#giyuu probably smells like shit

[thatdawgx]

Based on my last post I mentioned how often this fandom sees giyuu as more feminine than sanemi which is pretty weird due to fact he is barely feminine? Like what is feminine abt him? His long hair which he literally cuts short in the end?? Maybe due to fact he is more "elegant" than sanemi might seem that he is more feminine but from what stuff I found abt sanemi's character is the fact he has a lot of feminine characteristics from his name to his backstory and even stuff he eats

sanemi's name might be considered feminine due to fact most japanese names that end with -suffix mi are often female names or the fact you can take out this kanji meaning increasingly, all the more 弥 (he shares this kanji with genya but they are read differently) out of sanemi's name 実弥 and put this kanji 美 (this kanji is also used in sanemis younger sister's name sumi) meaning beauty, beautiful, pretty and is spelled the same way the mi part in sanemi's name

I mentioned his favorite food being feminine why? It's due to fact liking sweets in japan as a man is considered to be childish and a feminine thing

His backstory in general is in many people's words oldest daughter coded due to fact sanemi help his mother with raising his little siblings and had to cook and clean for them or even having to get a job at an young age. Due to fact his mother was often pregnant he probably had to be the one who did the most housework

When it comes to his appearance sanemi is often said to have his mother's kind smile that all of his siblings really liked. He obviously has long eyelashes and he in general has chuubier cheeks. It was also mentioned in the story how he smells like ohagi and matcha. He most likely takes after his mother's height and I can already hear people going "But he is only one cm shorter than his brother" first of, men stop growing at 21, the fact genya is already taller than sanemi while being 16 means he still has room for more, secondly we already know how in most anime and manga heights are not done well, like there is a panel where genya looks taller than sanemi atleast for 5-6 cm so either sanemi or genya are lying about their height. Last thing which ufotable has stolen from us is sanemi's pinkish hair in manga, like yeah pink wasn't considered a feminine colour in that time period but now it is so I had to mention it

Also sanemi is often described as an kind and bashful person in the manga by multiple people in the story like c'mon people, why is he often written as an aggressive macho dude in most fics I'm tiredd

[silverynight]

This is basically just a bunch of yapping about my rewrite kny au.

Nezuko and Tanjirou are twins to like parallel them with the Tsugikuni twins. Tanjirou is much closer with Giyuu and Urokodaki than in canon

Nezuko talks and she learned water breathing, she wears the corps uniform with her kimono and haori over it. She doesn't talk alot but she always talks rather clearly and maturely. She still doesn't remember her family's deaths, so she thought everyone was her family. For the hashira, she views them like this (Kie=Shinobu, Tanjuro=Rengoku, Sanemi=Takeo, Mitsuri=Hanako, Obanai=Rokuta). Also, thought of the idea where the kamado family all had enhanced senses. So far I thought of, Tanjiro=Smell, Takeo=Touch, Shigeru=Taste, Hanako=Sight, and Rokuta=Hearing. Meaning, she'd probably see alot of her family in the Kamaboko squad.

Tanjirou is the same, but he's more so visibly suffering. He is pretty much denying his family's deaths until Mugen train, and damn did he get angry at Enmu. He takes a while to forgive the hashira for wanting his sister dead, he knows it's their job. But honestly, hearing people describe ways to brutally murder the only living relative you have, will tick people off.

Tanjirou loses it during swordsmith village arc when Nezuko seemingly dies, seriously like Rip Hantengu. He's really kind but he's done with everyone's shit. Patience of a saint? Not anymore. Probably kicked Sanemi in the ribs for what he did to Genya.

He sees ghosts more like seriously. He sees Kanae, Masachika wondering around sometimes, Sabito, Makomo, HIS FAMILY. the ghosts of his family is more or less why he thought they were alive. He's Kinds crazy, but in a good way? Basically, he is kind, he is like Canon but more or less with shorter patience and a tendency to go full on feral when pushed enough.

He does sympathize with demons, but he kills them before letting them go with their sob story. He truly pities Uppermoon demons most of all. He'd probably save them all if he could, expect Hantengu and Gyokko.

The endings still the same, but he retains some of demon characteristics like sharp fangs, and his demon slayer mark is permanent. He has slightly pointed ears too they're cute.

Thanks for sharing this idea.

[tothemeadow]

Oh! Could we please have the Pillars reacting to getting flowers from their friend/crush? Thank you! :D

Oh! I actually did a similar request before for Giyuu, Kyojuro, and Tengen, so I'll add the link to this post! There's even another one I did for Sanemi and Genya!

Here is the first one, here is the second.

Giving Flowers to the (rest of) Pillars

Gyomei

naturally, since Gyomei can't see the flowers, his sense of smell is stronger! you take extra care to pick out ones that smell great but aren't overpowering

I feel like he'd be more into wild flowers rather than cultivated ones

he's honestly afraid that he'll accidentally crush them if he holds them too hard

they look so tiny in his hand and!!! ughhh!!!! you love him even more!!!

Gyomei isn't the type to get shy but he flashes you a tiny smile that practically has you deceased

Mitsuri

blushes so hard oh my god

she immediately takes one and tucks it behind your ear!!!!

she'll gush about how much she loves them, how much she loves you, and - oh wait, did that just come out?

Mitsuri isn't afraid to express her feelings, but it was certainly unexpected

she then proceeds you to hug you in a way that smushes your face against her breasts

Muichiro

probably acts like the little shit he is and asks "oh? these for me?"

nevertheless, Muichiro takes them gingerly with such a soft look on his face

HE TUCKS HIS HAIR BEHIND HIS EARS AND YOU CAN SEE THE BLUSH ON THEM DEAR LORD

"idiot, I was gonna tell you I liked you first..."

Tengen is 100% in the background yelling GET SOME

Obanai

wait, you like him? seriously?

