#tanjirou has long hair in this au too

[minteayoongimakesmewoozi]

oh no..... had a thought about the au where tanjirou is giyuu and ayame is sabito.........

tanjirou and ayame face the hand oni, but they're both so unprepared for it. tanjirou's rib is broken, his forearm is probably fractured and he's been limping since they managed their escape. it's almost too dark for ayame to see where they're hiding in the cave, but she can feel the terrible tremors of the hand oni as it hunts for them.

the terrified expression on tanjirou's face is what makes her decision for her.

the hand oni said "sweet little fox".

maybe if he sees the fox mask and cloud jinbei and nothing else, then they might have a chance.

or, well, tanjirou might have a chance. urokodaki-san would be sad if he didn't return. urokodaki-san doesn't have anyone anymore.

ayame tears the jinbei off tanjirou's shoulders, replacing it with her kimono while he's still disoriented. she pulls it loose around her, then snatches the mask off his head.

"what - ayame, what - ?"

"stay here," she says quietly, her expression hidden behind the mask urokodaki-san carved for him. "i'll lead the oni away. don't make any noise, then make your way down to the wisteria trees as soon as the coast is clear."

"the mask - "

"tanjirou." her voice is solemn. "whatever happens... tell my shishou i was always grateful for everything."

she disappears from the cave before tanjirou can demand answers.

murata finds tanjirou and helps him through final selection. there is only one casualty for final selection that year.

kamado tanjirou is the water hashira, and he wears a dark blue seigaiha haori, the pattern dyed red. he's the water hashira, so no one wonders why he wears seigaiha. the charcoal half of his haori is hard to explain, but no one will ask.

when sabito is faced with the boulder, a girl in a fox mask appears before him. she holds himself the way a master swordsman does, and her strikes are swift and merciless. she knocks him out in ten seconds and doesn't bother to wait for him to wake up.

he begrudgingly admits that the way she moves is beautiful.

another girl, also with a fox mask, but with the mask resting against the side of his head, is the one who greets him when his eyes open.

"sorry about ayame-san," she says with a rueful chuckle. "she isn't very patient."

ayame-san, sabito learns early on, doesn't speak much if she can help it. she doesn't linger, even if sometimes he feels like he's being watched when he's alone. she continues to use a bokken while he wields a live sword, but it doesn't matter; she is always the one who deals out the first strike. often the last one as well.

"ayame-san doesn't want to show off too much," hikari says as she braids a flower crown. "she's a bit different from the rest of us, that's all. she doesn't stay for urokodaki-san after all."

"then who does she stay for?" asks sabito.

hikari's smile is secretive as she rests the daisy crown in her dark hair. "one of these days, you should ask her, sabito. you might be the only person she answers."

three months later, ayame stands before him with a steel katana at her hip. she draws it slowly - almost reverently. sabito notices that the curve of it is slightly different; it's steeper, the kissaki almost menacing.

"so," she says in a measured voice, "after six months, you can finally face me as a swordsman. hikari-san did well training you."

"you had just as much to do with it, ayame-san," hikari calls out from the side.

sabito snarls. it pulls the scar on his cheek, making him look more dangerous.

"today is the day i win," he declares, unsheathing his own blade.

ayame tilts her head. he wonders if her lips follow the same downward curl of her mask, or if she smirks at him like he always imagined she has.

"then you'd better hit me with everything you have, sabito."

time slows around him. his nose twitches, picking up a strange scent. it's metallic and sharp, like a freshly polished katana. it winds through the air, and he finds his blade following its arc.

for the first time since they met, his blade reaches ayame first.

there is a moment of stillness.

sabito can't believe his katana sliced downward first. her arms are still raised, and she doesn't move as her sleeves fall downwards, exposing the kumihimo cords she has wound around her left wrist.

the fox mask splits in half - sliced vertically in a perfect line. when the wood falls to her shoulders, sabito is shocked to meet shockingly blue eyes.

ayame's lips are parted in surprise. as he watches, her lips curl into a small smile. the slightest twitch of the corners of her lips is both happy and sad.

"sabito..." she murmurs.

sabito can never catch ayame's scent. for the first time, there's a hint of charcoal and something floral lingering in the air, muted by the scent of a summertime rain.

"you did great. remember what you just did, ne?" her voice lowers. "win, okay, sabito? beat that guy too."

sabito glances at hikari in disbelief. she smiles at him encouragingly.

"ayame," he hears himself say, "who do you stay for?"

surprise flits across her features.

"hey," she chuckles sadly, "next time you see tanjirou, be sure to say hi to him. he's so gloomy nowadays."

sabito glances at hikari, but she's disappeared. when he turns back to ayame, she's gone too.

the only thing left in the clearing was the boulder, sliced in half. exactly the same way he had sliced ayame's mask.

[echantedtoon]

Everyone Wants A Brother Like You Part 1 A Brother In A Different Way

Everyone wants a big brother, especially if it's one as caring and kind as Tanjiro. They all think so but it's too bad they can't have a brother like him-...Or can they actually in a different way?

(DISCLAIMERS!!: This is gonna be a little story based on the art by feshnie on deviantart and an au based on the same picture by @yuki2sksksk on Tumblr. It'll just be cute little Oneshots because honestly I think all these ships involving Nezuko are cute. Although Inosuke's route will be written up for interpretation as platonic or romantic. This is just an au I'm doing for fun so things aren't going to be cannon and might be ooc. All art shown with the Chapters (minus the coverart which is by Feshnie on DeviantArt) was either taken from the anime, from the Kimetsu No Yaiba/Kimetsu Gakuen mangas, or are sketches by Koyoharu Gotouge. I don't own demon slayer, the characters, art, etc. Demon Slayer/Art/etc. belongs to Koyoharu Gotouge.

Links to both content creators are below please support both artists and their own content.

Feshnie

https://www.deviantart.com/feshnie/art/BNHA-Brother-in-law-Tanjirou-818234170

@yuki2sksksk

https://www.tumblr.com/yuki2sksksk/718220290228961280/inspired-by-a-fan-art-i-saw-on-pinterest-sometime?source=share

Also everyone is alive because I said so. This takes place after battling Muzan for the final time and everyone is currently recovering.)

The beautiful morning sun gazed over the earth with a golden glow and cascaded through the window making the glass glow with a shine. The cherry blossoms outside swayed gently in the breeze as soft pink petals and perfect green leaves fell from their branches and floated down onto the ground outside of the Butterfly Mansion. Birds sang and fluttered about the breeze. The peaceful quiet settling in with the silent morning.

Until a flurry of giggles and squeals interrupted the air as three little girls ran past the window in play kicking up petals and leaves.

"Dammit! Can't they wait until later in the day to start playing!?"

The once silent room was alive with grumbles and groans of others waking in their beds. One in particular cursing the sun and turning around to plop back onto his stomach shoving a rather fluffy pillow over his head. However one of them was energetic enough to sit up and stretch out smiling at the window with a yawn and smile. 

"Oh, come on. It's not that bad. It's a beautiful morning today!"

"HA!! I WAS AWAKE WAY BEFORE THE SUN WAS!! TAKE THAT YOU WIMPY FIREBALL!!"

"Would you be quiet?! Your yelling is worse than your snoring- OOP?!"

"HAHAHAHA!! TOO SLOW, MITENFU!!"

Red eyes turned over and sighed. Tanjiro had been hopeful it would be a nice morning before any training but it seemed like that wouldn't be the case. Inosuke had woken up in typical Inosuke fashion by yelling and declaring his righteous toughness over anything he randomly decided to challenge that day making Zenitsu yell back complaining. Unfortunately the blonde hadn't been fast enough to duck the incoming pillow their friend had thrown right at his face knocking Zenitsu back onto the bed.

"THAT'S UNCALLED FOR!!," the blonde furiously tore the pillow from his face sitting back up and pointing right back to him. "And it's Zenitsu! Got that?! You've known me for how long and you still can't get my name right?!"

"Oh, give it a rest both of you!! You're annoying as hell!!" Tanjiro looked next to him. Genya was still laying on his stomach and had the pillow over his head still. On his other side Muichiro blinked silently as his brain slowly became ungroggy to the world. "Next time I'm sleeping outside! At least the birds are quiet at night!"

"Says you!" Zenitsu dared to point at Genya next as the black haired boy glared at him from under the pillow. "You both snore so loud you can attract an army of demons from a hundred miles away!!"

"Guys." Tanjiro rose a hand to no avail.

"HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN PENTA IS LOUDER THAN ME?!" In an instant Inosuke was standing on his bed pointing one hand at Zenitsu and one at Genya accusingly as both turned to now glare at him. "MY LUNGS ARE SO POWERFUL I CAN BEAT BOTH OF IN YELLING!!"

"Fucking hell. Can't you get my name right at least?"

"See?! I told you you're always getting everyone's names wrong!"

"I wasn't talking to you, Sunflower!!"

"Guys?" Tanjiro asked slightly louder as Zenitsu whipped back to Genya.

"SUNFLOWER!? DO I LOOK LIKE A PLANT TO YOU?!"

"No. At least plants are quiet." Genya finally allowed the pillow to fall from his annoyed face having given up on sleeping in that morning.

"At least sunflowers are nice to look at! You look like a piece of coal that got hacked up by a mangy cat!!"

"What the hell did you say to me, Blondie?!"

"HEY!! IM STILL LOUDER!!"

"WE WEREN'T TALKING TO YOU!!" "SHUT UP, PIGHEAD!!"

"GUYS!!" All at once the three of them stopped whipping around to stare at Tanjiro who gave a stern look back holding both hands up... before sighing allowing both his arms to plop back down to his sides. "Let's not fight. It's too early in the morning to fight like this."

Both Zenitsu and Genya looked at one another and scowled but otherwise didn't argue again much to Tanjiro's relief. Inosuke laughed loudly in triumph.

"HA!! That means I beat both of you in loudness!"

"You certainly do, Inosuke." Tanjiro smiled happily. "Let's all save the next contest for later."

"None of us were in a contest," Zenitsu mumbled under his breath but didn't start an argument again.

"Ok. Hey, Misthead. Where are you going?"

They all turned to Muichiro whom had just gotten up silently, tossed off the blankets, and walked off towards the bathhouse area. Rubbing his eyes and yawning as the others followed him with their heads.

"To get dressed. All of you are too noisy."

"Hey! That's not a bad idea!" Tanjiro smiled at him and quickly followed Muichiro's lead in tossing off the blankets and following after their friend. Making a motion at everyone else to follow. "Come on. Let's all go get breakfast! We'll feel better if we eat something."

More grumbling was had. Eventually one after one they followed after the cheerfully smiling boy. At least it would stop the grumbling and put everyone in a better mood and hopefully stop them all from fighting. Twenty minutes later and the whole group of them found themselves just outside the door leading to the garden. Shinobu had suggested they should get some fresh air while waiting for their food to be made but to in her own words-

"Mind your injuries. You're still healing from very serious injuries from a very serious battle. I'd hate to confine you all to bed."

Shinobu's threats were to be taken very seriously as experience has taught them. So they gathered just outside of the garden and watched the peaceful day go by. Not a single thing to be worried about now. Just then all and the peaceful morning air-

"TANJIRO!!" That was until three little girls came running right up to the red eyed boy looking almost worried.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong!," one of the three girls spoke up smiling at him. "Nezuko just needs your help with getting firewood!"

"Oh! Of course! Where is she?"

Nezuko. Finally after so long she was human again. After so long and after so much stress and effort, his beloved sister was finally able to walk in the sunlight again and live out her life. Human. It's still as if he'd wake up one day and it'll all be a dream but it was his reality. One they had to keep.

Tanjiro scanned behind them but didn't see any signs of his sister. "Where is she?"

"Outside of the garden with Aoi." Another pointed to just outside the garden and near the treeline. "She's waiting for you."

"Alright then! I guess I better go help them." He turned a smile right back to his friends just as another new face appeared in the doorway behind them. "I'll be right back. Save me a bowl of udon when the food arrives. Alright?"

Then he left quickly leaving everyone else to wait standing there.

"WWWWHHHHAAAAA- Why didn't Nezuko-chan ask for my help?! As her future husband, don't I get some consideration from her?!"

"Oh put a sock in it, Sunflower!"

"What's going on?" A new voice asked as a boy the same age as Muichiro stepped out holding a broom in his hands looking confused.

"Senjuro," one of the girls greeted him. "Tanjiro's gone to help Nezuko and Ali with the firewood!"

"Oh." The flame haired boy smiled. "That's nice of him. Nezuko's lucky to have such a kind brother."

Muichiro glanced curiously at the other boy, a look of slight concern in his eyes. "Senjuro, how's Kyojuro?" Senjuro jumped and blinked taken aback in surprise at Muichiro of all people addressing him. But Muichiro only tilted his head further. "I heard as of lately he was still recovering from his battle wounds, but I have yet to see him around. How is he?"

Senjuro blinked again before sighing. "You mean despite the missing eye and hole in his stomach?" He nodded glumly. "He's ok. Not great but ok. Ms. Shinobu says he'll live but..I'm still worried about him." He looked uncomfortable to say the least and decided to change the subject. "How's your brother doing? Last I heard, Yuichiro's waiting for you at home right? I bet he'll be happy to see you again after so long!"

It was Muichiro's turn to frown with a hum. "I.. suppose so. It's been so long-"

"You two shrimps have brothers?," Genya questioned raising a brow and crossing his arms although not in a rude way, he looked more lightly surprised than anything."

"Why is that so surprising?" Genya paused as Muichiro pointed at him and uttered his next sentence. "Don't you also have a brother in the corps? I'm pretty sure it's Sanemi."

"Sanemi? Wasn't he the jerk who tried to kill Nezuko-chan?!" Zenitsu tossed another dirty look directed at the sweating Genya as Senjuro gave all three of them a look of alarm.

"He tried to do what?!"

"OH DROP THAT SUBJECT!! IT'S IN THE PAST!! Besides didn't you have a brother too or something that went into the final selection before you even did?" Genya half challenged half changed the subject to Zenitsu who flinched. HARD. "Yeah. He trained under the same master you did right? What was his name?....Kai or something like that."

Zenitsu stared wide eyed at them all.. before turning away with a quick sad look. "We weren't really brothers....I don't want to talk about it."

"I DON'T HAVE ANY BROTHERS!!" Of course Inosuke had to proudly and randomly yell it like it was something to be proud of.

A tense and awkward silence fell over the group as no one felt the urge to talk about their brothers or lack there of. A small cough was given to the group as they shuffled about...until the trio of girls looked at one another and the one with braids decided to change the subject.

"Nezuko-chan has a really cool brother," she said trying to lift the mood.

"Yes! Tanjiro's a really good brother! Nezuko is so lucky to have Tanjiro! I bet every wants a brother like him!," one of the other girls agreed making a small murmur of agreement pass through.

Yes...Nezuko was lucky to have such an amazing brother like Tanjiro. Anyone would be lucky to have a brother just like him. They all knew it... It's just a shame they couldn't have a brother like him, and Tanjiro wasn't related to them anyways. He was a really good friend however.

"Zenitsu, you're going to marry Nezuko-chan aren't you?" One of the girls asked curiously tugging gently on the blonde's sleeve careful to not jostle his still healing injuries.

Zenitsu was certainly surprised at the sudden question but still gave the girl a soft smile. "Yes, that's right!"

The middle girl who had asked the previous question hummed in thought and rubbed her chin. She was the only one who wore her hair down instead of in braids or pigtails. "But-...If you get married to Nezuko-chan, Tanjiro-san would be your brother-in-law wouldn't he?"

Zenitsu paused, blinked, before shrugging. "Well yeah. But that's not a problem with me. Do you want to know how our wedding will be?"

A silence had fell upon the others. Whatever else Zenitsu and the butterfly girls said was lost to the other four as at least of them went blank. Eyes wide open as a realization of what was said before them rang true in their heads.

"Tanjiro-san would be your BROTHER-in-law right?"

Right....

.... right-....

"WHAT'S A BROTHER-IN-LAW?!," Inosuke demanded looking confused by the term and three of his friends spacing off. "Can I fight it?  I'll fight it and win!!"

"Calm down will you? Jeez! A brother-in-law is what you call a girl's brother when you start taking her out!"

Inosuke tilted his head at the blonde. "Are you saying I can get a brother just by taking out a girl?"

"Well...Yeah? I guess that's one way to put it. You weirdo."

"HA! The Great Inosuke then shall use this tactic from his underlings to extract this brother! If everyone else can get one then I will too!"

Zenitsu only deadpanned at him but couldn't get another word out as three familiar figures came around the corner. Aoi looking annoyed carrying a basket and the Kamado siblings. Tanjiro looked absolutely happy just carrying firewood joyfully and next to him just as joyful as her brother and more pretty was Nezuko. Laughing at something her brother said. Zenitsu instantly gushed out seeing her, Inosuke still proclaimed his soon to be victory, and meanwhile the three others remained silent. Staring. Idea swirling about in their heads taking glancing at one another 

.... Maybe there actually was a way to gain a brother like him.

[2demon2slayer]

“come morning” (wip)

in which it takes tanjirou a little bit longer to return nezuko to a human. in which nezuko can turn back in her sleep rather than while running to a battlefield. in which nezuko does not remember all the years she was a demon.

saafggdaf opening scene of a kind of angsty au fic. idk if i’m gonna finish it ever, so have what i’ve currently written!!!

.....

There is a sort of magic in the space between sleep and wake. Where dreams still linger behind fluttering eyelids, but the tangible begins to encroach on the senses. Everything is a little bit soft and fuzzy around the edges, and yet the world can feel particularly sharp in this rousing hour. Memories take their time to return and nothing seems quite as important as settling right back into sleep.

Nezuko wakes up gradually, drifting in and out of dreams as she does. In those fading moments of sleep, she sees unfamiliar faces, hears snatches of words or sentences, feels cold moonlight on her skin and a burning in her veins. When she wakes up, her body feels sluggish and heavy. It’s alright, though. It feels as though she has all the time in the world.

Well, at least until Shigeru or Hanako come and wake her up. At least Rokuta still sleeps in, and Tanjirou and Takeo are nice enough to leave her be on warm mornings—

Nezuko’s eyes snap open, a gasp tearing through her. She’d forgotten. Oh god, how could she have forgotten? The memories of that night are practically burned into the back of her eyelids. Thorny limbs tearing through their home, cutting into the flesh of Mother, of Takeo and Hanako and Shigeru. Piercing right through her back to skewer Rokuta.

Nezuko twists beneath something heavy and tries to reach for her shoulder and stomach. Surely there will still be hot blood and pain, or at least the remnants of it. But she finds nothing but the soft cotton of a yukata. And something about that, too, feels strange. Shouldn’t she be wearing something else? The thought is preposterous, but Nezuko finds herself almost certain that she was wearing a kimono before…

Before what? Before the attack? No, she was in a yukata then, too. Perhaps her dreams have left her confused.

Nezuko pushes herself upward, leaning hard on shivering arms that feel far too feeble. The covers of the futon she’d been under fall away, and Nezuko takes a moment to look around the room. And strangely, she finds that she has no idea where she is. The room is largely barren with a sliding door cracked open to let in sunlight, and what she can see outside is a fenced-in area that is not her house.

Frankly, it’s far too warm to be Mount Kumotori at all. The temperature reminds Nezuko more of summers in the village at the bottom of the mountain. Her shaking hands begin to pull the cover away when a hand curls around the edge of one of the shogi doors and pushes it further open. Nezuko gasps at what she’s met with, as a ghost steps into her line of sight.

Long black hair glinting red in the sunlight. Tied back, but with a few strands framing a healthy face. Dark eyes with a flash of scarlet in them, looking at her with such love. For the briefest second, she thinks she’s looking at her father, returned to life and health. But then Nezuko looks again, and the face she finds— while familiar— is not who she thought.

One eye too pale and red, a mark like flames curling over the forehead, a haori checkered black and green instead of black and orange. Nezuko blinks, bewildered by the strange man before her who is so familiar and yet so foreign. Before she can voice her confusion, the man steps into the room, a look of unabashed relief on his face.

“Nezuko, you’re awake!”

She jolts at the voice, because— like everything else about this man— it is so achingly familiar that Nezuko finds herself very nearly brought to tears. And even still, she can’t place it. Or at least, not until he kneels before her and takes one of her shaking hands into his own calloused ones. And it’s a feeling like déjà vu. Because she knows that these hands have held her own before.

The missing puzzle piece slots into place and Nezuko looks up at the man before her. He looks tired, profoundly so. And beyond that, he looks so happy, in a way Nezuko hasn’t quite seen in a long time. Because she has seen this man’s face before. Because despite the scars and the blind eye and the height and the- the everything, this man is simply and undeniably her brother.

This man is none other than Kamado Tanjirou.

“How are you feeling?” the man who must be Tanjirou asks, his eyes wide and worried. “Does anything hurt? Are you tired? Hungry?”

Nezuko doesn’t know what to say. She just sits there, gaping at her brother. What can she say? What words can encompass everything she’s feeling in this moment, looking at this… this stranger. This grown man wearing her brother’s face.

After a long moment of silence, Nezuko finally speaks and asks, “What happened?” Because it’s the only thing she can think to ask. What happened to her? To Tanjirou? To Mother and Takeo and Hanako and Shigeru and Rokuta? If she lived, then could they have too? Tanjirou doesn’t answer immediately, looking down at their joined hands with a pensive expression.

“… How much do you remember?” he asks with trepidation in his tone. Nezuko frowns and wracks her brain. She remembers dreaming, certainly, but those memories are fleeting and fading fast. Mostly, she remembers what happened before she fell unconscious.

“There- there was a strange man in western clothing. He came into our home and he- he…” She chokes up then, struggling to voice the words. “He killed them. Takeo and Rokuta and Mother and- and-”

“It’s okay, Nezuko,” Tanjirou says, but he suddenly looks so much more tired.

“I’m sorry,” she gasps out, clinging as tight as she can to Tanjirou’s rough hands, “I’m sorry that I couldn’t- that I was too weak to- to do anything!”

Tanjirou shifts forward and his warm arms wrap around her. And in his arms, Nezuko feels so small. And Tanjirou feels so huge. And in his embrace, Nezuko can feel the musculature to him that wasn’t there before she woke, the strength to him that��s frighteningly new.

As Nezuko leans into Tanjirou’s hug, she whispers into his ear, “How long have I been asleep?”

Tanjirou gives her a squeeze before pulling back to look her in the eyes. “It’s been six years since the death of our family,” he says, voice grave. “You’ve been… asleep for six years.”

Nezuko squeezes her eyes shut, as if it will do anything to hide her from the terrible knowledge that she’d already begun to suspect was true. How else could her brother— the boy who was barely a year apart from her in age— suddenly be so much older? A part of her wishes that she were still dreaming, that this was all just a nightmare.

If only.

[wisteriashouse]

the crowned jewel.

pairing: kamado tanjirou x sumiyuri hayami (oc)

genre: royalty au; romance;

word count: 16021

a/n: this fic took me tf out lmao i hope you like it @hinokami-s

The renowned Sumiyuri Palace, crown jewel of the Sumihana Empire, is a breathtaking piece of art, an architectural marvel. Every pillar is carved of the finest marble from the Stonemount Duchy, accents crafted from solid gold and precious metal, expansive grounds covered by rare flowers and shrubs brought in by foreign dignitaries from across the oceans — the palace truly is befitting of its role as the official residence of the ruling family.

And yet, Archduke Rengoku Kyoujurou thinks to himself as he continues his long walk across these very expansive grounds, they could not think to construct the crown princess’ quarters a little closer to the main palace?

