#kyogo shinazugawa

[luxthestrange]

KNY Incorrect quotes#95 Trauma-

Modern Au!

Y/n: Kyogo tried to pick a fight with me today, But by "pure" coincidence I happened to know Sanemi, his eldest son on a first-name basis, I yelled his name and he looked at me and smiled...and after that I told him-

Y/n*Looking up at Kyogo with a grin of pure malice*Im gonna f*ck your son~

Y/n: I Gave that man MORE psychological damage than Anyone COULD or Have~

[zehl0w]

Hi I spent like three hours on this.

[xxlady-lunaxx]

sanemi and genya with ptsd from their father

both of them being able to handle it mostly & it’s all fine, right? really, it’s hardly there—and most of it is because they’re so used to their father being so much bigger, much more intimidating, and both of them aren’t, well, children anymore. anyone taller tends to be nothing more than, maybe, a foot. hardly comparing to the gut-wrenching feeling of being as small as an ant under their father’s gaze. so it was fine. they were fine.

but—

it wasn’t like it was a secret that gyomei was possibly the tallest—largest—in maybe the whole corps. gyomei was actually pretty (emotionally) close to both shinazugawa’s, always very kind. he might even be one of the closest people to sanemi now. definitely for genya. but what’s also not a secret is that both shinazugawa’s are also… prone to starting arguments. mostly sanemi, of course. but genya has had his times, too.

thinking about sanemi and gyomei getting in a (verbal) fight over genya (with genya present). shinobu’s there, unable to step in because they’re both too loud and she could hardly detain them this far into the argument. gyomei sort of losing his cool—he’s aghast at sanemi’s treatment towards his brother and he’s just had a shitty day, he’s riled up and can’t bother taking a breather—so he raises his hands, mostly to show his frustration. he’s about to say something but—for some reason—it’s really quiet.

sanemi was probably ranting and shouting the whole time, gritting his teeth and acting like a petulant child—genya was not his responsibility and he had no reason to be nice to him!—but then gyomei’s hands fly up and, without meaning to, sanemi flinches. he doesn’t know why, but he stiffens, arms raising half way up, already stepping towards genya. instinctively feeling the need to protect. it takes him a moment to come to his senses—this is gyomei, for fuck’s sake. he wouldn’t do anything! yet sanemi’s already backed away. he tenses, more, somehow, and his eyes are wide as he realizes what he’s done.

gyomei seems confused, a bit worried. most likely sensing sanemi’s sudden panic. genya and shinobu are different stories—they saw and neither are strangers to impulsive reactions. genya had almost ducked behind sanemi, forgetting himself. his mind had decided right then to trigger the little button that said ‘hide’ and, looking at sanemi and his defensive posture, ‘safety.’ but his movement wasn’t as quick as his brother’s and he stops, able to come to terms with what had happened faster than sanemi. shinobu, on the other hand, was already putting two and two together. placing both the shinazugawa’s behaviors—their inefficient, somewhat physical ways of dealing with things… and now this.

shinobu was the one who stepped in, in the end. sighing, she begins to direct genya inside. sanemi’s posture is slumped, he’s curled into himself, almost ashamed. gyomei’s confusion has morphed to worry and he’s asking something, tentatively, but shinobu quiets him with the promise to explain. she ushers sanemi away gently, speaking in a soft tone as he tries to avoid her.

the ptsd was just buried deep, snuffled out by sore attempts to forget the past. doesn’t mean it’s gone, though. sanemi gets let off from the conversations about genya for now and gyomei gets a little more careful around the shinazugawa’s, despite the reassurances that it wasn’t his fault.

(genya doesn’t mind and is mostly worried about sanemi… sanemi, on the other hand, probably agonizes about it for weeks on end :c)

[princeblue]

I fully believe Shizu could decimate Sanemi, Genya and Kyogo in a drinking competition

[d3monslay3rmemes]

Demon Slayer Twitter Pt. 49

[petitelepus]

Hello! I don't know if you will take this request but, isekai of female reader x shizu shinazugawa, where reader is a kind of criminal who fell into the world of demon slayer, it's like the criminal cowboys of the wild west, with personalities similar to kenny ackerman, reader has incredible combat skills and knows how to use 2 pistols like the cowboys.The reader has a dark and firm sense of humor but a good heart and was the cause of Kyogo's death to protect Shizu because he fell in love with her and is willing to help her with her children.

Summary: You come to this weird world and fall in love way too fast and way too hard. You may have been a cowboy outlaw in your world, but here you were knight in shining armor... Until you're not.

Warnings: Cursing, Death, Threatening, Blood, Abuse, Family Abuse, Unrequited Love, Reader Is Interested In Women

A/N: Isekai, Female Reader, Genya Shinazugawa, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Shuya Shinazugawa, Hiroshi Shinazugawa, Koto Shinazugawa, Teiko Shinazugawa, Sumi Shinazugawa, Shizu Shinazugawa, Kyogo Shinazugawa

This world you found yourself in... It was different. Old fashioned. You stood out like a sore thumb in the middle of the petite Japanese women who looked at you and your wild West clothes.

As soon as you would turn and look, perhaps even catch some eye contact, they averted their gazes and quickly walked away.

"What is she wearing?"

"She isn't from around here..."

So you could understand them. That was good. Saved you the trouble of learning a new language or trying to talk with simple hand gestures.

First thing first, you needed a place to stay. The night was coming and your 6th sense could tell that night was bad, and your sense was never wrong.

You cursed your luck as you made your way down the dusty street, too far in your mind to notice a woman until you walked straight at her and knocked her down on her knees.

