#Kumotori-san

[aishiteru-kenshin]

Mount Kumotori, Japan

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

been thinking about this for a couple days now, so... a lil bit of royalty!au teehee

Ayame said she was raised in a family of blacksmiths.

Who would know better?

Her hands and arms had been scarred, even before she became Shishou's apprentice. They thought it was from the forge.

They didn't know it was from archery practice.

She had an excellent sense of balance. From the forge, she would insist. From working the billows.

Wrong. It had been from horse-riding.

Her stitches were clumsy. Because she had never been well-practiced in her mother's teachings. Her mother had been a seamstress. At least her embroidery was passable.

No, her mother had never been a seamstress. Noble women never mended their own clothes.

Nobility was one way of referring to the Higichi family of Okutama. Kuge was another.

Hime was not simply a childhood nickname.

"Hime," Tanjirou whispered, eyes wide, "what are you doing here?"

Here, on Mount Kumotori.

Ayame furtively glanced around, but they were alone. Tomioka-san had long fled, and it was only herself, Tanjirou and Nezuko.

"It isn't Hime, it's Ayame," she said sharply. "I'm here as a Kisatsutai trainee, not as... and I gave up my succession. There are - there is no more Ayame-hime. Just Ayame."

She knew they had a strange upbringing. They were the same age, but they were never the same station. Tanjirou, as a guard. Ayame, as royalty.

But there was only one Higuchi and two Kamados left. And she had given up her succession, the same way Oniichan had done the same before her.

Hime was just a childhood nickname now.

Tanjirou paled. He clutched his oni sister close and choked back a sob. There was no more Higuchi family. Only Higuchi Ayame.

But that didn't make him any less her guard.

Tanjirou was not unfamiliar with a katana. With Breathing Styles, with Breath of Water, but not with a sword in hand.

But Tanjirou said he was raised in a charcoal burner's family. It wasn't a lie. His family had burned charcoal for Okutama.

They were not merely charcoal burners.

He had grown up with a sword in hand, and he had learned to swing it under his Otousan's tutelage. His father had been the guard to O-Junhiko-sama. Tanjirou was meant to be the guard for O-Akihiko-sama. Then, O-Ayame-hime.

No, just Ayame now.

There was no Higuchi family.

But there was the Kamado family, however small.

He didn't know if Urokodaki-san had figured out he was familiar with a katana. He already knew how to do basic strikes. He had spent his childhood sparring with Hi - with Ayame.

There was no Higuchi family.

There was Higuchi Ayame.

There was the Kamado family, reduced to two.

The Kamados had always guarded the Higuchis.

"Hime," Tanjirou gasped as the obi sliced into his shoulder, and Ayame crashed into a building.

She didn't scold him for using that old title. He wasn't sure she was conscious.

Wasn't sure if she was breathing.

He was her guard. He was supposed to protect her, even though she told him time and time again that he was just Tanjirou, and she was just Ayame.

"You don't have to live your life protecting me. I don't want that. I can do it myself."

That was what she had said after they fought Kyougai. He hadn't wanted to agree, but she was stronger than him now. She was one year his senior when it came to all things Kisatsutai. She didn't need protection.

He couldn't have protected her even if he wanted to.

Too distracted by the civilian behind him, he had rushed to protect that man instead of his hime. (Ayame had always been hime to him, even when they were children.)

Warabihime threw her hair over her shoulder. He didn't have to breathe in to know she was satisfied with the destruction she had caused. Buildings lay broken. People were screaming.

And his hime was not with him.

Anger rushed through him as blood dripped from his eyes, staining his cheeks with crimson tears.

He was supposed to protect his hime.

He was going to cut down the false Warabihime in her name.

"Tengen-san found out."

"Eh?"

"In Yoshiwara."

"Eh?!"

Ayame crossed her legs and frowned at him.

Tanjirou winced. He was still recovering from his coma, so he couldn't even dash away. Not that he would want to. Even if Ayame didn't think she was royalty anymore, he was her guard and would continue acting as such.

"You called me Hime," she said, accusatory. "When Gyuutarou was going to stab me. On that roof."

Tanjirou winced once more. Ah, that...

It had slipped from his mouth without a second thought. He might call her Ayame to her face, but she was still O-Ayame-hime to him. He hadn't meant to!

She continued, "He thought it was strange, so he did some digging. Found out that I'm kuge. Which means he knows you're buke."

His eyes widened. "No!"

"Yes." She crossed her arms as well. "So. He knows."

"Has he - has he told anyone?"

Zenitsu and Inosuke flashed through his mind. They knew the stories Ayame and Tanjirou had told of their families best, which meant that they knew the least about the true nature of their families. They were both nobility, and they did their best to act like they weren't.

Ayame shook her head. "He didn't tell anyone." She pursed her lips. "Zenitsu might suspect, though. He was in earshot."

Tanjirou groaned and covered his face with his hands. What a mess.

"We should've just told everyone," he mumbled.