The Violet Lily Palace is located near the Southern wing of the palace grounds, furthest from the main gates. The Empress had said that the palace was constructed with the intention of allowing the frail Crown Princess more privacy, but Kyoujurou knows the truth.

Not aloud, of course. The Empress has eyes and ears everywhere in the palace. 

Kyoujurou gives the knights standing station at the doors an affable smile as they greet him with firm bows, handing them his sword. He feels oddly vulnerable without its familiar weight at his side as he steps into the cool shade of the Violet Lily Palace, but it is proper etiquette that he must follow. To bear a weapon into a room with a royal would constitute treason of the highest order.

“Archduke Rengoku.” Kyoujurou looks up to see a familiar red headed figure descending the stairs, hair, shirt and trousers all impeccably straightened out and neat, as usual. “Her Ladyship did not mention that you would be coming by to visit today. If I had known you were coming, I would have made sure that the place was properly prepared to receive a guest.” His tone is cool, the corner of his mouth pulled down in an imperceptible sneer.

It’s clear that he did not expect and does not want the Archduke there, but Kyoujurou only laughs, the sound loud and strong in the quiet guest hall. “I am sure that the royal lodgings of Her Highness are more than fit to welcome a simple Archduke such as myself,” he says, making sure to keep his voice light. “There is no need for you to go out of your way to accommodate me, Hirata.”

The head butler’s amber eyes flick over him with what Kyoujurou can only describe as well concealed annoyance. “You are far too humble, Archduke.” After a moment, he relents and turns, gesturing for Kyoujurou with a gloved hand. “I will bring you to the drawing room and have refreshments prepared. The servants have already gone ahead to inform Her Highness of your arrival.”

“You have my gratitude.” Kyoujurou follows the man through the many grand hallways, glancing over the state of the place as he goes. Before he had started making these surprise visits to the Crown Princess’ estate, the condition of the Violet Lily Palace had shown a severe lack of housekeeping, not at all befitting a member of the royal family. It seems now that the servants are far more wary, Kyoujurou observes.

The two of them stop outside an arched mahogany door decorated with painted lilies of the valley. “Her Ladyship is already inside,” Hirata tells him, before he turns to knock lightly at the door with his knuckles. “Your Highness, Archduke Rengoku has arrived.”

“Send him in.”

The Crown Princess is seated at a lace covered table when Kyoujurou steps into the drawing room, half gazing out over the gardens with a porcelain teacup in one elegant hand. With the late morning sunlight filtering in through the massive, arched windows, Her Highness Sumiyuri Hayami indeed shines as the most beautiful jewel of the empire.

“Your Highness,” Kyoujurou puts a hand over his chest and bows, smiling slightly. “It’s a pleasure to see you. You look as beautiful as ever on this fine morning.”

The Crown Princess’ mouth lifts at the corners demurely, but that simple expression is enough to change her face from merely lovely to as radiant as the crimson dawn. At times such as this, she truly resembles her mother.

“You flatter me, Archduke.” She turns to her butler, who has been standing unobtrusively next to the door. “Hirata, you may leave now.”

“Your Highness, Her Imperial Majesty commanded me to attend to your every need—” 

“Silence.” She quiets him with a cold stare. The quiet clink of porcelain on porcelain as she sets her teacup down speaks enough. “I would like to receive my visitor properly, and you are refusing your master’s orders, disgracing the royal family in front of one of the most noble Archdukes in the kingdom with your shameful behaviour.”

Hirata bows his head, mouth pulled into a thin line. “Apologies for my over-excessive enthusiasm, Your Highness. As per your command, I will take my leave now.”

It is only a few, long moments after the door has clicked shut that Kyoujurou turns to the Crown Princess, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “For a moment there, I truly thought you resembled the Empress, your Highness.”

“Don’t even make that joke.” The Crown Princess of the Sumihana Empire groans aloud, slumping over in the chair that she’s sitting at and the fingers of one hand pressed to her temples. “He’s been following me around for days now, unwilling to let me out of his sight. Why, if you had come only one day later, I think I might have gone properly insane.”

“Then it is fortunate that I chose to drop by today,” Kyoujurou laughs, amused by how fast she’d dropped the prim and proper act. Rarely is it that Kyoujurou gets to witness her whine and complain like a child. The fifteen year old child that she is supposed to be, he has to remind himself. 

If her mother were to hear about her unbecoming behaviour, she would surely be whisked away faster than the blink of an eye.

Sumiyuri Hayami is fortunate that Kyoujurou has no love for the Empress of the Sumihana Empire. Or for any member of the ruling family, for that matter.

“And if I have to deal with those traitorous maids one more time, I think I might hurl in their faces myself.” It seems that the crown princess is not yet done with her little tirade. Archduke Rengoku Kyoujurou simply smiles, both hands clasped behind his back, mildly amused by this display. 

“While it is better to let these feelings out rather than keep them in, it is not proper for a lady of your station to use such language, princess,” he reminds her, his deep chuckle reverberating in the spacious expanse of her drawing room. 

Hayami curses, a vulgar word slipping between her lips before she catches herself with both hands clapped over her mouth. “Shit, sorry— what I mean to say is, apologies, Archduke Rengoku, I beg that you forgive my coarse language.” She lets out a bone weary sigh that makes Kyoujurou tired just listening to it. “It seems that I have yet to completely put ‘Hayato’ behind me.”

Sumiyui Hayato, the Crown Prince of the Sumihana Empire, the male twin of the princess sitting before him at this moment and the declared successor to the throne. Not only is he a swordsman renowned throughout the land, best known for his contributions in defending the Empire’s borders against the Demon Moon Kingdom, Sumiyuri Hayato also has a reputation for being notoriously elusive. It is said that it is easier to spot a ghost wandering the palace halls than to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince.

Kyoujurou wonders just how the people, nobles and commoners alike, would react to the knowledge that their frail and sickly crown princess is also that very crown prince they gossip so much about.

Their frail and sickly crown princess who only attends tea parties and balls when she manages to put together the strength to leave her bed is the crown prince with the ability to cut through ten dark mages in one swing of his sword. Quite a mad deduction to make, Kyoujurou thinks. 

And yet, he turned out to have stumbled across one of the biggest secrets of their Empire.

“I understand you, princess. There is no need to worry about offending me,” Kyoujurou reassures her, making sure to keep the tone of his voice kind and amicable. Princess Hayami often second guesses herself when it comes to recognising a joke or a teasing remark — a byproduct of her mother’s gaslighting for majority of her childhood, he supposes. “Still, it would be in your best interest to remember proper decorum. I would hate for you to make a mistake in the presence of the Empress.”

At his words, Hayami straightens up in the plush, velvet seat of the armchair she was reclining in, shifting uncomfortably as she does so. “But you do understand, do you not, Kyoujurou?”

Ah, his first name. The Crown Princess continues, sounding more desperate now. “I’ve told you of my mother’s plans to force me into the role of the Crown Prince for the rest of my life. My eighteenth birthday is but three years from present, and if my parents cannot find an orphan to assume Hayato’s identity, I will have no choice but to masquerade as a man for the rest of my life.”

She’s at the end of her rope, and Kyoujurou can’t help the pang of concern that runs through him. He’s watched her grow up since she was just a child, from a young princess to a graceful lady to a commander wielding a blood stained sword on the battlefield. He does not want to see the light in her eyes fade even more than they already have.

The spell to change her appearance to that of a man is no easy feat, and it is one that takes a heavy toll on her body. A simple glamour would often do the trick, but the Empress’ paranoia runs deeper than the waters of the Stillwater Dukedom. Every time Hayami leaves the castle for the battlefield, a team of imperial mages sworn to secrecy are called in to transfigure her completely with complicated, secret magicks. Voice, build, height, hair — it’s virtually impossible to tell that she is a woman after the spell is cast.

The physical transformation is painful, but the Empress spares no expense to keep her secrets, especially when she is not the one who has to bear the price. Still, to entertain the idea of using transfiguration magic for the rest of one’s life… Kyoujurou wasn’t sure that the Empress could stoop much lower than she already had, but well, she always manages to surprise him every time.

“I understand,” Kyoujurou repeats, letting his voice become more firm. “However, as powerful as my position as Archduke might be, it is not quite influential enough for me to help you the way you wish.”

“I am not asking you to rebel against my parents,” Hayami insists, her face crumpling like wet paper at his words. “I merely require some… assistance. I am not so selfish as to ask you to put your duchy on the line for my sake.” Rengoku’s brows pull together at that.

“A moment, princess.” He allows his magic to spill from his form, where it is usually contained with iron discipline, spreading it out around the two of them like a heavy blanket. It reaches every corner of the drawing room, through the curtains and the walls and windows, all the way out to the grounds of the building. 

Hayami flinches when the heat of his magic rolls over her in waves, but otherwise keeps still. When he detects no other magical signature other than his own and the princess’, he allows the spell to dissipate, turning to Hayami. 

“You should be more careful,” Rengoku warns, although not unkindly, “about speaking such words aloud so casually. You are already aware of your ladies’ loyalty to the Empress. A little more caution would do you good.”

The Crown Princess swallows, sinking deeper into the softness of her chair. “You have the mind and foresight of a war general both inside and outside the battlefield, Archduke,” she mutters with a shake of the head. “I would do well to learn that from you. Apologies for my foolishness.”

She looks trapped, suffocated. Kyoujurou does not like it.

“You do not need to apologise to me,” he repeats. Looking at the empty seat opposite her for a moment, Kyoujurou eventually sighs deeply before seating himself there, so that he can look the crown princess in the eye.

Hayami’s eyes widen as he does. This sort of behaviour is commonplace between the two when they are on the front lines, sitting side by side at the campfire and sitting close together to preserve warmth and body heat, but she is not used to this sort of behaviour as… herself. “Your Highness, what you must do is make up your mind instead of waiting for fate to make your choices for you. Whether you decide to rise to the throne as the Crown Princess or flee the palace, this is a choice that you yourself need to make, and your time is running out.”

The Archduke is right, as usual. Hayami knows that, and yet she has hesitated for so long already, blindly hoping that things might just somehow take a miraculous turn for the better. Neither choice she makes will be an easy one, of course. But as Rengoku had said, she must be the one to make a choice and act on it—

— or else, fate will be the one to decide it for her.

“I will take your words to heart.” Hayami pinches the bridge of her nose, sighing. The more she thinks about this, the more her headache grows. Wanting to steer the topic to something else, she turns to Rengoku. “What about the matter we discussed the last time we conferred?”

At that, the Archduke’s face hardens slightly, but there’s an apologetic look in his eyes when he finally answers. “Senjurou is a hardworking child, but he has no talent with a blade and dealing with political opponents. To ask him to serve in the palace even knowing this… as his older brother, I cannot do such a thing.”

Hayami understands, but she also wants to put her hands in her face and scream. Instead, she busies herself with nibbling at the corner of a jam filled pastry. The sweetness of the treat manages to settle her nerves just a little.

Opposite her, Rengoku picks up a pastry, giving it a cursory glance before popping it into his mouth. “Delicious!” he declares.

Senjuru is a lovely, kind boy, and having him as her closest aide and confidant would remove a massive burden from her mind. Still, Rengoku is right once again, unfortunately this time. To bring that softhearted child into a pit crawling with vipers and snakes… 

Only years of propriety ingrained into her help her resist the urge to run her fingers through her hair in frustration. 

“However,” Rengoku begins, and Hayami’s head turns so quickly that she’s almost overcome by dizziness for a moment, “I would like to propose an… alternative, if you are willing to listen to it.”

“Of course.” Any sort of help at this point couldn’t hurt.

“I might be unwilling to send Senjurou into the palace, but I am able to adopt some children more suitable to palace life — children of good and suitable character — and place them under my care. With my position as the Archduke of the Flameheart Duchy, they would have enough status to enter the palace to support your position.”

Hayami considers this for a long moment, before a gasp escapes her. “That— that is a wonderful idea, Archduke! I never even considered adoption, but…” Her eyes are practically sparkling now, and Kyoujurou thinks that this might be the first time in a long while he’s seen her so excited about something. Truly, no powder or rouge could rival the beauty that hope brings to a person’s face. “With the backing of the Rengoku family, none of the other nobles, not even my mother, would be able to question their entrance into the palace. Rengoku, you’re amazing!”

The Archduke merely smiles, bowing his head. “Your humble subordinate is simply doing his job. There is no need for gratitude, your highness.” He rises to his feet, groaning lightly under his breath when the old injury at his side throbs with a phantom ache. “Then, your Highness, I’ll be heading off to find a child of suitable character.”

“You make it sound as though you’re going to search for apples at the town market,” Hayami smiles, but there’s a familiar furrow between her brows. Worry. “How do you intend to… determine a person of suitable character?”

Of course she would be concerned about this, and she has every right to be. The one who Rengoku brings into the palace will become the person who remains closest by Hayami’s side, her staunchest supporter and her greatest ally. It must feel terribly helpless, having to trust someone else’s judgement regarding something as important as this.

Still…

“This is something that you’ll have to trust me on, princess.” Rengoku glances back at her, an amused smile tugging the corner of his mouth. “Have I ever been wrong regarding such matters?”

That seems to be enough to allay her fears, because a quiet laugh escapes the crown princess. “I suppose not,” she says, her eyes softening when she looks at him. “Then, Kyoujurou, I’ll put this matter in your hands.”

The Archduke bows. “As you command, your Highness.”

At midday, the capital of the Sumihana Empire is buzzing with activity. 

Merchants on horse drawn carts make their way down the cobblestone roads, a steady stream of traffic flowing towards the town centre. Shopkeepers and customers alike call out to one another, their voices stirring up the air with a lively atmosphere. And tucked in a quiet avenue of the town stands a little bakery with humble red shingled roofs, a sign bearing the words “Kamado Bakery” hanging outside its door…

“Nezuko, pass me that bag of powdered sugar, would you?” Kamado Tanjirou, possibly the youngest bakery owner in Sumihana and currently covered head to toe in flour, calls over his shoulder. “And please take the raspberry muffins out of the oven! I think they might turn black if they stay inside much longer!”

His younger sister sets a brown paper bag next to him before rushing over to one of the many iron ovens stacked up against the far wall. Heavy, clunky rectangles of metal that belch out smoke and glow red with heat from all the fired coal, these ovens have been in use ever since his great-great-grandfather first opened this bakery.

They’re named “Breath of the Fire God”, his father had told him jokingly, back when Tanjirou had first stepped into the kitchens and immediately shied away from the heat of the flames. If you eat enough baked pastries, you’ll be able to withstand the heat of the flames forever.

His father had then demonstrated the validity of this claim by immediately sticking both bare hands into the oven to pull out a baked treat, something that had caused young Tanjirou to burst into tears and his mother to smack her husband over the head with rebuke.

Don’t go putting any silly ideas into the children’s heads now. He still remembers the sound of his mother’s voice as though she had only spoken the words yesterday. More than the sound of her voice, he recalls the scent of her, of cinnamon and sweet jam and charcoal. 

And the smell of blood, that seems to follow wherever tragedy strikes.

“Brother!” Tanjirou is startled out of his thoughts to see Nezuko looking at him, one hand cocked on her hip and the other busily dusting the flour from her apron. “Brother, what are you spacing out for? We need to get these orders ready before that secret lady’s maid comes to get them.”

“Right, right.” There is no time to dwell on these memories, especially not when there’s such a large order to be completed. Rushing over to the tray that Nezuko had just pulled out of the oven, he begins spreading a thick glaze over the tops with a brush. “She seems to have quite the penchant for round sweets, doesn’t she? Donuts the week before and now muffins. She even requested for her sandwiches to be cut into circles if possible.”

Nezuko snorts as she begins to measure out cups of blueberries. “I can only hope that she doesn’t eat all of these on her own,” she says honestly. “While they’re great business for the bakery, this amount of sugar would probably be enough to give a grown man a heart attack.”

This esteemed customer has been their mysterious benefactor for the past three years, whole purchases alone tided them over the painful period when the two siblings were still coming to terms with the deaths of their family. While other patrons had chosen to try out other bakeries instead, this patron had been adamant on only a specific desert from their bakery.

The knowledge that this patron simply would not relent had gotten Tanjirou to his feet and driven him to fire up the ovens once more. And three years later, well, here they are with the business bigger than it had ever been during the time of their parents.

Till this day, every week or other, a well dressed maid arrives at their bakery to place an order for sweets, and another comes by later in the day to pick them up. Tanjirou might not recognise the tailoring of their clothes (he’s friendly with almost every shop owner in the town), but he’s able to tell that the clothes are of fine make. The one behind these purchases must be a considerably wealthy person.

Although they have never come by in person before, he knows their tastes and preferences by heart now — they have a massive sweet tooth, enjoy flavours that lean towards fruity or floral, and have a strange penchant for circle shaped foods. It’s a little bit of an oddity, but Tanjirou finds it endearing, in a fond sort of way.

“Brother, we don’t have enough blueberries for the fruit jam,” Nezuko calls with a frown. Tanjirou glances over at the bowl, gauging the amount already inside — and Nezuko is right, of course. Her eyes are far better at estimation than his are. 

“Old Man Saburo should have some blueberries that he can spare us,” Tanjirou says, beginning to pull off his apron. “He owes me a favour since I helped carry his goods up a hill this week.”

Nezuko gives him a dubious look as she scoops some sugar into the mixing bowl. “And you also dropped some of his eggs while doing it.”

Unfortunately, his younger sister is right. “He probably won’t be too cross if I explain the situation to him.” The elderly town grocer is infamous for his awful temper, lives alone about two streets down from the bakery and treats them as though they are his own grandchildren. His actual children and grandchildren had died in the same dark mage attack that had killed Tanjirou’s family. He’ll likely still throw a slipper at Tanjirou for cracking his eggs, anyhow. “I’ll go over to his shop right away. Watch the shop for me, alright?”

All in a day’s work, he supposes. Tanjirou is halfway out of the kitchens when Nezuko cries out after him.

“Brother, change out of your clothes first! You’re still covered in flour!”

He looks down at the front of his trousers in surprise.

“Ah.”

As most plans go, things are usually far easier said than done — things such as searching the empire for a child of both good and suitable character. While there are many children in the Sumihana Empire who are kind hearted, compassionate and empathetic, that is not enough for one to survive being thrust into the palace.

And Kyoujurou does not want to put such a burden upon someone who must struggle in the palace. He wants to find someone who can thrive among the wolves.

“Do you have something on your mind, Archduke?” Rengoku turns to look at the man next to him. Murata’s eyes meet his, frowning slightly as he adjusts his grip on the reins, his body swaying slightly with the movement of his steed. “You looked as though you were, uh, lost in your thoughts.”

Rengoku considers him for a moment. Murata is a good natured boy, decently talented with a blade and willing to work hard. Still, he has a tendency to be a little cowardly and freeze up in times of crisis, which makes him unsuitable for accompanying Hayami to the front lines as her guard. A low sigh escapes him as he shakes his head.

“Archduke?”

“It’s no significant matter.” He squeezes his thighs together, spurring his horse into a leisurely trot. The steed’s hooves clip clop rhythmically on the cobblestones, adding to the sounds of the bustling town. Murata frowns, clearly not convinced, but knows better than to press his superior for the issue. “Come, let us finish our patrol for the day and meet up with the rest of the men. It’s been a long day.”

“Yes, Archduke.”

The two of them continue on their patrol route through the town, nodding and greeting the townspeople as they go. Things had been tense in other regions after the recent dark mage attacks, but it seems that the mood in here remains relatively undisturbed, which is a strong indicator of how far fear of the Demon Moon Empire has progressed. It’s good that things are peaceful…

“Help!” Kyoujurou feels the waves of fear rolling through the air just seconds before the shrill, panicked cry breaks through the bustle. “Someone help!”

“Murata, on me.” He’s already turning his steed in the direction of the commotion as his subordinate scrambles to grab the reins. The horses (and the very recognisable Archduke) part the forming crowd easily, and Kyoujurou soon arrives at the scene with Murata right behind him.

He takes stock of the situation with a single glance. A young woman is on the ground, holding what seems to be a fresh bruise on her cheek with wet eyes, a woven basket and its contents spilled over the ground at her side. It must have been her cry that he heard. 

In front of her, two men tussle on the ground. The one below is barking curses and flailing wildly, but the man — no, boy — straddling him has him firmly pinned to the ground by the hips. And he seems to be… lecturing him? “You can’t just attack women in broad daylight,” his voice is firm, his brows furrowed as the man under him continues to struggle. “If she’s turned down your advances, the proper thing for any decent man to do is to respect her wishes.”

Kyoujurou hides his snort of amusement with a polite cough. For a man to be pinned down and lectured by a boy probably half his age, in public no less… It must be humiliating. . He doesn't think this is quite the situation or time for a scolding, but the boy surely has caught his eye now. 

The man under the boy snarls and starts to thrash more violently now, and Kyoujurou can see the boy straining to keep him under control. He begins to dismount, but at that moment, the violent man manages to break free from the boy’s grip.

Kyoujurou raises his hand, heat already flooding through his fingers, but before he can intervene, the boy only sighs in exasperation, before he leans back…

…and headbutts the man, hard.

The sound of two foreheads colliding rings out through the air, and Kyoujurou blinks, astounded, as the man slumps back to the ground, completely knocked out. Behind him, he hears Murata babbling, sounding just as surprised as he is.

“Did you just hear— oh, heavens above, how is that boy’s head not broken after a stunt like that?” Kyoujurou watches as the boy gets off the unconscious man without an ounce of shock, as though headbutting violent men twice his age is something he does on a regular basis, before moving over to return the fallen items to the basket and helping the woman up gently. She sniffs and thanks him profusely, dabbing at her eyes with her sleeve. “His skull must be as thick as a rock, really—”

“Murata.” His subordinate cuts off his rambling at once, snapping to attention. “Have the man arrested and brought back to cells for harassment of citizens and disrupting the peace.”

“Yes, Archduke.” Murata is about to dismount when Kyoujurou adds on. “Do not mention that you are here with me. I’d like to have words with the young man.”

“The criminal, sir?”

“No, the boy, Murata.” Kyoujurou lets out a laugh of amusement and claps his subordinate on the shoulder, hurrying him along. As he’d thought, Murata would probably be eaten alive if he were to enter the palace. “Really…”

He watches unobtrusively from behind as Murata steps through the crowd, the crest on his uniform on proud display. A pair of magic cuffs around his wrists, and a stream of water summoned from a washerwoman’s tub nearby to lift the unconscious man into the air. “Everything is under control,” Murata announces loudly to the onlookers. “There is no need for any worry or panic.”

With the dramatics over, the crowd slowly begins to disperse. Kyoujurou, on the other hand, runs a hand along his horse’s mane and casts a cloaking spell over the two of them — a complex magic that completely diverts any attention in their direction away from them. Spell in place, Kyoujurou nudges his steed, who sets off at a calm trot.

The boy escorts the young woman back to what Kyoujurou deduces is her house, smiling brightly and waving before he sets off once more. Kyoujurou follows him from a distance the rest of the way, down the winding streets to one of the quieter avenues, where he steps through the door of one of the shophouses.

Kyoujurou gives the shophouse a cursory glance. The sign hanging above the door says “Kamado Bakery”.

When the boy does not exit after a few moments, Kyoujurou directs his magic into his ears, sharpening his hearing and tuning out all surrounding noise.