"Ah!" The woman gasped and you blinked as you watched the apples she was carrying roll on the ground.

"Oh, pardon me, ma'am," You bowed down to help collect the apples scattered all around the road and chuckled, "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Oh, it's alright..." The woman said and you hummed. She had a pretty voice. You turned to hand her the apples you had collected in your arms, but just as you did that, you saw her face and you felt like you got shot.

And you had actually gotten shot a couple of times in the past, but this one hit straight through your heart.

She was a gorgeous, petite woman with gentle eyes and a voice as sweet as an angel's.

"Are you alright?" She asked and you flinched as you fell down from the clouds, but you weren't sad since there was an actual angel in front of you.

"My, where are my manners?" You grinned as you introduced yourself to this beautiful lady and she smiled, "Nice to meet you. I'm Shinazugawa Shizu."

"Shizu," You smiled, "Can a humble woman like me help you carry all these apples to your home? There is just simply too much for you to carry alone."

"Ah, well, I don't see why not?" She smiled, "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure," You nodded as you helped her to carry the beautiful red fruits to her home. As you walked, you also talked and my God, you were falling for this sweet woman harder than a cowboy from a wild horse.

"This is my home," She suddenly stopped and so did you. You smiled as you were about to ask if she would like your help inside... But the serenity was shattered as a man's voice boomed from inside.

"Shizu!? Where the fuck are you, you stupid woman!?"

You blinked, but as you looked at the woman next to you, she looked shocked and worried.

"Is that someone you know?" You asked and she nodded, "It's my husband. I must have taken too long shopping."

"It's my fault, I'm the one who tackled you," You said, "Should I come inside and explain it to your-?"

"No, you don't need to!" She quickly grabbed the apples from your hands.

"Thank you so much for your help," She smiled at you, "I won't forget your kindness."

And just like that, she slipped inside the small house... But you didn't leave. No, you stayed and listened and you could hear her, your angel crying, and him, the awful man shouting.

You frowned.

You knew men like him and you didn't like him one bit. Men like him never changed, no matter what or no matter who was in question.

Your trigger fingers itched, eager to take out your guns that were hidden under your coat and show that man the door, but you controlled yourself. You were in a new world and so far, no one was aware of your criminal background.

You sighed as you reached for your pocket, pulled out a cigarette and lit it. You needed some nicotine and asap. You had some money, maybe you could rent yourself a room from an inn or something like that.

Well, luck was on your side and money was money and you found yourself a place to rest your weary body, but your mind was running, thinking about Shizu.

You were a ladies' woman, but never had you fallen this fast or this hard. This woman was special and you were damned if you let her stick to that abusive shit.

So you started to observe her and watch her and it was no surprise really that she had kids. What shocked you was that there were 7 of them.

You kept tailing her and running up to her couple of time for a whole month already and you were pretty sure you were maybe even friends by now.

One day, they were playing outside while the husband was God knows where. That's when you made your move and approached Shizu and her kids.

"Shizu? Hi there!" You called and the petite woman turned to look and her eyes widened as she saw that it was you, "My, hello there! What brings you here?"

"Well, I was on my way back to the inn where I'm staying when I saw you and all these kids," You grinned as you looked at them, all 7 of them eyeing you curiously, "Are these the little angels you told me about?"

"Why, yes," Shizu smiled as she pointed at the kids and introduced you to them, "This is Sanemi, my oldest. This is Genya, Shuya, Hiroshi, Koto, Teiko and Sumi."

"Hello there kids," You grinned as you bent down to their level, "Are you good for your mommy?"

They shyly glanced at their mother who nodded and then looked at you.

"Yes!" They all said and you smiled, "Well, good kids deserve some treats, don't they?"

The kids looked confused as they stared at you and then, you pulled a glass bottle from your pocket, filled with Kompeito candy, and their eyes absolutely shined with excitement.

"You can have these if you like?" You asked as you handed the bottle to the kids who cheered as they started to share, but Shizu looked at you eyes wide, "Are you certain you want to give us such an expensive gift?"

"Absolutely!" You smiled as you got up and walked to the woman and you started talking. You asked her things and she answered your questions and you honestly had a good time.

Kids also adored you and you honestly liked them. You had always had a soft spot for kids, and these 7 were no different.

Finally, the big question came up.

"Your husband is quite a... Character..." You hummed as you reached for your pack of cigarettes, but as you remembered that you were with kids, you stopped yourself from picking one.

"He is..." Shizu nodded and you looked at her, dead serious, "Does he make you happy?"

"He feeds us and-!"

"That wasn't what I asked," You sighed, "Shizu, you should be with someone who loves and appreciates you."

"I know..."

"I don't know the details and it's none of my business if he loves you or not, but it ain't right if he beats you."

She was quiet so you continued, "Does he hurt the kids too?"

"No... I'll protect them, no matter what." She looked determined. Strong for someone so petite. You had to admire that.

You couldn't help yourself, you had to ask, "Why won't you leave him?"

"I can't..." Shizu looked sad yet she still kept smiling, "He is my husband and father of my children."

"He is a bad husband and no good father if he beats you and tries to do the same to your kids!"

"But-!"

"No buts!" You snapped as you turned to face her properly, "Shizu, you're not safe here!"

"What-?"

"Run away with me!" You shouted as you grabbed and held her hands gently, "I can support you better than that no good man of yours!"

"W- what are you saying!?" She cried out and you felt your heart ache for her. Kids stopped and turned to look at you, but you couldn't stop there.

"I know we just met... But you're the kindest person I've ever met and it's killing me to see you get hurt by that man!"

