before speaking. “You’re a distraction.”

You blink, startled by the bluntness of his statement. “Excuse me?”

“You’re a distraction,” he repeats, his tone just as matter-of-fact.

You narrow your eyes as you sit up straighter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He sets his bowl down with a loud clunk, leaning forward slightly. “I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says, his voice low. “It’s annoying.”

Your mouth opens, but no words come out. He takes your silence as permission to continue. “It’s been like this for a week,” he mutters, his eyebrows furrowing in frustration. “You’re supposed to be perfect- the girl who sits at the side of the chief and keeps her village safe. But now… you’re not.”

His words hit you like a slap in the face, and your chest tightens as anger rises to the surface. “Well, shit,” you say coldly, pushing your plate aside, “if that’s how you really feel, Mr. Hashibira, then-”

“No, that’s not what I mean!” he interrupts, his voice louder now, almost desperate. “It’s just… ugh!” He drags a hand down his face, clearly frustrated with himself.

Your glare softens slightly as you watch him struggle, but your arms remain crossed, waiting for him to explain.

He hesitates, his gaze flicking to the side as if searching for the right words. Zenitsu’s voice echoes faintly in his mind: You’ve got it bad for that girl.

“I’ve got something bad,” he says finally, his voice quieter again.

You blink, confused and slightly disgusted. “You don’t need to be telling me that.”

“No!” he freezes, then groans in frustration, his head dropping slightly.

“Will you just explain to me what’s going on?!”

His face turns slightly red as he leans forward again, his hands flat on the table. “I mean I like you, okay?!” he blurts out, his words rushed but clear.

Your eyes widen, your breath catching in your throat. “You… like me?”

He nods, his cheeks still flushed. “Yeah. I don’t know why, but I do ‘cause it’s you.”

The admission hangs in the air, the silence between you heavy with unspoken tension.

Finally, he shifts slightly before asking, “Can I kiss you?”

You freeze, your heart pounding as you process the question. “I-” You stumble over your words, your thoughts racing before you manage a quiet, “Yes.”

His eyes soften, and he moves around the table quickly, kneeling beside you. His hand brushes against your cheek as he leans in, his lips pressing against yours in a kiss that’s surprisingly sweet and gentle.

The taste of his food lingers faintly on his lips, and for a moment, the world falls away, leaving only the warmth of his touch and the quiet hum of your heartbeat.

When he pulls back, his hand lingers on your cheek, his gaze determined. “I promise,” he says quietly, “I’ll do whatever I can to keep you and the rest of your village safe.”

You smile softly, your fingers brushing against his hand. “I suppose, as the new village chief, I’m in charge of making sure my village’s needs are met.”

A small smirk tugs at the corners of his lips. “Anything you need, Lord Inosuke will take care of it!”

Your smile widens as you nod. “Thank you, Inosuke.”

He grins in response, his usual confidence returning as he settles back into his seat. And for the first time since the attack, you feel a slight flicker of hope in your chest that everything will be okay, thanks to Inosuke and the Demon Slayer Corps.

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sacredasexual · 8 months ago

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~ ♡A Late Night Talk ♡ ~ (Sad Inosuke x GenderNuteral Reader! Reverse Comfort)

(This isn't an Agere Inosuke post like I usually do. I just wanted to write some fluff and some reverse comfort😭)

______________________________________________________________

Upon waking up at around 2:43 in the morning, Y/N would obviously try to get back to sleep. After around 10 minutes, they couldn’t fall back asleep. They sighed and stood up, maybe getting some water would help? They quietly began walking out of the room and down the hallways of The Butterfly Estate. However, they quickly realized that a door to the outside was open. Confused, Y/N slowly and cautiously stepped towards the door, peering out only to see Inosuke, he was crying? Stunned, as Y/N had never seen him cry before, they stepped forward just once as the floor creaked. Inosuke spun his head around at what seemed like the speed of light and noticed Y/N and nearly instantly, he started to get very defensive towards them.

“"H-Hey!!! What are you looking at, idiot!? Why are you awake?!" He snapped, while he wiped his tears that just continued falling.

Not really phased by his yelling, Y/N replied.

"…Inosuke? Are you alright?” Y/N uttered, concerned for the feral boy.

"S-Shut up! I'm fine! Just go back to bed!" Inosuke yelled, not seeming to care that it was in the middle of the night.

Inosuke was still crying when he was yelling. It sounded like he was holding back a lot of stuff but he was still trying to hide it.

Y/N was silent for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Y'know if you don't want to tell me anything that's fine. That's not any of my business to pry into. But like hell am I gonna leave you here alone when there's clearly something that's seriously upsetting you.” They insisted.

Inosuke seemed a bit surprised that they had stayed and didn't just go back to bed.

"What's it to you anyway?! It's not like you care!" He said harshly, looking away from Y/N.

Although he was being rude and harsh he was still on the brink of crying and was trying his best to keep this in to be the strongest.

Y/N tilted their head a bit, raising an eyebrow.

"Who said that? Who ever said I didn't care? I have no idea who told you that but they're a damn liar. I do care. A lot, actually." They stated."So you do care?..." Inosuke uttered, almost in disbelief.

He was actually starting to believe they cared but he didn't want to admit to it.

But he still wasn't completely convinced you cared just yet.

"I do, really." Y/N confirmed.

Y/N walked towards him before sitting down next to him.

"Look, there must be a reason for your tears. I don't think it's just that something got in your eye." They added.

Inosuke, still trying to maintain his tough guy act, rolled his eyes with his arms crossed and replied with a hard stare

"What do you know anyway?! It's nothing! Really. I swear! I'm just… tired. That's all. Now why don't you get back to bed, yeah…" He then tried to shoo Y/N away, hoping they'd give up.

Y/N shrugged.

"Y'know, you don't gotta tell me anything. But I'm not just gonna let you feel completely alone, that shit hurts. But you're not gonna find a solution just sulking alone looking into the dark. I should know, I've been trying that for a long time" They sighed.

That got to Inosuke a little bit, but he tried to act like he didn't care.

"Look, I'm just dealing with some stuff on my own and it's really nothing to worry about okay-" He paused.

Inosuke thought to himself; "Well damn… this is embarrassing…" Before speaking again.

"So again, I'm gonna ask you to go back to bed."

There was a moment of silence.

Y/N sighed a bit.

"…You don't deserve to feel all alone when shit hits the fan. So I'd love to sit and chill with you for a while. Talk about nothing in particular. Or just chill in silence for a bit. Whatever floats your boat really" They said after a bit.

This caught him a little off guard.

Inosuke was silent for a second, thinking to himself; "Are they serious? Are they really going to do this? I guess it would be nice though…"

He then cleared his throat, trying to sound tough again.

"Ugh…fine. You can stay but it's gonna be boring." He rolled his eyes, looking away.

"Fine by me" Y/N replied, shrugging and looking up into the night sky as rain began lightly peppering the ground.Y/N and Inosuke sat quietly for what felt like 20 minutes, just sitting and occasionally hearing the light rain drops hitting the ground. The night sky was beautiful, they could see some stars.

“…Hey." Inosuke spoke quietly after another minute passed.

“What'sup?” Y/N casually responded.

"…I'm sorry." He uttered.

He was thinking about how this was probably going to make him look weak but he really didn't care at this point. He just wanted someone to speak his mind too.

Y/N was a little caught off guard by this, usually he never says anything like that.

"Sorry for what?" They asked.

Inosuke sighed, his voice was back to being soft and not so tough.

"I'm sorry for being a dick. About a lot of stuff." He couldn't look Y/N in the eyes as he said this.

…

Y/N was silent for a second before they replied with a sigh.

"I'm not the type to hate easily. I figured that you've likely been through some real shit that forced you to build up walls to protect yourself. And the rudeness comes from wanting to protect yourself from future harm rather than for just being a jerk." They explained to him.

Inosuke was in complete shock that they knew that and actually understood and felt his actions were more than just him being a jerk.

"Well, I guess you got me there. I did go through something…pretty heavy before all this whole demon slaying started and I wanted to hide that side from everyone so I just became a jerk… and that kinda—” He stopped himself for a second.

He started thinking to himself.

"You're doing it again…stop talking so much! Your weakness is showing! Be quiet!" He mentally scolded himself.

He was about to continue before Y/N had spoken once more.

"I've been there myself before, Y'know? Acting a certain way purposely in order to protect yourself? Where you've gotten so used to it to where even the genuinely nice people you gotta push away because you can never fully know who and who not to trust. So believe me when I tell you I know exactly how you're feeling." Y/N had revealed this to him for the first time.

Inosukes jaw nearly dropped when Y/N confessed this to him, he was shocked that they actually have been through the exact same thing he had, it seemed like almost impossible.

"No fucking way…you've actually been through the same thing? You aren't just pitying me or lying to me?" He uttered in disbelief and a little bit of skepticism.

Y/N was silent for a second.

"In short, When I was little I was always bullied and harassed for being this type of kid who would just always be happy, chatty and ready to make friends and talk a lot. So as I grew older I forced myself to become more closed off, quiet and sort-of a loner to protect myself from further harassment. And even some genuinely nice people I'd avoid and purposely cause beef with. Just so I wouldn't have to worry about fully trusting them then the bend me over and fuck me hard, rough, and dry like the rest without remorse. Because I couldn't ever be sure of who was and who wasn't to be trusted. So I forced myself to act like everyone was my enemy so I wouldn't have to go through the pain of being harassed for who I really am again. So believe me when I say that I know exactly how you feel. Our experiences may have been different in scenarios, but had the same effect nonetheless" They told him.

Inosuke couldn't believe Y/N was being so open to him. Usually, people just ignored him once he was a dick to them…but they still stuck by even when he was rude.

"I-I… you really do know what that's like and you actually understood me and didn't just think I was being a dick for no reason." He looked down at his lap, feeling more and more comfortable with Y/N as time passed.

Rain started falling a little heavier."There's nothing you need to apologize for. You're just trying to protect yourself, and I understand that very well. It's unfortunate, but it's the sad truth. I can tell you didn’t really mean any harm. And when it ever comes down to it, you'll never let anyone walk alone when shit happens." Y/N uttered quietly to him.

Y/N had no idea how much that meant to Inosuke. Nobody had ever told him something so thoughtful or genuinely nice before. Well, aside from Tanjiro a couple of times. But sometimes he thinks it's forced. All he'd been told before was how he was a jerk, an idiot, or a dumbass. Inosuke was trying not to tear up, but it was hard. No matter what he tried, he'd probably end up crying in front of Y/N. which he didn't want.

"Uh… t-thank you… I really didn't deserve such nice words…" He shyly uttered.

A little more time had passed, before Y/N decided to tell him something else.

"Hey…This might not seem like much coming from just some demon girl like me, but if it helps even a little bit..I'll say it over and over again. In my eyes, you're perfect just the way you are. Your voice is soothing to listen to, your eyes are as beautiful as peridot gems, and your eyelashes just make it all the more better. It looks like your eyes were carved specially from a Wall of Peridot Gems in Heaven. I'm not just saying that. I genuinely mean it." They said softly to him.Inosuke didn't know what to say. For the first time in years, someone actually complimented him and meant it. Most people in the past just insulted him or called him a jackass. Inosuke couldn't help but tear up at this point which he regretted doing. He tried to be tough again, but his voice was still shaky.

"I-it's not like you really mean any of that… It's just out of pity. You don't actually mean any of it." He sighed, trying to hold back tears.

"Of course I mean it" Y/N replied without hesitation.

"And that's just physically…on the inside, I can tell you're sweet, caring, loyal, and everything anyone wishes to have in a person. They just don't want to work for it and think things automatically have to go their way. And that's not your fault. I may not know what all you've ever been through, but I can tell that no matter what it was..it impacts your life in a way you wish it didn't. It must hurt, it must be excruciating trying to seem 'normal' when all you've ever known is what you grew up knowing. That's not your fault.” They added.