“... and there was this man who was trying to get a lady to go out with him, but he got all violent and angry when she refused!” The boy’s voice is surrounded by heat and flames — some sort of stove or oven, perhaps? — and he seems to be talking to someone else. “So I headbutted him.”

“You are so reckless, brother…” Another voice, distinctively female and sounding amused, replies. “And you still forgot to bring back the blueberries for the order!”

A pause, before he picks up a slight hint of embarrassment radiating outwards from within the shop. Kyoujurou dismounts his steed, brushing off his pants before striding over to the door. “Right, it completely slipped my mind. I’ll go get them right away—”

“No, no, I’ll go. Knowing you, you’ll probably forget them again playing hero or something to another victim in distress—”

Kyoujurou knocks at the door lightly.

“—a customer?”

“I’ll go and check it out—” 

The door swings open.

The Archduke can’t be standing outside their door.

It must be another man with flaming red and yellow hair, a sword hanging from his hip and those blazing amber eyes who’s at the entrance of their humble bakery, because there is no way that that man is the Archduke of the Flameheart Duchy.

The Flameheart Duchy is one of the five major archduchies in the Sumihana Empire, alongside the Stillwater, Thunderclap, Stonemount and Whirlwind Duchies. A prominent bloodline in the Empire that has endured for generations, the Rengokus are second in authority and prestige only to the royal family. For its Archduke, of all people, to be here…

Yes, hallucination seems far more likely. She’s been inhaling too much fumes from the ovens, and needs a long extended vacation to the Stillwater Duchy — she’s heard many things about its beautiful, calming lakes.

Nezuko opens her mouth, closes it, stares at the door handle she’s holding — wondering if shutting the door would cause the hallucination to disappear, when the hallucination speaks.

“A pleasant day to you, young lady.” Even his voice sounds refined and polished, rich as mahogany and solid as cedar. “Might you be the owner of this bakery?”

A choked noise escapes Nezuko. The Archduke mercifully does not seem to mind her unintelligible response, instead smiling slightly down at her. “I’d like to purchase some bread, if you wouldn’t mind.”

Wouldn’t mind? If she wouldn’t mind? Who is she to mind?

“Of, uh, of course not.” Her voice cracks on the last word, and Nezuko craves the sweet release of death. Fortunately, she at least remembers to bow low when she ushers the Archduke in. “Please, make yourself at home.”

Make yourself at home? In the bakery? Before she can beat herself up over her choice of words, the Archduke has already stepped inside, glancing over the pastries on display. She cannot understand why the archduke of the Flameheart Duchy would choose to come to their humble bakery when there are so many more bigger, reputable bakeries in the capital. Their family bakery has the best baked goods in Nezuko’s completely unbiased, objective opinion, but their primary customers are the local townspeople, not archdukes!

She trails behind the Archduke wordlessly, as timid as a mouse. The tall man glances over the many breads, looking over the selection thoughtfully before he moves over to the pastry section. 

He stops suddenly, and Nezuko’s heart drops into her stomach, nerves making her stomach go funny. “Do you make these yourself?” he asks, pointing at… a tray of round jam-filled pastries. 

“N-no,” she manages to say, staring at the tray and wondering just why he had pointed that specific pastry out. Is there something that he finds unsatisfactory with the quality? Will the archduke report them to the authorities? Are they going to have to close the bakery? “My older brother bakes the sweets and desserts — I’m better with bread.”

“Ah, of course,” the Archduke smiles pleasantly at her. So they’re not in trouble after all? “It’s a beautiful bakery that you have here. Does it belong to your parents?”

“The rest of my family died in the dark mage attack three years ago.” The words drop from Nezuko’s mouth like stones. “It’s just my brother and I now.”

The Archduke’s gaze turns sympathetic. “I am very sorry to hear that. My apologies for bringing up painful memories.”

“No, no,” Nezuko shakes her head vigorously. “It’s nothing that you need to feel sorry about, your Grace—”

“Nezuko, what’s taking you so long?” Her brother calls from the kitchen, sounding completely unaware of just who he’s interrupting outside. “If you don’t get the blueberries now, we won’t be able to complete the order in time.”

The Archduke turns in the direction of the voice, before glancing at Nezuko with a smile. “Would you do me the favour of asking your brother to come here? I’d like to exchange some words with him, if he’s not too busy.”

Brother’s dead. The Archduke is going to cut off his head for interrupting him, and then she’ll have to figure out how to bake sweets on her own if she wants to keep the place running. Luckily, her older brother saves her from having to send him to his death… by walking to it of his own accord. “Nezuko, really, what are you doing that’s taking so long—”

He freezes upon seeing the Archduke in their bakery.

“A pleasant day to you,” the Archduke says lightly. Her brother stares at the man before him, hands frozen on the whisk and mixing bowl in his hands. Behind the Archduke, Nezuko flails her arms wildly in an attempt to catch her brother’s attention. Bow! Bow right now, he’s the Archduke, you absolute clown!

Her brother’s attention is not caught. Instead, he continues to gape at the Archduke until the man speaks again, smiling. He must be used to people going tongue tied around him. “What are your names, young man?”

Tanjirou fumbles to reply. “Kamado Tanjiru— I mean, Tanjirou, your Grace.” He gestures awkwardly at Nezuko. “That’s my younger sister, Nezuko.”

The Archduke nods thoughtfully at that, folding his arms across his chest. “Tanjirou, Nezuko,” he repeats, before he turns to Tanjirou. “Young Tanjirou, would you like to become the sole heir to the Flameheart Archduchy?”

The bowl in Tanjirou’s hands nearly goes clattering to the ground, but the Archduke catches it right before it can make a mess, setting the bowl on the counter before turning back to the two of them. Nezuko can’t help but think that this is all really just one big hallucination. “What do you think?”

“I uh, I’m, uhh…” Tanjirou manages, sounding as though his mind is somewhere far, far away, “but I err… need to buy blueberries. For this order. It’s a, uhh, really big order.”

The Archduke laughs, a warmth, rich sound that makes Nezuko’s gut turn in confusion. He doesn’t sound… upset, or as though he’s laughing in contempt at them for their response to his joke. Because this has to be… some sort of joke among the nobles, right?

“I will have the finest blueberries in the capital sent over from the palace in a moment to make up for your lost time,” Archduke Rengoku reassures, still smiling pleasantly. “About my proposition, however… would you be willing to consider it?”

“I, uh. Sure.” Tanjirou sets the whisk aside before he can drop that too. “But uh, if your Grace doesn’t mind me asking… why?” 

The Archduke hesitates for a moment, the first expression of unsurety that Nezuko has seen him wear ever since he stepped into their bakery. “Well,” he begins slowly, careful not to mention the Crown Princess, “a very good friend of mine in the palace needs a person of good and reliable character that they can trust to serve as their aide. Due to most of the people within the palace already bearing existing loyalties, I came here to find such a person.”

“And you decided on me,” Nezuko’s brother says slowly, as though he’s still trying to wrap his head around all of this. “But if I may, uhh, ask, your Grace, I don’t see what this has to do with me becoming the sole heir of the Flameheart Duchy. I’m just a commoner.”

“Not if my father, Rengoku Shinjuro, adopts you,” the Archduke says very seriously. Rengoku Shinjuro, the previous Archduke of the Flameheart Duchy, adopting Tanjirou? “With that, you would be qualified to enter the palace and stand at Her H— my friend’s side.”

Tanjirou licks his lips, eyes darting left to right until they meet Nezuko’s. She tries to convey the idea that he should be jumping at the opportunity right now. If the Archduke is speaking the truth, this offer would be a chance like no other. When else would an archduke come to a humble bakery and offer to adopt a commoner? 

Guessing from the hesitant, uneasy look on her brother’s face, however, Nezuko has the feeling that he’s about to do something stupid, which he does.

“I’m afraid that I have to refuse, your Grace,” he says, slow yet straightforward. “As the older brother, I have to stay and take care of my sister.”

Nezuko puts her head in her hands. What is he talking about? She can take perfectly good care of herself, thank you very much! The Archduke seems to share the sentiment that he is saying something ridiculous, because he laughs.

“Worry not,” Archduke Rengoku then says. “Of course I would not separate two such close knitted siblings. Nezuko will be adopted as well, educated as any of the other noble ladies, and a title will be conferred upon her. Should you agree to my proposition, of course.”

Nezuko’s eyes go wide at that. Educated as a noble lady… does that mean she will be able to wear the pretty dresses she’s only been able to read about in her novels, walk about in a luxurious estate, and attend romantic balls?

“I must warn the two of you, however,” the Archduke continues, “that the life in the palace is nothing like the fairy tales depict it. Political strife and underhanded sabotage tactics are common among some of the nobles, and you will need to learn to deal with such incidents. The training will be difficult, but I believe that the two of you will be able to overcome the challenges.”

Tanjirou hesitates, before he manages a firm nod. “Since you’ve chosen the two of us,” he says slowly, “I assume that you think that we are suitable. I’ll believe in your judgement, Your Grace.”

The Archduke smiles at that, before turning to Nezuko. “And if you do well in your training,” Archduke Rengoku adds, as though he can read her mind, “you will be able to enter the palace as well, as a lady-in-waiting.”

Nezuko turns to look at her older brother, eyes sparkling and her hands clasped. “Brother.”

Upon seeing the look on his sister’s face, Tanjirou holds back a smile, turning to the Archduke hesitantly. “Well then, if your Grace would be so kind…” The Archduke, however, holds up a hand to stop him. Nezuko and Tanjirou both look at him, immediately cautious. Is there some sort of twist to this offer?

“Since you will be my adopted siblings very soon, the two of you should get used to calling me older brother,” the Archduke — no, Kyoujurou — says, a lighthearted glint in his amber eyes as he gives Tanjirou a friendly clap on the shoulder. 

Tanjirou splutters at that, while Nezuko beams in delight. “Older brother!” she says instantly. Kyoujurou laughs, amused by her eagerness.

“I see that you are a quick study,” he remarks, and Nezuko practically glows at the praise. “I’m sure that you’ll fit right into nobility in a matter of months.”

Tanjirou watches all this with a tentative smile on his face.

This is the beginning of a new life for them both.

More than a year passes before the Flameheart Archduke — no, Older Brother — declares Tanjirou and Nezuko finally ready to enter the palace. 

For the entire duration of their training period, Kyoujurou had kept them completely hidden away in the confines of the Duchy. “I’d prefer for certain… people to keep their noses out of my Duchy’s business,” Kyoujurou had explained to Tanjirou when he’d asked. 

His older brother has not yet revealed to him just who it was that he was adopted to protect, but there are only so many people in the palace who are of higher rank than an Archduke. Tanjirou feels butterflies fluttering in his stomach whenever he thinks about being the personal guard to a royal, but today, the butterflies feel more like a hive of angry hornets.

Today is the day that he is to be formally introduced into noble society, after all.

Tanjirou stands before the full length mirror in his chambers, tying, unfastening and then retying the silk cravat at his neck. He’s lost track of just how much time he’s spent going through the same motions, only to end up unsatisfied with the result. His favourite silk cravat is a misbehaving thing today, refusing to fall or fold in a satisfactory way.

He is going to meet his master for the first time today. Tanjirou cannot allow himself to give them a less than satisfactory impression, under any circumstance.

“Brother, if you delay any longer we’ll be late for our visit to the palace!” The doors to his chambers suddenly burst open, Nezuko striding inside in a flurry of pink and white skirts. “Don’t tell me that you’re getting cold feet now!”

“Don’t be silly, Nezuko,” Tanjirou sighs, studying the cravat at his neck once more. He’d pulled the knot a little too far to the left, and if he adjusts it now, the black and green squares that decorate the silk will not be aligned properly. His younger sister steps up next to him, crossing her arms over her chest.

The little strings of crystals twisted into her hair catch the light of the chandelier, her neck and ears adorned with perfectly round freshwater pearls. A gift delivered by the Stillwater Duchy’s Archduke Tomioka, upon hearing of Kyoujurou’s plans to introduce the two of them today. Tanjirou’s own gift sits at his hip, a beautifully crafted and lacquered scabbard furnished with mother-of-pearl lining.

“We’ll never make it to the palace if you keep on sighing like that,” Nezuko chides, and before he can answer, she plucks the cravat from his hand. Her fingers are quick and deft as they secure the green silk in place, and gentle when they tug to tighten the knot. “See? That wasn’t so hard now, was it?”

Tanjirou glances in the mirror again. For some reason, the cravat doesn’t look the least bit out of place now. Then again, Nezuko was always better at decorating the cakes in the bakery than he was.

He manages a smile, turning to Nezuko, who’s smiling brightly at him. “Thank you,” he says, reaching over to pick up his outer coat and shrug it on. The ironed and pressed fabric falls down to his knees, the cut of the dark green wool giving him a refined silhouette. It’s strange, looking at his own reflection like this. “Who would have ever thought that we would be dressed like this?”

Nezuko laughs behind him. “Surely not I, for one.” Reaching out, she tugs at his wrist, pulling her along with him. “Come now, this isn’t the time for nostalgia! It’s a wonderful and exciting day, so let’s get going!”

The two siblings make their way to the grand hall where the Archduke is waiting for them. Kyoujurou grins widely when he sees Tanjirou. “Why, you were taking so long that I thought that you had decided to run away!”

“That thought never even crossed my mind,” Tanjirou answers, knowing full well that the Flameheart Archduke is teasing him. The Archduke’s eyes run over the two of them standing side by side, then nods, looking pleased. 

“The two of you would blend perfectly into high society right now,” he says approvingly, before his tone turns more professional. “Let us head for the palace.”

The carriage ride takes up the better part of the morning. Still, the distance feels too short when Tanjirou steps out of the carriage, nearly forgetting to help Nezuko out after him with how his nerves are thrumming with anticipation. 

Two servants immediately rush up to greet them as Kyoujurou makes his way into the Sumihana Palace, Nezuko and Tanjirou flanking him. The luxury of the Flameheart Estate might have taken Tanjirou by surprise when he’d first stepped through its doors, but the opulence of the royal palace steals the air from his lungs. It nearly takes every ounce of self control in him to avoid craning his head around like a curious owl as they make their way through the palace.

At the end of yet another long, finely decorated hallway, they meet a young woman with striking pink hair the colour of Nezuko’s dress. Tanjirou instantly recognises her, having seen her around the Flameheart Duchy on occasion despite never having actually spoken to her in person.

“Oh, Archduke Kyoujurou! You have no idea how long I’ve been anticipating your arrival today,” the young lady gushes, laced skirts swishing about her gracefully as she hurries over to them, her cheeks radiant and eyes sparkling with excitement. “These must be your charges! They look absolutely lovely!”

“Kanroji, meet Tanjirou and Nezuko,” Kyoujurou nods at them both with a proud smile, “Tanjirou and Nezuko, this is Lady Mitsuri of the Kanroji of the Kanroji Marquessate as well as one of Her Highness the Princess’ ladies in waiting.”

“Lady Mitsuri,” Tanjirou reaches out to take her hand, pressing his lips against her gloved hand. Behind him, Nezuko dips into a graceful curtsy, lowering her head.

“It is my deepest pleasure to meet you, Lady Mitsuri.”

 The lady in question giggles after Tanjirou releases her hand, pulling out a lace fan to cool her blushing cheeks. “My, my, haven’t you taught them exceptionally well, Kyoujurou?” The Archduke simply laughs at that, waving it off.

“It was all Senjurou’s tutoring that is to be praised — I myself am far from exemplary at etiquette.” Kyoujurou turns to Nezuko. “Nezuko, Lady Mitsuri here will be introducing you to Her Highness the Princess now. You can trust that you’re in good hands with her.”

Tanjirou catches his sister swallow slightly, but other than that, she maintains all the poise expected of a born and bred noble lady, nodding demurely in response. “I understand, Older Brother.”

“Good.” Tanjirou watches as his younger sister is escorted away by Lady Mitsuri, the older woman already beginning to chatter about the earrings that she’s wearing. “There is no need to worry.”

Tanjirou glances up to see Kyoujurou looking meaningfully at him, arms crossed over his chest and his expression relaxed. “Lady Mitsuri is a lady of fine character and has a hospitable and welcoming nature, not to mention a friend that I have fought with side by side in the demon wars. Nezuko will be fine with her, I assure you.”

Tanjirou nods slowly, grateful for Kyoujurou’s perceptiveness. “Thank you, Older Brother.”

“There is nothing to thank me for.” The Archduke reaches out to squeeze Tanjirou’s shoulder before steering him in the opposite direction. “Now, let’s go take a look at the Royal Barracks before it’s your turn to meet Her Highness.”

Nezuko follows Lady Mitsuri through the palace grounds to the Violet Lily Palace, which Lady Mitsuri tells her is the residence of the Crown Princess Sumiyuri Hayami. The place is stunning beyond compare, decorated with floral motifs of a great and numerous variety, but Nezuko finds it difficult to push down the nerves fluttering in her stomach.

She’d only seen the sickly Crown Princess once a few years ago, on one of the rare occasions when her Highness had left the palace to welcome her twin brother back from fighting the demon wars. Even then, sitting in a carriage and half hidden behind a veil of white lace, the Crown Princess had taken her breath away with her beauty.

There have been ballads, poems and songs spread in the local taverns ever since then about the Crown Princess’ enchanting looks, calling her the greatest and fairest beauty in the land, surpassing even that of the Demon Moons’ Enchantress, Daki.

Still, Nezuko had never paid them much mind — most of what the minstrels sang tended to be heavily exaggerated for the sake of performance. Regardless of how beautiful the princess might look, all of it will be worth nothing if she has an awful personality.

“We’re here.” Lost in her thoughts, Nezuko snaps out of her own head to realise that the two of them are standing before a door. The swallows and flowers are etched into the wood with gold, and Nezuko knows at once that the princess is on the other side of it. “Her Highness is inside, waiting to meet you. Go on in!”

Wetting her dry lips, Nezuko reaches out tentatively to grip the gilded door handle, careful not to be too loud as she pushes it open. The door swings open silently and upon stepping through the doorway, Nezuko is immediately greeted by the soft, subtle fragrance of chamomile tea.

Seated at the table, dainty and elegant, is a young woman with long platinum hair that spills down her back and soft, regal features. She reminds Nezuko of the porcelain dolls that the toymaker along her street would make sometimes, with pretty pink lips and beautiful, elaborately embroidered dresses. The portraits of the Crown Princess don’t do her beauty justice at all, Nezuko thinks.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Nezuko’s knees tremble a little when she does her curtsy, and she desperately hopes that the Crown Princess does not notice when she straightens up once more. “My name is Kamado Nezuko, ward of Archduke Rengoku. It’s my honour to meet you.”

“It’s my pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Nezuko.” Even her voice sounds like the tinkling of wind chimes in the breeze. “I heard that you are to become my newest lady in waiting. I’m honoured that you would avail yourself for this position.”

“I-I—” She is honoured? Why, Nezuko is the one who is honoured to be accepted as one of the Crown Princess’ ladies in waiting! “The honour is all mine, Your Highness. I, um, permission to speak, Your Highness?”

The Crown Princess raises an eyebrow over the rim of her teacup, surprised, but acquiesces with a nod. “You are my lady-in-waiting now,” she says, “of course you may speak freely around me. In fact, I’d much rather prefer it if you do.”

Nezuko glances at Lady Mitsuri standing by her side, who nods encouragingly. Well, if Older Brother Kyoujurou had said that she was to be trusted, then she would put her faith in him. Slowly, she opens her mouth.

“Your Highness, you are so, so pretty,” Nezuko gushes instantly, her eyes wide with awe. “I’ve seen portraits of you before, but none of the painters did you any justice — you’re really like a fairy princess come to life! And your skin is so nice and smooth — I’ve been trying to get my own that clear for ages now, but I just can’t seem to figure out how. How do you do it, your Highness?”

The Crown Princess blinks at her, looking surprised — Nezuko is almost worried that she might have spoken a little too much out of line — but then Her Highness suddenly laughs. She sounds amused.

“Oh, Archduke Rengoku was right — you truly are an endearing child,” Crown Princess Hayami says. Lady Mitsuri laughs, nodding in agreement. “Well, how about I let you try out my skincare routine? You can see what works for you.”

Nezuko gasps. “You’d really let me do that, Your Highness?”

“You are my lady-in-waiting now, so it is only expected that you should become intimately familiar with my daily routine to serve me better.” There’s a spark of amusement in the Crown Princess’ soft lilac eyes. “And what better way is there to do that but to experience it yourself?”

Nezuko flushes with excitement, trying her best to contain her smile. It seems that she and the Crown Princess will get along very well.

Tanjirou’s introduction to the Crown Princess goes just as smoothly.

“When His Highness the Crown Prince Hayato leaves the palace for the warfront, you are to accompany him to fight on the frontlines,” Kyoujurou had explained, when the Archduke had first taken him in. “However, in the time that he returns to the palace, you are to assume position next to Her Highness the Crown Princess Hayami as her personal guard.”

Never in his life would Tanjirou have thought that he would ever meet the Crown Princess of the Empire face to face, much less become her guard. Her Highness is infamous throughout the country for her otherworldly beauty, inherited from her mother the Empress, as well as her frail, sickly constitution.

Outside the door to her Highness’ drawing room, the Archduke pauses to look over his shoulder at Tanjirou. “You ready, Tanjirou?”

“I don’t think I ever will be,” Tanjirou answers honestly, adjusting his cravat. With nothing left for him to occupy himself with, he takes a deep breath and nods. “Let us enter.”

The Crown Princess is seated at a tea table, helping herself to a jam filled pastry when Tanjirou and Kyoujurou walk into the room. She glances up, hand pausing halfway to her mouth as though instinctively guilty for being caught eating, before she realises who it is.

“Archduke Rengoku,” she says, holding out her hand so that Kyoujurou can kiss it, which he does with all the refinement of a seasoned gentleman. Her pale, lilac eyes slide over to rest on Tanjirou, and Tanjirou is overcome by the urge to avert his own, although he manages to resist it. That gaze feels as though it is peering into his very soul. “And this is…?”

“Your Highness, this is Kamado Tanjirou, one of the charges that I have taken into my house.” Kyoujurou clasps his shoulder firmly, urging him forward. “Tanjirou, this is Her Highness the Crown Princess, Sumiyuri Hayami.”

“An honour to meet you, Your Highness.” Tanjirou bows his head as he takes the princess’ hand, pressing his lips lightly against her silk glove. The subtle scent of fresh jasmine, rose and petrichor cling to her clothes and skin. Has she just been out in a flower garden? 

“As it is mine.” Pleasantries exchanged, the two of them simply… look at each other for a moment before glancing away. Tanjirou’s heart is pounding just a little too hard in his chest. He doesn’t know what he’s supposed to say.

Ever the perceptive man, Kyoujurou glances between the two, and, sufficiently amused by their mutual awkwardness, decides to remove himself. “I’ll be heading out first, Your Highness,” he tells the crown princess, who nods somewhat reluctantly. “Pardon me.” With that, he’s gone, leaving nary a laugh behind him as he goes.

And then, the two of them are left alone.

Tanjirou glances at the princess out of the corner of his eye, too awkward to initiate a conversation. Her long, platinum hair falls all the way down to her hips, pulled back in a thick braid reminiscent of Lady Mitsuri’s — her handiwork, perhaps? — and styled with an amethyst clasp that sparkles in the sunlight, the precious stone the size of a babe’s fist. 

Still, after meeting the Crown Princess face to face, Tanjirou does not quite understand what is so frail about Her Highness. He’d heard multiple times that Crown Princess Sumiyuri Hayami has a weak body and poor constitution, but the beautiful, radiant young lady before him does not seem frail in any sense of the word. In fact, she seems to be glowing with energy.