He didn't have to look at her to know she was glaring at him.

"No! I don't want people to know I'm kuge. They'll start thinking I'm unsuited to be a Demon Slayer. I'm a tsuguko. I can't let that happen."

"Hime..." A sharp pinch to his ankle. His leg jerked, almost causing him to kick her off the bed. "Ow - Ayame."

She nodded in satisfaction. "There. Isn't it better when you're just Tanjirou and I'm just Ayame? Look at everything we've done since we became normal people. I don't want to lose that."

Normal people, huh? He didn't think anything they were doing was normal. If they were normal people, she would be a blacksmith, and he would be a charcoal burner.

She would not be his hime. She would just be Ayame.

His heart fluttered in his chest.

"You're beautiful," Tanjirou breathed.

It was wrong. He knew it was wrong, these feelings that welled up in him, but he couldn't help it.

Because Ayame was seated before him, wearing his haori and the sunflower hairpin that he bought for her, and she was looking at him like she wouldn't look at anything else.

"Ayame," he whispered.

Not Hime. Just Ayame.

Her fingertips were rough as they skittered across his jawline, but so, so gentle. He couldn't help but lean into her touch.

He was just Tanjirou, and she was just Ayame.

Her lips pressed to his and it felt like fireworks bursting to life in his chest. It was Hinokami Kagura burning him up from the inside, but it didn't matter as long as she kept holding him so gently.

His hime.

His -

Hime.

She was kuge, and he was buke, and it looked like the same thing on the surface, but it was wrong.

It was wrong, but why did it feel so right?

But it wasn't. It was wrong.

Because she was O-Ayame-hime, and he was Kamado-kimi.

It was the same thing on the surface, but it wasn't the same thing at all. They were of different ranks - not just in the Kisatsutai, but in life as well.

Otousan always told him to never forget his duty.

He was his hime's guard, and nothing more.

"Tanjirou," she whispered. His heart ached, even as it was soothed by the way she called out to him. As if they could stand on equal ground. "I - Tanjirou, I - "

"I can't," he croaked.

Her hair was so soft, ink-black tresses spilling over his fingers. He was undeserving of such a position; his hands were never allowed to touch her. They were meant to protect her.

Even if it meant from himself.

"I can't." No, don't look at him like that. Don't look at him like - "I can't. I'm sorry. I - "

I'm not worthy, Hime.

Tanjirou knew she would come to him. She was always braver than him.

"I think," Ayame murmured, "I'm falling in love with you."

"Don't say that," he said, even as his heartbeat fluttered in his throat and his chest swelled with emotion. "Don't..."

How could she? When she was O-Ayame-Hime, and he was Kamado-kimi.

He dropped to a bow, forehead pressed to the tatami. Showing her the respect she deserved.

"Tanjirou - what are you - ?"

"O-Ayame-Hime, please forgive me."

Her breath hitched. Her scent swirled around him, suzuran and charcoal, sadness and grief.

"I'm not - "

"As your guard," he continued, "it was inappropriate of me. I apologise."

"Tanji - "

"Hime."

"..."

"..."

He didn't lift his head. It wasn't proper.

Her voice was cool when she said, "You are forgiven, Kamado-kimi. Please raise your head."

Oh. He hadn't heard her use that tone with him since...

"No more Hime or O-Ayame-hime. Just call me Ayame, and I'll call you Tanjirou. Okay? We're - we're friends now. Right...?"

Tanjirou slowly straightened. His throat was tight, but even if he could muster any words, it was - it was inappropriate for a mere guard to speak without being spoken to. He kept his gaze on the tatami in front of his knees; a guard shouldn't lay eyes on a princess unless they were in public.

"Kamado-kimi, raise your head."

At his hime's command, he raised his gaze to meet hers.

She sighed. "So that's it, then?"

Tanjirou took a deep breath.

"That's it, then."

It was time they both remembered their places.

Tanjirou's nose wrinkled at the burning scent of alcohol.

“It's tradition,” said Zenitsu. He swallowed a mouthful of his sake and claimed Ayame's seat for his own. “Sorry that didn't go the way I planned. I forgot how quick your reflexes are.”

He shot his older friend a mildly annoyed look.

“Zenitsu…”

“We all knew it was gonna happen anyway. I just thought I'd give you guys a kick in the ass. Get things moving along, ne.” Zenitsu glanced at Tanjirou. “I didn't hear whatever you guys were whispering about, don't worry. The music was too loud.”

A sigh of relief slipped from Tanjirou's chest. He forgot about Zenitsu's incredible hearing.

To stave off more questions, Tanjirou sipped the sake dish in his hands. The alcohol was just as burning and unpleasant as he remembered.

“Ne, it's about to get more dangerous.” Zenitsu tipped his head back. “Not for us, but for Ayame-chan. She'll be fighting in battles that we can't help her with soon enough.”

“That's true…”

"So, whenever you call her Hime, it makes her really frustrated. It's not like she's helpless."