Inosuke was trying not to burst out into full tears as he heard this. This was probably the most sincere thing anyone has ever told him, not just that. But someone actually thought these kind things were true about him?

“You…You think so?” He managed.

"I absolutely know so. And even though I'm not someone special like a Hashira or something…I hope it can bring you at least a little bit of comfort knowing that I'm proud of you. I'll always be proud of you. You've saved the lives of hundreds of people again and again just because you want to protect them. And in my book, that's the most honorable thing anyone could ever even hope to do. On top of that.. You keep doing it again and again, day by day, night by night even though you feel unappreciated. Inosuke.. You're a person that people should learn from. You have a heart of gold under the rough exterior. You aren't dumb. You've accomplished things that others would need to work years for to even begin to start getting to your level at. And even though I'm not anyone special, I want you to know that I see you, I hear you. And you never fail to impress me. I'm so proud of you.” Y/N sighed.

Inosuke's face began to turn red from embarrassment now on top of the tears that he can no longer fight back. He had no idea of how to respond to such kindness and sincerity. He was speechless and he was blushing.

"D-don't say such nice things… you'll j-just make me cry…" He once again, shyly uttered.

Y/N replied without a second's hesitation.

"Don't feel bad for crying. Cry as much as you need. Each tear represents how strong you've been. It's not a bad thing to cry, it's not something you should be ashamed about. All the tears that fall..wear them like a symbol of strength. Don't hide them. Let them all spill fourth if you need to let them. Because it's never a symbol of weakness..it's a sign of someone who's been strong for too long…it's okay to let yourself be vulnerable for a bit, let yourself rest. You deserve it." They reassured him.

The way Y/N spoke was so soothing and nice to hear. Inosuke was completely stunned, his eyes were red from tears as he looked down at the ground. He wished to wipe them but he refused to let himself be "weak" as he'd called it so many times in the past.

"I-I'm sorry… I don't like to show my feelings, you don't have to say such great things to me, I don't deserve to be treated so nicely…" He uttered, he had never sounded more insecure.

"Listen…Anyone who thinks otherwise, or makes it a goal to mistreat you. Don't believe that they're true. Instead, feel bad for them because they don't have a person like you in their lives. I'm not gonna tell you to just not listen to them. Because I know that's way easier said than done. It's hard to just ignore it when so many people say it again and again. They should be grateful to have you here, you're not only a blessing, you're an angel. You've done countless amazing things and never demanded something back. You did it or of the kindness in your heart. So those people who tell you that you're "heartless” or anything like that…It's not true. It's never true. And when you realize that it's not true, and instead realize how much of an amazing man you are just the way you are…It won't hurt as bad. Because no matter what they say, The truth will always remain the same" Y/N replied, no stuttering whatsoever. Inosuke was stunned with shock at such words, he wasn't used to such kindness. Most people thought of him as either rude, obnoxious, or conceited. He never ever thought anyone would call him an angel. He finally wiped his tears and looked over to Y/N, his eyes and his face was still a little bit red.

"Do… Do you really mean all of that? Do you really think that someone as selfish and horrible as I am is an angel like you said?" He managed out, fighting tears.

“Never say that again.” Y/N said sternly, before continuing.

"I've seen you risk your life countless times to ensure the safety of others. And you never demand anything back. And you do it all the time, again and again without thinking twice about it. That all comes from the good of your heart. Deep inside, I know your heart is big yet fragile, and it's easily broken. So you want to keep it from breaking again and the only way you know how to is to act like you don't care about anything else but fighting and being the best. That's not your fault. It's from unfortunate circumstances that left your heart in pieces again and again that you had no control over. It makes sense why you wouldn't want that to happen again. I see that you're trying, you're trying your best with every cell of your being. It's not your fault that others are too naive and stuck up that they don't realize it. If it helps you at all, I see how hard you're trying. And you're doing a great job, I'm proud of you for that. So saying you're selfish and horrible is wrong, completely wrong."

Another tear streamed down Inosuke's face as he heard Y/N speak. He couldn't believe it. It was all making sense, even though it was a bit hard to believe at first. He still looked away before speaking back.

"I-Is that really why I act like a jerk? Just to keep people away from me? Just because I don't want them to know how weak and unlovable I really am deep down?" He asked.

Y/N's heart broke for Inosuke.

"… Angel." They gently placed their hand on his shoulder, my other hand on his cheek, wiping away his tears with their thumb slowly.

"You are someone worth loving. Your love is the most pure thing the world would ever see. It is so unfortunate that you had to hide it all just to protect yourself. Deep inside, you're a gentle, sweet, affectionate, and loyal man. You're a diamond in the rough, darling. I know it gets hard, I know it makes you feel like you just want to scream. But just look at how far you've gotten, how many lives you've saved. You're incredible. And no, I'm not just saying that to make you feel better. I'm telling the full unfiltered truth" They told Inosuke.Inosuke's eyes were teary as Y/N wiped his tears away. He felt like he was going to start bawling again the moment they touched him, which he despised doing because of how weak it made him look. He knew this would make him look like an idiot too, not only did he let someone tell him such nice things, but he was getting all teary eyed over something so simple. He spoke a bit softly as he took a few deep breaths to make sure he wasn't going to tear up again.

"You're too nice to someone who's not even half as great as—" He was cut off by Y/N.

"Sh.." They moved their finger to his lips.

"No. I love you because You're you. That's why. I don't care if you aren't 'perfect' because at the end of the day, no one is. That doesn't mean you're pathetic or anything of that sort. I love you because you've shown how kind you can really be. You've shown more loyalty than I've ever seen before. No matter what the situation, you'll always make sure everyone is safe even at the cost of your own life. That's what makes you an angel. You care so much for others despite how hidden it is." Y/N told him, not wanting him to believe anything else other than what they said.

A small smile came onto Inosuke's face. Someone really did love him just the way he was, flaws and all. He felt like he should still be ashamed of himself and that he shouldn't be appreciated by anyone, but for one person to accept him the way he was… that was a new feeling for him. Quietly, he replied back.

"Even though I keep trying to push people away from me? You're not upset with me or think I'm weird? Y-You really mean all of that?” He asked with genuine curiosity.

"Yes. I'll say it again and again if I have to, every day, every hour, every minute if I have to…as long as you know just how incredible you are, just the way you are. My Angel." Y/N assured him, looking into those beautiful peridot eyes.

Those precious words felt like they could heal even the most incurable wounds. The way Y/N kept calling Inosuke "Their Angel" had a way of soothing his pain, no one had ever called him something like that before. He was so overwhelmed with love, that he didn't say anything and instead, threw his arms around Y/N and hugged them, sobbing into their shoulders. Y/N was a little stunned at the sudden hug. This was the first ever time he had hugged them. But of course, they didn't protest and instead hugged him back immediately.

"C'mere Angel…Just let it all out, it's okay" They hugged him like he was the most sacred being in the entire multiverse.

Inosuke had spent so long not letting himself be vulnerable that it just finally spilled out all at once, he hugged Y/N so tightly it almost felt like he could snap them in half. He was sobbing and crying intensely into their shoulder, not even trying to hold back at this point like he normally would. He kept murmuring words like "thank you" over and over again in between sniffles and sobs.

Y/N brushed their fingers though Inosukes beautiful black and blue gradient hair.

"We can stay together all night if you want to, I'd be perfectly happy with it" They told him.

Y/N wrapped their arm around Inosukes waist and pulled him close, his head was lighting resting on their chest now.

Now that Inosuke was leaning on them, he was more relaxed than ever. He still didn't release his hold on them, he did seem a bit tired now though as he was still sniffling and weeping into their shoulder.

"Do you really mean that? I'm not keeping you from getting a good night's sleep, am I?" He asked, sounding genuinely concerned forY/N’s wellbeing, which was extremely rare to see yet extremely sweet as well.

"If I'm being completely honest, I think I'll be able to sleep a lot better beside you" Y/N replied.

Inosuke let out another sniffle and smiled as he heard their reply. He snuggled even closer to Y/N, not saying much else but simply holding them in a loving embrace and burying his head against their neck and shoulder.

"Oh, and by the way, before you fall asleep…" Y/N paused before placing a little kiss on his forehead.

"…I figured you'd like that. Forehead kisses ensure good dreams" They laughed a bit.

Inosuke froze when Y/N kissed his forehead. He felt his cheeks light up as he turned a bit red, his face was still buried in their shoulder so they couldn't see if it was obvious or not.

"N-No one's ever kissed my forehead before… I liked it. A lot." He said, a cute blush prominent across his cheeks.

He snuggled closer once more, his eyelids starting to get a bit heavy as he started to succumb to sleep. Soon, Inosuke did fall asleep. He seemed much more at peace and comfortable than usual. His grip on them loosened and his body went limp as he fell into the void of sleep. He seemed to be completely at ease now and looked to be truly resting peacefully. Y/N smiled softly. He looked so cute and so peaceful.

"Rest well, Angel…"

#demon slayer inosuke #anime #inosuke x reader #inosuke hashibira #cute #Inosuke Fluff #inosuke hashiriba #kny

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knyleggo · 2 years ago

Text

to comfort a demon s/o (Giyu, Muichiro, Inosuke)

to be honest, i couldnt really pick so i decided to spin a wheel and it landed on these 3 LOL HAHAHA ENJOY its been a while since i began writing again so its probably rusty :"P (lemme know if its not up to ur standard and i will rewrite it again!!! @sanjishoe

tw: mentions of suicide

giyu

he immediately rushes to your location, determined to help you and prevent any harm from coming to you

listens attentively to your concerns and validates your emotions

expresses genuine care and concern for you

LOTS of soft hugs and kisses, refusing to let you out of his hold

reminds you of your worth and value and how he would not be able to live without you

shares his own struggles and vulnerabilities, showing you that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and that you're not weak for experiencing these emotions

promises to be always there for you, to listen and support you, no matter what you're going through

emphasizes that your life is valuable and that there is hope for a brighter future, and he encourages you to keep fighting

stays by your side, offering his unwavering support and compassion, until you feel more stable and safe

follows up with you regularly and continues to provide support, ensuring that you're taking steps towards healing and recovery

Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira, stared at the letter in his hand, his heart heavy with concern. It was from you, his beloved girlfriend and a demon, expressing your deep sorrow and despair. You had been struggling with your inner demons, feeling overwhelmed by the darkness within you, and were contemplating taking your own life. Without wasting a moment, Giyu set out to find you, determined to offer you comfort and support.

When he arrived at the secluded spot where you were, he saw you sitting by the edge of a cliff, tears streaming down your face. He approached you cautiously, mindful of your fragile state, and sat down beside you, offering you his presence without saying a word.

"I... I didn't expect you to come," you said in a barely audible voice, surprised to see your boyfriend standing right beside you.

"I'm always here for you, no matter what," Giyu replied softly, his eyes filled with concern as he reached out and gently placed his hand on yours.

You looked into his eyes and saw a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. It was as if his presence alone was a beacon of light, offering you a lifeline in your darkest moment.

"But I hurt you."

Your voice cracked as you let out all your pent-up feelings at the moment. The amount of hopelessness you had when you could not even hear his pulse. How you felt when you found out you had almost killed him. Your lover. Your Giyu.

Nonetheless, Giyu still spoke to you with unwavering kindness and empathy. He listened to your pain, validating your emotions and assuring you that you were not alone. He shared his own struggles and regrets, revealing his vulnerabilities in a way he rarely did with others.

"I know that darkness can be overwhelming, but I believe there is always hope, even in the darkest moments," Giyu said softly, his voice filled with compassion.

"And you can hurt me all you want. I'm never leaving you."