“You are to become my personal guard for as long as my brother is in the palace,” Tanjirou’s head snaps up at the Crown Princess’ softly spoken words, “is that right, Sir Tanjirou?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” 

At that, she smiles for the first time — at him — and Tanjirou fights the urge to duck his head down immediately once more. “Would you take a seat opposite me, then? I’d like to get to know the man who will be guarding my life properly, and we can start by having afternoon tea together.”

“Oh, there’s no need for your kind consideration, Your Highness,” Tanjirou rushes to reassure her. He and the Crown Princess of the Sumihana Empire sitting at the same table, having tea and snacks? His past self would have fainted upon hearing such a thing. “I am perfectly alright with remaining at a standing position by your side.”

“So you mean to tell me that you desire to refuse my order?”

Tanjirou nearly chokes. “No, of course not, Your Highness!” At his response, the Crown Princess lets out a laugh, raising a silk gloved hand to stifle the sound. Tanjirou thinks it’s a pity that high society demands for such reservedness. The Crown Princess’ laughter sounds like music to his ears. “If it would please you, then I would like nothing more than to join you.”

She smiles at him then. “It would please me.” And so, Tanjirou finds himself sitting at the table with the Crown Princess, three perfectly macarons placed on his china plate. “I hope you enjoy sweets, Sir Tanjirou.”

“I do.” Tanjirou can’t quite tell her that he used to be a baker, so he accepts them graciously. “Thank you, Your Highness.” The Crown Princess looks at him with a flash of amusement in her soft lilac eyes.

“You can tone it down with the formalities, Sir Tanjirou,” she tells him, a playful lilt to her voice. “Your Highness sounds so stifling… You can simply call me Princess Hayami, if you’d like.”

For the second time that day, Tanjirou nearly chokes on a bite of macaron. Coughing as the sweetness floods his mouth, he reaches for the napkin as he shakes his head desperately. “I couldn’t possibly, Your Highness,” he says in alarm. “Doing so would be terribly rude, especially from a lowly one such as myself—”

He pauses for a moment. Well, since the Archduke of the Flameheart Duchy did adopt them into his family, Tanjirou would technically be considered as a member of high nobility now.

“Truly?” The Crown Princess remarks, looking surprised. “Not even when you are one of the few men in this entire Empire with the status to ask for my hand in marriage?”

Tanjirou momentarily wonders if the Crown Princess dislikes him after all, because she seems to be trying to get rid of him today by getting him to choke. Mind painfully blank and his tongue thick in his mouth, Tanjirou reaches for the steaming pot straight off the brazier without thinking, intending to pour himself a cup of tea to calm his frazzled nerves.

“Oh, Sir Tanjirou, you must not touch the pot with your bare hands—” The Crown Princess begins to cry out, her voice sharp with concern, but her words trail off when she realises that Tanjirou is not at all affected by the heat. She pulls out a fan when she seats herself once again, looking embarrassed. “I did forget for a moment there that you are a member of the Flameheart Duchy.”

The Rengoku bloodline — and the Flameheart Duchy, by extension — are famed far and wide for producing the finest fire-wielding mages in the Empire, generation after generation. That had been one of the other reasons why the Archduke had decided to take him and Nezuko in, after realising that the two of them had innate talent for similar magic.

“I apologise for startling you, Your Highness,” Tanjirou says gently, setting the pot back down after filling his own cup. “Are you alright?”

“Perfectly fine, other than my pride.” She tugs at the end of her long braid, looking slightly awkward — her expression tugging at Tanjirou’s heartstrings, and he’s just met the Princess today! — before glancing to the side. “Well, I suppose that the two of us are getting to know each other, just as I’d hoped, so I cannot make a fuss about it.”

Tanjirou feels his heartbeat pick up at her words, but has to quickly remind himself that he is here to be her guard, and imagining anything more will do him no good. “I, too, am looking forward to knowing more about you, Your Highness.”

The Crown Princess smiles at him, and Tanjirou instantly knows that he is doomed for failure.

The Crown Princess loves the flower gardens, Tanjirou learns after a week in her service. Sometimes he worries that she might be too frail and run into some sort of mishap outside, but Her Highness hasn’t had such an incident yet. “Besides, taking walks outside and enjoying the sunlight would be better for me than being cooped up in my chambers all day,” she’d insisted, and well, who is Tanjirou to disobey the Crown Princess? 

“Some of the flowers here are planted by my own hand,” she tells Tanjirou conspiratorially on one such walk through the rose gardens. “When I was younger, my mother wasn’t fond of me leaving my chambers, so I would have to sneak out to tend to the plants that I’d seeded. Look at these,” she points to a set of beautiful trellises leaning against the wall in the shape of honeycombs, “I told the head gardener that I wanted to grow some sweet peas so he had these made for me, but in truth I used it as a ladder to sneak out of my bedroom at night.”

Tanjirou stifles a laugh behind his hand. “You seem to have been quite the spirited rule breaker when you were younger, Your Highness.”

She’s dressed in a light, cream coloured dress today, her layered skirts floating about her ankles like the morning mist. Her hair is pulled up into a simple french twist today, kept in place by several gold hairpins with jewelled flowers. As he watches, the Crown Princess plucks a small white daisy from the grass and tucks it into her hair.

“I don’t deny that. I also used to sneak out of my chambers when my cousin’s tea parties were happening.” Princess Hayami continues to make her way through the gardens, Tanjirou following closely behind her. When they reach the red brick wall that makes up the perimeter of the Crown Princess’ residence, she reaches for one of the bushes lining the wall and tugs it away — revealing a cleverly concealed hole behind it. “If you go through this and follow the path on the other side, it would take you straight to the Water Lily Garden. I did this for ages until the head butler caught me with my muddy knees.”

Tanjirou is quiet for a moment. For all the childhood memories she’s described to him thus far, it seems that her direct family — father, mother and twin brother — are all absent from her life. The Emperor is negligent while the Empress never shows any concern, and her brother… The entire time Tanjirou has been by the Crown Princess’ side, Crown Prince Hayato has not visited his sister’s residence even once. 

Tanjirou cannot imagine ever treating his own sister, Nezuko, this way.

“Sir Tanjirou?” The Crown Princess leans down to frown at him, confused by his sudden silence. “Sir Tanjirou, are you feeling unwell, perhaps?”

He immediately shakes his head. “Thank you for your concern, but I assure you that I am alright, Your Highness.” At his answer, Princess Hayami hums contemplatively, twirling the stem of a flower between her slender fingers before she lights up visibly.

“Let us sneak through into the Water Lily Garden,” the Crown Princess suggests all of a sudden. 

Tanjirou blinks at her, caught by surprise. “Your Highness, you are no longer restricted by Her Majesty the Empress — you are free to go anywhere you’d like in the palace. We can simply walk over to the Water Lily Garden if you’d like.” The princess shakes her head at him, a playful smile curling at the corner of her painted lips.

“It’s not about the destination, Sir Tanjirou, it’s about sneaking out,” she tells him, and before he can say anything else, is already squeezing herself through the small opening in the wall. Tanjirou stares in open mouthed shock as the Crown Princess of the Empire disappears from his sight, before a pale hand sticks itself back through the hole, gesturing for him to follow. “Hurry and come through! And make sure to cover the hole behind you!”

Unable to disobey his master’s orders, Tanjirou glances around, desperately hoping that no one is looking, before squeezing himself through the hole as well. The top of his head almost brushes the circumference of the hole and he nearly forgets to tug the false bush back into place after him, but he still manages to make it safely out on the other side.

“Follow me,” the Crown Princess says excitedly, taking Tanjirou by the sleeve of his coat. Together, the two of them make their way down a little dirt path that winds through walls of thick hedges. “This is a hedge maze near the Water Lily Garden,” she explains as she navigates them through the confusing paths. “I memorised the way out with how often I came through here. If we hurry, we might be able to catch one of my cousin’s tea parties happening right now.”

She does make one or two wrong turns, but always rectifies her error almost immediately — Tanjirou’s nose can already begin to pick up the scent of water lilies and high tea. All this time, her fingers remain tightly grasping onto his sleeve, as though worried that he might get lost if she lets go. 

The two of them eventually emerge from the hedge maze, sparrows and butterflies fluttering about. A distance away, Tanjirou can see a high tea party ongoing, with several noble ladies seated at a gazebo situated in the middle of a crystal clear lake. The hum of their idle chatter drifts across its surface, dotted with pink water lilies, to reach the two of them.

“It’s as you said, Your Highness,” Tanjirou nods, brushing a stray leaf from his shoulder. “Lady Kagami is indeed having a tea party at the moment. Shall we head over to join them?”

The Crown Princess, however, only stares at the tea party happening on the lake — a picturesque scene straight out of a fairy tale, with beautiful ladies and laughter and tea and cakes all around — before she turns back to Tanjirou with a slight, more… bittersweet smile on her face. “This is enough,” she says quietly, still smiling. “This is what I used to do — watch from a distance. The Empress didn’t like me interacting with too many of the noble ladies from lesser houses, and I wouldn’t know what to do now even if I wanted to participate in one.”

Tanjirou frowns openly at that. “Nearly all of the houses in the Empire are beneath the Royal family. Does this mean that you’ve never had the opportunity to experience one?” The Crown Princess nods, before she turns away. “Come now, we should return to the Violet Lily Palace before Head Butler Hirata catches us. He’d be delighted to have any opportunity to report me to my mother.”

“Understood, Your Highness.” Tanjirou holds out his arm to Princess Hayami. She looks down at it with surprise, before it melts into a smile. 

“Let us be on our way then, Sir Tanjirou,” she says, and the two of them make their way back through the hedge maze, through the little hole in the wall and up the honeycomb trellis — for nostalgia’s sake, the princess says. And when he waves her farewell from the garden, Tanjirou’s mind is already whirling with a hundred different ideas — and only one mission that he must achieve.

A few days later, Tanjirou greets the Crown Princess in the late morning just as he always does, except this time, he extends his arm to her once more, just as he had that day in the hedge maze. “I am to escort you to the rose gardens, Your Highness.”

Hayami frowns, a little at a loss and vaguely confused. She does not remember having anything scheduled for today, but in the short time she has known Tanjirou, she has learnt that he is detailed and diligent and far less forgetful than she is — so she simply takes his arm and allows him to escort her down to the rose gardens.

“Remind me, Sir Tanjirou,” she phrases her question carefully, “who am I meeting again today?”

To her surprise, however, her usually-steadfast guard simply answers with “You’ll see soon, Your Highness.” Hayami doesn’t know just what he’s being so evasive for today, but it doesn’t make her feel any less nervous about this meeting. Is it Sir Agatsuma once again? There had been a period when he’d relentlessly tried to pursue her, but that time is long over — or at least, that’s what Hayami had thought.

She’s still fretting over this when the two of them reach the rose gardens. It’s a beautiful day to be out, the warmth of the late morning sun punctuated ever so often by a gentle breeze and jewel butterflies fluttering through the air. 

One thing that stands out in the middle of her familiar rose gardens, however, is a small white tea table and a matching chair situated under the shade of a large oak tree. An assortment of baked treats sit atop the table — macarons, jam-filled pastries and little cupcakes — alongside a porcelain tea set, already steeping tea if the subtle jasmine scent in the air is anything to go by.

And there is no one there but the two of them.

Before Hayami can ask Sir Tanjirou what this is all about, her guard speaks up first. “I recalled that you mentioned not having attended a tea party before.” His voice is hesitant, as though not too sure whether she would be pleased with him for organising this. As if him going out of his way to create such a lovely experience for her could ever displease her! “So I procured some snacks suitable for an afternoon tea and had this set up—”

“It— It’s lovely, Tanjirou— words cannot express how much I love this. Thank you so much, truly.” Hayami cannot remember a time when someone other than Archduke Rengoku, her trusted ladies-in-waiting, or her cousin had done something like this for her. And the two of them have only known each other for less than a month. “If there’s anything that you’d like as a reward, anything at all—” But Sir Tanjirou shakes his head immediately.

“There would be no greater reward than for you to enjoy the snacks and tea that I have prepared,” he says, pulling out the chair and indicating for her to sit. “Your Highness.”

Hayami takes a seat, staring wide eyed at the spread of delicacies spread out over the table. All of them look delicious, absolutely appetising — and for some reason, oddly familiar. Picking up a blueberry jam pastry, she carefully places it in her mouth.

Both berry tartness and sugary sweetness burst across her tongue. The flaky pastry is buttery and light, just the way she likes it — and just the way she remembers it, from the bakery that her maids had always purchased her snacks from. Although she had never visited it in person, the pastries made there always somehow managed to convey the warmth of home, something Hayami could never quite find anywhere else. The establishment had closed down one year ago, much to Hayami’s dismay, about the same time that…

… about the same time that Hayami and Kyoujurou had their conversation about adoption.

“Oh,” Hayami says suddenly, realising too many things at once. “Oh.”

Sir Tanjirou glances up from where he’s carefully pouring her a cup of tea. “Your Highness?”

“No, the pastries are just really, really good.” She nods, taking another bite. “Where did you get these, Sir Tanjirou?”

He looks a little awkward at that question, shifting on his feet. “Well, Your Highness, I hope that you don’t tell anyone but… I have a secret hobby of baking. I apologise if they might not compare to the standards of the royal baker or confectioner.”

“So you made all these treats by yourself?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Hayami laughs, shaking her head in disbelief. Kyoujurou had told her that he’d adopted peasant children into his family, but the topic of what they had been doing before that adoption had never come up in conversation. She feels as though she has found her runaway baker at last. This sweet man with steady hands and a warm heart that took care of her so gently — perhaps, it wouldn’t be too bad to be married to someone like him?

“I’ll keep your secret on one condition,” she hums, pretending to consider it. “If you allow me to taste your sweets whenever you happen to make them.”

Sir Tanjirou looks at her, surprised, before he smiles slightly. “Your wish is my command, Your Highness.”

One week later, Tanjirou accompanies Hayami to a fitting done by the Royal Tailor, who flits around waving all sorts of fabrics, ribbons and sashes everywhere while commanding a small army of assistants. From the sidelines, Tanjirou thinks all of them resemble ants scurrying over a hot surface — chaotic yet organised, in an artistic sort of way.

The Crown Princess stands in the middle of this whirlwind, perfectly still and poised as a life sized mannequin even when the tailors poke and prod her. There is a ball coming up in a few days to celebrate the Empire’s recent victories against the Demon Moon Kingdom, and as the Crown Princess, his master must of course attend.

Her twin brother, on the other hand, had sent word that he would be too busy training — and so had deigned not to attend. Now, Tanjirou has yet to meet the man that he would fighting side by side on the front lines with, and neither does he like to form impressions of people before he’s met them personally, but at the moment, he has quite some choice words that he’d like to convey to Crown Prince Sumiyuri Hayato, one day.

“Oh, I cannot tell whether the lilac silk or burgundy satin will look better on you, Your Highness,” the tailor frets, shaking her head. The spectacles that she had been wearing earlier now sit on top of her head, lopsided. She looks extremely frazzled. “Deeper colours have been in the trend lately, but lilac suits your skin so well…”

“I’ll try on both,” the Crown Princess says. Almost immediately she is whisked away behind the changing curtains, and Tanjirou awkwardly averts his gaze as he’s left alone in the fitting room. Even when he had accompanied Nezuko to get dresses made, he doesn’t remember them being this exhausting.

“Sir Tanjirou?”

Tanjirou is roused from his own musings when he hears the Crown Princess call for him. When he lifts his head, he sees her step out from behind the changing curtain, adjusting the satin sash cinching in her waist. The pale lilac silk has a light, silvery sheen much like her striking hair, and under the light of the chandelier she very nearly glows with a gentle sheen. She gives him a smile, one that threatens to steal the air from his very lungs. “How does this look on me?”

“It’s—” You are— “beautiful—” breathtaking— “Your Highness,” he manages to make out without tripping over his own words. As lacking as his words are, his master seems pleased by his answer.

“Let’s go with lilac,” the Crown Princess decides quickly, and then there are a flurry of other options such as sashes, adornments and accessories. By the time her Highness has picked out the right hairpins, earrings and gloves, the sun outside the window is already starting to set. 

He brings her a glazed donut when she finally slumps onto the velvet couch, completely drained. Tanjirou barely has the chance to say “You must be hungry—” before she’s already reaching out for it. 

He stifles a laugh and hands it over obediently. “I’ll get you a cup of tea as well, Your Highness.”

“No, no,” the princess shakes her head as she chews on her donut, looking blissed out at the taste. “You need to go for your fitting now.”

Tanjirou looks confused. “Your Highness, I’m not particularly in the habit of wearing ball gowns—” She laughs at that.

“Not ball gowns, silly. A suit. A tailored one, specifically.” She tilts her head to the side to look at him, long platinum hair slipping over her shoulder. “Did you forget that you would be attending this ball by my side? You are my personal guard now, after all.”

He had forgotten completely about that, unfortunately. “Of course not. But surely I wouldn’t need a new suit as a guard? All the attention should be on you, Your Highness.”

Princess Hayami sighs, leaning against the velvet seat. “You could be the most handsome man in the entire Empire and still far too much attention would be on me,” she laments with a shake of the head. “Besides, you must have a tailored suit, at the very least to look presentable for the opening dance.”

“Opening dance?” Tanjirou feels awfully silly with all his questions. “Will I be participating in the opening dance?”

The Crown Princess looks at him with a frown. “Does Sir Tanjirou not like the idea of sharing a dance with me?” So he was supposed to dance with the Crown Princess at the celebratory ball? Older Brother Kyoujurou hadn’t mentioned this to him at all!

“Of course not, Your Highness,” he says quickly, trying to remedy this. “I would love to dance with you, it would be a great honour.”

The Crown Princess’ frown vanishes in an instant, replaced by a playful smile that throws Tanjirou completely off guard. “Is that so? Then perhaps you should ask me for a dance, Sir Tanjirou.”

Wait, so he wasn’t meant to dance with the Crown Princess? He looks at her, finding himself at a loss, and watches her stifle a giggle behind her hand. “You are having fun at my expense, Your Highness.” 

“Apologies,” she says, but she can’t quite keep the amused tone out of her voice. “Still, I was being serious earlier. Do you wish to dance with me? I have no desire to force you to do something you do not want to.”

“That’s not it at all,” Tanjirou insists. “I would be honoured to dance with you.” He takes a deep breath, before bowing his head to her. “Would you give me the honour of being able to dance with you at the celebratory ball, Your Highness?”

She looks very pleased at that. “Of course I would. You can’t back out now, Sir Tanjirou.”

The rest of the fitting goes without a hitch, with the Crown Princess making him model what had seemed to be the entire menswear collection the tailor had on hand. She does personally pick out a sleek linen olive green suit for him and matching cufflinks after all that, and from the happy smile on her face, she seems to have enjoyed herself thoroughly.

The Royal Tailor bows to the Crown Princess on her way out. “Year after year, you grow lovelier and lovelier, Your Highness,” she says approvingly. “I’m sure that you will be the fairest in the Empire soon — you resemble the younger Empress so much already, you’ll surely look more like her when you grow older.”

The change in Princess Hayami’s expression is almost inscrutable, but Tanjirou catches the way her smile turns ever so slightly brittle, like pottery on the verge of shattering. “Thank you for such a lovely compliment, Royal Tailor,” she says, “ but I’m afraid I will never surpass my mother in terms of beauty. She’s far too beautiful.”

Tanjirou catches her staring into one of the floor length mirrors when he returns from escorting the Royal Tailor out, prodding lightly at her face and tugging at her hair. She’s used a spare clip from the fitting room to pin her hair up, so that the silvery platinum strands frame her face the same way Her Majesty the Empress’ does — and from the expression on her face, she doesn’t seem to like the results.

“Your Highness?” Tanjirou calls gently, careful not to agitate her. “We can leave now for dinner, if you’d like—”

“Sir Tanjirou,” the princess interrupts, sounding uncharacteristically serious, still staring at her own reflection in the mirror, “do you think that I look like my mother?”

His mouth goes a little dry at that. As someone who’s had the privilege of remaining by the Crown Princess’ side for the past month, it’s easy to see that there’s no love lost between mother and daughter. Besides, from the little bits and pieces he’s picked up from the interactions between Older Brother Kyoujurou and the Crown Princess, it’s clear that neither of them think very highly of the Empress.

Still, Tanjirou does not want to lie to Her Highness — she would be able to tell, either way.

“Your hair and features strongly resembles Her Majesty the Empress,” Tanjirou says slowly — and catches sight of the Crown Princess’ brows pinching together in a frown. She looks… troubled. “Still, I think that the two of you are very different in many ways, if people know where to look.”

The princess turns to look at him. “Different? In what ways?”

Tanjirou licks his lips nervously. “Well, first of all, Your Highness’ eyes are a lot softer than Her Majesty the Empress’. Her brows are often arched and sharp and her expression… stern, while the Crown Princess has a gentle but firm gaze.”

The Crown Princess nods slowly at that, considering his words carefully. “Go on.”

“Secondly, Her Majesty the Empress has thinner lips that tend to be pulled into a line. Your Highness has softer and fuller lips that curve upwards slightly, even when you are trying not to smile.”

Her lips pull into that very smile that he was just describing, a cupid’s bow loosening an arrow that goes straight to. “You’ve been spending a great deal of time paying attention to my lips, haven’t you, Sir Tanjirou?”

“I—” He begins to protest, then promptly gives up trying to explain himself. “Yes, I have, Your Highness. As your guard, it is my responsibility to notice everything about you.”

Her mouth curls into a proper smile now. “And you always do your job to the utmost standard,” she hums lightly. Turning back to glance in the mirror, she sighs before pulling the clip from her hair, allowing the long platinum strands to tumble down her back in a long, silvery waterfall. “Truly, Sir Tanjirou… I like to think that in my heart, I am a damsel in distress in need of a Prince Charming to come save me, but when I look in the mirror, all I can see is an evil queen who is unworthy of true love and genuine kindness. I would… I do not like to be compared to my mother. Ever. In any way at all.”

Tanjirou remains quiet for a while. “I cannot… provide you with a Prince Charming on a white steed, like the fairytales describe,” he says honestly, when he speaks at last. “But I think that Your Highness will be able to change the way people view her, as well as the way she views herself, with her own efforts and merits. And this lowly guard will be by your side all the way, should you desire it.”

The Crown Princess takes a moment to ruminate over his words. And then suddenly she smiles, dazzling, as bright as the sunrise, and for the first time, Tanjirou feels his heart twist in his chest — not a simple skip, nor just a quickening of its beat — but a physical ache that he doesn’t quite recognise nor know how to handle.

All he does know, however, is that he has made a vow — and that he would gladly lay down his life for the woman before him.

They don’t make it to the ball.

About one week before the celebratory ball is to happen, the Crown Princess gets poisoned — in her own palace, in her own drawing room. During teatime, the head maid Rin Sunada delivers a tray of snacks and tea, which Tanjirou would watch Her Highness eat as the two of them talk of the garden’s flowers and the latest gossip Tanjirou has picked up from the palace grounds. It’s a simple, ordinary routine that Tanjirou has long gotten used to, enjoying her company and the snacks she occasionally manages to convince him to try — which might explain why he’s stunned into stillness when he catches sight of crimson dotting the corner of the Crown Princess’ mouth.