Obanai.exe has stopped working

he just kind of... falls silent. not in a bad way, he's just genuinely shocked

he may avoid you for a bit afterwards, but then Kaburamaru will find you with a little note written by Obanai uwu

he'll never admit it but that very night he hides his face in his pillow and shrieks like a schoolgirl

Shinobu

SUCH A TEASE

Shinobu whispers shit in your ear like "you thought of me?", "pretty little thing, look what you did", "do you want a reward?"

as you're dying on the spot, she casually accepts your feelings

"ara ara, looks like I have a partner"

you're practically turning blue from embarrassment and Shinobu keeps cooing at you like the sadist she is

[dumbdemonslayertexts]

kimetsu characters watching their black fem s/o take down/install protective styles:

enthralled:

kyōjurō (you have never heard so much excitement and so many questions. grinning as brightly as ever, sitting beside you with his arms crossed. as much as he loves how perfect your natural hair is, he is so impressed that you can make such beautiful and unique styles! "you possess such talent, my love!"),

tengen (bragging on how flamboyant you two will look after he does your makeup and dresses you. "perfect eye candy. you are, princess". squeezing you kissing your cheek randomly the whole time)

douma (clapping in excitement he is a dumb. "oooo, how will you be doing it???" you can switch the colors, too?? even to mine??! LET'S MATCH, DOVE!!" honestly he's ready to worship you by the time he sees the concept forming)

tanjirou (i mean of course.),

zenitsu (of courser. he's squealing and swooning the entire time, passes out cold seeing the final product.),

mitsuri (a doting, sweet, loving mess, cuddling and so excited about how pretty you'll look),

kanae (she's your cheerleader for everything)

helpful:

akaza, sabito (rubs your hands and neck afterward, pulls you to him and growls how sexy you look and how beautiful you are into your neck throughout the entire next week and every day pretty much),

tanjirou (clean up crew, the most wholesome compliments and making dinner),

gyomei (insists on you lying down after as well, so he can hold you and smell you. he adores the scents of your products),

sanemi (it's a mf photoshoot after you're done bc that's his mf GIRL.),

shinobu, nezuko,

mitsuri, kanae (both want to take you out and show you off immediately after)

(i would say kyō and zenitsu but they would be too fascinated and curious, kyō talking too much, zenitsu would be afraid to mess up or hurt you)

silently fascinated:

kokushibou (probably the widest you ever seen his eyes, and the most childishly awed as you will ever see him. still in dignified poise though, he's committing everything to memory. not often that he gets this way, honestly.)

muichiro (would ask questions v sporadically, mostly likes seeing you in such concentration and getting to sit with you quietly for long periods),

obanai (probably taking notes for things to purchase for you, making little complimentary comments while you work. tells you to take a rest for a while when he sees your arms getting tired and sore. "don't push yourself. i'm in no hurry" like he is a totally different person and it's adorable),

sanemi (at first before helping. clicks his tongue and yanks your arms down when they start shaking. "who are you trying to impress, dumbass. you're already doing shit i could never do-- take a fucking break, you haven't even eaten all damn day.),

nezuko (bc she got bamboo in her mouth),

inosuke (for exactly 2 seconds, mouth agape and all),

kanao, giyuu, yoriichi

getting on your MF nerves:

inosuke (yelling "how do you do that!?" "you have this many... hair?! i'm stronger than you, why do you get more hair! GIVE ME HAIR! WHERE IS IT!", then touching shit he has no business),

tengen (a dumbass. gets upset that it's taking so long and you aren't paying more attention to him),

gyuutaro (won't shut up but it's flattering stuff and endearing),

muzan (insisting he pay someone else to do this for you. bc. tf. why are you laboring)

giyuu (stares far too intensely, somehow makes the silence louder. won't stop being socially inept as hell)

whining for you to do theirs:

daki, mitsuri, douma

[lettersgarden]

The Hashira confessing their love for you on accident pt. 2

LINK TO PT.1

This are a kind of little scenarios/imagines mixed with headcannons just like in the first part.

Characters mentioned: Kyojuro, Shinobu and Mitsuri.

Gender neutral reader x the hashira // fluff ?

🔥 Kyojuro

It's no secret that Rengoku is a really passionate person, and sometimes if not always says whatever is going through his mind. You've always admired that about him, how he has no filter and never regrets the things he says even though that can also piss you off sometimes too.

Like that one time you two had to spend the night together at a mission and right when you woke up he said you scared him because you look like a monster when you wake up or when he told you that the colour of your eyes remind him of a food his mum used to cook which smelled like literal shit how sweet of him <3

- But he also keeps telling you how good you looked every time that you stumbled into each other.

- And also randomly complimented you whenever he was having a conversation with another person, like when he was talking with Muichiro about the weather and you overheard him saying "Have you seen how much ______ has improved with their fighting technique?"

But nothing he has said has ever surprised you as much as that time you were telling him about your latest fight and he interrupted you to say:

"I'm not sure if you know this, but I think I'm in love with you" and then he smiled at you and told you to go on with your story.

🦋 Shinobu

You have known Shinobu for a really long time, but the only two things that you actually know about her is that she has amazing medical abilities and that she's terrifying and probably doesn't like you. The only times you get to speak with her is everytime you get wounded, which happens more than you'd like, and she usually never talks back to you whenever you try to start a conversation.

- What you don't know is that she does that whenever she likes someone and gets to shy to even be able to talk to you.

- But she always hopes you see how her eyes sparkle everytime you go to her house searching for her help.

Instead, on day you decided to make her talk taking advantage of the fact that you were going to get your medicine at her house.

"Can I ask you something?" which she responded with a nod.

"Is there a reason why you are always ignoring me? I've seen you talking with everyone, even Giyuu! have I done anything to you?"

" I guess that it's because I don't want to admit that I like you" she quietly said and immediately regretted since she abruptly gave you your medicine and kicked you out of her house.

💗 Mitsuri

Just like Rengoku, she's really obvious when she likes someone but you are dumb and think that everytime she tells you how much she likes you she's just being nice because she's the love hashira and she's always really vocal about how much she admires everyone.

The thing is that she has told you many times that she likes you but not that she loves you which might be the reason why you have never stopped treating her like just a friend, or at least thats what Rengoku said to her.

- Also, it's really obvious that you like her and everyone knows that besides Mitsuri thats as dumb as you are.

- The rest of the Hashira have a bet on who is going to confess their love first (only Gyomei thinks you'll be the first one, actually he does not but the bet didn't make sense if no one bet on you)

It had almost become a routine bumping into Mitsuri everytime you went to the nearest village to your house to get food, and you always end it up having lunch together.

"Are you going to finish that?" She asked you while staring at your almost finished plate of food.

"No, you can eat the rest if you want to"

This also happened everytime you had lunch with her, she ate so fast and was always so hungry that you ended up giving her your food no matter how hungry you were.

Once she had finished her food, she walked you home even though she lived in the opposite direction.

"Your hair looks beautiful today" You said to her who immediately blushed.

"I love you"

"What? No you don't"

"I didn't mean to say it so abruptly, sorry."

"It's okay, you are the love Hashira after all, you love everyone!"

"You know what I meant... Now stop acting as if you don't love me too and kiss me."

AAAAAND this is all for today now let's imagine that Obanai doesn't exist in this scenario bc they are very much in love

A/N below the cut as always

This has taken me so long bc I wasnt feeling inspired at all so I'm sorry if it isnt good :( but I had a lot of fun writing it so idgaf.

ANYWAYS lmk if you want a pt.3 with Obanai and Gyomei!!!