He gently talked you through your thoughts and feelings, helping you see things from different perspectives. He reminded you of your worth and the value you bring to the world, and how your life is precious and irreplaceable.

"I care about you deeply, and I cannot bear to lose you," Giyu said, his voice trembling with emotion. "You are not a burden to me, and I am willing to walk this path with you, no matter how difficult it may be."

Tears streamed down your face as you listened to Giyu's words. You realized that you were not alone, and that there was someone who truly cared for you, despite your demon nature. Giyu's unwavering support and understanding touched your heart deeply, and for the first time in a long while, you felt a glimmer of hope.

With Giyu by your side, you made a promise to yourself to keep fighting, to seek help when you needed it, and to hold on to the hope that life could get better. Giyu continued to be there for you, providing you with his unwavering support and love, helping you navigate the challenges of being a demon and finding a purpose in your existence.

In time, you learned to cherish your life, and the bond between you and Giyu grew stronger. You found solace in each other's company, and your relationship became a source of strength and hope for both of you. Together, you faced the difficulties and uncertainties of life, knowing that you had each other to lean on, and that with love, empathy, and understanding, even the darkest moments could be overcome.

muichiro

stops dreaming and staring into space the moment he found out about your current situation

immediately finds you in an instant using his breathing techniques and managed to stop you just in time before you were about to jump

you burst into tears the moment you saw him

gives you a backhug so tight that you could barely breathe as he rubs your back to soothe your cries

releases you after you have finished sobbing into his shoulder, leaving a damp spot on his clothes

interlocks his hand with yours as he pulled you away from the ledge of the cliff with no intention of letting you go

teaches you breathing techniques to calm her mind, helping you learn to control you emotions and instincts in healthier ways

gives you affection physically and verbally

pays more attention to you and your behaviour

stops daydreaming to make sure you don't do anything funny

Despite the danger you posed, Muichiro couldn't help but see the pain and anguish in your eyes.

"I won't let you give up," Muichiro said softly, as he reached out to gently touch your hand. "I know you're struggling, but taking your own life is not the answer.

You were overwhelmed by conflicting emotions - the guilt and shame of your actions, the longing for peace, and the fear of what lay ahead.

"I... I don't deserve your kindness and your love," you choked out, tears streaming down your face.

Muichiro's expression softened even more, and he spoke with gentle reassurance. "Everyone deserves a chance at redemption. You are not beyond saving, and your life is worth preserving."

He sat beside you, offering you his calming presence as you poured out your heart to him. You told him about the struggles you had faced as a demon, the pain and loneliness that had led you to lose control. Muichiro listened attentively, without judgment, his hand still resting gently on yours.

"You are not alone," Muichiro said softly. "I am here, and I will help you. You can find a way to control your instincts and live a meaningful life."

His words brought a flicker of hope to your heart, and you realized that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for redemption. Muichiro's unwavering belief in you touched you deeply, and you found solace in his presence.

Days turned into weeks, and Muichiro stayed by your side, helping you learn to control your demon instincts and showing you kindness and understanding. He taught you breathing techniques to calm your mind, and helped you find ways to channel your emotions in healthier ways. He shared stories about his own struggles and hardships, letting you know that everyone had their own battles to fight.

Slowly, you began to see a glimmer of light in the darkness that had enveloped you. With Muichiro's patient guidance and unwavering support, you found the strength to confront your inner demons and make choices that were in line with your true nature.

One day, as you were sitting by a serene lake, watching the sun set, you turned to Muichiro with gratitude in your eyes. "Thank you," you whispered, your voice filled with emotion. "You saved me, Muichiro. You gave me a reason to live."

Muichiro smiled, his usually stoic face softened with warmth as he gave you a kiss on your forehead. "No, it was you who found the strength within yourself to keep going. I'm just glad I could be here to support you. And I will never stop loving you."

You ran into his arms and hugged him for what felt like forever. In that moment, you realized that Muichiro had not only saved you from physical harm, but also helped you find a renewed sense of purpose and hope.

From that day on, Muichiro and you stood side by side, facing the challenges of the demon world together. Your bond grew stronger with each passing day, filled with mutual respect, trust, and a love that transcended the boundaries of species. With Muichiro by your side, you knew that you had found a true companion who would always be there for you, supporting you through the highs and lows of life, and helping you find the light in your life with the love he provided you unconditionally.

inosuke

(with an extra little confession because why not)

"You stupid demon!" Inosuke growled, glaring at you as you cowered in a corner, tears streaming down your face. "Don't think I'll let you off that easily!"

But as he approached you, he noticed the deep pain and sorrow in your eyes. His anger subsided, replaced by a sudden surge of protectiveness. He couldn't ignore the fact that you were hurting, despite being a demon.

"Inosuke, please," you whispered, your voice barely above a whisper. "Just end it. I can't take it anymore."

Inosuke was taken aback by your words, and he realized that you were on the brink of giving up on life. His heart clenched, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing you, even though you were a demon.

With a sudden burst of determination, Inosuke grabbed your hand and pulled you up to your feet. "No way I'm letting you die like this!" he declared, surprising both you and himself with his action.

He pulled you into a tight embrace, ignoring the fact that you were a demon, and held you close to him. "Don't you dare give up, you hear me?" he whispered, his voice filled with raw emotion. "I won't let you go. I won't."

You were taken aback by Inosuke's unexpected display of affection. His strong arms around you provided a sense of comfort and security that you hadn't felt in a long time. You felt a warmth spreading in your heart, and for the first time, you realized that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for redemption and love.

Inosuke stayed with you, refusing to leave your side even as you tried to push him away. He showed you a side of him that you never knew existed - caring, gentle, and protective. He helped you learn to control your demon instincts, teaching you breathing techniques and ways to channel your emotions in healthier ways.

Inosuke's rough exterior melted away whenever he was with you, and you saw a softer side to him that made your heart skip a beat. He would often wrap you in his arms, holding you close, and pressing gentle kisses to your forehead or cheeks. His physical affection brought you comfort and made you feel cherished.

As time passed, you found yourself falling in love with Inosuke, and he seemed to feel the same way. He would often blush and stutter around you, a stark contrast to his usual bravado. He would steal glances at you when he thought you weren't looking, and he would always make sure you were safe and well taken care of.

One day, as you were sitting under the stars, enjoying a moment of peace, Inosuke turned to you with a nervous expression. "Hey, demon," he said, scratching his head awkwardly. "I... I like you. A lot."

You couldn't help but smile, feeling a warmth spreading through your chest. "I like you too, Inosuke," you confessed, reaching out to touch his hand.

Inosuke's eyes widened in surprise, and then he grinned, his boar-like teeth showing. "Alright then, from now on, you're mine," he declared, pulling you into a fierce hug, his heart pounding against yours.

You laughed, feeling a sense of happiness and belonging that you never thought possible as a demon once your lips connected with his. With Inosuke by your side, you felt completely safe in his arms. You felt at home. You felt love. You felt him.

a/n: i am sincerely so sorry for procrastinating this request atw frm 2021 when its 2023 now LOLS i apologise :( so i hv been quite busy lately chasing after my dreams and career and now im finally back to writing!!! YAY HAHA hope everyone is doing well too! stay tuned for the next post :)

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inoshibi1 · 2 years ago

Text

-ⵊɴᴏsᴜᴋᴇ Hᴀsʜɪʙɪʀᴀ X Rᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ-

⚠️warnings⚠️ none :]

Fandom: Demon slayer Characters: Inosuke Hashibira and Tanjiro Kamado

845 words

*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧ *.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧*.:✧

You and Inosuke have been good friends for quite sometime.

You two would always constantly bicker with one another and Inosuke would often pull his shenanigans around you everytime he has the chance to. You don't mind this, in fact, you love it. You find his ruse to be funny and entertaining. Seeing him running around like a mad man, hearing his barbaric laugh, and seeing him tumbling over whenever he flips. He often pulls trick on you too. Despite the fact that you are used to his tricks, this time, it was quite different.

Inosuke managed to piss you off. When you , Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Nezuko had just finished a mission, you all decided to take a rest in a nearby forest. You weren't exactly in the brightest mood, especially since you almost lost your life to a demon.

You sat quietly under a tree and closed your eyes, hearing the birds chirping from a far, trying to lose the horrible sight of the demon from your head. Just when you started to doze off, Inosue snuck around you and pushed you from the side, making you roll over and fall.

SMACK!

"INOSUKE! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" you said with a frustrating tone.

"Let's play a game! It's too early to sleep"

"Games? not after you just pushed me! do you think everything is funny to you?"

"Yes?"

"Ugh. I can't stand you" you said while you stood up and walked away from Inosuke.

Inosuke was dumbfounded. He had never seen you this angry before. He didn't know what to do. He just stood there, seeing you walking further and further away from him.

A few minutes after your break, you and the gang decided to walk back to the Butterfly Mansion. On the way home, Inosuke couldn't help but felt guilty over his action. It wasn't only just guilt, he was anxious. He was worried that you might not like him for good and would never speak to him again. This feeling was

unusual for Inosuke as he usually never cared whether people would like him or not.

Inosuke fasten his walking pace to match Tanjiro that was a few meters in front of him. Inosuke then whispered to Tanjiro.

"Monjiro.."

"Inosuke? what's wrong?" Tanjiro looked over his shoulder to see Inosuke sulking.

"Uhm.. do you think Y/N hates me?"

"Huh? why are you asking that?" Tanjiro said in confusion. Inosuke then explained to him what happened.

"What? why would you do that!?"

"I just thought it might cheered Y/N up.." Inosuke's mumbled under his breath.

"Yeah but that's not the way to cheer people up Inosuke." Tanjiro stated as he sniffed the air. He could sense Inosuke's sadness and worriedness, in fact, he could sense an emotion that Inosuke's unfamiliar of.

" Do you like Y/N Inosuke?" Tanjiro asked Inosuke.

"What do you mean by that? Define like?"

"Well it means that you care about that person and would do anything to make them happy. You'd do anything to protect them too. That's like.. or err.. love."

Inosuke seemed to be lost in thought over what Tanjiro had just said, pondering over the giddy and butterflies that you gave Inosuke.

"Try apologizing Inosuke." Tanjiro smiled at Inosuke.

"Apologize? how do i do that?"

"Well, you can start of by saying sorry and giving something precious as a token of apology and then you can start explaining how you feel"

"Explaining how I feel.." Inosuke mumbled again.

Once you and the gang went back to the Butterfly mansion, you immediately went back to your room, jumping over to your bed. You couldn't help but started to feel guilty over your words to Inosuke.

you thought that maybe you were too harsh on him. As you were thinking about Inosuke, the door to your room suddenly opened. It was Inosuke.

"Inosuke? what are you doing here?"

Instead of saying anything, Inosuke took out his arm and opened his hand. A small stick was placed on top of his palm.

"A stick?" You looked at him in confusion.

"Olive stick. It's how my family apologize to one another. Y/N, I'm sorry for pushing you, I didnt mean to make you upset. i just wanted to make you laugh." He paused for a bit "I care about you..." He mumbled.

You were shocked hearing what Inosuke just said... You didn't know how to react. After awhile you said with a smile "Inosuke.. it's okay, maybe I was too harsh. I'm sorry too."

Hearing that made Inosuke extremely happy, he started hugging you spontaneously. You were surprised by his sudden movement but you hugged him back, enjoying his warmth.

"Thank you Y/N! I promise I won't do it again!!"

"Haha.. you know I don't mind seeing you joke around like that but next time try not to get too violent." You laugh, teasing him.

"YES SIR/MA’AM!" Inosuke exclaimed as he jumped around in excitement.

You laughed seeing Inosuke's good ol' shenanigans again. You spent the rest of the night with him, enjoying each other's company.