"I'm-!"

"I can keep you safe!"

"B- But my children-!"

"Let's take them all with us! I promise I'll never let any harm happen to them!"

"I- I-!"

"Shizu!"

The woman of your dreams and her kids flinched as you all heard their father's angry voice. In a matter of minutes, this angry man stormed to you guys and set himself between you and his wife.

"Kyogo-!?"

"Who the Hell you think you are!?" He shouted at you furiously, but you were unfazed by his fury.

"It's over." You scowled, "I want you to leave this town."

"Or what!?"

"Or I'll make you." Your trigger finger was itching again, but before you could do anything, Shizu threw herself between you and her husband.

"Dear, please, let her be! This is all just a big-!" She never got to finish that sentence. Kyogo smacked his own wife right on the face and Shizu fell on her knees on the ground.

Kids cried out their mother's name as they rushed to her side, but you were seeing red. This man just hurt the woman you had grown to love.

"You think you can leave me for some bitch!?" Kyogo shouted and Shizu cried out, "Dear, please don't-!"

"You no good-!" The man raised his foot, ready to bring it down on his wife, but before he could kick her, you kicked him in the stomach hard enough to send him on his ass on the ground.

"Don't you dare to touch her...!" You looked at the man murderously. If this was West then you would have just handled this problem with your guns... But you were not there and you were getting quite an audience.

You even heard someone mention the police. You frowned, not wanting to leave, but you were squeaky clean here and didn't want any trouble with the law... Yet anyway.

"Touch her or her kids and it's the last thing you do," You warned him as you turned to leave, but not without a final glance at your angel-

"I'm not abandoning you," You promised and the kids looked at you in awe as you walked away... But back at the inn and in your room, you were furious. If there hadn't been so many people watching, you would have taught Kyogo some manners!

...But you couldn't beat kids' father in front of them...

You pondered your next move, but you couldn't think straight. You needed some fresh air, asap. So as the night came, you left the inn and walked around aimlessly, smoking your cigarettes...

And you found yourself just outside Shizu's house. You frowned, the lights were still on-!

Suddenly a loud cry of pain caught your attention and you realized that it was Shizu. You couldn't stop yourself, you rushed into the home and your eyes landed on the kid cornered in the corner of the room in fear and then on beaten Shizu lying on the floor, her husband standing above her-!

"Oi!" You snapped and the man immediately let go of his wife and turned to glare at you, but you glared right back at him, "I'd drop on my knees and beg for forgiveness from your wife if I were you."

"You bitch!" Kyogo snapped, "Coming here and trying to steal what's mine!?"

"Last time I checked, women don't belong to anyone." You growled and he glared at you, "She is mine!"

"I know I'm a bad apple..." You fixed your hat from your eyes, "But you're downright rotten."

"You-!" The voice got stuck in Kyogo's throat as you grabbed your revolver as quickly as lighting and took a shot. You didn't kill or even hurt him, but you left a hole on the floor just between his legs.

"I'm not asking again," You warned as you pointed your revolver at him, "Leave."

"T- This isn't over!" Kyogo snapped as he rushed out. As soon as he was gone, you hid your gun again and rushed to your angel.

"Shizu, are you okay?" You asked as you helped her to sit up. She had a black eye and some bruises and you wanted to strangle that man of her.

"I'm... We're fine now," She nodded as she looked at her kids, "It's okay children."

It was like a dam broke and the kids rushed to their mother, crying and holding her. Despite her injuries, Shizu was strong and kept smiling.

"Shizu..." You mumbled quietly and she turned to look at you, "Thank you. You've been so kind to me and my children."

"It's my honor," You nodded, but you couldn't keep your feelings hidden anymore.

"Shizu, if you let me..." You carefully took her slender hand and squeezed it lovingly, "I can make you happy. Truly happy."

The petite angel looked at you eyes wide and filled with tears. You smiled gently as you leaned down and quickly kissed her forehead.

"I love you, Shizu."

The angel and her little kids looked at you eyes wide in wonder, shock, and confusion. Finally, your words seemed to sink in.

"I... I can't...!" Shizu gasped between tears before breaking down on crying.

Why? Was it because you chased her husband, the father of her children away? Because you weren't from around here? Perhaps because you were a notorious criminal in your own world?

...Or because you were a woman also?

"You don't need to answer to me."

'Or to my feelings.'

"But I promise, as long as I live, I will protect you and your children like they're mine."

This you promised.

The next day you heard that karma had finally caught up with Kyogo and someone had stabbed him to death. It wasn't you, but if you ever caught the person behind his death you'd give them a firm handshake.

It looked like there was finally peace amongst in Shinazugawa household. You stayed close to your angel and her kids, doing as you promised and assisting them.

You hadn't muttered one word about your feelings, not after your love confession made Shizu cry, but your feelings were there.

You also worked hard to provide for her and her children. Kyogo might have been an asshole, but he did bring money to the family. Now it was up to you and Shizu.

You were shocked when you learned that Sanemi and Genya started to work also, but no matter how much you told them to stay home, they insisted on helping.

"I got a job," You said as you ate your rice. Shizu looked at you, "What kind of?"

"Don't worry about it," You smiled, "It's nothing I can't handle."

"Ah, I see," She nodded, "I'm also working today."

"Don't kids need you?"

"Sanemi is watching after his siblings," Shizu smiled as she looked at her children who were all eagerly eating, "He is very smart and capable."

"He is," You nodded as you finished your rice and thanked the woman of your dreams for the food.

"I better head out now before my client decides to hire someone else to escort them to the next town," You said as you grabbed your hat, but just as you were about to leave, the kids rushed to hug you.