“Your Highness!” He says urgently, and when she does not respond immediately, a cold tendril of fear wraps itself around his heart and yanks hard, constricting the air in his lungs. Instead, she presses a delicate hand to her chest — the hand that he’d just kissed this morning in greeting — and coughs, a choking, breathless, wheezing sound.

And blood spills from her mouth.

“Your Highness!”

Only his trained reflexes allow him to catch the Crown Princess falling from her seat before she can hit the floor. She lies in his arms like a broken doll, unresponsive, eyes half lidded and lips stained red. “Your Highness, please respond! Your Highness! Hayami!”

Still she does not respond, and Tanjirou shouts himself hoarse for a physician. The servants tell him that it will take some time for the physicians to arrive, so he snaps for them to move aside, puts the Crown Princess on his back, and promptly runs all the way to the medical wing.

The entire situation feels like a dream of some sort, his mind covered by a thick fog and his memories of the incident blurry, but when he finally connects with reality once more he’s standing next to Her Highness’ bed with an aching throat and his hands balled into tight fists. There’s a heavy, reassuring warmth on his shoulder, and when he glances up, Older Brother Kyoujurou is standing next to him, eyes hard as he looks down at the bed the Crown Princess is resting in.

“Who did it?” Tanjirou barely recognises his voice with how sharp and flat it is. The room is empty aside from the two of them. Nezuko had been in here earlier with the Princess’ other ladies in waiting, but had to be escorted out with how badly she was crying from the fright. “You must have some clue as to who the culprit is.”

“I do,” Older Brother Kyoujurou says, an answer so straightforward that Tanjirou is taken by surprise. “I know exactly who did it, and so does the Crown Princess.”

Tanjirou frowns at that. “Then why are we not taking action immediately, Older Brother? With an enemy who could slip poison into the palace and past all of the Crown Princess’ maids… surely she will continue to be in danger if we don’t eliminate such a large threat.”

The Archduke sighs, rubbing his temples before shaking his head. “You will not bring this matter up outside of this room, Tanjirou,” he says sternly. When Tanjirou begins to protest, he cuts in sharply. “I’m sure that you already know that this isn’t an uncommon occurrence for Her Highness.”

“Of course,” Tanjirou hesitates, turning back to the bed that the princess is lying in. Her eyes are closed, her breathing slow, and her skin so pale it almost appears translucent — for a moment, she truly seemed more akin to a porcelain doll than a live human. “Both she and you explained to me that she had many enemies… but surely eliminating one is still beneficial towards her safety?”

His adopted brother glances over his shoulder, and Tanjirou immediately feels the slightest burst of heat erupting from the Archduke’s form — so subtle it can barely be detected, even for someone who is intimately familiar with the man’s magical signature. The silencing spell spreads over the walls of the room, sealing off all conversation inside the room.

“Listen here, Tanjirou,” the Archduke says at last, turning to face Tanjirou so that he can look into his eyes. Kyoujurou’s flaming amber eyes are serious as grave when their gazes meet. “The culprit of the Crown Princess’ poisoning attempt, and most, if not all, the assassination attempts on her life, were orchestrated by the Empress in some sort of way.”

Kyoujurou says the word Empress as though it leaves a bad taste in his mouth, but Tanjirou is stunned beyond belief at such a reveal. The matriarch of the Empire, attempting to poison her own daughter? Even if he knows that the two don’t particularly share a good relationship, no mother should ever do such a thing to their own child!

“The Empress has long used such poisoning attempts as an excuse to get rid of dissenting members of the Imperial Council,” the Archduke continues. “And the princess has been training to resist poison in this manner ever since she was a child. This is not something out of the ordinary, Tanjirou.”

Tanjirou does not know what to say. He recalls his own mother, how unwavering she had been in raising and feeding her children, waking up even before the crack of dawn every morning to knead bread and make sure that they had enough to eat. If not for her, Tanjirou is sure that neither he nor Nezuko would be even half of the people they were. To hear that the Empress of Sumihana would stoop so low, he almost can’t believe his own ears.

For a moment, he almost wants to ask what the Emperor’s stance — but quickly realises that it is simply not possible for the highest person in the country to be completely unaware of the happenings in his own palace. He knows, but simply cannot —  or chooses not to — interfere with his wife’s actions. And that too, in Tanjirou’s eyes, is just as unpardonable.

“I know this is asking the sun and the moon of you,” Kyoujurou says at last. “But this is the reason I had you and Nezuko brought into the palace, so that you could stand by the Crown Princess’ side and support her. I am not… asking you to protect her from every storm and gale that might come her way, but even then… I’d like to know that there’s someone who will stand by her side no matter the enemy she faces.”

“Even if that enemy is the ruling family of this empire,” Tanjirou finishes for him, quietly.

The two of them stand over the Crown Princess’ sickbed in silence for a while, before Kyoujurou steps away. “I should get going first to explain things to the rest of the Archdukes and the Imperial Council,” he says, squeezing Tanjirou’s shoulder firmly. “I’ll leave Her Highness in your hands.” With that, he steps out of the room, taking his warmth with him as he goes —  leaving Tanjirou all alone with the sleeping princess.

After the door swings shut with a soft click, Tanjirou stands next to the princess, quiet, observing, forlorn. Just yesterday, she’d been laughing with him when he’d described a young nobleman’s affections and efforts to pursue his younger sister, regaling him with tales of entertaining incidents that had occurred in the palace before his arrival.

And now…

“Wake up quickly, Your Highness,” Tanjirou murmurs quietly, his voice vanishing like smoke in the silence of the Crown Princess’ chambers. “I know that I am no Crown Prince, and that no kiss of mine can wake you from this slumber, but still…”

She continues to sleep. The royal physicians had declared that she was in no real danger — the poison, while deadly, was something that the Crown Princess had been building resistance to ever since she was a toddler. The thought of the bright and cheerful princess, being fed poison as a child… there is a bitter taste in Tanjirou’s mouth.

Standing over her bed, looking at her sleeping face, Tanjirou speaks aloud a pledge — a vow.

“I, Kamado Tanjirou, from this day on, pledge to dedicate my sword, my life, and my heart to Her Highness the Crown Princess Sumiyuri Hayami.” Tucked in her blankets and eyes still closed, the princess doesn’t even stir. “Typically, these sorts of vows are sealed with a kiss to the hand, but…” he glances down at her hand, which is covered in gauze — a broken piece of pottery had sliced open the skin there. “Apologies for my insolence, Your Highness. You can chide me all you’d like after you wake up.”

Gently, he presses his lips to the Crown Princess’ brow.

[silverynight]

Calling birthday rights, MAH HUGGIES!

o((*^▽^*))o

And possible aus.

Flowershop Hashira and Tattoo shop Tanjiro.

The Hashira meet Tanjiro when they want to go buy matching tattoos at Hinokami Tattoo parlor, only to meet this absolutely gorgeus tattooed Tanjiro. He has pretty vines on his forearms for nezuko, a setting sun over the sea for Tanjuro his dad and Urokodaki his teacher, burning coals on his stomach and on his hip a small purple flower field for his mom. His chest is free(for now...).

Clothing Au!

Boy gotta be careful with this one, but the hashira see one of them giving tanjiro something of theirs to wear, and its like a race after that on who gets to him first.

Mama Au!

Tanjiro gets called Mama one(1) time, purely on accident by a butterfly girl, and its like heaven to the Hashira, starting to imagine less than heavenly thoughts.

Daemon au!

Tanjiro has a black-red tanuki with cute bright blue eyes, and its the biggest sweetheart. The hashira have; a surprisingly quiet lion for kyojuro, a very huge but very cuddly bear for gyomei, a no nonsense peregrine falcon for shinobu, a neutral kaburamaru for obanai, a large yet easily moved boa for mitsuri, a pissy wolverine for sanemi (both too angry to die, snort), a quiet and sneaky panther for Giyu, a very agile but really sweet and forgetful maine coon for Muichiro, and a flashy and loud, it has effing jingly jewelry when off a mission, wandering albatross (a real species, its latin name is diomedea exulans) for uzui. A big, loud, flashy featherbrat for a big, loud, flashy humanbrat.

I may send you more as the day progresses, but i wont overwork you, for now.

FINALLY eighteen and i feel like a day OVER 50.

Happy birthday! 🥳

Tanjirou has definitely long hair in the first one; he also gets absolutely confused the first time he meets the nine people who work in the flower shop in front of him because as soon as they see him, they forget what they came for in the first place.

For the second, I imagine them running and pushing each other with a piece of clothing in their hands, ready to hand it to Tanjirou. Uzui is the first to get to him, but Kanroji wins that one because everyone wants to see Tanjirou in a skirt.

Someone calling Tanjirou Mama or Mommy would be the absolute death of the Pillars because they'd immediately get so distracted imagining Tanjirou with babies (their babies) in his arms...

If Tanjirou wasn't that oblivious, he'd realize that the fact that the Pillars' daemons let him touch them and even seek him in order to get headpats and nuzzle against him, says a lot about how the Pillars feel about him. They always end up blushing and flustered every time Tanjirou or his cute daemon touch theirs.

[crimsonkenjii-writes]

heyy it's the giyuu simp hiding in your request box ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ mind if i sneak in another request :> just gonna slide this with a belated valentines day card

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may i request a giyuu x reader headcanons? where its just giyuu and the reader living a peacefull and happy life with their kids, just fluff of how their every day life goes and giyuu with his kids :D maybe even some headcanons of the other pillars meeting the kids and his s/o (feel free to change the idea ofcc i don't mind if you write it at all (~^.^)~)

Hello fellow Giyuu simp lolol

This sounds really cute! Of course I’ll write it! ʕ◡ᴥ◡ʔ♡

This turned out to be very long haha hope you don’t mind :)

Giyuu x Fem!Reader with Kids!! ♡

AU: Life Without Demons

♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡

♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡

Giyuu was the first to ask for kids. It was a shock since you’d figure he’d be too nervous and insecure to think he’d be able to be a father. But he loves you too much to not have children with you. He just can’t picture his life without you and both of your guys’ children in his future.

“Y/N...” he approaches you timidly, “I have um something to ask you...” he kept fidgeting with his hands and struggled making eye contact. His cheeks starting to burn. “What is it, Giyuu??” He sat there a bit, his brows knitted together as if he’d trying to figure out how to compile his sentence. “Let’s have children!” He finally bursts out boldly. You were taken back for a second but smiled wide and hugged him, agreeing with all of your heart.

Giyuu didn’t want too many kids. He only wanted about two children. (Maybe three children he’s thinking on it 👀) And that’s what you both had. One boy and one girl. The boy took more of your looks but also had a good mix of Giyuu as well. He ended up taking his eyes and messy hair but had your hair color and overall facial features. The girl was a very good mix between the two of you. The boy was the eldest child.

Giyuu was the type of parent to spoil his children a lot. You often had to stop him because it got hard for him to say no to them a lot of the times. But when it came down to it, he knew when to be strict and stand his ground. Like if one of your children throws a tantrum for not getting the toy they want, Giyuu would have a stern tak with them about how they need to learn the importance of being told “no” and to handle it like a “big boy/girl”

Giyuu would also do whatever it takes to help you with anything around the house or with the kids. He’d also do anything to spend as much time with his children as possible.

Giyuu also secretly loved it when his kids would get nightmares and ask to sleep with the both of you. He really loved sleeping next to his family and would often invite the kids into the futon even if they didn’t have a nightmare that night. They’d always get really excited and join without hesitation. He also LOVES holding their hands. He loves how tiny and soft they are in his large, calloused ones. He also really loved having them ride on his shoulders

When it came down to being the good cop bad cop, you both had an equal share between it. I can see Giyuu being pretty strict but not to the point where it’s suffocating. He’d still take extra precautions to make sure his kids are safe and don’t get into trouble. He also tries to come to complete understandings with his children when they’re in disagreements with him. He’d sit and talk with them and make sure they don’t feel invalidated or hurt. Sometimes though, he’ll have to put his foot down and tell his children to listen to them and not question his thinking. He’ll often try to come back to them later and explain again.

Kamboko Squad and Pillars’ Reactions to First Born (and general interactions with kids)

꘎♡━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♡꘎

When the news got out to everyone that you both were expecting children, they were all so very excited.

You were a few weeks pregnant and Tanjirou (and the rest of the squad) came by to visit and he was able to smell it off you. You were a little shocked how he was able to notice until he explained how his mom smelled a certain way when pregnant with his siblings. Then it made a bit more sense. Kind of.

Poor little boy teared up because of how happy he was for the both of you. He was so happy to see Giyuu with the love of his life and now starting a family. Inosuke got all those fluffy things around his head. He was very soft and gentle around you and it was really cute. Sometimes he’d just stare at your bloated stomach and it seemed like he was having a psychic conversation with the baby lolol.

Nezuko was very excited to meet the new baby and couldn’t wait nine months! Zenitsu was really happy for the both of you and it really warmed his heart to hear the baby’s heartbeat. He also got very scared for you because he heard that giving birth if very painful and he’d never want to go through something like that either.

They all saw your kids as their own little siblings, especially Tanjirou. Tanjirou is very good with kids so they ended up liking Tanjirou a lot and would often beg you to let him visit more often so they could play with him. Nezuko also saw them and her own siblings and would always volunteer to knit/fix their haoris if they ever got damaged. She always brought snacks (usually toasted rice crackers) for the kids when she visited. She also helped with cooking dinner when she visited.

Zenitsu loved playing with them. Until one day your son found a worm and showed it to Zenitsu and he freaked out and thought it was a snake for a second. He started to become more wary of your son from then on.

Inosuke shared his boar mask with them and would let them ride on his back as he ran around. He also visited one day with a nicely wrapped box (wrapped by Tanjirou) and gifted it to your kids. You and Giyuu were very confused to see that it only had acorns in there.

You had Shinobu do regular check ups with you to make sure the pregnancy was going well. Despite her constant teasing, she actually told Giyuu how happy she was for him. This really warmed his heart and he couldn’t thank Shinobu enough for all her help. She helped with both the pregnancies/deliveries

Mitsuri was so so SO excited to meet the new babies!! She seemed more excited than you and Giyuu! She loves babies and thinks they’re really cute. And the fact that it’s going to be yours and Giyuu’s baby??? Geez, that just makes it 10x more adorable!! She really really wanted to be the first friend to hold the baby so you granted her wish. She was crying so much, she was so happy.

The baby’s cheeks became very red from how much Mitsuri pinched them. She nicknamed him her “Little Mochi” because of his squishy cheeks. (and she nicknamed your girl her “Little Sakura”)

Obanai kept trying to deny how happy and excited he was. “Hmph! I don’t do babies. Not at all.” But then he saw its cute, little chubby cheeks and couldn’t resist. He then vowed to be the greatest uncle to your baby boy (and girl once she visited the world)

Kyojuro was really excited to meet the baby too. His booming voice scared the baby and made him cry so Kyo learned to be more quiet around him. He was so nervous holding the baby but then got more use to it and didn’t want to hand him back. He wanted to hold on to the little boy forever!!

Muichiro was mostly dazed out but waved his finger in front of him and your little baby boy held onto him. Muichiro got very happy. “Y/N, Y/N! Look! He’s- he’s holding on to me!!” You’ve never seen him smile so wide. He’d often visit and be like, “Can I play with him today? I’ve missed him.” And he’d play with him for hours! He was the same with your little girl as well once she came around.

Sanemi kept trying to act all tough. “No! I don’t care about kids! Least of all babies! I couldn’t care less about Tomioka’s stupid ba-“ his eyes widened when he saw the baby. Then you saw the most softest smile on his face for the first time. He hugged the baby tight to him and didn’t let go or move for a while. He might or might not have teared up. But you swore with him that you saw nothing 👀 He’d make plenty of ohagi for the kids and make some extra for you and Giyuu. Giyuu was very happy to see Sanemi opening up a bit more and glad he became better friends with him as well.

“Tch, don’t get too comfortable, Tomioka. I’m only here for my niece, nephew and Y/N.” He was teasing he loved Giyuu too.

Tengen and his wives were all over the baby! His wives loved the baby so so so much!! They even planned out a baby shower for you when they heard the news so a lot of your baby stuff came from them! Once he finally joined the world, all of them teared up from joy. They all took turns holding the baby, playing with him, bouncing him on their laps. Tengen said that if you or Giyuu ever needed help, him and his wives were right there anytime.

The wives loved playing with your daughter! They’d often do her hair and make it really pretty. They’d also often spoil her with new pretty kimonos and hairpins and always said, “Once she gets older, we’ll always have girls nights out! Do all kind of girl talks and girl things! It’ll be so much fun!!”

Tengen got the baby a whole bunch of shiny jewelry and was like, “Ha! Now your baby boy shall be flamboyant! Even more flamboyant than he was before!!” He also secretly found it extremely adorable how he looked like a little baby Giyuu at first. Then he grew to have more of your facial features and it just made it even cuter for Tengen. He had a little soft spot for your daughter because he thought having a daughter would be very precious so he’d literally do anything for her (and would protect her with his life)

Gyomei was SO happy!!! He of course teared up too and was very very gentle with him. It was kind of cute seeing such a large man hold such a tiny little human. It’s like he could fit them each in one palm. He was one of your go to nanny’s and he’d always wear a pink apron when looking over the kids. He’d spoil them with lots of baked sweets. Everytime he visited, he always had a new beaded necklace to gift them. They ended getting too many and he stopped at one point. But he still gave them one on their birthdays

Shinobu found babies/kids a bit icky since they do have many bodily fluids they can’t control and sometimes don’t wash their hands but she still did normal check ups with them and was very good with them. She’d often visit with some new toys for the kids. She even got your daughter and little butterfly clip. Your son felt left out so she got him one too. For a while both your kids refered to her as the “Butterfly Lollipop Lady” since she gave them lollipops after every doctor visit. She’d just smile chillingly at Giyuu and say, “Tomioka-San, I figured you’d at least teach them my name after all I’ve done for you and your wife.” She was just teasing, she secretly loved her nickname

Shinobu also really loved listening to the baby’s heartbeat through a stethoscope. She also loved putting her hand on your belly and often talked to the baby. She’ll never admit to anyone else but she really enjoyed doing these things with both your pregnancies

[inotanzen]

May I request an InoTanZen drabble of the three talking about their fears? Or having to brave a closet full of spiders and then calming each other down afterwards? (I love your writing by the way! I'm excited to read your drabbles!)

thank you for the request and i'm so happy you love my writing ahh !! i chose the first one, i hope you like what i came up with and the direction i went in!

— ♡ —

modern au • sfw, hurt-comfort • 1k words

— ♡ —

The thick veil of night that settles over Tanjirou's small, one bedroom apartment is borderline suffocating when he's by himself.

Shadows behind his dresser look too deep, the ones on his ceiling make the room feel too small, and he can’t bring himself to go into the kitchen once the sun goes down. It's not necessarily the look of darkness itself that bothers him so much as the feeling it gives him...

It had gotten worse since he moved out a few months ago after graduating high school. He used to avoid it by sneaking into Nezuko's room when he knew she was already asleep and camping out on her trundle bed until he drifted off to the sound of her breathing, or on the floor next to Takeo and Shigeru's bunk bed because they kept a nightlight for most of their childhood, but he lives on his own now- and his favorite way to avoid it is by having nights like tonight.

“Inosuke, can you hand me the chi- that's my foot, you asshole!" Zenitsu shouts and Tanjirou has to stifle a laugh to shush him.

“Guys, please, you’ll wake the neighbors-"

“Your foot shouldn't have been in my way then!" Inosuke interrupts matter-of-factly as he settles into his spot on the couch to Tanjirou's left, nearly sitting on Zenitsu's feet in the process before throwing over the bag of chips. Zenitsu catches them from where he’s leaning into Tanjirou's right side, his legs draped over the brunette's lap and into Inosuke's space that they all know he only pretends to care about by projecting a false bravado, his true feelings showing in the one arm he drapes behind Tanjirou’s shoulders and the other hand he places on Zenitsu’s shin once he’s comfortable.

They were setting up to have a movie marathon, one favorite from each of them, with a blanket pulled over Tanjirou’s laptop and the top of their heads. It was Tanjirou’s favorite way to spend time with them both, and he didn’t need to say it either; they knew.

Tonight felt different though, they could tell their boyfriend needed them more than usual. It had been like this for a few weeks now, pretty much ever since he’d moved into his new place Tanjirou had wanted either or both of them over whenever they weren’t working. It was because of this that both men made sure to put Tanjirou in the middle and pick lighthearted movies they knew would make him laugh, with Inosuke choosing “Thor” and Zenitsu choosing “You’ve Got Mail”.

Tanjirou’s pick obviously gets to go first though as “Howl’s Moving Castle” starts up on the screen and Tanjirou feels them settle around him into a pile of warm, comforting limbs.

They’d shared their fears with each other a long time ago, exchanged in hushed tones punctuated with comforting touches and warm embraces, so Inosuke and Zenitsu knew why Tanjirou had always been a fan of sleepovers, but it had taken them a while to find out.

Before they started dating in second year, all the way back to when they’d met in middle school, Tanjirou would beg to have a sleepover at any of their houses for the weekend. He never cared whose and would always make sure they were diligent with homework and cleaning up after themselves so none of their parents would ever have a reason to say no.

It wasn’t until they started dating though that either of them thought to ask him why.

Tanjirou had tried to hold it together but eventually broke down into silent tears as he explained he’d had a fear of being alone ever since he was a kid and his father died suddenly from illness- especially since he began having recurring nightmares afterwards of his entire family disappearing, falling ill, or worse, being killed.

The bright, shining boy they knew so well had never looked so small. Inosuke had grabbed his hand in a surprisingly gentle touch and pulled Tanjirou to straddle his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around the thinner boy’s waist while Zenitsu pressed against Tanjirou’s back from behind, arms coming around his shoulders, as both of them buried their faces in his hair... and he had let them.

He knew by then that, out of everyone in the world, they understood him, because they had the same fear.

Inosuke had his mom, Zenitsu had his grandfather, but at least now they had each other too, and have stayed that way ever since.

The movie is going for about thirty minutes when Tanjirou pauses it out of nowhere, his hand staying on the keyboard for a moment as he stares ahead. Zenitsu looks at him, puzzled. Inosuke had been only half paying attention, instead getting momentarily distracted with a loose thread on the elastic of Zenitsu’s sweatpants, but he still shouts indignantly regardless.

“Hey! What’s the bright idea? Didn’t you wa-”

“Move in with me.”

Inosuke goes quiet with the interruption and Tanjirou quickly squeaks out a “Please!” as he glances between them in a panic, not able to tell what they’re thinking yet.

“What kind of stupid question-!” Inosuke starts, looking at Tanjirou like he’d grown a second head.

“You really couldn’t have asked us that before you signed a six month lease for a place that could barely fit you and me, let alone him as well!” Zenitsu monotones, and Tanjirou has to mentally jump back and forth between the feeling of his tone and the meaning of his words but it just makes him laugh in relief even as Zenitsu starts playfully shaking him back and forth while shouting curses in his ear.

It only makes him laugh more when Inosuke yells at Zenitsu indignantly that he’s being shaken too before tackling him to the floor, nearly breaking Tanjirou’s laptop in the process. 

Tanjirou had realized sitting there, both of them wrapped around him, that he might never let them leave and now watching them wrestle playfully on the floor as Zenitsu cackles in pseudo-protest from the raspberries Inosuke blows into his neck, he knows that for sure.