[violetshideout]

Hashira as Uppermoons AU + Kanao and Genya things I can’t stop thinking about except it’s only Sanemi, Genya, the kamaboko squad, and maybe the others Part 2

- Their ages or just me explaining how I view how long they’ve been demons—

- Most of them have been alive for hundreds of years their backstories still taking place just way before the original storyline says it did.

- Kanae, Shinobu, and Kanao are their cannon ages cause of some of my head cannons including Tanjiro having feelings for Kanao.

- Genya stopped aging at one point because he ate only Sanemis flesh cause Sanemi was like “if your gonna eat demon flesh it’s gonna be mine so you’ll be stronger” or some shit like that

- Sanemi is is only like 120 years old but in the past was a demon slayer

- if Sanemi is 120 how old is Genya? 116 years old. He joined the demon slayer corp at the same age as the original storyline but when people noticed he wasn’t aging he wasn’t aging he had to leave.

- Genya and Sanemi met again on Genyas 17th b-day conveniently they were at the same location. Sanemi insisted Genya went with him but Genya refused and so they met in secret for YEARS.

- Genya rejoined the demon slayer corp under a different last name. A rumor about him had spread and stuck with the others but no one said how he looked.

- Tanjiro and Zenitsu were suspicious of Genya cause he didn’t smell or sound completely human. Zenitsu constantly nagged about him being bad but Tanjiro still wanted to befriend him as ‘he was in the demon slayer corp slaying demons he must be good’ or something.

- Sanemi convinced Genya to stay with him when he was 110 and they successfully lived together for 6 years until other uppermoons started to visit more often and Genya was forced to become a demon.

- Muichiro mainly visited cause he was VERY suspicious of Sanemi hiding a human from them.

- Himejima knew Sanemi was hiding Genya but never said anything knowing he had his reasons.

- Himejima will take it children when he looks human and take them to kind families acting as a father who can’t take care of his child. The families who reject them while out of disgust are the ones he targets.

- Giyuu has lived for a while. His human looking form is very attracts a LOT of attention to him. He uses this to his advantage to kill humans willing enough to be seduced by him.

- when Mitsuri and Giyuu met they realized their killing methods are similar. While Mitsuri mainly seduces and murders humans. Giyuu will sometimes seduce while mainly suffocating unsuspecting humans.

- Senjuro can’t use breathes but makes up for it with his intelligence. Senjuro still doesn’t know what happened to Kyojuro.

- when the uppermoons met as a group for the first time they also met Genya since Sanemi refused to let him stay behind

- Genya was the nicest towards everyone so they were surprised to hear he was Sanemis brother

I’ll probably add more later

[kanri-tea]

The TDD get punted into the world of Demon Slayer via illegal microphone, starring:

Ramuda as Tanjiro

Jakurai as Nezuko

Ichiro as Zenitsu

Samatoki as Inosuke

None of them know what's going on and they're all disasters (they blame Ichiro though, this anime-esque shit has got to be Ichiro's fault). The only mostly responsible one has been turned into a demon and Ramuda is panic-screeching in his mind.

Ramuda and Jakurai live together. Jakurai runs a small cliniic and orphanage which he's been running for quite some time before he stumbled upon a child Ramuda and took him in.

Ramuda was not a happy camper when he comes to and comes face to face with Jakurai, but since they're in the Edo period ("We are in the Taisho era, Amemura-kun" "Ugh, whatever! Close enough!"), he figures it'll be safer if he sticks with the old man.

Ichiro is an orphan that gets picked up by Kuwajima like Zenitsu, but no electrocution for this boy. He's a diligent student, but can't seem to really pick up any other of the Thunder Breathing forms other than the first one because of plot device

Samatoki grows up in the forest as well, but he is a civilized person no matter what anyone may say. Plus, he has some experience of survival cooking thanks to Rio. His Beast Breathing is a combination of influence from the wild animals that he grows up with and memories of Rio and Jyuto

Ramuda returns from selling coal when Muzan kills everyone at the clinic and turns Jakurai into a demon, paralleling canon with Tanjiro and Nezuko. Jakurai doesn't recognize Ramuda at first, mind still stuck in the in-between of human and demon. He doesn't eat anyone but he does nearly attack Ramuda when he gets back but regains his mind at the last second.

After an encounter with Giyuu and Jakurai proving that he's still very much himself, Ramuda travels to find Urokodaki with a child sized Jakurai in a basket. It is very awkward for both of them and Ramuda promises that he'll find a way to turn Jakurai back into a human

Ramuda is very much panicking and screeching in his mind because what the fuck is going on and why the fuck do demons of all things suddenly exist and Ichiro, this is totally your fault, what is this, an anime???

Jakurai is a very tired (tm) and kinda pissed that he has to rely on Ramuda now. He's also a little mad about having to be the size of a toddler most of the time

Ramuda learns Water Breathing while Jakurai starts rehoning his assassin skills. He might be a healer now, but with how dangerous this world seems to be, well, someone has to watch Ramuda's back.

Along the way, Ramuda figures out that he can use his microphone's ability along with Water Breathing. His sense of smell is also ridiculously good for some reason, which is helpful to find demons, he supposes. Jakurai on the other hand, finds out that not only can he use blood demon arts, but also use his microphone's ability, except it's more like he can help others regenerate/heal fast. They're both really weirded out, but hey, at least its useful???

Ramuda ends up meeting Ichiro on his way to Tsuzumi Mansion. To say that they're surprised would be a huge understatement. Ichiro had assumed that he was alone while Ramuda had assumed that it was only him and Jakurai. Jakurai is conveniently asleep in the box when this happens and it slips Ramuda's mind to tell Ichiro. Ichiro is slightly suspicious though, because his sense of hearing is really good and he's pretty sure there's a demon in there, but Ramuda wasn't saying anything???

Samatoki is trapped in Tsuzumi Mansion and cursing himself for rushing in without a plan when he encounters Ichiro with a civilian kid. While surprised to see each other, they nearly start fighting before being reminded that hey, they're kinda in a demon lair right now.

When Ramuda, Ichiro, and Samatoki finally reunite, it's a bit bittersweet because on one hand, they're really glad they're not the only ones here, but on the other hand, why are they in this weird ass world?

Also, Ichiro and Samatoki question, if the three of them were here, where was Jakurai?

"Uhhh... Yeeeah... About that... The old man is kinda, uh." Ramuda sweats his way through this conversation, "I'll tell you guys when we get to the Wisteria house, 'kay?"

When they finally get to the House with the Wisteria family crest ("Holy shit, that old lady is creepy." "Stop being a baby, Ichiro.") Ramuda finally reluctantly reveals what happened to Jakurai.