"Come back soon auntie Kompeito!" They all smiled and you smiled at your nickname and because of how cute and thoughtful the kids were.

"Thank you, I will! Maybe I'll even bring some candy back!" You said and the kids cheered. You looked up and your and Shizu's eyes met and you smiled as you tilted your hat at her and then you left.

Your job was very simple. Assist and escort some rich man from this town to the next. Nothing fancy, but your client was super scared of being called Demons.

Apparently, he had heard a story about how Demons ate human flesh and had gotten scared witless. It was pretty funny, but no Demon or such jumped at you.

It took you a day to get to the next town where you received your reward and a night to get back to Shizu and the kids.

You should have rested, but you were too excited to do so. You weren't afraid of the dark forest that you had to go through, not when the lights of your life were waiting.

You were humming happily, a bottle of Kompeito in your hand as you made your way down the streets towards Shinazugawa household.

Huh? Why was the door down, and what was that sickly smell of iron-!

You swear your heart stopped beating. The door was down and the kids, Shizu's precious kids that you adored like your own, were lying on the floor in pools of blood.

Time seemed to stop as you dropped the bottle of candy and rushed to the house.

"Oh God!" You cried out as you dropped to your knees and tried to shake and wake the kids, but they just lay there, unmoving, not breathing.

"H- Hiroshi! Koto! Sumi! Shuya! Teiko!" You cried out as tears started to stream down your face, "W- Wake up! Please!"

This was a nightmare and you couldn't wake up.

"Y- You can't be...! You can't be dead...!"

Wait, two were missing! Where were Genya and Sanemi!?

You quickly wiped your tears and took your revolver out as you rushed down the street, running and calling Sanemi's and Genya's names as loud as you could.

Their safety was your number one priority!

Finally, as the sun started to rise, you saw them! Sanemi and Genya!

You were calling the boys' names, but as you closed in you saw yet another sight that would haunt you for the rest of your life.

Shizu, your kind and precious angel...! Lying on the ground, covered in blood and... Fading as the sunlight hit her.

"S- Shizu!" You dropped to your knees next to Genya who was hugging her dead mother, crying and screaming at Sanemi how he was a murderer.

At first, you didn't understand, but then you saw the blade in the eldest son's hands and you were filled with horror. Did Sanemi do this?

"Oh, Shizu...!" You cried with Genya as you held his mother and the woman you loved together until nothing remained of her.

"Where..." Sanemi whispered and you looked up at him, "H- Huh?"

"Where were you when we needed you!?" The eldest son snapped, and you noticed that he was bleeding also. Sanemi glared at you, his eyes filled with hatred.

"You weren't there and mom...!" He swallowed, "Mom hurt us!"

"Sanemi-!" You reached out for him, but he raised the blade in your direction.

"I don't ever want to see you ever again...!" He hissed and your eyes widened as you could recall that look in his eyes. That's how you had looked at his father.

"S- Sanem-!" You tried to call for him, but he turned and ran and ran until your voice couldn't reach him anymore.

You and Genya were left there, crying until you couldn't cry anymore. Where were all the people? Where was help when you needed it? Why weren't you there when the kids needed you? When Shizu needed you?

Suddenly you recalled the rich guy's story about Demons and if what Sanemi said was true then Shizu must have-!

No. Shizu you knew would never have harmed her own kids. She would have died for them! This creature had looked like your beloved Shizu, but it wasn't her...

You were slowly losing your will and spiraling towards absolute despair... But Genya's crying called you back from the depths of despair and you hugged the young boy, gently shushing him as you offered him all your support.

"Genya, I promise..." You swallowed hard as you tried to swallow your own tears, "I will never leave your side... I'll feed you, I'll teach you, I'll do anything I can so you won't ever have to go through this pain ever again...!"

Genya kept crying, and you couldn't help the couple of tears that managed to fall down your cheeks.

"I promise..."

[burntbiscuitswithcheese]

Shinazugawa Parents!

Yay! I finally posted the drawings I made for Kyogo and Shizu. I've been keeping these in my gallery all week. My lazy bum finally got to sharing it.

They look a little wonky, but it's my first time drawing them so I hope you guys don't mind.

[lesbianasfuckwomen]

Sanemi should have died during the final battle.

Look I love Sanemi.

He's my favorite hashira but for his mental sake and mine, he should have died.

The man legit had nobody left.

His mother, dead.

Masachika (One of his best friends), dead.

Kanae (It was proven that Sanemi enjoyed talking to her), dead.

Rengoku (Everybody likes the dude), dead.

Ubuyashiki (parental figure), dead.

Shinobu (He checked on her from time to time), dead.

Iguro (his besto friendo), dead.

Genya (No explanation needed), dead.

the only one remotely close to him that is alive was Uzui. (Sanemi saw him as an older brother.)

but still.

HE SHOULD HAVE REUNITED WITH EVERYBODY!?!?

reason 362 of why I hate Kyogo:

NOOOO DON'T!???!????

PLEASE DONT!???!????!?!

DONT BE TOUGH!!???!?!??!

MOTHER FUCKER STAY DEAD PLEASE!???!?!?!?

sources so people dont think im fucking myself over:

also some sanemi & genya to heal your heart <3

[fantasyheartswithyoustuffs]

I already read Shinazuagawa family tree from KnY Fanbook and it says:

Although that solves which is the youngest child which is Koto (the kid that sleeps in Genya's arms and the smallest one among the other siblings).