Tanjirou choked on air. "Zenitsu...!"

"You're not subtle. I've suspected for a while now." The blonde laughed to himself. "A real-life princess, and you're acting like this? You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

"Ze - Zenitsu! Quiet down!"

"No one's listening, it's fine." He drank another mouthful of sake. "Ne, you're living the life most guys dream of. Why won't you just be honest?"

"It's not like that. She's my hime, and I'm her guard."

Zenitsu nodded. "Yeah, yeah, but she's never treated you like that. Ayame-chan's always treated you as Tanjirou, you know."

"That..."

His protest died in his throat.

That was true. Since the moment she met him again on Mount Fujikasane, they had been standing on equal ground. Tanjirou and Ayame, not Kamado-kimi and O-Ayame-hime.

Zenitsu knocked his shoulder against Tanjirou's. “She'll need all the luck she can get, either way,” the blonde said lightly. “Inosuke and I already gave her good luck kisses, but don't lag behind too much. I'm sure it'll mean a lot coming from you.”

Tanjirou gaped. “Wh-When did you…!”

Zenitsu laughed. “Ayame-chan's right. Your situational awareness is terrible.” He tipped the rest of his sake into Tanjirou's cup. It almost sloshed over. “Drink up! Then you won't chicken out.”

Zenitsu stood, stretching his arms up. His hands landed on his hips.

“Y'know, the idea of you finding happiness before still irritates me a bit,” his eyebrow twitched, “but if it's you and Ayame-chan, I can't help but root for you guys. I guess it's 'cause you're my best friends.”

Warmth that had nothing to do with sake bloomed in Tanjirou's chest.

Zenitsu hadn't known they were kuge and buke. Even then, he was still rooting for them. He didn't understand how different their stations in life were, but maybe it didn't really matter. Not when they were this far away from Okutama.

Tanjirou gazed down at his sake dish, then drained it. It still burned, and it was bitter and unpleasant, but he felt a little more ready to face things.

“Help me up,” he bade.

Zenitsu grinned. “Over to your hime, ne? Come on, slowpoke.”

It was easy enough for Zenitsu to elbow his way through the small crowd. They almost seemed to part, especially when they saw Tanjirou.

Ayame was laughing about something with Aoi and Genya. She didn't laugh loudly, but her shoulders shook with mirth. Tanjirou kept his eyes on her sunflower clip – the sunflower clip he gifted her. The gift she accepted, even though it was far beneath her station. A hime should be adorned in fine silver and gold, not cheap copper and brass

You're beautiful.

“Ayame,” he called out.

She turned towards him, a question in her eyes.

His hand cupped her jaw, keeping her head still. Her eyes widened as he ducked in close and pressed his lips to her cheek.

Cheers and catcalls erupted around them, but all of Tanjirou's senses were honed in on the feeling of her cheek against his lips. Embarrassment and suzuran mingled as Ayame went completely still.

“Tanjirou, what – ?”

“For good luck,” he echoed, reluctantly pulling away.

Blue met red.

Her eyelids fluttered, her cheek growing warm beneath his fingers.

Still beautiful.

“As a… friend?” she said hesitantly.

He smiled, pulling his hand away. His fingers hooked in her kumihimo cords, thumb brushing over the one he had made with Zenitsu and Inosuke.

“As your friend,” he agreed.

After all, kuge or not, she would always be his hime.

[space-------kid]

Hello! Congrats on reaching 100+ followers—you definitely deserve it and more! If slots are still avail, can I request Genya x Reader where he actually lives and five years after Muzan’s defeat, Genya realizes that all of his friends are married (Kanao and Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Nezuko, Aoi and Inosuke) and he’s like “maybe I should propose...?) but he has no idea how so he asks for help from Ino, Tan and Zen, who offer to go look for rings with him while the girls hang out. Thank you so much!

Thank you so much, anon - you’re too kind and sweet! 😄💕💕💕

This request is so cute, please have all my uwu 💕💕💕 Also, I’m sorry for taking quite a while with this one (and to @beanrolls, too, who requested for Kimetsu Academy Genya [have all my uwu, too!]), there have been matters that needed my urgent attention that left me unable to write for days! 😭 But I’m back now, and sure that I’ll be able to post beanrolls’ request tomorrow😄

This one is set mostly in Genya’s point of view. [I’m listening to Train’s “Marry Me” right now... Now I’m wondering how modern AU Genya might propose to his s/o  😭💕💕💕)

*Hanami is “flower viewing”. The comparison between pearls and a woman’s tears of sadness is a thing where I’m from, and old people advise the younger ones not to wear any pearls during their wedding nor for men to give women engagement rings with pearls. They believe that the pearls would signify a married life full of sadness for the woman who’s about to be wed.

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 (𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝔂) 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝒮𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓏𝓊𝑔𝒶𝓌𝒶 𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓎𝒶 𝓍 𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹𝑒𝓇

༻﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡﹡༺

              The world is now without evil demons.