#demon slayer #demon slayer x reader #demon slayer x gender neutral reader #demon slayer x y/n #inosuke x reader #inosuke hashibira #inosuke x y/n #anime #fanfic #inosuke x you #demon slayer fluff #fluff fluff fluff #anime and manga #inosuke fluff #hashibira inosuke #demon slayer fanfic #inosuke hashibira x reader

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inosukenumberonefan · 1 year ago

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How to catch (my pookies) inosukes eye

For Inosuke i feel he would prefer a s/o who's a little weaker then him but can still keep up because:

If you were stronger then him, he would constantly ask you to fight him (casually harassing you) then he would get all pissy after you beat him avoid you and the cycle would repeat. Youd probably never get to interact with him outside of him demanding a fight and annoying the shit outta you, you wouldn't ever get to see the soft side of him and prolly wouldn't be able to develop feelings. But he would probably grow to admire you a lot he doesn't know it but he would have a crush on you but he would be to proud to tell you and you can't tell since you barely see him so it wouldn't be reciprocated.

If you were significantly weaker then him, he would get annoyed with you real fast and you wouldn't be "flashy" enough to catch his eye but there is a way! (Will be explained later on) But he does want to be a traditional type man ex providing and protecting. He will pride himself on being your protector.

So being on (almost) the same level is the perfect balance cause you get the best of both worlds because he will admire you a lot for your skills but his ego will also be stroked and fed.

His ideal personality would be.

Playful: He NEEDS someone to do his shenanigans with. An example would be someone who goes along with his king of the mountains gag.

"Underling fetch me some food!"

"Of course my lord!" Bro is blushing under his mask but blames it on the fact that its hotunder his mask.

I am a firm believer that he loves playfighting especially wrestling. You will be rolling around on the floor for HOURS.

Competitive: He LOVES competitions so you better bring that energy back, eating dinner? No. Eating competition. Find a flower on the ground? Now It's a flower finding competition now. He doesn't realize it but he constantly one ups you any chance he gets so if you're not competitive it'll get annoying pretty fast.

Motherly (Stern, caring and kind): We all know he goes CRAZY for any sign of kindness especially compliments. I'm 100% sure he would go for someone who's practically the opposite him it helps balance the chaos. He needs someone to tell him where the boundaries are, someone who will drag him back to a person he insulted and make him apologize but also someone who shows immense care for him, someone who only wants the best for him (its hard for him to see it though)

(A motherly persona is honestly perfect for him because of how stubborn he is)

Adventurous/Fun: Since he fights demons for fun, I feel he would get really bored in his downtime, so keeping him entertained is a must. I feel as though he LIVES for adrenaline so its a bit hard to keep him focused and entertained with simple conversation so you have to take him on little adventures so he doesn't go absolutely nuts and starts wrecking things

Patient: He doesn't understand some of society's customs, so you have to be patient with him and explain slowly. He's impatient as hell so when he doesn't get something first try he'll get mad for a bit so you have to wait for him to cool down before restarting (He actually appreciates this a lot)

Also having something your really good at (hobbies like paintings, sculpting crocheting) and he isn't, at first he'll get pouty but then he'll be determined at becoming better then you. You'll teach him and if its something with his hands like crafting chances are he'll like it and you guys will get to bond.

Brave: This is just another way of saying you gotta be a demon slayer lmaoo. (I honestly can't see him with a civilian)

Good cook: Actually you don't have to be a good cook as long im pretty sure he'd eat anything smash up some bugs and grind them into juice and he'll eat it with a smile

If you like cooking you get extra points because you could give him extra food or teach him how to cook properly.

You have two options for your first meeting

Option 1 (the short one where you are a demon slayer)

He comes in, in the middle of the battle with a demon which you were struggling with and he comes along and anihalites it. You very obviously thank him and he gives you a bandage since your bleeding (He might even apply it depending on how much you're complimenting him)

"Wow! I've never seen anything like your breathing style! Whats it called?!"

"Its called Beast Breathing i made it myself!" He brags

My vision is that you gas him up so much, you somehow become his understudy. Now thud is a DREAM COME TRUE for him because he finally gets an "underling" (its kind of like a tsusuko for the hashira) Now be warned he's the world's worst teacher he explains like this ⬇️

So you won't learn much but the moment you use something he taught you he's over the moon and takes all the credit. (This was more just a cute idea then something that could be developed but whatever 🐗)

Option 2: ( where you're a helper/ nurse at the butterfly mansion)

A couple hours ago your crow had informed you a big battle with a powerful demon was just starting so naturally everyone started preparing. Beds were made, medicine on stand by and everyone waiting by the front door.

"Injured demon slayers approaching!" Your crow cawed. With you at the head all the girls ran outside. A couple Kakushi were running towards the mansion people hung limp on their backs as blood dripped down. Aoi and the others rushed beds with wheels outside, the only person still conscious was a boy with yellow hair, he was bawling.

"We have to go back for Tanjirooo!!" He whined draging out "Tanjiro" like a toddler.

"I'm sure Tanjiro will be fine!" Aoi scolded as she pushed him down onto a bed, she seemed to know who Tanjiro was. "Now rest up." Suma begun wheeling him inside to the infirmary so they could start on treatment.

"What about Inosuke?! He was right behind me, where is he!?" He screamed at you as he was dragged away. "The demon must have got to him!" His tears really started to come down now, it was a good thing he was gone. His cries were quite annoying.

You now started to take notice to something in the distance a Kakushi practically wrestling something to the ground.

"That idiot." Aoi scowled, pinching the bridge of her nose as she sighed heavily. "We're going to be swamped. I need you take care of him." She pointed to the Kakushi and the person struggling? Usually you would be tending to multiple people at once but he seemed like a handful.

"Of course. I'll get him in here as soon as possible." You rushed over, you could see more clearly now a Kakushi was practically dragging a demon slayer to the butterfly mansion. The demon slayer was yelling and trying to squirm free, he wore a boar mask. How odd.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"This idiot-" Before the Kakushi could finish answering your question the demon slayer started yelling at you two.

"Take me back goddammit! Kentaro can't fight it alone!" Wasn't it Tanjiro? No that didn't matter he was extremely hurt and he was failing around, if he continued he'd lose even more blood. It didn't seem possible since he was drenched and caked in blood but whatever.

"Sir you need to relax."

"No!" As the poor Kakushi (+you) desperately tried to drag him into the mansion, he was only losing more and more blood, you made an executive decision to knock him out. A quick blow to the back of the neck and he was out and foaming at the mouth.

Surprisingly the only two people that were conscious were the ones with the worst injuries. Tanjiro came in about 30 minutes after you and the girls stiched everyone up. It seemed that those 3 boys were the ones who had fought the hardest and in consequence had the most injuries a total of 36 different stiches were spilt in between them. They had to have their own individual rooms and the 3 young girls were assigned to them You finally got to bed at 4 am, you were completely exhausted unfortunately you weren't allowed to rest because at 6 Naho, Kiyo and Sumi came bursting in.

"Y/n!" They cried out, you were so tried you hadn't bothered changing to go to bed.

"Yes?" You tiredly called out to them.

"Were sorry for interrupting, but the boar demon slayer is going crazy Aoi-san is out and we need your help." You grumbled before getting up fixing your hair and walking to his room.

The few Kakushi that had stuck around were now forced to hold down the crazy demon slayer. You threw the door open, storming in.

"Whats the issue?" The Kakushi quickly stumbled out the door.

"Where's Kentaro?!" He yelled at you jumping out of bed. Huh no concern for the yellow haired boy.

"Tanjiro is in a different room due to the intensity of his injuries. Now if you want to see him i suggest you get back in bed so you can heal faster."

"No! It's boring." You both went back and forth the good news about arguing was that he was only focusing on winning the argument instead of going to find his friend and tearing his stiches.

"Look, you're bored right? How bout we play a game. I win you go rest and you win..."

"I'll get extra food."

"Yeah, I challemge you to a thumb war hows that sound?"

As you thought he was keen on the idea, by using how weak he was to your advantage you won. He was pissy and demanded you do a best out of 3. You did and you won. It turned into a best out of 5 then 10 but after 20 minutes you worried you were wasting time on trivial matters so you wrapped it up.

"I won, so now you've got to rest up alright?"

When you delivered his food he challenged you to another game, you won.

He was a terrible patient honestly Aoi couldn't get him to take his medicine without shoving it down his thoart, he wouldn't rest, he'd fight anyone and everyone and he was loud as hell.

Aoi and Sumi couldn't deal with him anymore so she passed him down onto you. Getting him to take his medicine was easier you just had to win a simple game. He still gave you the stink eye but it didn't matter.

Time skip to a couple days later.

"Hey I got your breakfast." You layed his tray down on his bedside table.

"How long until I get out of here?"

"In a couple weeks but with you resting so well you're sure to be able to move around freely soon. As soon as you can walk we'll set you up in a new room with your friends." You sat down on the side of his bed laid down the bandages and extended your hand.

"One two three four i declare a thumb war." He won. Dammnit.

"So whats on the menu for tonight?"

"Tempura!" He energetically responded, how were you going to get him to change his bandages now?

"Hey I tell you what if you let me change your bandages ill get you extra food."

"No fair we had a deal!"

"Thats true. So what about we do best out of 3?" He won all 3 times.

"Guess you really are regaining your strength i guess ill have to stop betting for it."

"What no! They're the only fun thing around here!" You now made a new deal, youd spend a certain amount of time playing games with him each day, bring his favourite food and he would let you change his bandages and take his medicine.

Before you knew it Inosuke refused to be treated by anyone else and you were spending most tof your time with him even though he wasn't that injured anymore

Even though this was supposed to be an inosuke appreciation account I haven't posted him until now :((

I got kinda lazy at the end lolll

#inosuke x reader #inosuke headcanons #inosuke fluff #inosuke x y/n #inosuke hashibira

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slayfics · 1 year ago

Note

Hey!! I love your writing style and how Canon the characters are! So I was wondering if you could make something similar to "muchiro uses your attraction to him against you in training" but with inosuke?<33

Inosuke uses your attraction for him against you in training.

Warnings: NSFW themes | Inosuke aged up

A breeze gently passed by causing the birds to chirp, and butterflies you were eyeing to spread their wings. It was nice to sit down and enjoy the slowness of the moment for a bit. However, the tranquil scene was quickly disrupted by a booming voice that caused the birds to scatter and the butterflies to flutter away.

"HEY, YOU! FIGHT ME!" The voice yelled. You didn't need to turn around to know who was challenging you.

"Hello, to you too Inosuke," You said playfully.

"COME ON YOU ARE JUST SITTING THERE! LET'S TRAIN!" He proposed. As much as you wanted to continue relaxing, a tug in your chest encouraged you to seize the opportunity to spend more time with the hot-headed demon slayer. Even if it was just training. After all, that seemed to be the only thing Inosuke ever wanted to do other than eat.

Two more demon slayers joined behind Inosuke. "Inosuke can't you see they are trying to relax," Tanjiro interjected.

"Yeah we just got done training too aren't you tired?" Zenitsu asked.

"NO! I'm not weak like you!" Inosuke said, placing his hands on his sides and puffing out his chest.

You laughed at the demon slayer's cockiness "It's fine we can fight, but if I win you have to sit here with me and watch the birds." You proposed.

"SURE WHATEVER. As if I'd lose to you anyway." He said with what you imagined was a wide grin under his mask.

You stood up to face the demon slayer and he wasted no time coming at you with full force. You quickly dodged to the side moving out of the way of Inosuke's attack causing only his shoulder to brush against you. The brief brush up against the demon slayer caused your heart to flutter.

It was just a moment but Inosuke's quick instincts caught on to the change that happened when he made contact with you. Your breathing changed, cheeks reddened, and movements slowed just the slightest. He understood he could use this to his advantage.