I'm still confuse who's who among the siblings, because when I'm searching the name didn't match up the character. Like which one is Sumi, is it the red one or the green one? Because I search her name and she ends up with two pictures. In website A she's the red one, but in website B she's the green one.

All I know is:

Shizu [mother]

Kyogo [father]

Sanemi [1st child/1st son]

Genya [2nd child/2nd son]

Koto [7th child/5th son]

The rest is Sumi, Teiko, Shuya, and Hiroshi. I don't know who's who here. I hope someone tell me the correct information.

[demonslayedher]

How large do you think the Shinazugawa dad was compared to their mom in size measurements?

Hmm...

I tell ya', Anon, I am really bad at eyeballing measurements. But as a point of reference, Sanemi is 179cm. So take it from there, I guess?

EDIT: Anon, please see the notes on this post for a helpful assessment by @nenesleepyhead !

[sirani-8927]

I kind of hate how it's considered controversial to write a bad parent as good and vise versa. I primarily talk about miraculous where the issue isn't as prevalent, but I've noticed how unpopular outside of Japanese and Korean fanarts it is to depict Kyogo as a good parent. The tag is non-existent on ao3. And while there is more content on Stella and Stolas being together, most of it is Stella and Stolas being divorced and having a past, or Stella being abusive, not them being happy and together. It just makes me sad since fandom space has always been a space for exploring new ideas for media we all love. But it seems that with the progression of the internet, shielding or gatekeeping certain subjects is also way more common, and it wasn't like this in the past. I understand how people who write these fangics are coping with their own situations by writing terrible people being terrible people, but the way I cope is completely different where I write those same characters being sweeter or loving. As bad people who are trying to make up for what they did, or people who weren't completely terrible to begin with. I don't know, I guess I'm an optimist like that. I'm not delusional or stupid. The people who hurt me will never be good, but I wish it didn't happen sometimes. Or that I least got an apology. So it's nice for me to see those characters have those nuances, but we don't see them for any of the explicitly bad characters in fandom spaces anymore. I'm not even looking for some complicated backstory or explanation, I genuinely want just the bare minimum. A bit of nuance. I'm reading this amazing fanfiction that centers the shinazugawa brothers in the aftermath of Kyogo killing everyone, and he genuinely gets some character and interest for him that I've found is really rare. Spoilers, but there's a few times where he has regret for allowing Genya to be hurt (because a different character hurts Genya when she shows up) in certain ways and doesn't want him to die before the opening of the story. It adds a lot to his characteristics my opinion that we don't get to see in a lot of other fanfiction with him in it and I live seeing it. It makes the character a bit more realistic to me.

If you plan on reading the fanfic, please please PLEASE read the tags before you do, especially if you have triggers to: child Sexual assault, child murder, or child physical abuse as these themes come up a lot in the story

[anqelically]

જ⁀➴ LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT

SUMMARY. with the knowledge of your relationship on his mind, sanemi takes it upon himself to gauge giyuu’s true feelings

WARNINGS. 1.5k words, platonic sanemi x older sister!reader, giyuu x shinazugawa!reader, brief depictions of abuse and injury (from kyogo, their father), giyuu feels slightly ooc towards the end to me 😣

a diary entry of the “mono no aware” series !

sanemi shinazugawa was not heartless. he might’ve been ruthless when need be, but deep inside there was a certain side of his behind closed doors. his late mother and siblings, masachika, genya, you— he cared for all of you behind his rough exterior.

in your case, there was a specific promise he made to himself because he cared. you were bruised after one of your father’s wraths when your mother, shizu, tended to your wounds. her small hands pressed a cold cloth to your arm as stray tears fell down your cheeks.

in a hurry, you wiped them away in the hopes your younger siblings weren’t looking. you were the eldest among them all, so you felt as if you couldn’t show them the pain you felt. your father’s hits hurt, but seeing them writhing in pain hurt more.

it wasn’t the first time you took a beating for your younger siblings, but it was the first time that instead of sanemi being hurt himself, it was you in his place. as you hugged his and genya’s smaller frames, your father, kyogo, repeatedly kicked your back during his drunken fit.

“why’d you jump in front of me?” sanemi asked, staring at the newly formed bruise. despite how recent it was, it was already turning into a deep shade of purple. “how will you heal if you keep getting new injuries?”

you merely smiled at him, “the pain from these go away eventually, but the memory of seeing you guys in pain won’t. as long as you’re my little brother, i’ll protect you from anything thrown our way.”

it was after kyogo’s death that sanemi made his promise to you. he was going back home after delivering materials with genya for money when they stumbled upon you being scolded in front of a vendor’s stall.

someone had run into you, causing you to bump into one of the displays. the man’s fruits had fallen to the ground, and the blame was placed upon you because he never saw the person who was running. this man knew your father, and just like everyone else, hated him. you were only half-listening to his angry rambles when he struck you in the face.

you supposed he hated your father so much that it extended to you, his child.

genya called out for you in worry, and you took that as your cue to leave. you rushed towards your brothers, taking a thrown apple to the back before ushering them away from the scene. sanemi said nothing as you placed your hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly.

you asked them if they were okay, but all he could think about was you. were you okay after everything? how were you okay at all? you always took it upon yourself to keep them safe and comfortable when you could, but besides your mother, who was there to look out for you? 

so sanemi made a promise to himself— he wouldn’t let anyone hurt you anymore. if he ever saw you getting yelled at, he stepped in and argued back. if someone tried laying a hand on you, he took it upon himself to smack their hand away. and when a boy your age was obviously hitting on you, he’d keep his eye out for you. he might’ve been younger than you, but he sure did act like a protective older brother.

even after growing up, his protective disposition remained.