               Exactly five years have now passed after Kibutsuji Muzan’s downfall. Five years of absolute peace, now being experienced by the children Ubiyashiki Kagaya has left behind, those who have been blessed by the gods to spend the rest of their lives earning the fruits of the sacrifice of the entirety of the Demon Slayer Corps.

               There are times that he still thinks that someone else deserves to be in his position. To be able to live, laugh, love, and be loved by the people he holds dear in his heart. But the thought now comes very few and far in between as the peaceful days roll by, the further encouragement of his older brother and friends giving Genya the strength to take another step into living the life they convince him he deserves.

               And maybe… maybe he does deserve to experience all the good things life hands to him now. Like the rest of his fellow Demon Slayers, he’s willingly sacrificed his own safety to ensure another’s, offering blood, sweat, and tears to rid the world as much demons as he can while striving hard to stand side by side with his once-unreachable brother. And while Sanemi has been blessed with the Mark of the Demon Slayers, the gods must have smiled at the Shinazugawa brothers for the curse of death does not claim the older between the two.

               Genya is sure that Tanjiro will be blessedly spared as well from the Mark’s curse, now living a happy life in Mount Kumotori – his home – with Kanao and their son.

               The Breath of the Sun user has been the first to marry in their group of friends two years ago. The proposal itself is simple yet sincere, so very Tanjiro that Kanao has been quick to blurt out a very happy “yes!” The wedding has been grand and lively, and Zenitsu – in all seriousness and golden eyes shining with worried tears – all but gets down on one knee during the celebration and proposes to a surprised and blushing Nezuko.

               Not one to be left behind by his friends, Inosuke has demanded for Aoi’s hand in marriage after witnessing Tanjiro’s joyful wedding and Zenitsu’s bold proposal.

               Now, his friends are all happily married with the love of their lives. And Genya would be a fool if he doesn’t admit that he’s a little – alright, maybe not so little – jealous that he’s the only one who hasn’t tied the knot yet.

               And so he sits in the middle of Sanemi’s training dojo, Himejima-san’s juzu beads clutched in one hand as he contemplates on the relationship he has with [Name]. He remembers, clear as day, how they met on one of his missions and how they saved each other’s lives back then. How she has befriended him despite his intimidating appearance, his inability to use Breaths, and how he achieves demonic transformation by eating demons. Not once has [Name] looked down on him, and Genya knows then and there – in their first meeting – that she is the one for him.

               Koi no yokan. The premonition of love; the feeling upon first meeting someone that you will inevitably fall in love with them.

               He remembers how [Name] admitted her growing feelings for him months after, when she came to visit him at the Butterfly Estate after facing off with Upper Moon Four in the Swordsmith’s Village. How she ran to him, crying, and embraced him as if it’s the last thing she’ll ever do. He remembers how happy and relieved she looked while cupping his cheeks in her small hands and – seemingly forgetting herself and the company they have – placed a tender kiss on his forehead before confessing her feelings for him. Genya is still sure that he has glimpsed Heaven that day, especially when [Name]’s face flushed red from embarrassment at her behaviour. And despite Tanjiro and the three girls of the Butterfly Estate’s presence in the infirmary, the demon-devouring Slayer is quick to tell her that he’s always loved, her, too.

               His worst nightmare came into focus during the final battle in the Dimensional Infinity Fortress. Upper Moon One was unbelievably strong, even using a Breath Style with more than fifteen forms during the fight. The Mist Pillar Tokito Muichiro fell during the fight, valiantly sacrificing himself to ensure their victory. And Genya was more than willing to go down fighting, too, if it meant taking down the second strongest demon in existence to his grave. Just as when Upper Moon One’s desperate, dying attack reaches Genya, he was knocked to the side while the splatter of crimson blood entered his field of vision.

               [Name] has told him firmly that she’s willing to sacrifice more than her left leg just so Genya can see the light of day again with his older brother.

               If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t be basking freely under the sun with the people he loves.

               Uneven footsteps soon pull Genya out of his musings. The dojo’s double doors open to reveal [Name], clad in a purple kimono and leaning on her walking stick. Her [colour] eyes brighten upon seeing Genya, and he gets up to meet her halfway, wrapping her in a fierce, loving hug.

               “I love you, [Name],” he tells her softly, pressing his lips to her hair. Genya relishes the sound of her laughter and the way she looks up at him, the loving expression on her face mirroring his.

               “And I love you more than you can ever dream of, Genya,” [Name] replies sincerely, leaning on him as he leads her out of the dojo. “What’s gotten into you, though? I hope it’s nothing I should be worried about.”

              His heart leaps with joy for her concern, although there is nothing to actually worry about. They sit side by side on the engawa, overlooking the garden Sanemi has gifted Genya with. The younger Shinazugawa brother still cannot help his face from turning red when [Name] presses herself against him and weaves her fingers with his.