You spun around ready to block his next attack but an attack didn't come. Instead of an attack, Insouke dropped his swords, ran toward you, and reached out to grab both of your breasts.

Your eyes shot wide open and your heart stopped. A squeak escaped your lips as a bright blush ignited on your face. Did Inosuke really just cop a feel??

"INOSUKE!" Tanjiro yelled at the demon slayer furiously.

Insouke took advantage of your paralysis and quickly pinned you to the floor and straddled you.

"HAHAHA! I TOLD YOU I WOULDN'T LOSE!" He said, bouncing on top of you.

"INOSUKE STOP!" Tanjiro yelled and began to run over with Zenitsu.

Inosuke continued to laugh basking in his victory. Meanwhile, you were seeing stars as the situation was too much for you to handle. Embarrassed, you struggled to get your hands free from under Inosuke desperate to cover your flustered face.

Tanjiro and Zenitsu pulled at the feral demon slayer to try and release him but he took it as a challenge and fought back even harder.

Mphf~

Finally, your hands broke free and you swiftly covered your face as the struggle between the three boys was now causing Inosuke to further bounce and push against you.

"It's fine Tanjiro~" You mumbled desperately to stop the interaction before you lost all self-control.

"YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT YOU KNOW THAT!" Zenitsu yelled while grabbing Inosuke's mask from his head and running away. Another squeak escaped your lips at the sight of the demon slayer's face. It was no secret to anyone how attractive Inosuke was under his mask.

Finally, Inosuke got up off of you, only to chase down Zenitsu for his mask.

"I apologize for Inosuke, are you alright?" Tanjiro said, looking down at you. It was then he noticed how flustered you were from the whole event "Oh.. hum..." He said whistling and looking away to give you privacy.

"I am more than alright~" You replied in a daze, still lying down needing a moment to catch your breath.

Thank you for the request! I haven’t written for Inosuke in a long time but I immediately saw this scene unfold when I read your request and knew I had to make it a reality. I’m sorry if this isn’t as steamy as you would have liked, but I hope you enjoy it none the less.

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loveemii · 11 months ago

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𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭!

𝐈𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐱 𝐀𝐟𝐚𝐛 - 𝐡𝐜𝐬 (i’m so sorry this is late ToT)

ꨄ——————————✧——————————ꨄ

• When Inosuke realized that he had romantically had feelings for you he immediately went to Tanjiro and Zenitsu for help (Zenitsu ended up giving him lessons on how to give romantic gestures)

• It took Ino sometime to get used to a person who was the exact opposite from him; he is very hyperactive all the time as well as very touchy, as you; you’re calm and shy overall very introverted

• Inosuke forgets a lot of things including peoples names very easily; but he remembered yours, it was the only name he could remember besides his own

• It took you a while to get comfortable around him but once you did you were talking more and laughing all together; occasionally Inosuke would introduce you to roughhousing but he was more gentle with you and tried his very hardest not to touch your ass or boobs (ofc it’s an inosuke thing)

• When he did “accidentally” grab your breast once he just looked at you through his mask not moving his hand and he slowly moved his arm away from you; you were blushing like crazy and it drove him insane, “Sorry..” he mumbled and you accepted his apology

• You two started dating when Inosuke brought you your favorite flowers and a rock that was the color of your eyes. “For you, and this rock!” Inosuke shouted in excitement; when he gave you your gift he took off his boars mask; when you did start to date him he would take it off even more then a few minutes out of the day.

• After almost a month you kissed Inosuke’s lips and he always wanted kisses afterwards; he was addicted to it, any chance he gets he’s pressing his lips on yours.

• Pda is a must for Inosuke. You don’t mind it at all unless he overdoes it but he never does; he absolutely loves holding your hand or putting an arm around your waist in public and small kisses occasionally he’ll make out with you for a good 5 seconds which gives you adrenaline 100% in the best way possible

• He knows you’re a very shy person so he does anything in his power to make sure you’re feeling comfortable and safe; when he noticed someone scolding you over a item at a shop once he didn’t hesitate to jump into action

“What do you think you’re doing!? Can’t you see she’s buying that? Idiot!”

• Right after shouting at the person causing you trouble he’d wrap his arm around your waist and pay for what you wanted, anytime he saw the person out of the store afterwards he’d give them the nastiest glare

+ spicy!

• At first when things started to get heated Inosuke would love to make out with you anywhere and everywhere, although you were shy you tuned out everything else and melted into his kisses

• But when the two of you were alone he’d be so so so addicted to hearing your whimpers as he kissed n sucked all over your neck making you feel weak, it was like a drug to him

• Things started to get more interesting when you began to give him hickeys now; it was sexy enough that he gave you marks but when you did it to him oh man; he was a whining mess

“D-damn it..!” Inosuke would gasp as you surprised him with another kiss.

• Alright now; things quickly were beginning to become even more heated in the best way ofc. Inosuke would insert his middle and index finger inside of your wet pussy; he’d only thrust slowly but went deep as he knew you didn’t like these intimate moments to be rough

• When you did get more comfortable you let him taste you and he was addicted to the taste of you, always almost every night he’d ask to have another taste

• Now occasionally after those moments he’d ask for a handjob and man oh man he didn’t think you’d be so talented in such a skill, he would always buck his hips up from time to time trying his very best not to be too rough

• Blowjobs, you thought to yourself one night; “I should taste him? I really want it in my mouth” But hey; you’d never ever say a thing like that out of your mind

• When you first brought it up to him he was super excited and well his uniform was already off; you obviously had never done this before so you bobbed your head slow but licked his tip and spit on it a few times to get it even more wet

• The sound of his tip choking your throat made him go absolutely feral, he wanted to hear you choke even more on his amazing girthy cock! And so he’d go deeper but slower so he’d make sure not to hurt you; you never minded in fact; you loved it especially when he’d tangle his hands in your hair

ꨄ——————————✧——————————ꨄ

again i am so sorry this is very, very late. but i hoped it was worth the wait lol ><

- please excuse any spelling or grammar mistakes, thank you

p.s. i had to add some spicy parts cause i honestly wanted it too ToT

#demon slayer #kny inosuke #demon slayer inosuke #inosuke hashibira #inosuke x reader #inosuke hashiriba #kimetsu inosuke #anime fanart #inosuke imagines #inosuke fluff #inosuke smut

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wysteriaz-blog · 2 years ago

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Two Worlds Collided & They Could Never Tear Us Apart

Chapter 1: The Beginning

You somehow end up lost in Japan, having little to no memory of your life before, or any understanding of the land and people here. But you meet extraordinary individuals, who over time become very important to your new life as you travel and fight together, forming unbreakable bonds.

However, with a centuries-old war between a secret organization and demons waging on, these bonds are put to the test when you find yourself caught in the center of it all.

☽☼☾☽☼☾☽☼☾

Hello and welcome!

Before you dive in, there are a few things to note, so please take a moment to read through these details:

First: This story will diverge from canon, following the original Demon Slayer narrative up to a certain point with a twist. Some elements will be altered or added to fit the story, so expect changes in characters, situations, and dialogues throughout!

[All characters are aged up (18+) due to mature content like language, violence, suggestive themes, and more as the story unfolds. Please keep this in mind!]

As a side note, this is not an Isekai! You, the reader (Y/n), are an actual part of this world! Y/n's description is minimal to allow you to imagine her as you like for better immersion.

Second: Italicized text (dialogue) represents Japanese, while plain text is in English. Please note that while I strive for accuracy, I'm not an expert in Japanese language or culture. Therefore, some translations and details may not be perfect or entirely correct.

Third: I don't have a set update schedule, so I appreciate your patience. Writing is time-consuming, especially with chapters ranging from 10k to 20k words! I occasionally share sneak peeks of upcoming chapters to keep you engaged.

And lastly: I plan for this story to have multiple endings, including both happy and angsty ones. You'll have the opportunity to choose your preferred ending, with select characters available as romantic interests.

(Please note that not all characters will be available as romantic interests. This decision stems from my belief that I may not do justice to some characters in a romantic context due to narrative constraints or a lack of connection with their personalities. Additionally, more characters may be introduced or removed as the story progresses. Your understanding of this dynamic is greatly appreciated!)

Your feedback and support are invaluable, motivating me and helping me improve. Feel free to share your thoughts as you read!

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and love for this story! Enjoy your reading journey!

*.ﾟ+ヽ(○･▽･○)ﾉﾞ +.ﾟ*

▪︎☆°○°☆ Playlist ☆°○°☆▪︎

This is a Work In Progress!

[Cross-posted on Wattad and Inkitt!]

I am no longer posting on Tumblr!! To read the (heavily updated and better version) story, please visit my main Ao3—or Wattpad or Quotev (my username is the same on all accounts: Wysteriaz)

Your eyes slowly open, blinking a few times as they try to adjust to the bright light of the sun shining overhead. You find yourself lying on the ground in a serene setting, but something feels off. There's a slight gust of wind as you push yourself up to take a moment to assess your surroundings, noticing that you are surrounded by an expansive plain of lush green fields stretching out as far as the eye can see, with forests and mountains dotting the horizon.

This place is not familiar; you don't recognize a single piece of this land.

You're sitting just off of a dirt road, underneath a lone tree that has kept watch and somewhat protected you from the elements while you were unconscious. Confusion floods your mind as you try to recall how you ended up here. But to your dismay, your memory is as blank as a canvas, devoid of any recollection of the past. The absence of any recognizable landmarks or signs leaves you feeling disoriented and isolated. Panic begins to creep in, and questions buzz inside your mind like a swarm of bees.

Where are you?

How did you get here?

And more importantly... who are you?

You are only able to recall your first name... but anything more than that is a complete mystery.

You groan as you sit up even more and try to move, but your head begins pounding, and your leg feels incredibly sore. You must have been here for quite some time as you try to straighten out your leg from the uncomfortable way it was bent, feeling pinpricks as circulation rushes back into the limb. You also notice that your blouse and pants are fairly dirty, with a few places scuffed up but luckily not torn. Your throat feels dry and scratchy, and you're left to wonder just how long you've been out here. Sighing, you try once more to stand up, but seeing as your leg won't cooperate just yet, you give up on that thought and opt to just sit there with a dejected frown for the time being. You want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, so you pray that, by some miracle, someone will come along to help you, and you can only hope that it's someone you know.

But seeing as you have absolutely no idea where you are currently or who you even are, you try to keep your expectations low.

It seemed like luck was on your side in some form, as a loud squawk rings in the distance, sounding an awful lot like the call of a crow, which is then followed by a few yells that were most definitely human. You squint and spot the ebony-feathered bird flying up above in the distance, then cast your eyes downward to find a figure running below it, both of them heading right in your general direction. It sounds like a man given by the way their voice sounds as they yell, but it doesn't matter to you whether they are a man or woman, as you just want to get help. Hope flares in your chest as they seem to finally spot you, veering off of the dirt road to swiftly make their way straight towards you.

The crow lets out another loud caw and circles the air overhead as it reaches you, the man not far behind it. He's wearing some kind of uniform, with a black and green checkered coat. His hair looks to be a dark reddish brown, which is swept back but slightly messy, with a few looser pieces framing the sides of his face. As he gets even closer, you also take notice of a plum-sized scar on his forehead, and dangling from his ears are a pair of rectangular earrings that swing with every step he takes, your eyes drawn to the interesting pattern.

As he bounds over, he shouts once again, and you are slow to realize that he must be speaking to you because he's looking right at you and waving his hands... however, you don't understand a single word that escapes his mouth.

"Hey! Are you okay?!"

You tilt your head forward, furrowing your brows, as you try your hardest to understand what he's saying. Even as you strain to take in every syllable with immense concentration, not a single word makes sense to you as your brain tries to pick them apart and put them together again.

Why couldn't you understand him?

Did you hit your head really hard?

"It's a good thing my crow spotted you! It seemed like you might need help. What..."