so when he thought giyuu tomioka had taken advantage of you, he was beyond angry. his older sister, one of the kindest people he knew, was being harassed by someone he already disliked— in his eyes, that was reasonable enough to beat up the water hashira beyond saving.

but then you revealed your relationship to him before it could go that far, leaving him at a loss. although he did suspect your feelings, he didn’t expect them to be reciprocated. sanemi knew you got along with the black-haired hashira but not to that extent.

your relationship crossed sanemi’s mind a few times for the next 2 days. sanemi wanted you to be happy, but if it meant being happy because of giyuu’s ill intentions, then forget it. with that in mind, he invited the water hashira to his estate.

giyuu entered the grounds of sanemi’s estate with quiet steps. it wasn’t like the wind hashira to invite him over, and after the events that took place at your estate, it was especially odd. he took a quick look around before the sound of rushed footsteps reached his ears.

‘wind breathing fifth form: cold mountain wind’

‘water breathing seventh form: drop ripple thrust’

giyuu stared at sanemi, whose sword he blocked using his own. a sudden attack was the last thing he was expecting upon arriving at the estate. the white-haired hashira jumped back before scoffing at giyuu’s distant expression. his face alone made him ticked off.

“what was that for?”

sanemi sheathed his nichirin sword and after watching him do so, giyuu did the same. sanemi elaborated, “hurt y/n in any way and i’ll cut your head clean off.”

the noirette blinked, “does she know you’re making threats?”

“it’s a warning, not a threat. listen up, tomioka, if your feelings for y/n are superficial, end it now and don’t show your face to hers. neither of you will end up unscathed-“

“that sure sounded like a threat.”

“i’ll turn it into one.”

they stood in silence for a moment before giyuu took it upon himself to speak, “i don’t know where you got the idea, but i have no intention of hurting y/n. she’s the most important person to me, so i wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on her.”

“and how do i know you’re not just saying that to save your own ass?” the wind hashira raised a brow.

“you don’t, since you only have my word, but don’t you think it’s an insult to y/n? she is no fool. if anyone were to find me in a lie, y/n would be one of the first to. i wouldn’t waste my time in a relationship if it were for a superficial purpose.”

at his words, sanemi couldn’t help but wonder, “do you love her?”

“what?”

“you heard me, tomioka. do you love y/n?”

it was a question he couldn’t immediately answer. as silence draped over the pair, the blue-eyed man found himself deep in thought. giyuu was sure that he liked you romantically, but was his feelings, as deep as they were, considered love? he suddenly thought of the night the two of you confessed.

“this nearly feels like a dream,�� you murmured.

“i hope not,” a faint smile adorned his lips. “when i dream of something, it doesn’t last very long. i don’t want this,” he intertwined his fingers with yours, “to end.”

“well then, we best not let it.” you fought back your own smile as you rested your head in the crook of his neck, “i don’t want this to end either. so, if you allow me, i’d love to be yours.”

giyuu’s lips then curled further as he stared at you in adoration, “yeah, i like the sound of that.”

he remembered how fast his heart raced against his chest that night, and the feeling of relief when he got to hold you in his arms. as endearing as it was, it didn’t seem like love.

the past few days, however, there was a shift in the air.

everything was already routine. missions, rest, training— all of it was on an endless loop, and although it was always a repetitive bore, it wasn’t so boring with you. giyuu looked forward to coming back from missions for a different reason other than the fact that he could rest.

everything mundane that he had no reason to look forward to now made him excited to spend time with you because with you, nothing in the world could be a bore.

giyuu tomioka wasn’t familiar with love, but finding joy in such a simple moment with you— that seemed like love to him.

sanemi, watching closely, noticed the slight curve of the water hashira’s lips. a warmth spread throughout giyuu’s chest before he met your brother’s eyes, and that was enough for sanemi to know how he felt.

as much as he disliked giyuu, knowing that you were happy with him and that his feelings were also true, the wind pillar turned his head away. he waved his hand, “nevermind. you can leave.”

giyuu tilted his head in confusion, “do you not want my answer anymore?”

“i don’t need it.”

“you were pressed for it moments ago.”

“leave before i kick your ass.”

giyuu blinked twice before he also turned around. he knew better than to bicker with sanemi when he was in any sort of mood. without a word, the water pillar left the grounds of the wind estate and headed for yours.

when he showed up at your door, you greeted him with a smile and a peck on the lips. and even though the two of you shared a meal in silence, he was sure that in his heart, all he had was love for you.

this entry’s taisho secret— without you knowing, sanemi showed up to the fruit seller’s stall the next day, knocked everything over, and ran away. though, he made sure to take a few fruits for your family to have for lunch, and as much as he hates to admit it, they were tasty

signed on 11/01/2024 | other diary entries

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[demonslayerunhinged]

Unhinged theory

Okay so this theory is complete bullshit and doesn't have any merit but I just wanted to get it out of my system.

I wonder why Shizu didn't eat the kids the moment she killed them. Like we know that when you're turned into a demon you're overcome by a hunger so great that you won't be able to think straight.

Like okay, maybe she wanted to finish off Genya before she started feasting but she could have just eaten them, it's not like Genya posed any actual danger and her movements were too calculated like oneshotting all 4 kids including Koto and breaking the lights right before attacking Genya.

So here's my theory, I think Shizu deliberately killed her kids. Why? Because she was tired of them. Y'know how becoming a demon brings out the twisted version of your soul like Akaza's fighting, Dakis obsession with beauty and Gyutaros hatred of humanity, and Hantengu's entire existence? What if Shizu deep down was tired of being a mom? And she low-key resented her kids? What if she was tired of seeing them suffer?