              “N-Nothing to worry about. I just want to tell you…”

              [Name] rewards him with a kiss on his fingers and a content sigh.

              “And now we have the rest of our lives to tell each other,” she chirps happily at him, a bright smile on her face. “Now, don’t get tired of hearing it from me every day, alright?”

              Maybe he should…?

              Genya returns her smile with a shy grin of his own, unashamed of how red his face must have been. The question dances on the tip of his tongue, the needful urge to ask for her hand in marriage growing stronger and fiercer with each passing day he spends with her.

              He’s the only one unmarried yet in his circle of friends. And Genya knows that he can change it by asking [Name] right now, but he refrains himself from doing so. He wants the proposal to be memorable, to be worthy of the woman who has countlessly and selflessly saved his life over and over. He doesn’t want to ruin her experience of being proposed to by just blurting the question out like a mindless, insensitive fool, without even a care for how much memorable it would be for her.

              Genya is not one for extravagance, but at least he wants [Name] to remember his wedding proposal for the rest of their lives, something she can tell their future kids with a lovesick blush on her face. But if he’s being honest with himself, he actually has no idea how to properly propose!

              The flapping of a Kasugaigarasu’s wings reach the couple’s ears and, soon enough, a familiar crow perches itself on Genya’s outstretched arm.

              “Message! Message from Kamado Tanjiro! Message from Kamado Tanjiro!!!”

              A surge of inspiration strikes Genya. It won’t hurt asking his friends for help now, would it?

--

               “Ah, so you’re planning to propose to [Name]!” Tanjiro exclaims, expression that of pure delight at the information. “I’m very happy for you, Genya!”

               Sitting beside Genya, Zenitsu claps the former on the back with a congratulatory grin. “Good for you, Genya. You’ll have zero regrets once you’re married – spending forever with the woman you love the most is pure heaven, I’m telling you!”

               Inosuke, on the other hand, shoots Genya an unimpressed look. The years may have tamed the Breath of the Beast user’s boorishness, but his competitiveness is another story.

               “Kentaro, Monitsu, and I have been married to our wives for three years already,” the boar head-toting male comments, taunting grin appearing on his face as he rudely points a finger at the unmarried man among the group, “and you haven’t even proposed yet? Hah! You really are a shrimp!”

               Tossing maturity aside, Genya and Inosuke begin attempting to throttle each other and throw childish insults at one another. It brings back memories during the Pillar Training from five years ago, and the ‘fight’ immediately ends with Tanjiro restraining an indignant Inosuke by sitting in seiza on the latter’s back.

               “I haven’t proposed yet because I don’t know how, you stupid boar!” Genya gripes, plopping gracelessly beside a surprised Zenitsu.

               “Just demand for her hand in marriage like I did with my Aoi, dumbass Ginto!” Inosuke yells, struggling under Tanjiro’s restraint.

               Genya rushes forward and slaps a large hand on Inosuke’s mouth, looking frantically between the shoji door and the porch. “Keep it down, Inosuke! What if [Name] hears you? Don’t blow things up!”

               Tanjiro, still restraining their friend, tilts his head to the side in contemplation. “Yes, please keep it down, Inosuke. And I understand why Genya hasn’t proposed yet.” The Breath of the Sun user then shoots Genya a sympathetic smile. “You want it to be memorable, right, Genya? In that case, let us help you!”

               Inosuke stops squirming and, after sharing a knowing grin with Zenitsu, nods at Genya as a show of support.

               Feeling extremely grateful for his friends’ considerateness and willing aid, Genya gets down in dogeza. “T-Thank you, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke! You have no idea how much this means to me!”

--

               Everything goes smoothly as planned.

               During his friends’ next visit in the Wind Pillar’s estate, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke – who have been forthcoming with Genya’s desire to ask for [Name]’s hand in marriage with their other halves – bring their wives with them as planned. While the four males go out in search for the perfect engagement ring (Zenitsu suggested a Western proposal like he did with Nezuko, to which Genya agreed eagerly), Kanao, Nezuko, and Aoi will provide a distraction for [Name]. Even Sanemi pitches in with his offer of help, volunteering as the last resort of a distraction should [Name] begin showing any amount of suspicion about their friends’ unannounced visit.

               The three women are quick to whisk [Name] away from Genya’s arms, chattering brightly about things only they can understand, and Sanemi immediately shoos the four men away once the girls are out of sight.

               “[Name] will be quick to suspect that something might be amiss,” the former Wind Pillar warns the younger men before they leave, eyes shining with pride for his former tsuguko’s perceptiveness. “You better hurry up, you hear me?”

               “We will, Sanemi-san, don’t worry!” Tanjiro replies, bowing and taking their leave.

               Things, however, quickly turn south once they reach the town.

               While merchants from far and wide have been plentiful, the four friends find it difficult to spot even a single jeweller in town. Panic and doubt fills Genya almost immediately, but Tanjiro’s optimism helps drive the negativity away. Zenitsu suggest looking at the next, nearest town, and the four march on with renewed purpose and hope.