He comes to a halt in front of you, his words trailing off as his eyes quickly scan you up and down, confusion mixing with the concerned look in his eyes. He has never seen someone like you before. A sheepish smile breaks out as he stops himself from staring, scratching his head. He quickly crouches down to your level, and his tone grows worried as he looks at you more closely, but he speaks softly so as not to scare you.

"Ummm, are you okay? I apologize if this may seem rude, but why are you... here? Did something happen?"

You keep trying to focus and dissect the words, but still... nothing.

You shake your head, and the hope you had felt before dwindles down with nothing but a few sparks remaining. This... was not good. You don't know what he's saying; the words sound completely foreign to you, which could only mean that he was in fact speaking another language right now and that you didn't hit your head so hard that you forgot your own language. Considering that you are very much mentally and physically lost, this was not how you wanted this scenario to unfold, and the realization that you are stuck in the middle of nowhere with a stranger that doesn't speak the same language only adds to the turmoil in your mind right now.

"I... I don't know what you're saying," you say slowly, the words catching in your throat as you speak for what felt like the first time.

He appears a little shocked when he hears your own voice. You not only looked different, but you also spoke differently. His confusion and curiosity grow by the second as he continues to observe you. It's not every day that he comes across a foreigner. Sitting back on his heels, he looks to the sky and gains the attention of his crow by waving his arm around and calling out to it, and the bird swoops down to land on the outstretched limb. Once he starts to speak to the bird, your hope of being saved from this peculiar situation you've found yourself in dwindles even further, until there's nothing left. This whole thing was starting to become a little too much for you to process right now, especially in your current state.

You are most definitely dehydrated and probably haven't eaten in a while, so your energy levels are extremely low and you feel weak. You desperately need to get things figured out right now, but how can he help you if you don't speak the same language, let alone understand each other? Not to mention... he's talking to a bird, and you're pretty sure that that is not normal. He turns to you and speaks again, giving you a puzzled look, but all you do is just stare back at him. Only when he makes a gesture with his free hand by opening and closing his fingers together as he mouths words to you do you get an idea as to what he may be trying to say right now.

"Uhh, do you... want me to speak?"

The crow perched on his arm watches you intently, its wings flapping up as it caws loudly after you speak. You grimace at the loud noise, growing a little agitated when it makes the pounding in your head worse, but it's quickly forgotten in a moment. You're absolutely shocked and intrigued when the crow starts speaking as well, and not in just any language, but in English nonetheless!

"Girl, not from here? English! English is what you speak, yes?!"

"W-What?! Yes, correct... how did—"

Before you can even finish your sentence, though, the crow caws loudly once again and then speaks to the man in the other language, which your brain is now finally recognizing as Japanese.

Wait...

Japanese?

Then does that mean you are in Japan?

Why are you here, and more importantly, how did you get here?

The man rubs his chin thoughtfully as he nods along to the bird speaking to him, then turns his attention back to you. "Ehh... English?" he stammers a little, his brows slightly furrowed as he gazes at you.

You dumbly stare at him, your mind a little slow to catch up to what he had just said, but once it clicks, you nod and quickly try to get up in your newfound excitement. But the rushed movements cause you to clench your jaw and settle back down after causing some pain and discomfort to your tired and aching body. However, with the flames of hope rekindled, you can't stop grinning and ignore the pain.

Yes!

Maybe there is a chance that you'll find your way out of this confusing situation and figure out who you even are, how you ended up here, and where you live so that you could possibly go back home. He notices the way you subtly wince in pain and fretfully raises his hands in concern, a frown making its way onto his face as he stops you from moving any more. He swiftly stands back up and holds his hands out towards you, lightly pushing them forward in a gesture for you to take hold. Instead of watching you try to painfully get up on your own, he's offering to help you. He's patient as you hesitate for a moment, slowly placing your hands in his as you look up at him momentarily to give him a curt nod, signaling that you are ready to stand up. He hoists you up with a lot more ease than you were expecting and keeps you steady with one of his hands lightly sliding to your arm.

He loosens his grip around your joined palms, but he doesn't release his hold entirely so that you don't lose your balance and fall over.

"Thank you..." you mumble.

After a painfully awkward and very silent minute, you lightly pull away to give the hint that you feel strong enough to stand on your own now. He lets go of you with a small smile, happy that you seem to be fine for now. You can practically see the gears turning in his mind as he then looks off to the side for a moment. He slightly startles you as he suddenly perks up and turns back towards you with two fingers pointed down, making what appears to be a walking motion. You're quick to understand the gesture, so you give another short nod and grin a little as he eagerly nods along.

You're still a little shaky after being on the ground for so long, so you sway a little as you both start to walk, but he's quick to offer his arm for you to hold onto for support. Although you don't want to lean on a stranger so much, you're much too tired to be rejecting the support he's so kindly offering, so you reluctantly grasp onto him in fear of falling down and potentially hurting yourself even more. With your hands firmly secured around his bicep, you carefully walk away from the tree and head towards the dirt road. It proves to be a little difficult as the ground is uneven, and your legs are still trying to get used to being active again after who knows how long you've been out, but you slowly start to get the hang of it.

As he continues to help you walk forward, you become lost in your thoughts once more. The dragging of your feet as well as the subtle change in your scent catch his attention. He suddenly stops walking, turning to face you as his expression shifts, quietly observing you. His gaze holds a gentle kind of warmth that you're entirely unfamiliar with, sympathy and genuine care gleaming from within deep pools of red, and for some reason... you don't think that you've ever had such kindness directed at you before. Not even from a person that you might have known in the past.

And yet, here he was—a total stranger—looking at you as if you had value... as if... you actually mattered.

Why...?

How can someone be so gentle, compassionate, and warm?

You don't know why, but those thoughts and feelings nearly make you want to cry; however, you manage to hold yourself together and maintain eye contact for just a few more moments. But it almost feels too intimate to have someone look at you in such a way, as if they were trying to look past what was right in front of them and peek into your very soul. But you don't believe that your soul was meant to be viewed with such closeness and care; it makes you nervous, something deep down inside telling you that you weren't worthy of such things.

So, you quickly look away and try to appear as nonchalant as you possibly can.

But you're unaware that he has a keen sense of smell, although your scent is very faint, and he's able to pick up on your emotions right now, which are a swirling mix of confusion, anxiety, fear, and sadness...

He's always been so sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others, and you were no exception, even if you were harder to read. He glances in the direction that he was heading in earlier before coming across you, then his gaze slowly falls back onto you. You were clearly very lost, so he couldn't just leave you here. Not that he planned on doing so anyway. He's hoping to find a nearby village or town where you might be able to receive better help, as he was heading to a mission and needed to focus on it, but you would be safe with him for the time being. And even though you don't understand each other, he thinks it would be best to make sure that you are okay with following him.

Seeming to have luck communicating with you by using his hands and making simple gestures before, he tries once more to get your attention and convey his intentions.

"Do you," he begins by pointing at you, then pointing to himself, "want to follow me? I'm on my way to a mission, but maybe we can find a place along the way and you can get help?" He makes the same walking motion as before as he continues to speak, then points at you again before holding his hand up to his chest and clenching his fist. "You can accompany me, and I'll make sure you're safe until then."

You watch his actions intently. While spoken words may be difficult to understand, body language is fairly easy to decipher if you pay close enough attention, which is exactly what you do. And you think that you get the gist of what he is trying to tell you. He must be asking you to follow him, and while he is a stranger and you should probably be much more wary, you are extremely tired, weak, and very much lost. You have no idea where to go from here. But he most likely knows where the closest town or city is located, so it only makes sense to follow him. He's also been very kind and helpful thus far; he didn't have to go out of his way to help you, but he chose to spare his time to come check on you—a random person that he found laying on the ground in the middle of nowhere—when he could have easily just minded his own business.

Sadly, not a lot of people would have shown as much sympathy as he has.

If someone else had come across you, it's very likely that they would have just left you to rot there. So, you're quite lucky that he was the one to find you. As you see it, there really isn't any other option, so you nod and give a quick thumbs up. He grins once more and slowly leads you down the road, heading in the direction of his mission and where you will hopefully find a village on the way. After around half an hour of walking, a bunch of shouts and wails can be heard in the distance. You both frown and slightly pick up the pace, curious to find out where the noise is coming from.

The shouting gets closer as you make it to the top of a little hill, and you see two figures in the middle of the road, about one hundred yards away from where you stand. It appears to be a woman and a man; he's dressed all in yellow and orange, and his hair is just as brightly colored. He's on the ground, his hands clinging to the woman's clothing as he appears to grovel at her feet. The woman, on the other hand, seems frazzled, and it looks like she's trying to shake him off without having to get too physical, but to no avail.

"I'm begging you, please, marry me! I'll die any day now, and I don't want to die alone!!"

Was this... a lover's quarrel?

In the middle of nowhere?

You and the man with the checkered coat briefly glance at each other, confusion sweeping over your faces.

"What on earth...?" he mumbles to himself.

"Marry meeeee," the man in the distance warbles pathetically. The woman tries to break away from his grasp, but he doesn't budge. "Please, find it within your heart to give me a chance before I inevitably die!!"

A little sparrow quickly flies over, chirping wildly as it lands on your new companion's hand. It seems distressed as it hops around in his palm, its small wings flapping about frantically. This causes a look of concern to cross his face.

"Yes...?" His brows shoot up as its chirps grow more desperate. "Huh...? Okay, I'll try to help!"

Was he... talking to the little bird? First the crow, and now this?

The crow was easier to accept because it actually talked like a person, but this sounded like your average sparrow. You must be going crazy or something because last time you checked, humans and birds did not speak to each other, but he somehow understood them. Little did you know that his ability to understand them was linked with his heightened sense of smell; he is able to perceive things outside of the normal range of perception, such as the feelings and thoughts of other living things.

So, he could understand animals if he really concentrated.

He takes off with the little, round-shaped bird, and you rush after him, not wanting to be left behind. Once he gets close enough to the couple, he promptly grabs onto the back of the man's attire, effectively cutting off his wailing as he drags him away from the woman.

His voice is still mellow, even as he rebukes the man with a rather cross look. "What are you doing? Why are you making such a scene in the middle of the road?! She's clearly not interested in you! Also, you're stressing your sparrow out! So could you please stop this nonsense?!"

The man chokes on air after being yanked away from the woman so suddenly. Your new companion looks down at him with a scowl as the man cries and yells even more while trying to grab the woman again. She turns her face away and takes a step back, ignoring his pleas. He blubbers incoherently, tears streaming down his face as he rambles on. But clearly, whatever he was blubbering about was somewhat comprehensive, as the woman immediately screeches very angrily and points her finger at him. She looks like she wants to leap over and smack him as she clenches her fists by her sides, but she miraculously holds herself back. After a few moments, your companion slowly releases the other man as he seems to calm down a little.

The blond stares at him with a tilt of his head as he's released, sniffling pitifully and wiping at his nose.

"Wait... that uniform," his eyes widen a fraction, and he gasps, "aren't you the guy from... Final Selection? I know you!"

"What?" Your companion's face twists. "Don't go pretending like we know each other, cause we don't.. 'kay? You're not getting out of trouble by trying to associate with me."

"HUAAAGH?! But.. we have met! Don't you remember?! I was standing right by your side at Final Selection as we chose which ore to have our blades forged with! Don't get angry at me when you're the one with a terrible memory!!"

You zone out and look over at the other woman, who has quickly been forgotten now that the two men were too caught bickering with each other. You catch her eye, and she gives a strained smile, so you offer one back. Her expression was one that all women could unfortunately understand at one point or another in their lives; it was the look of a woman who has been dealing with a man for far longer than she'd like. She was trying her best to be polite, but it only made matters worse, and he wasn't taking the hint that she was not interested. Some men were absolutely clueless and persistent, and as she glared at the blonde who was still arguing with your new companion, you knew without a doubt that she felt he was insufferable and she wanted nothing more than to strangle him.