Genya said she was very small but what if in reality she was just very young? Like in her late teens? It's not so out there after all Tamayo is 19 biologically and she had a husband and kids. Shizu could have been 14 or 15 when she had Sanemi.

So this is a young girl, married this older man, probably out of necessity or against her will, and given Kyogo's violence there's a chance that some of the kids were a product of rape.

She's living in poverty, married to an absolute dick of a husband who beats her all while trying to make ends meet and take care of SEVEN kids!

Even for the Taisho era, seven kids is a lot and other people seem to think so too, in the light novel Genya remembers how their landlord's son used to taunt them as 'the poor people with a lot of kids'.

The thing that really cemented this theory for me is the afterlife scene with Sanemi. Her shame. Not sadness or despair but shame. Shame so strong she doesn't even want to alert her kids to her existence and she covers her face and hides when she sees Sanemi. What if that shame stems from guilty? Guilt over her resentment towards her kids?

I'm not saying that Shizu hated her kids, but what if she was just...tired? Tired of being used as a punching bag? Tired of seeing her babies get hurt and go hungry every night? Tired of being treated like dirt and having people make fun of her family? Tired of being judged for circumstances that were out of her control? Tired of struggling? Tired of her life? Tired of everything?

Regarding Sanemi and Genya, I feel like they both have an idealized image of their mother and that's probably why Sanemi refused to accept the knowledge that Nezuko could resist attacking humans by thinking about her family, because then he would have to face the truth that maybe their mother never really loved them? Or that her love wasn't as strong as he thought?

It's a really hard pill to swallow for a lot of us because we don't want to think about the fact that our moms, even if they love us or at least tolerate us, may not have wanted us or may have thought their lives would've been better if they hadn't had us.

This isn't uncommon in real life either. The subreddit r/regretfulparents has over 120k members, then there's this insightful thread where parents who regret having kids share their feelings, there's also experiences from women here and here.

Something to think about. I'm sorry but I feel like the Shinazugawa kids, all they truly had was each other and they didn't know it. They never really stood a chance.

Yea so...

[xxlady-lunaxx]

WHAT IF GENYA SPOKE TO GYOMEI ABOUT HOW SANEMI TREATS HIM AND GYOMEI LATER TALKING TO SANEMI ABOUT IT AND REFERRING IT TO ABUSE.

(flashbacks to kyogo)

[pompomchihuahua]

Shizu Shinazugawa: What Makes a Good Mother?

We know very little about Shizu as a character; what little information we are given about her is through the lens of her children, who adore her. We are, however, able to infer a lot about how her life may have been based on time period and location and the few snippets from the light novels and show that we are given.

The question of what makes a good mother is a topic that's been debated both philosophically and scientifically. A good mother is wise and firm but soft; they are future-oriented, but they cannot prioritize the future over the now. They are present, but they are working; they must be in control without being controlling, and they must teach responsibility without putting pressure. It is a tightrope of expectations, a dichotomy, a job where the rules are changing constantly as society changes and we continue to evolve.

Everyone has a different answer when asked what makes a good mother. However, I feel that saying Shizu was a good or bad mother neglects the nuance of her situation. I have seen multiple people assert whether Shizu falls into the good mother or bad mother category, and I wanted to explore that topic in this essay and explain why the answer is much more complicated than "good" or "bad" or yes or no.

It is important to remember that, at the end of the day, our mothers are human and are prone to mistakes, and sometimes, circumstances can force our hands to make choices we otherwise wouldn't make.

One major circumstance would be her economic position in society; there is much evidence to suggest that the Shinazugawas were considered hinmin or, simply put, extremely poor. From the descriptions and depictions of their home to the light novels outright calling them poor to Genya's comment about sleeping when he gets hungry, Gotouge does not shy away from their economic situation.

Not only that, but as I've discussed before, she functioned as essentially a single mother. Kyogo is repeatedly referred to as "unreliable" and is described as "this man who walked around, breath stinking of alcohol from morning until night, who hit Mom whenever he got the chance." From that line, we can infer that he was also an alcoholic. Now, this is speculation, but it is unlikely he was able to hold down a job, and he probably blew through any money he did bring in on buying alcohol. The beatings, judging by what little we're shown, look to be particularly brutal.

Divorce wasn't entirely uncommon in the Meiji and Taisho eras of Japan however, it often was in the husband's favor. Shizu had few options for recourse that wouldn't completely abandon her children.

Now, we know that Kyogo was a contemptible man who beat his wife and children, hated not just by his family but the people around him. The wiki (I can't find the exact source) states he was stabbed to death in the street due to other people's resentment of him.

We also know that Kyogo died while Sanemi was very young, mid-teens at the latest. While this would bring relief from the beatings, Shizu would still have to face the challenges of being a single mother in Japan with seven children.

(I highly recommend watching this documentary)

The Meiji period is often considered the low point in Japan's history of women's rights. It saw the institutionalization of the patriarchal family system (ie seido) and a sharp uptick in the mistreatment of women.

In Japan (and indeed, in many nations), women are expected to manage the household. This is perhaps best exemplified by a common saying in post-World War I Japan: "Good wife; Wise mother." Many women of the time internalized this saying. With it came strict expectations of what defined womanhood for Meiji-era Japan and beyond.

This one phrase shifted the entire division of labor amongst the sexes: women became entirely responsible for domestic labor, and with it came societal expectations. It was the woman's job to uphold the household, please her husband, and raise the children. Thus, any failure of the above would mark her as a failure as a woman.