               The next town seems to be promising, and Genya’s spirits lift at the sight of a jeweller’s store. He is quick to drag his friends in the shop, but his excited smile quickly vanishes from his face at the sheer amount of rings – in all sizes and variations – behind the glass displays before him.

               “H-How am I supposed to pick one…?” he mutters, face pale at the prospect of choosing a ring that might not even fit [Name] – let alone one that she would love.

               The shop keeper – a foreigner – looks appraisingly at Genya from head to toe before nodding to himself.

               “For proposal?” asks the old man in broken Japanese, briefly glancing over at Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke. “Them, too? Propose to girl?”

               Quickly catching on the foreigner’s inquiry, Genya shakes his head and tries to use words that the former will understand. “Only me, sir,” he says nervously, wringing his hands when his lavender eyes sweep back to the assortment of rings in display. “How much for a ring?”

               The old man tuts at him, grey eyes narrowing as he gestures at the rings. “Price depends on ring. These, not for marriage.” He directs Genya to another display, where silver and gold bands set with precious stones are being held. “Propose with these. Pick one.”

               Genya suddenly feels numb at the prospect of choosing among the rings. Each of them is beautiful in their own right – some displaying exquisitely cut diamonds, vivid sapphires, crimson rubies, and viridian emeralds. When he hesitantly points at the one with a single pearl, the old man appraises him once more and shakes his head vehemently.

               “What’s wrong with the pearl, though, old man?” Inosuke pipes from behind Genya. “It’s pretty enough!”

               “Pretty, yes!” The old man agrees then points at Genya. “No fit him, however!”

               Zenitsu frowns at the old shop keeper. “He’s not the one being proposed to, you know!”

               Ever the pacifist, Tanjiro sniffs the air a little then beams at the old man. “I think he doesn’t mean Genya. Let’s hear what grandpa has to say first, shall we?”

               The old man, chuffed with Tanjiro’s reasoning (and being called grandpa, it seems), elaborates while gesturing for Genya to show his hands. Genya complies, confused.

               “This lad, tall and big,” the old foreigner explains while studying the calloused palms under his gaze. “He looks… hmm… what word… ah! Protector! Protective of his woman, yes. Does not make her cry, I think. He does not want to, he looks like. Big hands, huh? Protecting hands, I see. Pearl,” he then points at the ring, “symbol of tears in my country. Tears of sad woman. You make her cry sad tears?”

               “No!” Genya replies loudly, indignantly. Then, in a more reserved tone, “Never. I don’t want to make [Name] cry sad tears.”

               The old man nods in satisfaction then veers the mohawked male’s focus away from the pearl. “I remove that today. Now pick another.”

               Amazed at the explanation and the new bit of information they learned, the four former Demon Slayers shift their focus to the other rings and begin discussing amongst themselves.

               “I still don’t know what to pick,” Genya laments, his gaze bouncing between his friends and the old man. This is much harder than picking the ore for his very first nichirin blade!

               “Genya, I know it’s a hard decision to make,” Tanjiro tells him kindly, “but think of [Name] while looking at the rings. I’m sure your love for her will guide you to the right ring!”

               “Red hair, right,” the old man chimes in, nodding at a beaming Tanjiro. “Don’t worry, erase worry. Let love guide you, then choose.”

               “I dunno about these rings,” Inosuke claims and gives Genya’s shoulder a supportive pat. “But Jangoro and old man are right! I pick Aoi because I love her. I’m sure you’ll pick the right ring!”

               “Aoi is not a ring, though,” Zenitsu mumbles under his breath. “But you can do it, Genya! Take your time!”

               Overwhelmed by the support of his friends and a stranger’s kind and patient guidance, Genya’s determined gaze sweeps over the rings, lavender eyes widening at the sight of one that particularly stands out amongst the rest.

--

               With the chosen ring now within the safety of a small velvet box and tucked in his hakama’s pocket, Genya and the gang moves forward to the second and most important part of the plan: the proposal itself.

               While Zenitsu suggests a grand declaration of love and marriage as supported by a pumped up Inosuke, Tanjiro agrees with Genya’s plan of making the proposal simple yet utterly heartfelt. With the Hanami coming ever closer, the younger Shinazugawa brother plans to ask for [Name]’s hand in marriage under the blooming sakura trees and the bright rays of spring sunlight.

               “How did it go?” Kanao asks quietly about their search for the previously elusive engagement ring. Aoi and Nezuko are helping [Name] gather some flowers from the garden under Sanemi’s guidance, distracting her enough for Kanao to slip past and welcome the four men when they arrive.

               Tanjiro hugs his wife and receives the kiss she gives him with a blush on his face, then displays a smile of success for Kanao to see.

               “We had to move to the nearest town to search for a ring, but Genya did it!” Tanjiro whispers excitedly. “The ring perfectly fits [Name]… I’m sure you’ll agree when you see it, Kanao!”