"So, about the old man. We kinda ended up together," Ramuda starts explaining, "Like he ran a clinic and everything and I lived there for a while."

"Eh, did he stay behind?" Ichiro questioned, confused to where this conversation was going. Samatoki is nodding next to him, confused.

"About two years back, we... the clinic got attacked by a demon. Muzan," Ramuda breaths, "And the old man..."

Ichiro and Samatoki's eyes widen. Was Jakurai dead?

"... Jakurai got turned into a demon," Ramuda finally admits. He turns towards the box and raps his knuckles on it.

"Yo, old man. Are you coming out or not? You've been asleep in there for ages!"

The door of the box swings open, a tiny hand revealing itself before its owner crawls out, purple hair splayed everywhere.

"What," Samatoki breathlessly stares, "the fuck."

A toddler-sized Jinguji Jakurai stares back, muzzled mouth quirking down and an unimpressed look plastered on his child-like face.

Both Ichiro and Samatoki are very, very surprised. They quickly agree to help Ramuda find a way to turn Jakurai back into a human. If they happen to spend a couple minutes cooing over how cute he looks, well that's no one else's business, now is it?

They learn that while Jakura has retained his mind, his body is still very much like a demon's. He can't stand in sunlight or eat human food. His energy comes from sleeping and while he can speak, but only when he's in his adult form. He's more or less non-verbal as a child.

Ichiro stews in his thoughts in the meantime. He's fairly sure this is the plot of an anime he saw once... He keeps quiet though because he's not 100% certain, but did the illegal mic seriously punt them into an anime?

Jakurai is very unhappy with what happened at Natagumo mountain and is even more unhappy with being stabbed multiple times while in the box while being put on trial. Honestly, what sort of barbaric trial is this? Hitoya would be so dissapointed.

When Sanemi tries to bait Jakurai using his own blood, Jakurai just sends a "I'm very exhausted and exasperated" look at Ramuda

"Oyakata-sama," Jakurai hears someone scream, "I will present to you the ugliness of what we call demons!"

He's mildly cranky at being woken up by all this chattering and being suddenly stabbed, but even that isn't able to distract him from the sudden scent of blood seeping into the box.

Sweet... But, no, Jakurai had sworn that he would not fall prey to these demonic temptations.

"Hey demon! It's time to eat! Sink your teeth on this!"

As the door of the box is ripped open, Jakurai frowns at the rudeness. The blood is tempting, yes, but more importantly...

Jakurai tilts his head to look at Ramuda. Are they serious?

No fucking duh! The look Ramuda shoots back is scathing and furious, though more because he was being restrained by the man with the snake then at Jakurai.

"Shinazugawa-kun, was it," he sighs as the people watching gasp. He's well aware that he's rather tall, even in the modern age.

"You shouldn't needlessly injure yourself," he grabs a roll of bandages and starts wrapping the young man's wound. The boy looks rather shocked and angry, but Jakurai didn't really have the energy to really care.

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

Jakurai hears the confusion around him, but chose to ignore it. Giyuu and Ramuda could deal with the questions later, he decided, Jakurai was already exhausted from Natagumo mountain.

"Wait a second!"

Jakurai turns, finishing up wrapping the young man's arm.

"I thought the box was stupidly heavy, but you're like the size of a toddler normally," Ramuda starts, "Have I been basically carrying a shit-ton of medical supplies?!"

Jakurai rolled his eyes, shooting the most unimpressed look he could at the pink-haired gremlin, "Well someone has to take care of your injuries, no?"

"You - you stupid old man! I can't believe anyone calls you saint! Aaughh!! I hope you break your back!"

"That would most assuredly be very difficult to do with my regeneration. Though, I suppose object permanence is rather difficult for children like you."

Maybe they should tone down their arguments a little... nah. It effectively derails the meeting, which was the entire point of Ramuda's outburst, of course.

When Ramuda and Jakurai finally arrive at the Butterfly estate, they find Ichiro with shrunken limbs ("The medicine sucks, but it's nothing worse than what sensei's given me before...") and Samatoki with a crushed throat ("Fuck... I was so weak..."). Ramuda is also in a lot of pain. Jakurai manages to recover fairly quickly with lots of sleep and spends a lot of their recovery time assisting the nurses.

Ramuda tries to figure out why he can do Hinokami Kagura and is very confused. Jakurai tiredly reminds him that it's probably because he used to watch Tanjuro, a former patient who lived at the clinic, do it. While Jakurai only knows about Hinokami Kagura as a ritual dance, he is reminded that the sick and frail man had died and left behind a pair of strange-looking earrings.

When training begins, Ichiro, Samatoki, Ramuda are motivated and stubborn to a fault, so they manage to learn Total Concentration: Constant. Ramuda also has a conversation with the Butterfly pillar, Shinobu ("Please do your best, Ramuda-kun. When I see you doing your best in my stead, I feel much better."), it makes him think back on his relationship with the Chuuoku. These people... They care a lot and they're fighting for their lives and humanity every day. They aren't even comparable to manipulations and cruelty of the Chuuoku, and Ramuda wonders a bit if he even wants to go back. Sure, there's Gentaro and Dice, but... here, he's not sick. He's not living day-to-day wondering if he'll outlive his usefulness. Here... he's able to stay at Jakurai's side.

Jakurai is the one to become friends with Kanao is this universe, because let's be honest here, Ramuda is really not the type to be nice out of the goodness of his heart, and Ichiro would probably do it, but he's kinda still recovering from nearly becoming a spider.

"You should listen to your own heart," the purple-haired demon hums. He's talking to her, but Kanao doesn't know why. The demon - Jakurai, she thinks - had been taking time out of his day since he'd recovered to talk to her.

She doesn't respond often. Her coin doesn't land on tails that often, but it doesn't seem to bother the tall demon. And tall he is, his height easily looming over her, but there's an aura of kindness and gentleness that tells Kanao that this demon wouldn't hurt her. It's a strange thing to think about a demon.

It's Jakurai's last day here. The other demon slayers, including the one that Jakurai travels with is leaving. Kanao isn't sure, but she thinks she might be a little sad about it. The demon has been good company, she has to admit to herself a little.

"People," she hears him breathe, "are driven by their hearts. If you live by your heart, your heart will grow stronger than ever."

Jakurai smiles down at her. It's gentle and warm and his eyes crinkle a little bit at the edges. He ruffles her hair a bit, a familiar motion over the course of the month.

She knows it's time for him to leave when he gets up. He leans over and straighten outs the butterfly in her hair, giving one last kind smile.

"Live by your heart's desire, Kanao. And stay healthy."

With that, he leaves, leaving Kanao behind contemplating his words. Could she really live like that? Live by her heart's desires...? There was something in the kind demon's words and smiles that made her think that maybe, just maybe... she could.