[minkmousesworld]

⌞ᴅᴇʟɪɢʜᴛ⌝

𝔲𝔫𝔦𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔢: modern au (implied)

𝔫𝔰𝔣𝔴 𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: corruption kink, sadist/masochist, collaring, petting, penetration (giving ♂ / receiving ♀), thighs fuck, little degradation & praise, public teasing, a little mommy kink (Tanjirou is mommy), breeding kink, scent kink, mention of subspace, oral sex, hyperstimulation, dirty talk, mention of discipline, mention of unprotected sex / creampie, mention of body worship (r.), mention of objectification (agreed), mention of forced sex (play, agreed), mention of deep penetration (tummy bugle), wet dreams

𝔡𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤(𝔰): Tanjirou Kamado x Reader

Tanjirou definitely has a weakness for rough sex.

… [♂️] Just grab him by the hair when you take him from behind, trashing him deeply, and pull him back slightly, causing him to bend. He will make such cute sounds and expire with saliva. Add a slap on the ass, and he will already be desperately close to finishing, feeling a bulge from below.

[♂️] He just likes to feel that you are using his body in an animal way, pushing his clothes and going inside, into his needy and submissive hole, not particularly interested in the opinion of Tanjirou himself. And it would be something rude or even cruel if he did not wave you so openly and willingly, making charming sounds consisting of groans and your name.

… [♀️] Just ride on him (even better - on his face), without giving a normal break, and roughly play with his nipples, or pull his hair when he is too passionate, and call him a cute, hungry pervert.

[♀️] He just likes it when you push him and ride on his red, slightly flowing preevacular dick, as if you are only interested in your pleasure. Although by how much the Tanjirou's dick pulls, you realize that he definitely gets some pleasure.

Nipple play? Nipple play. Tanjirou does not have the most sensitive nipples, but at the same time there is no insensitivity to this common. A little "training on the development of sensitivity", and he will pull you to a secluded place for you to properly touch him. He'll be so adorable red when you talk about the patch on his nipples. "Due to the fact that you constantly play with them, they have become too sensitive ...".

Tanjirou begins a relationship with you as a completely innocent virgin, which, however, allows you to teach him to be your ideal lover; because he does not know otherwise, and his skills / abilities are focused only on you.

In general, the relationship with you will most likely be the first in his life, so he is ready for almost anything until he experiences obvious severe discomfort.

This is probably why Tanjirou kneels in front of you in a public toilet and pleases you with a skillful mouth, while you call him "good boy", putting your hand on the top of his head. He is so charmingly ruddy, complete with a hazy look of excitement, and he is breathing so hard, focused on you and your desires.

An altruistic and hardworking lover who serves you 24/7 without complaint just for your praise.

A very delicate, "first time" (everything related to sex) will be initiated from your side. Only over time does he become more confident to start initiating sexual activities on his own.

Easily aroused after the first time you have sex. It is as if you discovered something hidden in him, and now he is trying to fill this empty space, with your merciful help.

He often has wet dreams with your participation. Just so you know when you wake up in the middle of the night and hear Tanjirou moan your name with a charming blush and an unambiguous groan.

Very excited when you touch him in public. He will be an exemplary boy and will refuse you if you are too aggressive, but after long entreaties and teasing, he will no longer care where you make love, he will just need it.

Tanjirou is only "making love", no "sex" and "fucking". He does not mind when you say that you will "fuck him" in the midst of rough sex, and he himself may ask you for such a thing during a strong thirst, but otherwise he avoids this, and at first he does not accept such words at all. It's just too intimate.

If you initiate sexual contact too early, he will politely reject you. In fact, he wants to be loving, so your "first time" will only happen after you vow that you will be engaged in the future.

Let me tell you, he had an impressive boner when you walked into the room and closed the door behind you.

Although Tanjirou's rejection of pre-wedding sex is not equal to rejection of erotic fantasies in which you are the main character. If you left your clothes to him, then it is very presumptuous of you to assume that he did not use them for masturbation. Even if at first he just inhaled your scent, everything will quickly become wetter and hotter.

It's even nice that he apologized to you later when he returned the clean clothes. True, you decided that he was apologizing for "stealing" (although you left it...) clothes, and you convinced him that it was okay. Tanjirou was so rosy.

He doesn't mind if you call him your needy slut. And in general, he is not against any humiliation as long as he is "yours". Tease him for how excited he is and he can have an orgasm.

If you feel particularly dominant / aggressive, step on his dick. Tanjirou will be so confused and overwhelmed by the range of pleasant feelings as you massage / rub him through his clothes. He will whimper delightfully as you tease him to ask you to continue.

Hips and leg masturbation is a huge yes for him. Tanjirou definitely has a weak spot for your hips and legs.

Give him the opportunity to not only platonically love your thighs, squeezing tight from behind, and Tanjirou will sweetly babble thanks as his cock slides between your thighs at 30 thrusts per minute, smearing grease and pre-evacuate. Each time he cums so hard, as if it were the first time he had an orgasm in weeks without masturbation.

Wants to leave marks on her thighs and caress them. A great sacrifice for people who enjoy teasing. Just show him your thighs (better yet, put them on his face) and he will be so flustered and breathing hard. Or so rosy and trembling when you squeeze his cock with your legs and give him the opportunity to move them on his own.

Mommy kink, where Tanjirou is "mommy". Nothing too "weird", but he actually loves the "mother" position where he cares and serves you and your needs. After all, don't you deserve a little care and relaxation?

If you indulge in this especially strongly, then he has every chance of developing a lactation kink as well.

When you first got naked in front of him, Tanjirou was so delighted and enthusiastic, almost literally looking at you with eyes with "hearts". He is absolutely in love with your body and worships it without any modesty.

Breeding♥️✨💞💗… Breeding😍❤️💕💓💘… Breeeding😳♥️✨💓❤️💘💕💞… Bree…✨Ding💓♥️💞💓✨✨💕💓💕… BreeDiNG😍🥰✨💕💞🥰♥️😳♥️😍❤️… BREEDING ♥️💝💖💞❤️✨💘… Breeediiiing✨✨💓💗♥️💝❤️🥰

It might sound strange, but Tanjirou probably has a breeding kink. For him, the very idea that you might want to get pregnant from him or impregnate him makes him thirsty and shivering. He will be so excited if you call him the ideal father / mother.

Even if you playfully tell him that you want children / that you will “make children” at home, he will certainly remember this at home and offer you to implement what was said.

This includes the desire for unprotected sex and creampie. Tanjirou will insist on condoms and other protection, but he’s lying if he says he doesn’t crave unprotected sex.

Will call you whatever you want. Host / Hostess? Good! Owner? Okay! Master/Mistress? Fine! Daddy / Mommy? Super! Your name? He agrees!

He has no special squics when it comes to you - unless he can never hurt you (physically or mentally), even if you insist on it.

Unknowingly, however, he may scratch you, or bite you. He will be very bad when he sees the consequences the next day.

Every time Tanjirou tries to talk dirty / act like a brat, after a minute he is on all fours and asks your forgiveness like a good boy. He does not understand why this is happening, and is somewhat embarrassed by this. He will be so embarrassed if you pay attention to this fact.

His neck looks great in a collar. Especially if the collar is “your” color or a variation of dark red (and in general, a dark variation of any color is a suitable color for his neck).

Tanjirou's eyes water easily during arousal from the fact that his body is too sensitive at such moments, and almost any caress of yours is perceived by his body twice as strong. In general, almost any stimulation makes him shiver.

Tanjirou will wake you up in the morning with oral sex. He looks very exciting between your legs, with ruddy cheeks and mouth, not only wet with drool.

He's not really the best when it comes to role play, however he likes to dress up in different outfits. Just let me tell you that he suits dresses and stockings, as well as cute chokers.

If he is given dominance, he will be very soft and gentle. Rough domination just isn't for Tanjirou, he is more the one who serves than the one who is served.

Tanjirou will allow his body to be used as an anti-stress. He has a soft ass and chest, and they are pleasant to squeeze / squeeze, especially when he caresses your body after an exhausting day.

Or when you are having lazy sex.

Or just squeeze them and listen to his cute surprised breaths and moans.

(His face retains cute features with those soft, half-childish cheeks that are pleasant to pinch and touch; and judging by Tanjirou's reaction, they are also sensitive.)

At first, he will deny any kinks of his own, saying that he is doing it for you and not because of his vile desires. Moreover, he does not consider them "vile" when they are yours, but when they are his ... he will be ashamed and very embarrassed if you deny this and say that it is also his desires, because his "brain" knows this, but " heart "refuses to accept.

[♀️ / ♂️] Over time, things will get much easier, and he will be able to openly say that he wants you to sit on his face / thrust your cock so deep into his throat until he starts to choke. This will be a huge step in your relationship when he can finally reveal his desires to you and not be afraid to hear disgust.

Sometimes Tanjirou accidentally falls into a trance / subspace. His body suddenly relaxes, he stops responding to your words and breathes deeply, looking only in front of him, while his body is in your hands. The longer your relationship, the deeper Tanjirou "falls through" during rough "games". He is so soft after subspace, but after half an hour he feels unusually full of strength and energy that he spends on you.

As previously mentioned, Tanjirou isn't too picky when it comes to making love. He prefers home, but this does not mean that he will not give in when you ask him for a little "letting off steam" in the toilet of a public institution.

He definitely has a kink for smells, especially your scent. Before that he smelled the smell of excitement, but it was more repulsive or slightly disturbed by it, however, your smell intoxicates him and works as an excellent aphrodisiac. Sometimes it is enough to just clamp his head between your legs and pull him closer, and he will be ready for the round.

But aside from the kink side, Tanjirou actually loves vanilla sex. Variations in missionary position, long foreplay, slow deep penetration, gentle stimulation - he loves it. When you kind of become “one whole”, no matter how vanilla and silly it sounds. More touches, less empty space, and to the end.

Although, of course, the idea of being your cute shameless toy, spanked and overstimulated, is also very exciting for him.

[phantasmiafxndom]

Oh yay, I’m happy to hear that! How about a scenario where Tanjiro’s owner (in the pet Au) notices that Tanjiro has been acting strange and doesn’t look too good but whenever they ask him about it he says he’s fine even though it’s obviously a lie. Then at some point during the day they ask him to sit down on the couch with them and use their lap as a pillow. Eventually Tanjiro ends up basically passing out and his owner finds out that the reason he’s been acting strange is because he has a fever from overworking himself. Tanjiro wakes up the next morning to find himself in bed with his owner sitting nearby taking care of him. He gets scolded a little for not resting properly or telling them that he wasn’t feeling well but overall his owner reassures him that he won’t be punished for resting. (I’m a sucker for sick fics lol and have nothing better to do with my time than stalk your blog. Hope you don’t mind!)

Hi! :D Since this is just a request-type scenario, I had to simplify your prompt quite a bit, but I hope it works for you!!! Thank you for the fun idea!

. . . 

Tanjirou has known he’s sick for a couple of days now, but knowing that and not wanting to trouble you are one and the same. He’s tired. And yet, when you invite him to sit down with you, he wants to say no. 

But demons don’t get a choice, and especially when you smile so sweetly, he can’t make himself resist. 

“Lie down,” you say. “You look exhausted.”

Because you’re the sweetest human in the world, you pat your lap in a clear gesture. Tanjirou obeys. He knows you’ll notice what has to be a fever, but denying your kindness would be an even worse offense. He lies down with his head on your thighs... 

And promptly lets out a massive sigh. 

Just not being upright feels so much better. His head doesn’t spin as badly and the nauseous lurch in his stomach eases instantly. There’s no way he’ll be able to get up. 

Your hand finds his hair and strokes gently. Tanjirou shudders. He mumbles something that’s probably gratefulness, but the next thing he knows, he’s dizzier than ever. Your touch finds his forehead, and suddenly, you’re saying something too in a concerned voice that makes him flinch. 

“You’re burning up! How long have you had a fever?” He makes out the words distantly, but answering is suddenly not possible. 

It probably wasn’t smart not to mention being unwell. Now that he’s letting himself rest, Tanjirou is acutely aware of how terrible he actually feels. At this point, he’s probably going to be downed for a while. Guilt hits him, but just as quickly, a heavy, spinning rush washes over him. 

His eyes close as the world goes black. 

[the-mu-in-muichirou]

Tangled Au

BUT LISTEN ITS NOT WHAT YOU THINK…

Yes Muzan is mother gothel because his stingy ass would be trying to live forever and would want to conjure the sun out of his behind but LOOK!!!!!

It’s nezuko who is born from the flower not tanjirou so ha! Suck on that twist.

I’d like to say her hair is orange but like an orange haired nezuko wouldn’t look right ;-; so redish hair kinda like tanjirou’s

After Nezuko was kidnapped because you know WE CANT HAVE NICE THINGS in this fandom without something tragic hurting us.

And look as much as I would love a ZenNezu story about zenitsu mustering up the Courage to save her. NO! This is for family feels so F the romance plot.

Tanjirou is devastated his baby sister went missing and so where his parents the king and queen. So after many talkings Tanjirou wished to go find his sister. His parents would never allow that because that’s their only child left!!!!

After Nezuko’s disappearance the king and queen decided to have no more kids as scared they would also be stolen. (Did I nerf the other siblings Bc I don’t know how else to include them? Yes I did but so did Gotouge)

Tanjirou disliked the idea of not being able to help his sister and as the stubborn person he is, he pulled a Mulan(left without word in the middle of the night) around the age of 12 to go look for his sister.

Tanjirou didn’t know how majorly he screwed up until he realized the real word hard TM but he pulls this I am the first son mantra and continues on his way like a big boy.

And because he isn’t really a big boy he is found by Urokodaki a lone traveler who brings him home and asks Tanjirou if he’s alright.

Tanjirou says no and explains his situation ans urokodaki listens saying he should go back to his family. Tanjirou disagrees because he can’t go home empty handed.

Tanjirou says he will leave the next day but Urokodaki can’t leave a child in need alone so he asks tanjirou if he can even defend himself.

And obviously baby boy can’t do Urokodaki reveals he was a former palace guard and decides to teach Tanjirou about swordsman ship.

(If you can’t get guess, yes all the pillars are royal palace guards)

As the years pass the king and queen are looking for not only mourning their daughter but looking for their son.

Muzan is none the wiser that the prince has gone missing busy making sure to raise Nezuko under him best he can. Usual parental manipulation tactics.

After tanjirou beats Urokodaki in a spar like years later he continues on his way.

This is where he meets Inosuke a thief who’s had to steal since young. Tanjirou tries to reason with him saying it’s wrong and inosuke is still feral but they both get caught and wanted posters get out up of both them.

Later along the way they encounter Zenitsu who was found crying on the side of the road for owing money to some debt collectors.

The three join forces stopping others who steal (but getting caught returning artifacts so they’re seen like thieves)

Inosuke complains Bc they should keep it and zenitsu agrees while tanjirou doesn’t.

Life goes on and

~time skip~

It is Nezuko’s 18th birthday and she wants to go see the floating lanterns. Despite asking ofc her father (Muzan) says no and she’s upset.

Muzan sings- (pfft imagine him singing) Muzan just lectures her on it saying she’s too old for nonsense and he expects better.

Nezuko agrees and asks for some v rare bread she liked. Muzan said that it’s long away travel and Nezuko does that thing 🥺

And Muzan agrees because if it’ll shut a child up and departs .

The castle scene is the three idiots trying to place the crown back when they get caught and running after their lives being chased by sanemi and giyuu. (Why this pair specifically? I ship them leave me alone.)

They’re cornered until tanjirou falls into the hidden leaves hiding the tower and drags both of them in.

They climb tower and are promptly knocked out. Cue a crow squawking at them to wake up.

And look Tanjirou doesn’t recognize her because she was baby and you might be like (why did he go search for her then!?!) well does Tanjirou look like he plans things through? He’s jump first think along the way.

Anyways, they all try to pacify her and nezuko settles down saying she’ll give them back the crown if they take her to see the lanterns. And well they agree.

After this the plot mostly follows the same 😗

The part where they escape the tavern and are bonded by her hair shocks all of them

Oh! They are found by giyuu but when Tanjirou fights him giyuu recognizes the fighting style and asks if he knows Urokodaki. Tanjirou nods and giyuu says he’ll help.

The two goons after all five of them are Douma and Enmu. (I’d never want those two to interact actually but here we are)

Some ZenNezu plot does happen with nezuko having doubts and zenitsu comforting her as they continue.

During the boat scene Giyuu stays behind while the four of them get on and enjoy some peace. With all of them saying if nezuko has finished one dream it just means it’s time for a new one.

Nezuko smiles and confesses she’s had the crown all along. They all say they don’t care and they’re happy she’s with them.

cue boat docking Nezuko wandering off to talk to Muzan and the three getting kidnapped and shipped back to the castle.

Cue realization of who nezuko is.

And cue Tanjirou confessing he’s the prince in the cells while giyuu helps with can escape plan.

Tanjirou goes to save nezuko and overhears yelling from the bottom of the tower because please.

Tanjirou yelling for nezuko more desperate than ever now knowing he’s found his sister.

Muzan killing Tanjirou but Muzan falling down and dying.

Nezuko resurrecting Tanjirou and both going home to their family safe and sound.

~THE END~

[robinofinashiro]

“Will I be known and loved? / Is there one that I trust? / Starting to sober up / Has it been long enough? / Will I be known and loved? /Little closer, close enough.”

characters: giyuu tomioka x fem! reader 

request status: OPEN / this takes place in the Kimetsu Gauken au! pls, i love au so much and gym teacher Giyuu is absolutely the cutest thing ever so i felt compelled to write this since i have no req’s atm. 

you and Kyojurou walked into school as his brother, Senjuro, stood next to you. the two of you were relatively the most popular teachers at Kimetsu Academy and it was super known that everyone fought for a spot in both of your classes. 

“Senjuro, would you be a doll and grab your brother and I coffee?” you asked the elementary school student. 

he nodded excitedly as he went off into the teachers lounge knowing he’d get quick access by either Tengen or Shinobu. the smaller boy had the day off from school and Kyojurou was more than welcomed to bring his brother along for the day. everyone generally surrounded themselves around him when he came around. 

you and Kyojurou walked to your classroom as the two of you both worked in the history department at Kimetsu. you taught the lower level students, such as Tanjirou’s sister Nezuko but because you taught the sister of the most popular boy in school, you knew her brother and his entire group of friends. 

“aw, Zenitsu is trying to express his love to Nezuko again,” you giggled to Kyojurou. he shook his head jokingly, “for the 60th time this week?” the unrequited love from Zenitsu to Nezuko always made you laugh. 

you turned on all of the electronics as you waited for you students to start coming in. Nezuko was usually dropped off by her brother so by the beginning of the day, your front door was crowded around by them. “good morning Nezuko, how are you?” you asked as she gave you a bright smile as a response. 

she stood next to you as Tanjirou and his friends, that being only Zenitsu, stood by your door. not too long after, you heard two screams from down the hall. one being Inosuke and the other being Sanemi. you sighed in annoyance at the daily occurence. to your surprise; however, you saw Giyuu along with them. 

“Giyuu?” you screamed. the black haired man stopped in his tracks as he stood in place while Sanemi and Inosuke continued to run, “what has you running with them this morning?” you asked. he didn’t say anything for a moment, “Sanemi asked for my help,” he murmured, fixing the collar of his track jacket. 

you laughed, rolling your eyes at the behavior of Sanemi. “here ya go!” you heard Senjuro say as he walked up behind you. you bent down to give the lookalike Kyojurou a hug, “thanks Senjuro! are you gonna hang out with your brother or me today?” you asked. he pointed to you as Kyojurou gave his brother a dramatic look. 

“well alright! kids, you better get to class before you’re all late!” you said pointing to the clock on the all, “and be nice to your students Giyuu,” you stated, giving him a wink before walking into your class. 

Giyuu stood defeated as Kyojurou laughed, “still in love with her, Tomioka?” Kyojurou asked. Giyuu looked to his friend in disbelief, “I mean, it’s hard to miss. even Sanemi has sensed it,” he explained, “is it that noticeable?” he asked, not believing what Kyojurou was saying. 

he didn’t respond as he walked into his classroom, the two minute bell ringing as a warning for everyone. you grabbed your metal pointer and whipped it open, making your class laugh. Giyuu smiled at you before walking towards the gym to attend his first class. 

the two of you weren’t exactly friends but neither were you strangers. whenever he was around, you would talk as much as he would respond too. you knew Giyuu wasn’t much of a talker but you did find him cute, even with his shy and slight dorky behavior. 

Giyuu had saw you around Kyojurou almost all the time. he knew you both weren’t a thing but a part of him hated to think that maybe you’d enjoy dating Kyojurou instead. he was talkative and got along with most teachers meanwhile he stayed to himself and even ate lunch alone. 

Giyuu saw all his first period students waiting for him, half scared and talking amongst the other students. he happened to have Tanjirou and Zenitsu his first period and although they were great academically, Zenitsu tended to never really put effort in his class. 

with his mind still on you, Giyuu called for the class to have a free day. he really wasn’t in the mood to scream at his kids to participate in class so he sat on his chair while a few students pulled out various balls and ropes. he knew your class was having an exam today and figured you’d probably be in your desk checking emails. a part of him wanted to email you to start a simple conversation but another part of his screamed to not do it. 

he sighed before finally getting the guts to message you. 

“how did you deal with Zenitsu, he’s rather annoying.” 

you saw the email notification ping up and laughed reading it. to your surprise, it was Giyuu but regardless, you responded. 

“I put him with Tanjirou almost always so he could control him. the world knows I couldn’t.” 

Giyuu laughed knowing exactly that he did the same thing. between the two of you, a few emails were exchanged until the bell rang. he knew his room was a bit farther away from you but a thought in him screamed to see what you were up to and even bring you a snack. 

he stopped at the vending machine and pulled out two granola bars. he had no idea what you favorite flavor of anything was so he went with his gut instinct and bought a dark chocolate and sea salt granola. the walk to your classroom had his hands all sweaty and gripping the granola nervously. 

“hey,” he murmured, walking into your class. you perked up hearing his voice, “hey Giyuu, what are you up too?” you asked. he practically shoved the granola into your hand, “I bought you a granola,” he said too embarrassed to look at your. 

you gave him a smile, not wanting to do anything drastic in front of your students, “thank you Tomioka, I appreciate it,” you said, a warm feeling crossing your face. the two of you remained silent until you heard a death scream coming down the hallway. 

“Inosuke? again?” you asked Giyuu as the both of you popped your heads out the door. you saw Sanemi getting chased by Inosuke but this time, Sanemi had the boys boar head on his hand which is why Inosuke was practically screaming to give it back, “those two give the entire school headaches,” you growled, not wanting to hear anything more.

Giyuu shook his head. him and Sanemi were always on weird terms. the two continuously argued with each other as Shinobu usually sided with the white haired man. you had no idea what they all had against him but you knew because of Giyuu’s obtuse behavior, a lot of them found that Giyuu was just weird. 

you saw Giyuu leave but you figured you wanted to repay him for getting you a snack. as you dug through your bag, you saw your lunch. you usually would give some to Kyojurou if he asked but figuring that he had his brother today, he probably brought both of them lunch. 

you put a few scoops of your lunch into a small container and figured you could give him some since he usually survived off raisin bread for the day. since Giyuu tended to eat lunch on the outside bleached, you knew it wouldn’t be too weird. at least it beat getting made fun of by the rest of the faculty. 

the first half of the day went through relatively fast as you were stuck teaching the rest of your kids. the benefit of having the middle school kids was that you were usually able to calm them down if you promised them some sort of prize  by the end of the day. 

the final bell of the morning rang, indicating that the lunch hour has started. you took both of you lunches and put them into your bag before walking to the field. you saw Giyuu sitting on the bleachers, eating his raisin bread in silence. you smiled at him as he moved over for you to sit next to him. 