Single mothers are often viewed through this highly critical lens. Even if they are the ones to initiate the divorce, the blame for the marriage not working is often laid at their feet.

"But Shizu didn't divorce Kyogo!"

Setting aside the fact that society at large wouldn't have the full context of Shizu's situation, widows also did not receive much sympathy. The late Meiji saw the rise of the term Mibojin (Or "the not-yet-dead-one"). The intended connotation of this word is that the woman should have died with her husband and that it is somehow shameful that she didn't.

There was a high level of discrimination against widows and very little in the way of safety nets for them. While I'm unable to find the exact wage gap between women and men in Taisho Japan, the modern wage gap is about 30.2%, so for every 100 yen a man makes, women make about 70 yen.

Not only that, but single mothers are often forced to take part-time or low-paying jobs. The poverty rate of single-parent homes in Japan is 56%, which is staggering. (For reference, America, another country with poor social safety nets for struggling mothers, has a single-parent poverty rate of 33.5%.) Now, while these are modern statistics, it is important to note that many of the societal issues that caused these numbers arose during the Meiji and Taisho eras—when Shizu would have been alive.

This is to say that Shizu faced many societal pressures at the time, which led to her most likely having little to no support networks or reliable income. Genya himself says this: "My mother was always working, from morning until night. Not once did I ever see her sleeping."

One of the main criticisms I've seen of Shizu is that she is overly reliant on Sanemi (and, to some extent, Genya, but mostly Sanemi) to the point that he was parentified. Now, for those that may not have heard this term before, parentification is a term that was coined in 1967 and is used to describe a sort of role reversal where a child or adolescent (teen) is made to support the family in ways that are developmentally inappropriate.

Think of this example: Your mother asks you to help her cook and gives you small, age-appropriate tasks, versus you are expected to cook and provide a meal for the family by yourself. The second example is parentification.

There are two types of parentification: instrumental and emotional. Instrumental parentification encompasses the physical tasks of cleaning, cooking, and working, whereas emotional parentification occurs when a child is made to be a confidant or mediator.

For Sanemi (and, to a lesser extent, Genya), we can surmise that he was at least instrumentally parentified as he worked to put food on the table. It is highly likely he was emotionally parentified, as he was described as Shizu's 'right-hand' and as taking care of his siblings as well. This role would have been incredibly burdensome for a child.

However, it's unlikely that Shizu has any other choice.

On a personal note, Shizu's situation reminds me of my Abuelita. While obviously not an exact one-to-one, I will admit to feeling a bit of a connection with her. A single mother living in poverty with too many children to possibly keep them all fed.

She often relied on my dad and his older brother to care for their little sisters, but only because she had to. She had to work day and night so they would have a roof over their heads and some food—so they could survive, first and foremost. If she had had a choice, she would have never placed that burden on them, and I see that reflected in how I personally view Shizu. From what little we are shown from the boy's POV, it paints the picture of a kind and caring woman who would lay down her life for her children.

It doesn't necessarily make it right or fair that Sanemi had to take on those burdens at such a young age; breadwinner, child-rearer, confidant. But, to lay the blame entirely at Shizu's feet is to imply that she had control.

Another criticism I've seen is that she neglected Sanemi and Genya. This likely comes from Genya's line: "I was the second oldest after Sanemi, and Mom was always too busy taking care of our little brothers and sisters, so she never really babied me."

We can guess from this that if she didn't baby Genya as the second eldest, she was unlikely to baby Sanemi, especially since Genya himself asks, "Who on earth was there to baby him?"

As tragic as it is, this is relatively common for parentified older siblings in large families. They are overlooked in favor of the youngest, who can't care for themselves as well as the older children can.

However, from the way Genya and Sanemi talk about her, it is undeniable that they adored her. Something my dad told me about my grandmother stuck out to me: "In all the years she raised us, she never told us she loved us. But we knew because she worked day and night for us. We didn't need her to tell us constantly."

It is clear that Shizu loved her children in her actions—the way she throws herself between them and Kyogo, the way she works day and night, and the overflowing affection Sanemi describes feeling from her.

While this doesn't change that she didn't give them the attention they needed, it wasn't from a lack of caring.

A third criticism I've seen is that Shizu should not have had so many children if she couldn't support them. Putting aside that this lays all of the blame for conception at the woman's feet, it also ignores other factors, like the anti-abortion laws of the Meiji period and with the popularized fukoku kyohei slogan of the time, contraceptives were heavily discouraged. And considering Kyogo's controlling and abusive disposition, abstinence may not have been an option.

The final criticism I have seen is that Shizu allowed her self-sacrificial nature to rub off on her children. To this, I ask, what would you have her do? Yes, she sacrificed everything for her children out of love, however, giving anything less could have meant the difference between life and death for her children.

Based on what little we see of her, I think it can be concluded that Shizu did the best she could with the few resources and graces afforded to her. While she certainly made mistakes, I do not think this qualifies her as a good or bad mother.

TLDR: Shizu's situation is very complicated, and she did the best that she could. She was certainly a flawed mother, but not necessarily an outright bad mother. Societal and economic pressures forced her to be overly reliant on her eldest children, but there is evidence that she truly loved and cared for them. While there are certainly valid criticisms to be made, it is important to consider all the circumstances that led her to make those decisions in the first place.

And now for some sources I didn't link in the above analysis: Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here. Here.

[ymirsenn]

Sketches of my interpretation of modern!Shinazugawa family (minus Kyogo, fuck him) The highlights are mainly just sorta fun things, except for Shizu, her hair is greying lol. Let me know if you guys are interested in more!