Samatoki and Ramuda's first impression of Rengoku is that he's a weirdo. Ichiro on the other hand thinks he's kinda cool. Jakurai is asleep and therefore doesn't care.

When they're put asleep by Enmu, they end up dreaming about their respective division (sans Jakurai). It's also a bit of a harsh awakening that they've all gotten pretty complacent of this world and that they need to find a way to get back to the modern age ASAP.

When Rengoku is nearly dead because of Akaza, Ichiro, Samatoki, and Ramuda are inconveniently a little bit attached to the strange Hashira. As a desperate last resort, Ramuda gets Jakurai to try and heal the man. After all, they were all sick of the people they cared about dying and if this could save him...

"There's no point in shouting now," Ramuda hears the hashira call out from behind him. His vision is blurry from tears, and distantly, he recognizes the resigned tone in the man's voice. Rengoku Kyoujuro was had already accepted his death as inevitable.

"The wound on my stomach is opening," the man tells Ramuda, "And your injuries aren't minor either."

Samatoki is watching silently and Ramuda can see out of the corner of eye that Ichiro is making sure Jakurai doesn't get killed by the sun.

Wait. Jakurai. The old man could heal Rengoku, right?

It takes a moment of shouting to Samatoki and Ichiro to convey his idea, but even as Rengoku is staring at them with a single, intense eye, they manage to get Jakurai and Rengoku into the shaded trees of the forest nearby.

"Ramuda-kun," Jakurai quietly says, before focusing his attention on Rengoku's injuries. It's not a promise, Ramuda knows, but Jakurai is a doctor through and through. He'll do his best to ensure that Rengoku survives, he knows this.

Rengoku is watching them confused, a couple of protests having spilled out, but he's ignored in favor of getting Jakurai over as quickly as possible.

Ramuda has seen Jakurai heal a couple of people over the years with his ability, but it's always amazing to see it like this rather than through a microphone.

"Hypnosis Microphone: Medication," Jakurai breathes, and as his hands glows, the injuries beneath start to mend themselves. It starts off slow, but as color returns to the hashira's cheeks and breathing evens out, Ramuda knows that it's working. Knows that Jakurai is doing everything he can to heal the man.

There's going to lots and lots of questions later, Ramuda knows, but for now he's glad. He's glad that Jakurai is here, that Ichiro and Samatoki are here, that he's not alone.

He's glad that he doesn't have to see another person that he cares about die.

[astertataricvs]

Sanemi Shinazugawa || Penitence Part 3

THE LAST PART OF PENITENCE!! THANK YOU FOR READING!

And thank you to my Lil sis @kimetsu-no-yaiba-headcanons for the letters! Luv u sissy! 💞💞

Word count: 2.6k+

"I'm sorry, Shinazugawa-san, your fiancé didn't make it. I'm sorry for your loss."

Those words... those words that were enough to make him fell down on his knees and tears streamed over his cheeks. He cried in anguish and scream at the top of his lungs upon discerning that you won't ever come home with him again and cuddle with you on the comfortable plain white bed in your shared apartment. Specifically, he won't feel the warmth of yours that you're always transmitting him.

He felt so cold, hollow, empty, lifeless and dead...

Sanemi cried nonstop at his loss and now that you're lastingly gone in his life. He still couldn't affirm that you're already gone, perfectly vanished in this world and your body was placed inside the coffin, underneath your tombstone.

His friends tried to console him but it was useless even his own brother, he let himself get drunk every single day and would often come home; thinking about your days together with him. He would found himself opening your closet and smell your clothes that give him the nostalgic scent that he surely yearned. He would only let himself cry until he fell asleep.

He blames himself for neglecting you, he blames himself every day that he's the reason why you passed away. His days were becoming miserable and he couldn't find himself smiling since you're the source of his own happiness. Now that you're gone, he doesn't know what to do anymore with his life. His supposed to be wife was now dead, you left him alone in this cruel world.

How dare he say that when he's the first one who left you and neglected you. He won't ever forgive himself.

His loved ones were slowly slipping away from his grasp. First, his family; his mom and siblings that he treasured and now... you whose the one who changed his life and gave him hope... all the source of why he's still fighting and keeping him alive... it already disappeared, it's now utterly gone, completely gone. So why is he still alive? You didn't deserve to die, he was supposed to be the one dead! Why it has to be you?!

"(Name)... I fucking missed you... I missed you so much..." he muttered between his breath while gripping his hair.

He won't see the warm smile of yours anymore.

Three months later...

Sanemi returned to his empty apartment and turned the lights on. He went to his room and decided to change his working clothes to something comfortable. After changing his attire, he took a seat on the bed and let his mind go somewhere else.

It's been three months since you passed away, and Sanemi was still mourning about his loss. Every night, he would always think about you and the what if's if you're still alive. It really made him depress for the whole two months considering he would steadily reminisce the memories you both have in this apartment.

Sanemi let out a bitter chuckle and buried his face on his palm.

He really misses your presence.

Sanemi's towel fell onto the carpeted floor. He bends his body to get the towel but, his eyes suddenly caught a box under the bed. Curiosity washed over him and instantly pick the mysterious box that was at the corner of the bed.

It was plain white and he doesn't know what's the content inside since it wasn't that heavy. Sanemi decided to open the box and his eyes detected neat tiny envelopes inside. His eyes suddenly went wide upon seeing your neat handwriting at the back of the envelope and it said: To Shinazugawa Sanemi.

Sanemi's heart leapt apprehending that it's a letter of yours to him. Taking the first letter, he unfolded the white paper and read the writings.

20th June XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

It's been about two months since you've started ignoring me, what's wrong? Are you stressed at work? Are the students giving you problems? Did Giyuu lecture you again?

Hehe~ I tried asking you in real life but you always either ignore me or tell me to shut up, I'm just really concerned about your well being okay? I am your fiancé after all, and I'm proud.

His heart throbbed inside his ribcage once he read the last paragraph. He remembers that day, the day when you're worried about him but he's just shrugging you off. He felt his heart clenched every time he remembers how he ignored you.

He takes the second letter and read it.

20th July XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

How are you? I hope work isn't stressing you out too much. And I've decided that I should write monthly letters to you! You just seem extremely stressed out/irritated by something lately so I thought this would be the best way to indirectly tell you my thoughts (if you even manage to find this box, that is.) Hehehe~

How's work? I'll slap Giyuu's ass for you if he's lecturing you again, don't hold me back like last time because of your jealousy again please~

Anyway, I know I might be overthinking everything.

But why is there always a faint scent of woman perfume on you whenever you come back home?