“here, I brought you some lunch,” you said, handing him the small sandwich and yogurt. he looked to you and gave you a silent thank you as the two of you dug into the food. you two talked here and there, murmuring about how Mitsuri and Obanai were on paternity leave. 

Mitsuri recently had her baby after a few years of getting married to Obanai. you had fawned over the infant as you went to visit her a few days after the baby was born. the baby had Obanai’s doubled colored eyes which you thought was absolutely adorable. 

“hey, you in your class?” Kanae asked through your phone, “no? I’m having lunch with Giyuu on the field outside. why?” you asked, “Mitsuri is in the teachers lounge and her baby is here!” she exclaimed. 

you instantly shot up, packing your lunch into your bag before grabbing Giyuu’s wrist and darting with him to the teachers lounge. he was surprised that you even dragged him along but once the two of you reached the room, you saw all the girls surrounding Mitsuri and her baby. 

“move!” you screamed to Sanemi, pushing him practically to the ground to get to Mitsuri. you walked up to her and saw the baby sleeping peacefully in her arms. she smiled at you and placed the baby in your arms, “oh my god, he’s so adorable,” you whispered, touching his cheek softly. 

all the boys in the room rolled their eyes at the way everyone was fawning over the infant. Giyuu was in the back, watching you carry the baby as your eyes basically held hearts at the way he was just sleeping. a very insane thought crossed his mind as he watched you. 

he couldn’t deny the fact that he could see himself with you and a child in the middle of the both of you. the baby having his cerulean eyes with your hair and its color. Giyuu knew he would actually have to make a move in order to even get to that point. 

“looking at ( your name ) very lovingly, aren’t ya, Giyuu?” Kyojurou whispered so no one else heard, “ask her out Tomioka. she would say yes, I can assure you of it,” he added on. 

Giyuu looked to him and sighed, not knowing what to say. this wasn’t the first time he had told him this and figured since you were the closest to Kyojurou, maybe he wasn’t lying. maybe you actually liked him.  

the warning bell rang off for the second half of the day and you placed Mitsuri’s baby back in her arms. you placed a soft kiss on his forehead before getting up to go back to your class. Giyuu walked next to you, a comfortable silence between the two of you. 

once you reached your class, you were about to walk in when Giyuu grabbed you by the wrist. you looked at him confusingly before he gulped and stared at you, those stern eyes not wavering. 

“are you free this evening to have dinner?” he asked, the seriousness taking you back. you stood silent for a moment, not believing this was finally happening, “of course! I can meet you after classes are done?” you responded, your hands beginning to sweat. 

he nodded, looking around to see a few kids entering their classes as the hallway was mostly empty. Giyuu placed a quick kiss on your cheek and whispered that he’d meet you in your classroom to pick a place to have dinner. 

as you walked into class, your heart was racing a mile a minute as you placed a hand on your heart and squealed lowly before grabbing your things to start teaching again. 

[pumpkinboo]

Demon Tanjirou Kamado: General and Romantic headcanons (Roleswap AU)

Tanjirou, like Nezuko in the original story, prefers to recuperate through sleep. Definitely a trait of their Suyako ancestor.

Like most demons before "fixing" (eating human flesh) conversion, it has an intstinctive mind that develops as it lives as a demon. At first, it was difficult to distinguish between everyone around him, dividing only into "family" and "demon", but soon it began to have more variations ("family", "people", "demons"; then there were individual categories for each person).

Tanjirou is most often in his child form.

He likes to be held and babied (lightly squeezing his cheek, kissing his forehead, holding him to chest).

He behaves like an affectionate puppy, clinging to the haori cloth and following the person he loves. Every time a loved one turns around, they will meet the sleepy and loving gaze of a demon.

At the same time, Tanjirou remains very protective. He always looks out for his loved one and doesn't like to leave their side.

If he sleeps next to s/o, then he always touches them in some way (presses himself to their chest or presses them to his, throws his leg, presses his back). He always wants to be sure that his human is close and everything is fine with they.

If Tanjirou does not feel sleepy, then he leaves his s/o (if nothing threatens) and goes to look for beautiful gifts for his most beautiful human. Usually it's some small shiny things that immediately caught his eye.

His sense of smell became even clearer after turning into a demon. Tanjirou can easily navigate in the pitch dark, using only it. However, too many odors increase his aggressiveness.

After turning into a demon, he feels that he should not seek to hide / suppress his negative emotions, so he became more emotional (hisses and stretches out his claws when someone annoys him, or cries when he is left alone).

He is soothed by the smell of his "family" (biological and s/o).

Whenever Tanjirou feels bad, he runs to his loved one, or looks for their clothes. He will insist that if s/o leaves for a long time, they leave their clothes to him.

When Tanjirou is in a bad mood or feels needy, he wants to get on their lap, curl up and wait until they start stroking his hair. He will cry if a loved one wants to leave him.

Tanjirou likes to stroke his s/o's head or nuzzle their face like a cat.

He likes to put his arm around his loved one's back and sit behind them.

Tanjirou can speak (not as clearly as when he was a human), but for some reason he prefers to show his feelings with deeds rather than words.

He quickly charms those around him, being a surprisingly cute demon who strives to help everyone. Butterfly girls love him very much for his help in the house, despite the fact that at first they were scared of him.

When others notice that Tanjirou has a loved one, they start giving him food / things as gifts, which he then gives to s/o.

His infatuation is so obvious, even the most obliviously s / o can't ignore / deny how long the little demon sits on his lap, constantly gives gifts and behaves so protectivity.

The name of his most loved one will be the first word Tanjirou says. The repetition of the name calms him.

He likes to make flower crowns and give them away. It reminds him of his family. Every spring, they had a ritual to make each other flower crowns and give them to each other.

Tanjirou will be jealous if s/o gives his gifts to others.

He easily becomes aggressive in case of danger to his loved one.

If another person is a threat to them, he will simply knock them out / scare them away. But if the threat is another demon, it will not restrain itself and probably immediately pounce on the aggressor to kill.

When he is particularly difficult for him to restrain himself or he feels overwhelmed with rage, he can kill even a much stronger demon. He falls into a kind of psychosis, and even after the murder continues to tear the enemy's body. Tanjirou once again remembers his dead family, and in his mind the demon gets up and kills his s/o, and again he can't do anything.

He stops destroying the body only when he is interfered with or when his mind becomes more stable (after a very long period of time when he is very exhausted).

He must be brought to consciousness by trying to pull him away or by repeating his name. He will recover quickly if s/o does this.

He will not immediately realize that his s / o is afraid of him, instead believing that his loved one is just scared. But when his mind suddenly realizes that his s / o was afraid of Tanjirou himself.

Tanjirou will immediately assume a child's form and cling to their chest, clinging tightly to their clothes. He will babble to s/o to forgive him, and apologize for scaring them. He would probably fall asleep in their arms. He will not want to let them go, experiencing the joy of their smell and touch.

The memories of his s/o will be most vivid when the transformation into a human begins.

Even when he becomes a human, the traits of his attachment to the loved one will remain. He will also give them shiny gifts (out of habit, when he sees a beautiful thing, "my favorite human will like it" will flash through his head) and cling to them when they are around (especially the first time after the transformation).

[maigo-san]

little blazing heart | ch 01

Character(s) Rengoku Kyoujurou, Kamado Tanjirou, Rengoku family, Kamado family

Tag(s) modern setting, parents au, baby oc, domestic fluff, family issues, Kamado and Rengoku family-centric, everyone lives

Word Count 395

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Shinjurou doesn���t know how long he has been staring at it but perhaps now is a bit too late to stare at a flame to… tweak it a little bit. Just a little. He made a loud exhale a minute ago once his eyes laid on the tuff of hair—this is one hairy baby, but so were Kyoujurou and Senjurou—and the soft lines of what its brows will be. He needs a breather. The Kamados seem to be waiting in line too, it will be awful for him to just stand there and obscure the view. “Aah… he really looks like a mix of you two,” Kamado Kie said, glee in her voice. Shinjurou turns around to hide his grimace. Oblivious to her husband’s inner turmoil, Ruka pipes in, pointing out the ears to be just like Tanjirou’s or that it has Kyoujurou’s nose, Shinjurou didn’t even notice the difference. A nose is a nose, ears are ears. But-but-but…

Kyoujurou clears his throat as he presses his back to the wall in front of Shinjurou. In the corner of his eyes, he can see Tanjirou lurking as he walks around. Both families gathers outside of the delivery room, watching the baby from the wide window. “Father, I know what you’re thinking…”

“Didn’t say anything,” Shinjurou turns his head away. He can feel Kyoujurou’s judgy stare and Shinjurou sighs, “it’s just… this is because neither of you wants to do the kankagari! You two always said you’re busy. What if this tradition dies because of you two! I even stayed up to accompany your mother!”

“Well, I don’t think it works that way," Kyoujurou pointed out. "It's all genetics."

Shinjurou gasps, but Kyoujurou only gives him his wide eyes whenever he thinks he isn't saying anything wrong. This punk… “Just the eyes, Kyoujurou…!” he knows it’s too late now. "Just the eyes!"

The lines on Kyoujurou’s brows soften. His eldest son smiles and touches his shoulder. Shinjurou hangs his head again.

“Dear…” Ruka calls out, “his eyes are red like mine, don’t you think?” she smiles softly and knowingly, and just as that Shinjurou melts. He waves his arm in dismissive as he walks toward the baby.

Shinjurou stops scowling as he stares long at the pair of big maroon eyes. “ It does, I guess…”

Kyoujurou's smile drops from behind him as Tanjirou laughs.

Ao3 link

[kny-secret-santa2019]

From: @3rdgymbros​

For: @knybits​

message: hi, lovely, merry christmas! i was watching mulan and this was the result - i really hope you like this oneshot! i’ve been a big fan of your blog, and i love the creativity and effort that you put into writing scenarios! thank you for all your hard work!

— pairing; tanjirou kamado x reader ( modern au )

— prompt; want to help me get my parents off my ass about not having a date?

The matter of you finding a date for the annual family Christmas party begins to obsess your Grandmother. She won’t let the matter rest until your Grandfather and Father both take up the refrain; and once the men of the household are of her own mind, Grandmother immediately goes through the list of prestigious family connections. One such date includes the eldest son of an abalone cannery millionaire. A prospective date is suggested and your protests dismissed entirely.

“Only one date. If you like him, you can have another,” Your Grandmother says, with an impatient wave of her blood-coloured nails, the scent of Schiaparelli and mothballs wafting about her.

It’s unbearable. You lock yourself in your room and refuse to come out, anger and fear drumming through your body. You throw yourself onto the bed and listen as your Grandmother beats her small fists against the door.

“Do you want to be an old maid?” She screams.

“Yes!” You howl in return. Outside you hear whispering, and you know that your mother is there.

It’s unbearable. You’re only in High School and already your life is being squeezed into a box, all those rules and expectations laid out for you, and you’re expected to play along like the good daughter that you are. No one cares that you’ve been acing all your classes, that you’ve been nursing a secret hope that you might win a scholarship and go to England and study law when you graduate.

At last you’re left alone, and you hear the tiny shuffling steps of your Grandmother, supported by your Mother, fading away down the corridor. After a while, you get up, and, opening the window shutters wide, observe the slender branches of the Mexican lilac pushing up beneath the sill, wondering if it will hold your weight.

It’s not easy to reach the tree without falling from the window, but at last you grasp a strong branch and you swing yourself forwards, your sneaker-clad feet scrabbling for a hold against the trunk. Almost at once, you hear a loud crack, and falls with the branch the short distance to the ground. Your knee is scraped and you feel your shoulder throb with the beginnings of a bruise, but nothing more, and scrambling up, you run off through the main gate of the family estate.

An hour later, with nowhere else to go, you find yourself in the Kamado family bakery, pouring out your sorrows to a sympathetic Tanjirou, who nods in response at your story, as your tone rises to a high, fevered crescendo, and how your face wrinkles in distress at the impossible situation that your family has forced you into.

You pause for breath, and look around the Kamado family bakery. Nezuko, a baguette in her mouth, mans the cashier and counts out change for a waiting customer. Bells of all sizes, from tiny jingle to massive cow, chimes out entrances from hooks on the back of the door. The combination of scents envelops you: vanilla and cinnamon and warm chocolates with hints of lemon and cherry. As you sip on your frothy latte, you inhale the pockets of aromas, each one a comforting embrace of all that is good in this upside-down world.

Tanjirou slides a cream éclair over to you; you moan at the sight of the chocolate-covered confection, a specialty of the bakery, and your favorite dessert. “It’s on the house,” He says, smiling warmly, and a twinge sadly. “I wish I could do more to help.”

You seep deeper into your chair, letting his words roll over you. Tanjirou’s always been a good friend of yours, helpful and eager to please, and when he smiles, oh, when he smiles, it’s almost as if the sun itself is unfurling its rays and bringing light to your dreary existence. You have to battle back a blush, along with the realization that this little crush on your classmate isn’t going away anytime soon.

A plan slowly begins to form in your mind. You almost feel guilty for what you’re about to propose, and you promise yourself that you’ll buy all your bread from The Kamado Family Bakery for as long as you live.

“You can.” Propping your chin up with the flat of your palm, you motion Tanjirou closer. “So. Want to help me get my parents off my ass about not having a date?”

Tanjirou smiles, his face wrinkling into the lines of one used to joy and gentleness. In your chest, your traitorous heart thumps all the harder, a shoe knocking about noisily in the dryer. You swallow. Hard.

“Sure! What do you have in mind?”

This is the first thing that you think: that this whole situation seems like something right out one of Zenitsu’s trashy romance novels. This is the second thing that you think, somewhat in a daze, with cheeks painted red: Tanjirou cleans up well.

You make a beeline for Tanjirou as he hovers by the door, a paper bag clutched uncertainly in his hands, even as an uncharacteristically timid smile graces his lips; but as your attention is currently being occupied by your Grand-Aunt, who has forgotten your name for the third time in a row, and it’s your Mother and Father who, as one, both move intercept him, cutting through the crowd to greet him. Though, you suppose, it’s better your parents than your Grandmother, who is bound to be watching the boy you’ve brought home with an eagle-eye from her place of honor at the head of the table.

“You must be Tanjirou,” Father says, his face impassive as always, giving nothing away. “( Your Name ) has told us about you.”

“I-It’s very nice to meet you!” Tanjirou says in response, a little too loudly, and his cheeks color pink as everyone in the room turns to look, sizing him up from the top of his hair, plastered to his brows with very strong hair gel, all the way down to his neatly polished shoes. He bows, stiffly and formally. “This is for you!”

“You brought bread?” Your mother asks, taking a peek into the proffered bag. She inhales the yeasty goodness and her eyes light up. “Everyone here loves the bread your family bakes! Come, let me introduce you to the family.”

The tension drains out of Tanjirou’s frame, his expression morphing into one of pride. Mother takes him by the hand and circles the room, making introductions. Every set of eyes smile at him. Father nods discreetly at you before stepping into the kitchen, and you heave a silent sigh of relief. You catch Tanjirou’s eye as he moves about the room, and you smile and nod encouragingly, trying to push calm energy at him.

Step one, passed.

Step two is getting through dinner.

Although you already know how extensive your family is, every year you still find yourself marveling at the sheer amount of people currently occupying the family dining room. The glow of fairy lights adoring the walls gives the large dining room unworldly appeal. The sound of laughter, chatter and greetings competes with the Christmas music playing from the speakers.

Everyone sits down to eat almost immediately. The table is an impressive expanse of solid burl wood, topped with glass. Each place setting bears a napkin starched white, silverware, and a stiff card embossed with individual names. Blessedly, your seat is next to Tanjirou, and directly beside your Grandmother, whose beady eyes always seem to linger on the boy at your side. Her wrinkled lips are pursed into a thin line, and she only nods as Tanjirou introduces himself once again.

You’ll never be able to please her, you think bitterly, staring down at your silverware and your rainbow-hued cup, filled to the brim with sparkling juice. Still, you do feel a tad guilty that it’s because of your hare-brained scheme that Tanjirou is currently in this mess, and so, under the table, you brush your hand against his own. You hope that Tanjirou feels you in that moment, a mix of gratitude and apology wrapped in that one touch.

The moment is fleeting, but the warmth of his smile grounds you and wrings the air out of your lungs all at once. You close your eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation, how the butterflies in your stomach seem to flutter to life at this one simple touch.

Juicy, garlicky meatloaf, creamy scalloped potatoes, blanched greens with slivered almonds, French bread, and salads full of bright colours and textures are placed on the table and passed around family style. The conversation is pleasant but not heady. The star would definitely be Tanjirou, who gracefully answers every question thrown at him; though you do end up stepping in as soon as you catch his face twitching as he forces out a lie – good, honest Tanjirou, you think, would make a terrible poker player.

How did you and ( Your Name ) meet?

We’re classmates. She invited me for dinner.

How old are you?

I’m 16.

Doesn’t your family own a bakery downtown?

Yes, the Kamado Bakery!

The bread there is so good, my daughter stops there every day after school.

Thank you for your support, my dad would be really happy to know that you like his bread so much!

As the conversation tapers into a lull, your mother stands, slips into the kitchen and brings out dessert on a silver tray. There are slices of fruit cake, mince pies, and a chestnut log cake donated by the Kamado Bakery.

You spear a fork into your second slice of log cake, tasting thick, velvety chocolate coating your tongue. You let out a long hum of satisfaction. Various faces around the table are also glazed over with satisfaction, as they refill their plates.

Your Mother turns to Tanjirou then, with a smile and friendly eyes. There’s no doubt in your mind that she fully approves of Tanjirou. “Why don’t you come back again tomorrow with your family? Stay for dinner?”

Until, finally, your Grandmother speaks up, for the first time in the evening. Her voice is completely serious. “Would you like to stay forever?”

You choke on your next spoonful of cake.

[wisteriashouse]

a little jealousy.

pairing: kamado tanjirou x sumiyuri hayami (oc)

genre: fluff; kimetsu academy!au

word count: 7429

remarks: another commission by @hinokami-s​!! honestly this one was a bit of a struggle trying to not make it too kdrama like but also with trying my hand with a new character who i don’t really know, so thank you for challenging me with this! i hope you enjoy it <3

The stage lights dim all at once, adding a dramatic flair as the curtains fall - slowly concealing the scene of a young woman bleeding out on the floor and the man cradling her in his arms. The theatre is hushed except for the sound of gears and wheels turning to move the heavy curtains, the audience still reeling in shock over the twist in the plot and the bittersweet ending.

Well, except one person, perhaps.

“Ooh, is the next performance Hayami’s?” Nezuko whispers from next to him, nearly bouncing up and down in her seat with excitement. She hasn’t been able to concentrate much on the entire series of performances showcased by the other clubs at their school, too distracted by the prospect of the finale. Tanjirou only gives a fond smile and nods. Although he’s a lot more calm than Nezuko is, he can’t help but anticipate the next performance as well.

After all, Hayami is going to be the one performing.

“I’m so excited,” Nezuko gushes. “Hayami showed me a bit of what they were working on a while back, and it was already so cool!”

“Well, she is the president of the dance club,” Tanjirou reminds his sister. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be amazing.”

Even in the dim light of the auditorium, he can see Nezuko’s teasing little smirk. “Of course you would think so, brother, with your massive crush on Hayami-”

Tanjirou puts his hand over Nezuko’s mouth before his younger sister can blurt it out to the whole world. “Shush, Nezuko,” he tries to say, but Nezuko only laughs playfully, looking far too amused for a younger sister who’s bullying her dear older brother. “What if someone hears?”

“All the better! You’d have more reason to confess to Hayami then!”

“Nezuko, I swear-”

All the stage lights suddenly blink to life in unison, nearly blinding Tanjirou and making Nezuko squeal in excitement. “It’s starting! It’s starting! Wait, I need to get out my phone and take some videos for Instagram…”

Tanjirou, on the other hand, simply relaxes back into the plush seat of the performance hall, intent on watching the performance properly. It’s rare that he has free time like today, oftentimes being too busy with school, his part time job or his responsibilities at the family bakery to really enjoy himself like a regular high school student would. But Hayami had insisted, even going as far to offer both him and Nezuko free tickets in one of the front row seats, just so the two of them could have some fun and relax.

Well, when she had looked at him so excitedly, explaining all the different shows the performance clubs would be putting on, how could he possibly refuse her good intentions?

Lights flood the stage, the curtains falling to the sides to reveal a group of performers standing on the stage in various confidant poses, their silhouettes outlined against the glowing backdrop. All around them, the speakers start to blare a song - one that Tanjirou is quite sure he’s heard before, but isn’t entirely sure what it is - and it sends the entire audience into loud cheers.

“Oooh, Really Bad Boy by Red Velvet! I approve of this song choice!” Nezuko cheers, waving her phone in the air as the group breaks into a dance. Squinting against the bright lights, Tanjirou tries his best to concentrate on the performance, but he always finds his eyes roaming the performers, as if searching for someone…

“Sing along with us!”

Tanjirou looks up at the stage in surprise at the familiar voice, and his eyes widen when he sees Hayami standing at the very edge closest to him. There’s striking makeup done artfully on her face and she almost glows under the lights of the stage, a fierce yet ethereal aura radiating from her. The sight is almost enough to take Tanjirou’s breath away.

Just at that moment, Hayami glances down at the front row when Tanjirou looks up, and their gazes meet for the briefest of seconds. Hayami’s eyes gleam like fine cut amethysts, sparkling in the light, her platinum hair swinging out behind her in a high ponytail. And when their gazes meet in the middle, Hayami grins at him - a bright, unrestrained sight that has Tanjirou’s heart skipping in his chest.

“Brother, your blush is showing, you know!” Nezuko calls over the heavy bass coming over the speakers, and Tanjirou instantly clasps both hands over his cheeks, feeling slight heat along his palms. At his mortification, Nezuko only laughs harder, tears nearly escaping her eyes and raising her phone to his face. “You’re so cute, brother! Let me take a photo, I’m sure Hayami would love to see it.”

“No.” Tanjirou tries to make a grab for the phone but misses, and he hears the telltale click of Nezuko’s camera phone. With a long, drawn out sigh, he simply gives up and slumps back into his seat, resigned to watching the rest of the performance. There’s no stopping Nezuko when she’s in a playful mood like this, he thinks to himself with fond ruefulness. Well, he doesn’t really mind it, though…

The performance ends with a bang, and Tanjirou joins the audience in giving a standing ovation as the rest of the performers stream onto the stage for their final bow. And as confetti rains down from the ceiling, gold streamers and coloured paper dancing through the air, Tanjirou thinks that Hayami looks absolutely radiant.

As soon as the performance night is over and the performers have all retreated backstage, the audience begins streaming out of the halls, chattering excitedly about all the different shows that were put on that night. Tanjirou, on the other hand, remains firmly rooted to his seat, his bag held tightly to his chest as if he’s carrying glass with him.

“Hayami’s performance was so cool! God, if I knew how to dance I’d join her club right away - wait, I’m not even in high school yet. That’s fine, that’s fine. It just means that I have more time to learn how to dance,” Nezuko glances back to see her older brother not listening to her in the least, instead dedicating his attention to checking the contents of his bag carefully. Curious, she leans over to catch a glance. “What’s that?”