With a quick glance at the men, you turn back to her and nudge your head to the side, wordlessly telling her that this was her chance to leave now without being noticed. She gives another smile, slightly bowing her head as she quickly and quietly walks away and heads down the road. You turn back to the men and become startled as the blonde suddenly realizes that the woman is leaving, yelling once again. You're not sure how his vocal cords haven't given up yet, it's almost impressive how loud he is.

"HANG ON, WHERE IS SHE GOING?!!! HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE! THAT GIRL WAS MADLY IN LOVE WITH ME!! THE TWO OF US WERE GONNA GET MARRIED!!!"

He tries to follow her, but he's stopped once again as your companion sighs in exasperation. "Would you give it a rest already... she wasn't in love with you!"

"How do you know? And why'd you have to get in my way?! This had nothing to do with you!" When your companion only stares at him with a strange look akin to disgust, it sets the blonde off into hysterics. "Why are you looking at me like that?! STOOOP IT!!!! You're staring at me like I'm some sort of pitiful creature or something!! Now, you listen here! The reason I missed out on getting married is all your fault, so you owe me!"

A gust of wind blows by and causes you to shiver, your arms shifting up to wrap around you in a weak attempt to warm yourself back up. Suddenly, the man seems to teleport right in front of you and clings onto your legs, shaking his head around as he squeals in delight. You gasp and swing your arms in a circular motion as you try to stay upright and not fall over from how abruptly he attached himself to you.

"Woahhh, so cute! Where have you been all my life?! Please... I beg of you!! You're the only hope I have left of not dying alone!! I promise I'll be the best husband you could ever have if you could just give me a chance!!"

As quickly as he was latched onto your legs, he's just as quickly removed when your companion snatches him back with incredible speed.

He raises his voice more sternly than before as he scolds him for his behavior. "Hey, don't grab at her like that!"

The man in green looks a little frustrated and displeased at having to restrain the blonde so much, but the man doesn't seem to hear him or care as he continues to reach out for you. He manages to slip free for a split second, almost grabbing you a second time, but your 'hero' quickly intervenes once again by jumping in front of you and blocking the man with a deeply disapproving scowl. They collide, bumping heads, and the blond collapses ungracefully and lets out a yelp as he lands on his backside.

"Agh! Go away! Stop interfering with my proposals! Just who do you think you are?!" The blond screeches, pointing an accusing finger at him as he scrambles back up. "What exactly is your name anyway, huh?!"

"My name is Tanjiro Kamado," he states with a hand on his chest. "And you are?"

"Okay, Tanjiro Kamado, my name is Zenitsu Agatsuma! Now, go away and let us get married in peace! I need her to be my wife, so I don't die as a complete nobody!!"

"No!" Tanjiro makes a face, pursing his lips and narrowing his eyes at Zenitsu while he crosses his arms. "Aren't you being a bit dramatic? Why did you even become a swordsman, anyway? You're acting utterly pathetic right now..."

"Well, I got conned by a woman and racked up a lot of debt. The old geezer who took it over for me happened to be a tough-as-nails instructor! He made me train to the bone every day; it was so hellish, I just wanted to die!! I was hoping it'd happen during Final Selection, but since I survived, this nightmare continues to haunt me! You see, I'm not that strong, and I'm absolutely terrified of fighting, and you know what we fight... right? Demons! I don't want to fight demons—I'm going to be eaten!" He grabs at his hair and pulls on it, shaking uncontrollably while biting on his lip. "I don't want to die alone, so that's why I have to marry a beautiful woman before my inevitable death happens!"

"That's— Um, well..." Tanjiro sighs and shakes his head. "Look, I'm sure you aren't going to die. You're a lot stronger than you may think. I mean, you've made it this far, right? You passed the Final Selection, so that has to prove something!"

"Yeah, I guess..." Zenitsu replies hesitantly, not fully sharing Tanjiro's optimism. "It was just dumb luck..."

They stare at each other for a few moments before they seem to calm down even more, turning their attention back to you. You feel so awkward standing there, not understanding a single thing that has been going on.

And the guy who was yelling and crying at your feet just a few seconds ago now stares at you with a curious sort of gleam in his eyes. His voice is more slow and quiet, a startling contrast compared to before, as he squints and leans around both sides of your figure, closely observing your features.

"Hey, now that I really look at her, she doesn't exactly look like she's from here...? Who is she? Where is she from? Why are you two together?"

"I... actually don't know..." Tanjiro rubs the back of his neck as he smiles sheepishly. "My crow spotted her out in a field a while ago, and she seemed lost, so I'm watching over her while I head to my next mission. I'm hoping there's a place along the way where she can receive proper help." He then glances at you, his tone questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name before. Could you tell us?"

You blink, and you imagine your face gives away your confusion because he tries asking you again in a much slower manner, trying his best to get you to understand what he was asking, but it doesn't help much—you still have no clue what he is saying.

It hits you once again just how lost you are, and the frustration of not being able to properly communicate with anyone is really starting to get to you. Even though you are in the presence of two other people right now, you've never felt more alone. You don't know these men at all. You don't know anyone. You don't know this place. And worst yet, you don't even really know yourself right now.

But what you do know is that you're tired.

Everything also aches.

And you just really want to go home.

Tanjiro's eyes widen slightly, his expression morphing into one of surprise and mild panic. You don't realize that you've started to cry until he cautiously steps closer and looks at you with a worried expression. The tears slowly slide down your face, and you wipe at them with shaky hands, your breaths coming out uneven and choppy.

"AHHH," Zenitsu yells loudly. "WHY IS SHE CRYING?! W-WHAT HAPPENED?! DID—"

He abruptly stops when Tanjiro turns around, placing a finger over his lips to shush him before giving you his full attention once again. He tries his best to soothe you by very cautiously putting his hands on your shaking shoulders and gently patting them while he leans down to try and get a better look at your face. But you're reluctant to let him fully look at you as you cry, stubbornly keeping your head held down to cover your expression.

"Are you okay...?" he asks softly. "Are you feeling alright?"

Even though he knows you won't answer because you can't understand him, he still felt the need to ask, but you likely wouldn't have answered him anyway, even if you did. And even if that were the case, he wouldn't have taken it personally; he could understand that you are likely very stressed and not in a talkative mood given your situation. He just wants to make sure that you're fine, at least in the physical sense... as you clearly weren't feeling all that well on the psychological side of things. He has yet to detect the strong, distinct metallic smell of blood, which was a good sign that you had no vital injuries. But he leans back with his eyes sweeping over you from head to toe, just to be sure, because he wasn't able to fully pick up your scent before.

After a quick scan confirms your well-being, he speaks once again, hoping to mitigate your growing emotions.

"Hey, everything will be fine; don't worry. I'm here to help, okay? Whatever is going on, we'll figure it out!"

When your quiet crying slowly turns into full-blown sobbing, his face falls with growing uncertainty. He's come across a few odd situations throughout his life, but he found himself feeling unsure of what to do in this situation. He's dealt with emotional people before, whether he knew them or not; he had a fairly big family with a couple of younger siblings growing up, so he was no stranger to random tantrums or crying outbursts—although they were few and far between. With that said, he had some experience and seemed to have a knack for making people feel better, so he's taken it upon himself to try his best to comfort you in this moment.

But... how does he comfort someone when there are language barriers?

Not to mention, there may be cultural differences in what is considered acceptable conduct—especially between the opposite sexes. He has no idea where you're from. While most people were more private and reserved in his culture, it wasn't completely taboo to get close to or even touch a stranger with the means to console them in a respectable manner. But you aren't from here, so he worries if he's allowed to try doing anything more than simply placing his hands on your shoulders, even though his intentions are well-meaning. He truly doesn't want to make you uncomfortable, but he feels as if he has to do something, so he tentatively moves closer while opening his arms in a manner that suggests he's offering a hug if you want or need it.

His movements are rather slow, giving you the time to react and reject his (rather bold for him) advance. But you don't dodge his encroaching figure and allow him to move forward. He figures if you haven't pushed him away by now, then this was probably fine and you weren't too uncomfortable with the close proximity. And the fact that he doesn't smell anything that would suggest you were afraid eases his mind a little more, even if your scent was harder to pick up than most. You let him close the distance and bring you into his arms, not caring that he or the other man are witnessing an embarrassing little meltdown.

But who could blame you?

You're confused, tired, and lost, with no real memories of who you even are. Anyone would be overwhelmed and overcome by the torrent of emotions you're currently dealing with in this situation. You can't seem to stop the tears from falling, nor do you have the energy to try, so you give in to the growing tide of emotions and pull yourself closer as you cry into his shoulder. The poor man was probably very confused and uncomfortable, but you remind yourself that he was the one to initiate the consoling embrace in the first place. And even if he had reservations about it, he wasn't doing anything to stop you from soaking the thin fabric of his uniform as you clung to him, so you don't put too much energy into worrying about it.

The longer you stand there in his hold, the better you actually start to feel.

Like before, his presence is very... soft and warm, and the pressure of his arms loosely wrapped around you was comforting.

It was rather... nice.

His quiet demeanor keeps you somewhat grounded and allows you a moment to self-regulate. You didn't feel trapped or have any lingering sense of unease with being so close to a stranger—a man, no less—and there was no impression of judgment or discrimination. He just felt safe to be around, so you slowly begin to relax until you've calmed down enough to take a few deep breaths and finally step away, releasing your tight hold of his clothing as you keep your eyes downcast.

You are a little embarrassed for clinging to him and crying like that, but oh well...

Ever so slowly, you glance back up at him for a brief moment, your gaze bouncing to the other man as you sniffle and wipe at your face.

"Sorry about that..."

Zenitsu puts a finger in his ear and twists it. "Huh... what? I didn't understand her at all! Wait, are my ears still working, or does she not speak Japanese?!" He stares at you and starts shouting as he maneuvers closer to speak directly to you. "Hey, what language are you speaking?! Where did you come from?! I haven't met very many foreigners before! Whatever it is, it sounds nice! Do you—"

You can feel the tears trying to surface again as he continues yelling in your face. Damn it, not again! You don't get the feeling that he's yelling at you—not in the way that would suggest he's angry or anything—no, you could tell he's just a very loud and enthusiastic person. But apparently you are quite sensitive to someone yelling directly in your face, because it starts to overwhelm you to the point of making you want to cry again.

It was like some kind of subconscious impulse.

You have no idea why you're reacting this way; he wasn't acting scary or mean, but you can't help it, and you feel so pathetic.

You feel weak and frustrated.

And you're more than sure it's just as frustrating for them to try and deal with a random lady who's become a blubbering mess, and not only that, but someone who doesn't even speak their language. The tears start to fill your lash line once again, and you try your best to keep it under control.

"Ah, no, it's okay!" Tanjiro frets, waving his hands around and shooting the blonde a subtle glare to stop him from rambling on. "Please, don't cry... I really apologize if we did something to upset you!"

He bows down low to the ground, and Zenitsu squeaks as he quickly follows suit. You don't quite know how to react. This was all so confusing, and you were almost at your wits end trying to make sense of anything. But they looked a little nervous and frazzled themselves, which momentarily took your focus away from the building pressure inside of you that was threatening to burst.

You blink a few times, your voice a little strained. "Uhh...? No, no... please, don't do that!"

Admittedly, you don't know a lot about their culture, but from what little information you are able to recall, bowing was generally used as a form of greeting, reverence, apology, or gratitude in social or religious situations. You have no idea how you know that, as you don't remember ever being in a situation that would include the customs of Japan, but you do. Anyway, you did not want them bowing to you. It didn't feel right, and given the context, you didn't feel as if they needed to apologize for anything. They lift their heads at the distressed sound of your request, watching as you grab at their arms to make them stand back up.