Don't worry, I'm not doubting you, just wondering. But hope you get well soon~

His lips tug upwards knowing that you surely trust him a lot despite that he doesn't deserve your trust at all. You never doubt him ever since. You're such an angel that was sent from above and wouldn't get mad at him.

Reading the second paragraph; a sincere chuckle escaped from his lips. You're already kind and adding to the list that you're entertaining too, how lucky he was to have someone like you? You really never fail to make him laugh.

20th August XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

These are going to turn into daily letters now because unfortunately for me, I don't have much time left and I really do hope you find these letters. Oh, wait, scratch that, you'd be too busy with your other woman to even give a shit about these meaningless letters.

Hey, tell me, why are you still staying with me?

Is it out of pity?

His eyes sagged and feel his heart stabbed because he revived again the time when you asked him why is he still staying with you although he's already seeing someone else.

The reason why he's still staying because he doesn't have the guts to leave you. He had the feeling of not wanting to leave you alone and your presence was making him feel reassured.

But now... it won't happen anymore.

21st August XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

Sorry, I was just in a bad mood yesterday, I honestly didn't mean to start cursing.

So, who is she and how did you guys become a thing? Just general curiousity~ Is she good at cooking? Does she make you your favourite dishes? She's prettier than me though, that's for sure. Does she make you happier? It seems like she does.

Y'know, you could've just told me you wanted someone else.

His heart shattered, he can feel the pain in the letter transferring to him. Why is he such a fucking asshole?

22nd August XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

Hey, do you remember that time? Both of us were laying on our bed, you were laying your head on my chest, listening to my heartbeat. Remember when you said you wanted us to create our own heartbeat? And that you would love and cherish the little heartbeat that we made together?

You have no idea how happy I felt.

He remembers it, he won't ever fucking forget that. If you're happy, then he feels the euphoria that time, you don't know how happy you make him feel every time you praise him and give him butterfly kisses. You don't know how he feels tingly inside whenever you cuddled with him and say sweet nothings to him.

He's so blessed to have such an angel like you in his life.

30th August XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

I most probably won't be able to write daily letters anymore because of my current condition, I did a blood test a few days ago and the doctor said that there was no way of saving me unless some miracle happens.

My muscle aches are getting worse and I've been coughing out more blood than I usually do.

A flow of lightning had flowed inside his brain; he reminisces the day when he just got home and saw you sitting on the ground while coughing. He didn't know that your fighting your illness with yourself and he didn't even do anything about it. He also didn't know that your coughing blood that day.

He's such a scumbag.

10th September XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

10th September, today was the day you had asked me to marry you. I wonder if you even bothered to remember though. I was planning on preparing you dinner and buying you a gift but what's the point? We aren't and most probably never will get married.

Please don't remind him anymore... he'll only cry again once he remembers that day. He blames himself for all the horrible things he had done to you, he couldn't forgive himself.

23rd September XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

Why do you refuse to tell me the reason as to why you're still staying with me? Why didn't you go out today? You usually go out when it's a Sunday.

Say, weren't you always the one to wipe my tears away? Why didn't you do that today? Was I really that much of a bother? You could've just said so.

Either way, none of that'll matter because the doctor said I'll most probably die soon, if I'm lucky, I get a week if I'm not I'll most probably just past this week.

Tears started to brim in his eyes as he read the letter.

He doesn't have any fucking idea that you're enduring this pain. He doesn't have any fucking idea that you're throbbing already and he's only adding it more!

24th September XXXX

Dear Sanemi,

Thank you for hugging me today, it's been a while since I've last felt your warmth. Since I probably won't be able to last until your birthday, I'll just give you an early birthday present ♡

You'll find a wrapped up present in one of my closet's drawers, you can throw it away if you want, I just thought I'd get you something before I pass.

Happy Early Birthday！

Droplets of tears started to pour onto the paper with your writings on it. The paper crumpled because of how tight he was gripping the letter. His eyes were shut as tears were slipping out from his eyes. He let the tears fall and feel the agony once again.

If he only knows that it will be the last day where he will able to see you, the last day of hearing you say I love you to him, the last day where he can feel your warmth, the last day where he can hug you, and the last day... where he can see your last warm smile again.

If only he knew, if only he knew... he wouldn't let you go and hug you as if it's the last day of Earth, he won't let you go in his arms and just stay with him. If he only knew...

Sanemi stood up and trudges to the drawers where your present to him was. Once he finds the wrapped present, he immediately ripped the wrapper and detected that it was a wristwatch that he was staring at in the mall when you two were shopping.

He pursed his lips into a thin line and bit his lower lip. He holds the present ever so tightly and cried in guilt.

"I love you so much, (Name)... you're already enough gift to me... you're already enough..."

Sanemi rummaged to your drawers and saw a pink box in the corner of your closet. He immediately took it and open the lid of the box.

Various pictures you both have were inside the box, it was full of your pictures together whenever you're on your date. All the pictures when you're still in high school and up to this year. The box also has the red and gold ribbon flower kanzashi that he brought for your birthday. He took the kanzashi in his hands and stared at it; retrieving the time how you would always use it on your hair and how beautiful you look while wearing it.

He really misses you a lot.

While he was looking at the pictures, he instantly noticed a silver peeking from the various pictures. Sanemi swiftly brushed the photos only to find the engagement ring he brought for you and the day when he asked your hand for marriage.

Taking it, he clutched it in his hand and closed his eyes. He feels so much distress that he couldn't handle it even if he wants to. All the memories that you both have been flashing back into his mind and the tears were pouring out unobstructedly once again.

He mourned about you, he feels so derelict to what he had done to you, he feels empty and broken inside. No one can ever heal the severe wound in his heart and you're the only one who can restore it again. But you're not alive anymore, you're already gone, you no longer exist in this world anymore.

He only clutched the ring in his hand and place it onto his chest where his heart was as if he was hugging it-- as if you're the one he's hugging this instant.

"I'm so sorry, (Name)... I fucking miss you so much..."

Sanemi was at the place where you and he first met and the place where you also confessed your love to him at that time. Reminiscing how you're being bashful of confessing your love and how your cheeks dusted in red hues, he can't help but chuckle at the nostalgic memories.

It was spring, a new season where the snow had finally thawed and cherry blossoms began to flower while its petals were dancing through the wind.

Under the cherry blossom tree of the school where you two have studied and where he was teaching right now... he stared at the beautiful cherry blossom tree swaying with the spring's young wind. A small smile formed on his lips while the engagement ring of yours was in his hand.

Sanemi kneeled and dig a hole where he can bury the ring you had left with him.

When he's done burying your ring, he stared at the ocean-like exquisite sky of the bright spring chill with a contented smile.

This is the place where it all began; the first meeting with you, the friendship, the confession, the romantic relationship, the acceptance... he wouldn't forget those treasured memories with you and he will forever engrave it into his mind.