               The adopted sister of the Kocho siblings smiles proudly at her husband. “I can’t wait for the day Genya proposes. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy spending the rest of his life married to [Name], like I am with you.”

               Needless to say, Tanjiro is reduced to a blushing mess at his wife’s sincere remark. And like Kanao, he cannot wait for the day [Name] says yes to Genya.

--

               The first day of the Hanami finally comes, bringing with it the first of spring’s sudden torrential rains.

               Genya’s plan comes crashing to the ground as he watches the pouring rain despondently. He grips the velvet box containing the ring in one hand, wondering if he’s not meant for giving [Name] the wedding proposal she so deserves.

               He feels Sanemi’s hand on his shoulder, ducking his head forlornly when the older between the two huffs at the rain.

               “Is this it for you, then?” Sanemi asks him, an uncharacteristic look of disbelief on his scarred face. “You’re letting this rain derail you on your journey to happiness?”

               “[Name] loves hanami, though, nii-chan,” Genya laments, shoulders slumping as he pockets the box.

               The former Wind Pillar grins and ruffles his younger brother’s hair. “You really are one hopeless little brother,” he says in jest, grin turning into a soft smile when Genya looks at him in mock hurt. “[Name] loves you, and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind how you propose to her.”

               “Really?”

               “Tch. I know so, idiot. Now scram and give me a sister-in-law already.”

               Genya is already barrelling out of the room, shouting “yes!” at the top of his lungs before Sanemi can react. The younger Shinazugawa storms down the hallways, doing a double take when he spots [Name] sitting on the engawa by the garden and watching the rain.

               For someone who is about to ask for his beloved’s hand in marriage, Genya feels oddly calm as he shortens the distance between the two of them. He sits beside [Name] and stares at her, quietly taking in the softness of her features when she tilts her head up to smile at him.

               Oh, gods. He really is utterly, unabashedly, deeply, and head over heels in love with her. And the tender look in her eyes when looks at him assures him that she absolutely feels the same.

               He retrieves the box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a slender silver band topped with [favourite gemstone] cut like dainty petals. Genya gently wipes the tears of joyful understanding and profound love on her face with his free hand. The question in his mouth becomes a promise of forever when he speaks.

               “I hope you’ll let me make you the happiest woman alive, [Name]. Please take me as your husband.”

               Genya gratefully and lovingly receives her kiss when she replies, “I’ll have no one else, Genya. Only you.”

               (Much to Genya’s delight, [Name] indeed tells their twin sons – with a furious blush on her face – how his wedding proposal to her went three years later. And, fairly enough for his flustered wife, he sports the same shade of red on his face when their boys begin to tease him about it.)

 .

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[demonslayedher]

Adding in the list of hometowns for your reference, as well as a few thoughts: 

Guide: Modern day name (Taisho period name) Translations vary, but basically: -yama, -zan, -san: mountain -ku: district -gun: county or small town -mura: village

Kamado Tanjrou & Nezuko: Nishitama, Kumotori-yama (Okutama-gun, Kumotori-yama)

 Agatsuma Zenitsu: Shinjuku, Ushigome (Ushigome-ku)

Hashibira Inosuke: Okutama, Oodake-san (Okutama-gun, Oodake-san)

Tomioka Giyuu: Nakano-ku, Nogata (Toyotama-gun, Nogata-mura)

Rengoku Kyoujurou: Setagaya, Sakurashinmachi (Ebara-gun, Komazawa-mura)

Uzui Tengen: Unknown

Tokitou Muichirou: Hachiouji, Kagenobu-yama (Minamitama-gun, Kagenobu-yama)

Kochou Shinobu: Kita-ku, Takinogawa (Kitatoshima-gun, Takinogawa-mura) NOTE: THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SITE OF THE BUTTERFLY MANSION. The Butterfly Mansion has a cherry tree planted by the originator of the Flower Breath. Wherever it was, it had mountains nearby.

Kanroji Mitsuri: Minato-ku, Azabudai (Azabu-ku, Iikura)

Iguro Obanai: Nishiyama, Hachijoufuji (Hachiyoujima, Hachijoufuji)

Shinazugawa Sanemi & Genya: Chuuou-ku, Kyoubashi (Kyoubashi-ku)

Himejima Gyoumei: Hinode-yama, Oume (Oume, Hinode-yama)

Tsuyuri Kanao: Sumida-ku, Mukoujima (Honjo-ku)

 Some thoughts:

1.       Mt. Sagiri probably wouldn’t be that far from where Giyuu is from, based on this Q/A in the official fan book: “How did he come into Urokodaki’s care? He used to live alone with his sister after their parents died of illness, but after his sister Tsutako was killed by demons, people in the surrounding area found him depressed, and they decided to bring him to far away relatives who were doctors. Along the way, Giyuu ran off, and he was later saved from the brink of death in the mountains by a hunter who was an acquaintance of Urokodaki.” So like, maybe they got really, really far before little Giyuu snapped to his ‘oh hell no’ senses, but my guess is that it’s still in the general region (that mountainous area to the northwest-ish of Tokyo proper, possibly further north on route to the supposed Mt. Fujikasane).  EDIT: Some other Japanese deep-dives have tackled the question of why Muzan and all the Pillars are centered around Tokyo while also pointing out that cultivators are mentioned as being “all throughout the country,” so if Urokodaki really could be anywhere, I’d wager he’s in Nagano Prefecture, Suzaka City, home to the “Ryuu no Wariishi” (Dragon’s split boulder). Seems more likely than the Ittouseki split boulder in Nara, anyway. But, as Mt. Sagiri is not a real location, it may have purposefully been left mysterious.

2.       According to one blogger, Mt. Hinode and Mt. Oodake are close enough that Himejima encountering little Inosuke wouldn’t have been that far of a stretch. Now imagine that AU… I’m envisioning Inosuke and Himejima kicking demon butt together and then Inosuke kicking Kaigaku’s butt. EDIT: According to more Japanese fandom discussion, the actual distance between Himejima and Inosuke is more like, if you really wanted to hike both in a single day, you could, but it’s not as if they’d regularly cross paths. Furthermore, if Himejima only lived there as a child, it’s likely he’d have left before Inosuke was even born. 

3.       That being said, one mountain climbing blogger thinks being raised by a family of boars on Mt. Oodake during the Taisho era would have been a bit of a stretch, as there was already a shrine pretty popular with pilgrims there. Nothing like Douma’s cult, though!

4.       Speaking of Douma’s cult, if all the Pillars stay close to their hometown, it’d have been closer to Himejima’s patrol territory than Kanae’s (it is possible he changes the location, but the fan book only states that he keeps membership relatively low so as not to attract too much attention). But seeing as Mitsuri remarked that the swordsmith village is remarkably close to her territory and she’s from pretty deep in the flat city area, my guess is that they instead go wherever they are needed and the Corp covers their residency. EDIT: I’ve also since heard that Mt. Kumotori, where Tanjiro is from, is a much more strenuous hike. Furthermore, Azabu-ku of the Taisho Era was totally city, making Mitsuri a total city girl (Zenitsu’s area is also as city as it gets, basically). 

5.       The location of the Ubuyashiki Mansion is also secret. My guess is that like how the swordsmiths have dead villages they can move into at a moment’s notice, the Ubuyashiki Family also has different villas they can move between as needed. You know, a few extras in case you need to blow one of them up.

6.       Now let’s talk Muzan. How considerate of him to keep all his demons in the Tokyo area where all the Pillars are located?? I had always assumed demons were a nationwide thing (and the Giyuu Gaiden had a distinct Hokkaido feel to me, but that was all my own assumptions). However, I’m willing to guess that this has something to do with Muzan’s blood connection with the demons, it may keep them from being able to stray too far from him. It would make sense for him to settle in a place like Tokyo to keep some stability among the demons while also giving him lots of ways to slip in and out of identities.

7.       As a Heian court noble, however, Muzan would have had his start in Kyoto, as would the Ubuyashiki family. It’s anyone’s guess when Muzan would have made the shift to the Tokyo region, and that means that as soon as the Ubuyashiki Family realized that, they would have made the shift too, perhaps out of the ordinary for many of the noble families that still stuck around in Kyoto at the time. Maybe upon their exit they blew up the mansion there and made it a family tradition. EDIT: On more thought, I feel Muzan wouldn't have waited very long to start trying to track down the blue spider lilies. Plus, his reputation for not aging might had started going around Heian court society.

8.       While we’re talking history, I have to wonder what the cast all did through the Tokyo carpet bombings of WW2… they can’t get any rest, can they? EDIT: Speaking of destruction, it seems the area Kanao was from was almost entirely wiped out in the Great Kanto Earthquake. This would take place a least a few years after the events of canon.

9.       While also taking us into modern day, I’m curious when the Kamado family moved to Tokyo proper. I’m very sad they don’t keep up the family tradition of producing charcoal, as that is a dying art. Live up to the ‘Sumi’ in your name, Sumihiko!

EDITED ONE MORE TIME FOR BETTER MAP LINK: 

https://twitter.com/pear_12_pear/status/1158311682667474945

The original artist fixed the location for Himejima in this post (see lower on the thread). 

GENERAL NOTE: While it is possible to visit these "holy sites" in person, be a good visitor so that the locals continue to welcome Kimetsu fans!

I just got myself the official KnY fanbook and WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT BASICALLY ALL TAKES PLACE IN TOKYO

I mean, makes sense and solves a ton of the glaring geographical questions I had BUT STILL

Hell, even the MOUNTAIN CHILDREN are from mountains in Taisha Era Tokyo Prefecture, gyaaaaaa

Also with some of these other details I have so much fic editing I want to do, DANG IT