"I'm sorry," you sigh morosely. "I don't know what's going on... I don't know where I am. I'm tired and overwhelmed. And I just—"

You slump down as your body seems to give up, having no will to stand up anymore. You don't finish your sentence and fall silent, except for the occasional sniffle as you try to regulate your breathing once again. Both of them react quickly as they help you back onto your feet, waving their arms around with strained smiles. They look between you and each other, unsure of what to do at this moment. Neither side could understand each other. It was a tough situation to be in, but they had to keep trying to communicate with you somehow; otherwise, none of you would get anywhere. Tanjiro has found that communication isn't successful with only words alone; that was proven earlier when he had gotten you to understand him, if only a little bit, when he had used his hands to make signs as he spoke.

With that in mind, he stands in front of you again and asks the same question he had asked before, but this time he points to himself while saying, "Tanjiro Kamado," and then pointing back at you.

He keeps repeating himself slowly, trying his best to help you understand that he is giving you his name and that he's also asking for yours. He desperately wants to help you, now more so that your scent has somewhat grown stronger and he's able to pick up how frustrated and lonely you feel. You blink a few times, your face slightly scrunching up in concentration. He'd said the same thing earlier, except this time he was pointing at himself as he repeated a few words, which sounded like, 'Tan-jiro Kama-doh'.

Was that maybe... his name?

You hope so. It sort of made sense. And with him also pointing at you, could that mean he was asking for your name? You swallow the lump in your throat, desperately hoping that's what he was trying to get at; otherwise, you fear there truly may be no hope of communicating and getting the help that you need.

You'd be lost forever, alone...

Maybe that was an exaggeration, but you weren't in the most optimistic or brightest of moods right now. Sure, you might get help eventually, but you want to figure things out as soon as possible. You can't stand being in a constant state of confusion and uncertainty—it would drive anyone mad. And the thought of being completely lost, with little to no memories or real knowledge of how to survive on your own, absolutely terrifies you...

You take in a shaky breath, pursing your lips. "Are you asking for my name?"

You sound a little unsure as you point at yourself, but you try to keep your nerves down as you wait to see if he somehow understands you. His eyes light up as you do that, and he nods enthusiastically as he repeats, 'Tanjiro Kamado,' while pointing at himself, then pointing back at you with an expectant gleam. You can only assume from his reaction that the both of you have understood what each other was trying to say, so you finally smile a little in hope.

Well, here goes nothing...

"My name... is Y/n..." You speak slowly at first, enunciating as clearly as you can while pointing at yourself.

You also repeat yourself a few times, and he smiles wider as he echoes it, committing it to memory. As the smile on your own face begins to grow, he points back at himself and repeats his own name a few more times, wanting to make it as clear as possible between you both as to who you are. It wasn't much, but being able to communicate and understand each other, if only a little, was enough to make you excited. He then turns to the other man, speaking for a few moments before having him do the same thing, which the man does happily. You feel a little lighter now that you at least know their names—Tanjiro and Zenitsu. It's a lot better than referring to them by their appearances or how they acted.

It helped you feel less lonely and scared, as they felt more personal now... more real, if that made any sense.

You let out a soft breath and smile in relief. Once they see that you look less agitated than before, they start speaking amongst themselves. You catch Tanjiro saying the word 'English,' and Zenitsu peers at you curiously while nodding along. You're definitely curious about what exactly they're talking about right now, but you don't pay much mind and continue standing off to the side, your eyes drifting up to the sky. After a few seconds, they finally stop and gain your attention again as Tanjiro clears his throat, while Zenitsu tilts his head as he looks at you both.

"Y/n-san... uhh, English?" Tanjiro asks curiously, trying his best to correctly pronounce the unfamiliar word on his tongue.

He just wanted to double-check what his crow had told him earlier. He smiles when you grin a little and nod, taking it as confirmation of what he had learned earlier.

Zenitsu perks up. "So...?"

"Well, it seems my crow was correct. She speaks English. I asked if he would be able to help translate earlier, but he said he couldn't speak it well—only understand."

"You said you were taking her with you, right?"

"Yes, do you think we'll be able to find anyone who speaks English?"

"Sure, but I highly doubt anyone all the way out here would know anything. Your best bet is probably in one of the bigger cities, although... they're a long way away. The closest one is about a four-day trek on foot from here."

Tanjiro hums in thought, nodding along. "That is pretty far... and I have a mission I have to complete, but do you think you'll be able to lead us there afterwards, Zenitsu?"

"Yeah, of course! I couldn't just leave a fair lady in need of help! But if you're heading in that direction," he gestures to behind him, "then it'll probably take even longer."

"Well, that's fine. As long as we can find some towns along the way to recuperate, we should be okay." Tanjiro then turns back to you, smiling softly. "Y/n-san, will you follow us?"

All you can catch is your name, but once he points in the direction you were heading in earlier with him, you bob your head happily, as you knew what he was asking now. He wanted you to follow him, and it looked like Zenitsu was tagging along now. Tanjiro grins wider, and Zenitsu bounces on his feet with a little cheer, feeling excited to finally travel with other people after being on his own for a while. You laugh a little, and Zenitsu stops moving to stare at you with wide eyes. This was the first time you didn't look so confused or upset since he met you. And he could hear you better now—your inner sound—which all living things had. Every person has their own unique sound, giving off different frequencies and vibrations depending on their thoughts and feelings. And yours had sounded off before; it was, for lack of a better word, pathetic and held a muted sort of overtone. But now... it was like listening to something soft yet light, like wind chimes tinkling in the breeze. His eyes sparkle as he brings his hands together, giggling to himself.

You had the most adorable laugh!

Sure, he thought you were quite cute before, but seeing you smile and listening to how happy you sounded right now made you even cuter in his eyes. Call him a fool, but he felt like he was in heaven. There's a dopey smile on his face as he looks at you and falls to your feet, and you can only look down at him perplexed, as you don't have a single clue as to what his deal was now.

"Waaah, she's so cute! It's an amazing honor to be in the mere presence of such a lovely lady~ Oh man, I could actually die happy if I was married to a girl like her. Wouldn't you agree, Tanjiro? Isn't she just the cutest?!"

You seriously have no clue what Zenitsu is suddenly raving on about, but now that he isn't crying and screaming every five seconds, he actually isn't all that bad. He was kind of strange, in an endearing sort of way, and fairly amusing to listen to so you found yourself laughing a little more at his theatrics. You notice Tanjiro looks a little caught off guard by whatever Zenitsu was saying, though, your eyes flickering between them curiously.

"Huh...? Uhmm, yes...? I mean... I can agree, she is cute," he mumbles honestly, scratching at his cheek.

Zenitsu is still giggling to himself, rolling around on the ground, but he stops abruptly when Tanjiro's words register in his head, his grin suddenly dropping as he stares at him with a blank face.

"So... you think she's cute, too, huh?"

"Ah, well—"

"Listen here!! I asked her to marry me first! You got that?!! I can forgive you for ruining my first proposal, but I will never forgive you for trying to take her for yourself, alright?!?"

Tanjiro accidentally makes eye contact with you as Zenitsu starts wildly yelling at him, and his eyes flash with the slightest bit of panic and embarrassment before he quickly looks away, his shoulders tensing up. He faces Zenitsu again, waving his hands around frantically.

"Zenitsu, slow down! That's not what I meant at all! There's no way I would marry her! No, I mean... it's not that I wouldn't marry her because she isn't cute—she is... b-but that's not the point," he rambles on, trying to backtrack, but Zenitsu continues to glare at him. "I was just agreeing that she is attractive! But I wouldn't try to marry her, especially just for her appearance! I would actually like to get to know someone and eventually marry for love..!"

He stands still, completely stiff, staring straight ahead with an awkward grimace as he finishes his proclamation. He looks beyond flustered with whatever their conversation is about, which only makes you wonder what was going on.

Damn, you wish you could understand them.

It's silent for just a few seconds before it's broken once again by Zenitsu screeching, "WHHHHAAAT?! LOOOOOVE?!?!?! DID YOU JUST SAY THAT YOU LOVE HER?!?!"

"N-No! I just met her!" Tanjiro chokes as Zenitsu grabs him by the collar and starts shaking him around. "Where did you get that idea?! I couldn't love her! Well, not that I couldn't... who knows what will happen, r-right? I'm just saying if I got to know her—or anyone, really—and fell in love, then it would only make sense to get married! Aghh, b-but I don't mean that it will happen!! It could, but— I was just agreeing... I was just—"

Tanjiro finally snaps his mouth closed, his cheeks dusted a bright red as he quickly turns away and slips out of Zenitsu's grasp, trying to escape his unreasonable wrath. He was done with this conversation now, feeling slightly awkward and uncomfortable. He doesn't understand where Zenitsu was getting all these ideas, but he wasn't going to play into it and make matters worse by trying to explain himself. He wasn't blind and could recognize attractive-looking people, so he simply agreed with Zenitsu—you were in fact cute. But the thought of love and marriage has not once crossed his mind. Why would it? And it's not like he doesn't like you, because he already likes you; it's just not in the same way that Zenitsu does.

He just met you!

The way that he sees it, he can appreciate the outward beauty of a person, but what he truly admires about someone is what lies in their heart, and it takes some time to get to really know someone. He refuses to base his feelings on the shallowness of appearance alone. Although, there was a time when he was younger, living with his family on a mountain, he briefly thought about his future when he got older. It wasn't entirely true that he never thought about love or potentially getting married someday; he did think about that, and it was something he hoped to achieve in his life at some point.

But that was a long time ago... and things are a lot different now.

True, he is older now and right around the age where many people start getting serious about their future, but he's much too busy to even think about pursuing a relationship with someone right now. Not to mention, he didn't even know if he'd be alive in the next couple of years, seeing as he was a Demon Slayer. People die all the time; it's not a guarantee how long you'll get to live, but the risks that came with his occupation meant he could very well die at any given moment, and his death would likely not be a peaceful one. Right now, he could only think about doing his duty as a Demon Slayer, finding a cure for his little sister, who was turned into a demon, and defeating the very demon who had turned their lives upside down by shredding their entire family apart with cold, bloody claws...

...Muzan Kibutsuji...

He doesn't want to think too much about any of this, so he shakes his head and starts marching off, ignoring Zenitsu, who's still spouting nonsense.

"Come on guys, let's go!"

You don't know what they were talking about, but you found it amusing nonetheless. Their faces were pretty comical. You gather your bearings and try to catch up to Tanjiro, who's hastily walking away, and Zenitsu quickly follows close behind, finally quieting down and allowing a moment of silence to hang over your small group. You don't know where you're going, but you trust them enough to follow them, as they truly seem like good people.

Besides, they were the only people that you know right now, and you definitely aren't going to go out on your own, especially since you can't speak Japanese.

Though the path ahead remains uncertain, you take solace in the fact that you are not alone and won't have to fend for yourself in unknown territory. You were going to stick with them, and with the help of these two kind-hearted, albeit peculiar men, you hope to unravel the mystery that has enveloped your existence and reclaim the fragments of your memory. So, with a newfound hope, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and you set out on a journey together. You have a feeling that things are only going to get more interesting from here on out. You smile lightheartedly, excited to see where this new path takes you in life.

A warmth and sense of peace wash over you.

This was just the beginning...

☽☼☾☽☼☾☽☼☾

Taisho Secrets

* The Kasugai crows are specially trained birds, as they are the main method of communication among the members of the Demon Slayer Corps. English is one of the many things that they may choose to learn, although it is fairly basic, as they will rarely encounter people who speak the language. Tanjiro's crow was one of the few to pass the test with flying colors (compared to some of the others...) and can understand the language quite well, however, his speech is somewhat limited.

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