He remembered what you have written on the photo where you accepted his proposal.

"You're my first and last love, Shinazugawa Sanemi."

Sanemi chuckled, "You're my first and last love too, (Name). You're the only one..."

"Shinazugawa-sensei! We need your help for this lesson!" Sanemi heard Tanjiro's call to which he snapped out from his deep trance.

"Yeah, I'm coming, brat!"

Sanemi takes a glimpse at the cherry blossom for a moment and slowly grinned. Once he's pleased with staring, he started to turn around and leave while hands were inside his pockets.

Sanemi concluded; a feeling of penitence will forever remain in his heart.

[knybits]

A Murder of One

Chapter: 

21

Summary: 

Akiko can see ghosts

Previous Chapter | Origin | Next Chapter

The first time Akiko saw a ghost was with the Kamado family. 

It was only for a day, and he didn’t say anything. 

All he did was stand behind Tanjirou, and kept his eyes on Akiko. 

“Tanjuro-san,” Akiko tugs on his haori with her small hands, cheeks still round and wide with innocence. He smiles down at the girl, having taken some time to stand for the day so that he could move himself to the front entrance of the house. 

“Hm?” He wonders, and with her hand still clutched to the hem of his haori, she points to Tanjirou, who helps Nezuko and his mother with the laundry. 

“Over there,” she says, eyes unblinking. “There’s a stranger with Tanjirou.” 

Tanjuro laughs, setting a hand on Akiko’s head and ruffling her hair. 

“Perhaps it’s just the spirit of the mountain guiding Tanjirou. No need to be afraid.” 

So Akiko thinks nothing of it, nodding her head and rushing over to Tanjirou to help with the laundry. When the man moves his attention to Akiko, she smiles and waves her hand at him. 

He blinks, perhaps in shock, but almost as soon as it appeared on his face, his usual stoic mask falls into place. He offers Akiko a nod, and she giddily returns back to the task at hand. 

“Were you waving at a bird, Akiko?” Tanjirou asks, reaching up to hang a sheet. 

Akiko sings to herself, off pitch and horrid, but she’s happy. Tanjirou pouts when Akiko holds a finger to her lips. 

“Secret!” 

She sees the ghost till near night fall deep in the woods, where all of the younger siblings beg to stay outside a little longer to play. 

Tanjirou gives up, sighing and nodding his head per their request and everyone cheers. But when he looks over to Akiko, he finds that her face is troubled. 

“Hm? What’s wrong?” 

The man behind Tanjirou is shaking his head, and he points in the direction out of the woods and to the house. 

“I think… we should go home…” Akiko mutters under her breath. Takeo’s jaw drops and he starts to complain loudly, and even Nezuko looks disheartened with Akiko’s sudden objection to continue playing. 

“Mmmm… I think Akiko’s right! We can play with dad back home, right? It’s getting too dark for us to see anyway, right? What if we get lost on our way back?” Tanjirou slips his hand into Akiko’s, and the tension in her shoulders relax ever so slightly.

He can smell the fear off of Akiko, and though she’s been avoiding his gaze and looking over his head the whole day, Tanjirou decides not to think much of it and trusts that Akiko will be back to normal the next day. 

He scolds Takeo when he decides to pout on the way home, but Nezuko talks excitedly with a couple oranges in her kimono to present Kie and Tanjuro with. She and Akiko swing their arms between each other, hands interlocked as they laugh all the way home. 

Two days later, Akiko has to go back to the main estate down the mountain. Upon entering the village, she hears rumors that makes her feel glad that everyone got out of the woods before it was completely dark. Apparently, hunters in the mountains were torn to shreds by wolves. 

Or, that was the story. 

Looking back on it now, it was probably a demon. 

And right now, seeing the ghost by Tanjirou’s bedside isn’t a good sign. 

It’s been a few days since she’s returned from Tokyo, and patients haven’t arrived for a while so Akiko has been tending to Haruki for the time being. With the new technology she’s received, she knows that his brainwaves are faint, but they’re there. 

At any rate, Akiko doesn’t know what to do when she sees the ghost by Tanjirou’s bedside. 

Now that she’s grown up, she can see his face much more clearly now. Actually, there are two men. She assumes that it’s because her eyes have evolved to something inhuman, but with the way she works she can only be thankful. 

One of the men’s hair is long, tied up into a ponytail. There’s a scar similar to Tanjirou’s on his forehead, though the ghost has a larger scar shaped like flames.His eyes are uninterested, sure, but they hold a certain warmth that brings Akiko at ease. There’s a katana at his waist, and Akiko assumes that he’s a passed away demon slayer. 

The other man has long hair as well, but not as long as the one with a katana by his side. Instead, he looks much more like Tanjirou, just grown up. He doesn’t have a katana, and Akiko only grows curious to the relation he has with Tanjirou and the other demon slayer. 

She watches as the one without the forehead scar places a hand atop Tanjirou’s forehead, and when she steps into the room he looks up at her before smiling. He probably already knew she was nearby and only looked up to acknowledge her presence. 

“You’re back,” she states matter of factly. The man with the scarred forehead bows his head to Akiko. 

“If you’re going to take him away I won’t let you,” her tone of voice doesn’t waver. She walks up to Tanjirou’s bedside, leaving the usual glass of water and changing out his vase of flowers for the week. 

The man that looks like Tanjirou laughs, but no noise comes from his mouth. With his other hand, he waves it around as if to say “we won’t,” and Akiko shrugs her shoulders. 

“I just have to make sure. Tanjirou is important to me. If you take him away…” despite her eyes gleaming bright like the sun, the man places a hand above his katana at the sight of Akiko’s poisonous look. 

Not like he can do anything anyway. 

Akiko sighs to herself, opening the window to pour the remaining water out of the vase and allowing fresh air to breeze in. She can only think that the men being here is a good sign. 

Mountain spirits, right? 

“Akiko?” Zenitsu’s voice brings her attention away from the two ghosts and she rolls her eyes at the blonde. 

“Did you get another splinter?” 

“How rude!! ...Yeah.” 

“Deal with it yourself. If I touch it I might make it worse.” 

“AkikO PLeaSe!!!” He begins to cry, throwing himself at her feet and begging Akiko to help him with his small splinter. 

She rolls her eyes, hoisting him up and tugging on his ear as she walks out of the room. When Akiko looks back, she sees that the two ghosts are gone, and she purses her lips, hoping that they won’t do anything extreme to her fiance. 

Zenitsu looks at her with worry, clutching his ‘injured’ hand, “By the way, I heard you talking… Who to?” 

Akiko looks down at his dragged form, an eerie smile on her face as she creakily sings, “Oh y’know… Ghosts.” 

---

Akiko sees the castella before she sees Goto. 

It’s been two weeks since the ghost incident, and nothing has happened to Tanjirou. His vitals remain unchanged, but ever since Akiko has received the brainwave machine, she’s been able to pick up on brainwaves as well. 

Tanjirou’s would act up every once in a while, but only during his sudden bouts of fever, so she has to assume that the fever is making him go haywire. But the past few days have been peaceful, and Akiko is finally at peace knowing that Tanjirou will be alright. 

She smiles and Goto lazily waves a hand at the doctor before she comes running up, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she asks, “For me?” 

Goto scoffs at her uncanny antics before pulling the tray away. 

“No,” he rolls his eyes, “They’re for your fiance.” 

Akiko blinks owlishly, “He’s awake?” 

Goto shakes his head and Akiko’s chest feels heavier, her shoulders sagging under the weight. But she shakes it off quickly and tries her best to smile at him instead. 

“Well, I thought that since his nose is super human he might be able to smell the castella, and then maybe he would wake up?” 

“Goto you’re… You’re a real work of art, I’ll give you that.” 

Goto bumps his hip against her and she kicks at his leg in an attempt to trip him, but Goto wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The two catch up with what’s been going around in the past few months, exchanging stories and whatnot of the Pillars and what they’ve been doing recently. 

Akiko learns that Miyuki has been spending more time with Sanemi, though it’s more like they’re spending time yelling and teasing each other at nearby restaurants (and eventually getting kicked out of them). 

Chiyo has been travelling with her baby sister (who is no longer sick, which is a relief) and has bumped into Giyuu a few times. Surprisingly, Giyuu is good with Ayame. Any other baby or animal and he’s screamed and bitten at though, and Akiko chuckles at the news. 

Genya and Himejima have been training hard and Genya is set to go to the swordsmith village to fix his guns again. Akiko raises her brows at Goto, and he sighs at the fact that he now has to run over to Genya and remind him of his monthly check up with Akiko. 

Iguro is being a pain in the ass as always and Mitsuri has been enjoying her time in Hokkaido eating their apples. Uzui is at home resting with his wives and Goto just recently helped to ship a box of jewels to his mansion, so Akiko has to assume that he plans on being as flamboyant as ever. 

When Goto asks about Shinobu, Akiko can’t help but purse her lips. But she’s quick to smile, explaining how Shinobu has been working as hard as ever and telling Goto to thank the other kakushis for regularly shipping packages to the Butterfly Estate. 

Akiko squints her eyes at the broken porcelain pieces in front of the hospital ward’s doorway. 

The words “Clean this shit up,” seem to write themselves on Goto’s face and Akiko can tell that her face must hold the same words. 

She sighs as she leans down to pick up the broken pieces, and Goto steps forward. 

“Uhhh, I brought some castella over. So please clear the way so I can put it down. If it looks spoiled, just go ahead and eat it.” 

“Th… Thank you… so much…” 

At the sound of her fiance’s broken voice, Akiko’s head whips up and her eyes are wide with disbelief. 

Her eyes are so fucking damned that they didn’t notice his concious state. 

“Are you fucking kidding me,” Akiko whispers to herself as Goto screams at Kanao, then promptly trips over Akiko’s still bent over body in his appempt to rush out of the room. 

Akiko pulls her own chair up besides Tanjirou’s bedside and she smiles widely, unwrapping the stethoscope around her neck and adjusting it to fit it into her ears. 

“Kanao, please step out of the room. And make sure no one walks in until I say so,” she smiles at the girl, who nods her head eagerly. 

The screaming and crying out in the hallway, but at least it’s as quiet as it can get now. Akiko proceeds to do a general check up on Tanjirou’s body, and he watches with tired eyes as she does her job. 

“Did you miss me?” Tanjirou laughs weakly once Akiko’s finished, and she carefully takes her hand into his own. 

Akiko scoffs, wiping the tears in Tanjirou’s eyes away before replying, “Of course I missed you. Two months without you was a bit too much.” 

She’s beckoned closer and now it’s Tanjirou’s turn to wipe her tears away, though small and sparse. Still, it warms Tanjirou’s heart to find that Akiko missed him during her time alone (though she won’t admit it.) 

“It wasn’t too hard for you, was it? I thought I heard some things, but I might have been wrong.” 

She shakes her head, cradling his palm against her cheek and sighing in bliss. 

“It was rocky, but now you’re here so I’m better. You’ve missed out on a lot. I’ll fill you in when you’re all better,” she kisses his palm and Tanjirou laughs at the feeling. 

When Akiko moves her head to his mattress, tilting it to stare at his face and asking him to run his fingers through her hair, Tanjirou can’t help but cast her a worried look. 

“Are you okay? You seem a little off, Akiko.” 

“I can stop if you don’t want me to touch you.” 

“There’s my wife,” he laughs again, and she bolts upright with a fierce blush raging on her face. Akiko mutters a quick, “Fiance,” under her breath to correct him, but Tanjirou begs for her to rest her head again. 

So she does as told, though much more hesitant now, and the two relish in silence together. The commotion outside has died down and Akiko assumes that Aoi waved everyone off for she and Tanjirou to have their alone time. 

Tanjirou waits for Akiko to spill her feelings, and he can smell the turning of gears in her head as she tries to form sentences. He doesn’t mind waiting though. She’ll be able to talk in due time, and that’s a much better step up from when she wouldn’t say anything at all. 

Akiko reaches up, grasping the fingers that are tangled in her hair and bringing them down to slowly peck. He gazes at her with all the warmth in the world, and he thinks of how he can get used to this special treatment. 

But when Akiko starts, it’s a much heavier topic than one he thought he was prepared for. 

“I’m not sure if you heard me while you were in your coma, but I hate how we’re fighting a war as children. We’ve gone through more than the average person our age has gone through, and our enemies have nothing to lose whereas we have everything to lose.” She’s crying now and the two both hate to see the tears. 

Akiko moves to hide her crying face, but Tanjirou helps her lift her face so that the two can at least meet in the middle. 

“Please, for just one day can we forget who we are with the only information being that we love each other?”

thank you for reading this new chapter!! sorry its taken weeks to come out with it, so im truly thankful to those that are still hangin into akiko’s story! 

im lowkey waiting for kny to end so that i know how to close this story, but also i dont want kny to end so im stuck in a pit smh,,,, 

although only breifly mentioned, still want to thank @kny-writings​ and @thunderandrainclouds​ for letting me use miyuki and chiyo! 

also im workin on another au for machute so look forward to it 👀

christmas break is comin up, so hopefully ill be able to update like i used to!! please look forward to future chapters! ill work hard for you guys :,,) love you!!