Tanjirou jumps at Nezuko’s question, before he relaxes slightly, chewing at his bottom lip with nerves. “Oh, nothing much. It’s just… um, some flowers.” Nezuko’s eyes widen in interest. Who knew her brother had a romantic bone in his body? “Zenitsu mentioned yesterday that it’s customary for other students to bring flowers for their friends who perform as congratulatory gifts, so I stopped by Kanae-san’s flower shop after school today to get some for her...”

Nezuko immediately reaches for his bag, and Tanjirou holds it high out of her reach, suddenly feeling embarrassed for no reason at all. “What flowers did you get her?” Nezuko chirps, waving her hands high in the air as she attempts to get a look. “Please don’t tell me you got her a head of cabbage or, god forbid, a broccoli flower. Knowing you, brother…”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

Finally giving up on trying to get her hands on Tanjirou’s mystery bouquet, Nezuko only pouts and relents. “Well, since you’ve got flowers to give to Hayami, let’s head backstage! I know a few friends in the drama club who performed today, so they’ll let us in.” Tanjirou frowns a little at how excited his younger sister seems to be in his place.

“It’s almost as if you’re the one giving the flowers to Hayami,” he says. Nezuko beams at him.

“Of course I have to be involved on your behalf, brother!” She explains, her smile all too wide to be innocent, before she leans in to nudge his side and give him a subtle wink. “Just remember to mention me as your wingwoman during your speech on your wedding day, got it?”

Tanjirou groans.

>>>

Backstage is more chaotic than Tanjirou would have thought.

Even though the performance is already over, participants still rush to and fro different rooms, their arms laden with crumpled costumes or props, faces still done with dramatic stage makeup that looks rather strange in the lighting of the corridors. Nezuko leads Tanjirou down to where the dance club’s room is supposed to be, coaching him on how to present a girl properly with flowers with words of advice such as, “don’t do anything Zenitsu-san would do” and “brother, why didn’t you dress up a little for today’s performance”. After reassuring her for the third time that, no, he hadn’t let Inosuke chomp on his bouquet (although the boy had tried to earlier), Nezuko comes to a stop outside an unassuming room at the very end of the corridor.

The paper stuck on the door reads ‘dance club’, the blank spaces decorated with smiley faces and hearts in various doodling styles. He recognises the wink done in purple ink as one done by Hayami’s hand, and a slight smile touches his lips at the sight of it. He’s seen it many times before - left scrawled in the corner of his exercise books when he visits the maid cafe and on post-its during exam periods - so he recognises her handwriting almost instantly.

“Your hair is awful,” Nezuko complains, reaching out to flatten the top of his hair. His hair looks the same as it always has, but it apparently doesn’t quite pass Nezuko’s standards, so he’s forced to stand stock still with his sister trying to fix his hairdo as people walk by. “You could have thought to dress up a little for today, you know?”

Tanjirou frowns, confused. “For what occasion?”

“You, brother,” Nezuko says delicately as she arranges his bangs, “are so dumb sometimes.”

“What do you mean-”

“Unfortunately, that’s the best I can do right now, and we really need to get going before the dance club needs to leave.” Both hands on his shoulders, Nezuko steers him to the door of the dance club before shoving something into his hand. When he looks down, he’s surprised to see himself holding a bouquet of light purple lilies - when had Nezuko taken them from his bag? “Come on, brother! It’s time to shoot your shot! Make Hayami yours! Put a ring on her-”

“I am not proposing, wait, I’m not even confessing to her!” Tanjirou cries, suddenly panicked. Confessing? He doesn’t even know how she feels about him that way! “I’m just giving her some flowers, like Zenitsu told me to do-”

Behind the two of them, the door suddenly swings open.

“Hey, what’s with all the racket right outside our door? If you have something to say, just-” Tanjirou’s wide eyes meet Hayami’s, and for a moment, the two of them simply stare at each other in surprise. Hayami still hasn’t removed her stage makeup, her lips painted crimson red and bold eyeliner only accentuating her clear lilac eyes.

She looks stunning.

“Oh, Tanjirou, Nezuko, I was just about to go find the two of you myself!” Hayami is talking, but Tanjirou doesn’t really hear her words, a deer caught in the headlights and the lilies growing all too weighty in his hands. “I hope you guys liked the performance! We had to rush to change the formations today since one of the members got sick, so I hope it wasn’t too noticeable.”

“I didn’t even notice, that was amazing!” Nezuko smiles, reaching out to squeeze Hayami’s hands reassuringly. “I really loved the performance, and all the song choices! Keep a spot for me in the team when I finally get to high school, yeah? Or better yet, how about you teach me dance? You were so cool today, I really want to be able to dance like that in the future!”

“Oh, it’s nothing much,” Hayami says bashfully, twirling a lock of platinum hair around her finger. Tanjirou catches a hint of a rosy blush on her cheeks. So cute... “I’m sure you’ll be able to do it if you just try!”

Next to him, Nezuko nudges him in the side and gives the flowers in his hands a meaningful look.

“Oh, right,” Tanjirou fumbles over his words, mind seemingly blank. Flowers. “Uhm, Zenitsu said that I should bring flowers as a congratulatory gift when there are friends performing, so…” He holds out the bouquet, and Hayami’s eyes widen in surprise, seemingly noticing it for the first time. Tanjirou can feel his own cheeks burning. “You looked amazing on the stage today, Hayami.”

Hayami looks down at the small bouquet of lilies in his hands for a moment, before she breaks out into an incandescent smile, almost too bright for Tanjirou to look at. “Thank you,” she says, reaching out to take the bouquet. “I’ll take care of them-”

“Darling!”

Right before Hayami can take the bouquet, a taller figure sweeps past Tanjirou with long, confident strides - making a beeline straight towards Hayami - and plops a massive bouquet of red roses into her outstretched hands. “For you!”

He’s tall, taller than Hayami, with dark hair and matching eyes that shine with mirth. His ears are pierced with little black hoops. Tanjirou thinks he’s seen him around a few times before, constantly surrounded by different people while he remains the nucleus of the conversation. Who is he? From his athletic build and height to the easy way he carries himself, light on the balls of his feet… a sports player, perhaps?

“Hey!” Nezuko protests, possibly indignant at watching her brother’s future romantic relations being ruined on the spot, but Tanjirou doesn’t notice, eyes fixed on the newcomer with a furrowed brow. While Tanjirou normally tries to be patient and polite with everyone he meets (save for his first meeting with Inosuke, but to be fair, the boy had thought that Nezuko had stolen something from him), but he can’t help the strange awkwardness he feels around the taller boy. A little rude, but he seems to know Hayami, so…

“Ginjiro, you shouldn’t have,” Hayami lets out a sigh as she looks over at the bouquet. Her fingertips trace the velvet petals. “How much did this cost? A kidney on the black market?”

“Not quite, but close enough!” The boy, Ginjiro, grins wolfishly at her. There’s a sort of… easygoing, unruly charm to him that Tanjirou can’t quite put his finger on, but he can see why the boy is so popular. “Ninety-nine whole Ecuadorian roses! I’m sure you know what that number means, my dear Hayami.”

Hayami rolls her eyes, shaking her head, but she doesn’t look very put off by his blatant flirting, much to Tanjirou’s surprise and slight unease.

“Ninety nine roses… doesn’t that mean eternal love? Usually given to romantic partners…” Nezuko mutters from behind him, and Tanjirou feels his heart drop in his chest. His sister turns to Hayami, eyes wide with shock. “Hayami, don’t tell me this… guy is your boyfriend?”

“No,” Hayami says flatly, just as Ginjiro sings, “Not yet!” and proceeds to laugh merrily as if he hasn’t just declared his intentions to date Hayami in front of them all. To Tanjirou’s shock, Hayami simply sighs and places a hand on her forehead before turning back to him.

“Ignore him, he’s an idiot.” Hayami tells Tanjirou, attempting a smile to lighten the mood. Try as he might, however, Tanjirou just can’t seem to bring himself to give a genuine one in return. “Let me take those flowers from you. I’m really grateful that you made the time to come today, I know how busy you are at the bakery.”

Even as she does take the flowers from him, Tanjirou can’t help but feel that his lilies are dwarfed in comparison by Ginjiro’s scarlet bouquet, crimson red overpowering the delicate lilac. Tanjirou isn’t one to feel ashamed of his family’s financial situation, but in times like this… he can’t help but feel uncomfortable with the wealth displayed in front of him. And for Hayami to not even bat an eyelash, but seem so completely unimpressed...

The gap between him and Hayami seems to grow just a little wider.

“Anyways, I booked a table at the rooftop restaurant you like, just for the two of us,” Ginjiro continues, without giving Tanjirou a single second to speak. “Let’s go hang out, you’ve been so busy the past few weeks… it’s as if I haven’t seen your face at all for months! I am feeling extremely neglected.”

“It’s because I’ve been busy with planning the dance performance,” Hayami retorts with a shake of the head. “Besides, didn’t you just crash the Student Council meeting yesterday just to steal some snacks off me? Don’t lie about neglect, you little ass.”

“What?” Ginjiro puts a hand over his chest, batting his eyelashes so furiously Tanjirou wonders if they’ll fall off. “You know it’s because I missed you, Hayami dear.”

Tanjirou does not know how to act - not when another man is so clearly vying for Hayami’s attention. If he were making Hayami uncomfortable in any way, Tanjirou would have been more than happy to see him off, but Hayami seems to know him, and actually seems… rather close to him.

It makes Tanjirou slightly uncomfortable.

“Oh right, Tanjirou, Nezuko, you haven’t met Ginjiro before, have you?” Hayami says. Stiffly, Tanjirou nods in agreement, but Nezuko pipes up.

“You’re Sato Ginjiro, aren’t you? Captain of the basketball club? I heard Zenitsu complaining about him before, saying that he’s too popular with the girls.” She mutters, folding her arms over her chest and Ginjiro grins widely as Hayami only rolls her eyes. “He’s got quite a… reputation.”

As if trying to ease the awkwardness in the air, Hayami only gives a placating smile, stepping between the two of them. “Right, that’s Ginjiro for you. He’s one of my friends from back since middle school, but he can be overbearing sometimes.” Ginjiro gives a dramatic gasp, acting offended, which Hayami pays no attention to. She then gestures at the siblings, eyes softening slightly as they fall on Tanjirou. “Ginjiro, these are Tanjirou and Nezuko, both dear friends of mine. Nezuko is Tanjirou’s younger brother, still in high school, so you might not have seen her around before. I hope that you all get along.”

That might be a little difficult, Tanjirou’s lips press together uneasily. Nezuko, who’s far more vocal about her opinions, pouts openly. “I don’t want to-”

“Wow, didn’t know that even the middle school kids knew about me,” Ginjiro laughs, and out of the corner of his eye, Tanjirou catches Nezuko making a face. “Only good things, I hope?”

“Hmph, just so that you know, Hayami-” Nezuko begins, but before she can say any more, Tanjirou tugs at her arm lightly, stopping her words in her tracks.

“We should be leaving first, we need to catch the last bus home before it’s too late.” Tanjirou interjects quickly, giving Hayami and Ginjiro an apologetic smile that seems just a hint forced. Nezuko looks like she wants to argue, but a stern look from her older brother has her falling quiet. “I hope you enjoy your dinner later.”

Ginjiro doesn’t seem to notice the tightness of Tanjirou’s mouth nor the reason behind Nezuko’s sulking, only grinning in response. “Oh yeah, we definitely will! The restaurant is a Michelin star that Hayami’s been wanting to try for ages, so I had to tip the receptionist extra to get a reservation. Still,” he winks at Hayami, who only sighs in response, “anything for my dearest Hayami, don’t you think?”

“You’re always like this,” Hayami complains, and Ginjiro laughs, oblivious to the siblings’ discomfort. It feels as though they’re intruding, and Tanjirou would hate to do that if Hayami really did have feelings for her, well, long time friend. Turning to Tanjirou and Nezuko, Hayami frowns a little. “Sorry, I intended on spending some time with the two of you after the performance, but the restaurant’s booking is really, really expensive…”

“It’s no problem.” The words taste wooden in Tanjirou’s mouth but he forces them out, along with the reassuring smile on his face. “I’ll see you next Monday at school, then.”

Ginjiro steps forward, his ever present grin on his face as he extends a hand to Tanjirou. “It was nice meeting you.” As Tanjirou grasps his hand to shake, he swears that Ginjiro squeezes just a little harder than what would be polite. His smile seems more reminiscent of a smirk now. Tanjirou has to bite back a slight wince. “Hope to see you around, buddy.”

He doesn’t sound like he means what he says.

“Let’s go, Nezuko.” With a last wave at Hayami, Tanjirou turns on his heel and walks away from the two of them, Nezuko hurrying to catch up with her brother’s longer strides. Behind them, Hayami bites her bottom lip, wondering what on earth has just happened in front of her earlier. For her own sanity, it would probably be a good idea to keep Ginjiro and Tanjirou very far apart...

“So, shall we get going, darling Hayami?” Ginjiro turns around to look at Hayami, who quickly banishes the pensive expression on her face. Yes, Ginjiro might be an ass and his flirting might be overbearing at times (all the time), but he’s still one of her good friends, and he’s done so much for her too. With a sigh, she can only shake her head. “Don’t bully Tanjirou, okay?”

Ginjiro shrugs airily. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Reaching out, he tugs at her wrist. “Come on, let’s go! They have these artisanal doughnuts that I am absolutely dying for you to try… And of course, it’s my treat!”

Hayami allows Ginjiro to pull her by the hand to his car, but for the rest of the night she can’t help but think of the slightly bitter expression on Tanjirou’s face as he walked away earlier, and how she’s never seen him make such a face before. Slight worry builds up in her as she wonders if she’s done something to upset the ever placid Tanjirou, and Hayami makes up her mind to ask him about it come Monday.

But for now, even the doughnuts don’t taste as sweet.

>>>

Hayami does not get to ask Tanjirou anything come Monday, mainly because Ginjiro does not seem to have any intention of leaving her side and giving her and Tanjirou some alone time. The second her classes are over, Ginjiro appears at the door to walk her to the next, chattering to her excitedly about his new modelling gig and whatnot, and Hayami is far too polite to interrupt when he’s talking about something he’s clearly so passionate about.

It doesn’t help that Ginjiro is suddenly being a lot more…. flirty than usual, with an abundance of sweet and suggestive words paired with a lot of indecent hands that she’s had to slap away. She’s used to this sort of behaviour from Ginjiro, having known him for so long, but today seems more… excessive. Hayami doesn’t know what exactly is up with the boy.

Out of the corner of her eye, she can sometimes see a head of chestnut hair lingering behind pillars or around the bends at corridors, but the second she tries to approach it, Ginjiro either steers her attention away, or the person she’s increasingly desperate to talk to vanishes of his own volition. Tanjirou can’t possibly be avoiding her, can he? Worry gnaws at her insides, even as she sits down to have lunch with Ginjiro in the canteen.

What if he really doesn’t like Ginjiro?

Looking down at her food, Hayami chews on her bottom lip. Today morning has killed her appetite completely, to the point she almost doesn’t feel like eating anything. Still, she already skipped breakfast because she overslept, and it wouldn’t be healthy to miss two meals in a row…

Taking her hesitation for dislike, Ginjiro nudges her in the shoulder. “What’s the matter? Don’t like your bento today?” Hurriedly, Hayami shakes her head, moving to pick up her chopsticks.

“Oh, no, no, I was just spacing out,” she says, but Ginjiro only raises an eyebrow, the perceptive little bastard.

“Well, I have some strawberry mochi here for you, if you want something for your sweet tooth,” Ginjiro smiles, picking up the sweet and holding it up to her lips. Hayami stares at him with an exasperated face, but Ginjiro doesn’t let up. “Come on, Hayami dear. Say ahh-”

“Here, have some takoyaki, Hayami,” someone interrupts all of a sudden, and Hayami looks down to see a round octopus ball being put on her bento. Glancing up in surprise, Hayami is shocked to see the very person that she’s been trying to find all day - Tanjirou. If Tanjirou notices how shocked she is, he doesn’t mention it, only sliding into the seat next to her with his usual placid smile on his face. “I made that this morning myself. Try some and tell me what you think.”

“W-Where’s Inosuke and Zenitsu?” Why is she stuttering? “Don’t you usually have lunch with them?”

“Zenitsu had to go for remedials with Rengoku-sensei, and Inosuke wanted to try catching some of the fish in the school pond,” Tanjirou tells her calmly as he sets down his bento next to hers. Vaguely, Hayami wonders if she should inform Aoi about this so that the discipline council can stop the boar headed boy before the fish meet their ill fates, but then decides it’s better to pretend she never knew about it in the first place. Ignorance is bliss, after all. “Since I was left alone, I thought that I should join you for lunch, Hayami.” Tanjirou smiles politely at Ginjiro, who’s wearing an unusually stoic expression. “I didn’t expect you to be here, Ginjiro-san. I hope you don’t mind me intruding.”

“Not at all,” Ginjiro replies before Hayami can. Although he’s still wearing an easygoing smile, it’s one that he wears around prospective business clients he doesn’t like or when he meets with Hayami’s parents - not a genuine one in the least. “Please, feel free to sit with us. It wouldn’t be right of me to be possessive over a girl I’m not dating yet, would it?”

At Ginjiro’s goading tone, both boys’ eyes lock and Hayami feels electricity rise in the air, static prickling along her skin. Awkwardly, she picks up the takoyaki and puts it in her mouth. It does taste good, but she can’t really enjoy the savoury flavour when this is happening right in front of her.

“Right, just as it wouldn’t be to be possessive over friends, like you and Hayami. Don’t you agree?” Tanjirou says calmly, reaching for his sandwich. Ginjiro’s eye twitches at Tanjirou’s provocative words, but he keeps his cool. Hayami doesn’t understand what is going on.

“That’s true, although Hayami and I are more than just friends,” Ginjiro answers. Hayami frowns, opening her mouth to clarify Ginjiro’s words, but Tanjirou cuts across before she can answer.

“Oh? The two of you must be so close that she sees you as a brother, then. That’s really admirable.”

“You too. Hayami always tells me about how you take care of her like how you take care of your younger sister.”

At a total loss to what’s happening, Hayami slumps back in her seat, feeling the beginnings of a migraine coming on. Watching the two of them take verbal snipes at each other is somehow even less pleasant than watching her parents squabble, so she only gives up and shakes her head, letting them duke it out on their own terms.

Men, she thinks with a sigh. Hopefully, this will wear off by the end of the week.

>>>

Much to Hayami’s exhaustion, it doesn’t end there.

As if that little meeting had only spurred on their competitive urge, Ginjiro and Tanjirou both have started acting very differently from what they’re usually like. On one hand, Ginjiro has turned unbearably flirty, constantly dropping suggestive one liners and his hands somehow always finding their way to her in Tanjirou’s presence. On the other hand, Tanjirou has become excessively helpful whenever Ginjiro is around, offering to help her carry books or papers between classes. While his altruistic personality is something that Hayami has always admired, this goes far beyond what she’s used to.

Ginjiro and Tanjirou only act like this in each other’s presences, though, so Hayami works out that there must be some sort of tension between them - whether they’ve fought before or they just don’t like each others’ faces, Hayami doesn’t know. All she knows is that she doesn’t like being caught in the middle of this.

Which is why she will try her best to avoid having both of them meet, instead choosing to only hang out with one of them at the time. Today, Tanjirou has offered to help her clean the student council room (after Aoi had accidentally let this slip in the corridors), hence here they are, Hayami finally getting to enjoy Tanjirou’s presence for the first time in the entire week.

It’s already the end of the week, and Hayami realises that this is the first time she’s managed to get Tanjirou alone… without Ginjiro butting in some way or another.

When he’s not trying to one up Ginjiro at whatever little game they’re playing, Tanjirou’s presence is as soothing as a gentle summer breeze on a hot day. Instead of being overbearingly nice, with those strange half smiles and hard eyes directed at Ginjiro, his mouth is tilted in a slight, content smile as he wipes at the desk with a cloth, pausing occasionally to sweep his chestnut hair back from his forehead.

“Hayami, you missed a spot here,” Tanjirou points at the corner of the window, and Hayami startles out of her thoughts, suddenly very aware that she was staring. Quickly, she hurries to bring her cloth to the area, but finds it too high for her to reach. Her height has failed her.

Moving to stand on her tiptoes, she tries again, the cloth just inches from the spot of dust on the window. Slightly embarrassed now, Hayami turns to Tanjirou and gives him the most pitiful expression she can muster. The boy’s laugh is gentle, and the sound makes Hayami’s heart flutter in her chest.

“It’s no problem,” Tanjirou tells her, moving towards the back of the room. “I’ll just grab a stepladder from the storage room that we can use.”

“Thanks, Tanjirou!” Hayami calls after him, smiling. Right, this is the pleasant, well mannered Tanjirou that she knows.

“Hey, Hayami-chan, cleaning the council room again?”

At the sound of Ginjiro’s voice, Hayami has to bite back a groan, forcing a suitable smile onto her face as she turns around to face her friend. As usual, one of his hands comes up to rest on her shoulder and she has to fight the urge to bat it away. What is he doing here?

“Yeah, I was rostered for cleanup today since I drew the short end of the stick at the last council meeting. And you,” she pokes his shoulder hard with a finger to emphasize her point, “are not supposed to be in the student council room without express permission from a teacher. Who did you get caught by the last time you were in here, Shinazugawa-sensei?”

Ginjiro’s unflappable grin falters a little at that, looking more like a wince now. “That man chased me all the way to the school gates, I swear my ass was black and blue by the time he let me go.” Hayami rolls her eyes. “ ‘sides, I saw you cleaning the windows from the ground floor and thought I’d give you a hand. Aren’t I perfect boyfriend material?”

Hayami scoffs, fighting the urge to smack him. When on earth will he cool it with the flirty lines?

“Perfect pervert material, more like. It’s your own fault for giving yourself such an awful reputation for peeping.” Shaking her head, Hayami busies herself wringing out the cloth in her hands before returning her attention to the window behind her. When she does, however, she spots Tanjirou standing there with a stepladder in his hands, lips drawn into a tight line as he stares down Ginjiro.

He does not look pleased to see the older boy there.

As if noticing him for the first time, Ginjiro raises a hand in greeting before Hayami can intervene, a sly smile growing on his lips. “Hey, Tanjirou! Coincidence seeing you here.”

“Coincidence, much?” Hayami mumbles under her breath, exasperated. Can they please just let off for five minutes and let her clean her windows in peace? Shaking her head, she turns around to face the window so that she doesn’t have to look at either of them. Why can’t she just reach that spot?

“It’s a coincidence seeing you here too, Ginjiro-san.” Tanjirou’s voice is clipped. “I was just helping Hayami clean the student council room today. What are you doing here?”

You’re not supposed to be here, Hayami can hear the underlying meaning to his words. And while she does agree that Ginjiro really needs to stop sneaking into the student council room as and when he likes, Hayami feels like Tanjirou is being a little too hostile towards her friend.

“Oh, I was just coming by to ask Hayami something, but I guess I could help with the cleaning too.” To Hayami’s surprise, the cloth in her hands is suddenly plucked out of her grasp. Turning around, she sees Ginjiro standing there with a grin. “Here, let me help you out. I’m perfect boyfriend material, remember?”

Hayami is about to argue that Tanjirou is right there with a stepladder, but Ginjiro is already leaning forward to wipe at the window without giving her any time to move out of the way. As a result, Hayami ends up caught between the glass panes of the window and Ginjiro’s front, far too close for her liking.

“I can’t believe that for all your height, you’re still shorter than me,” Ginjiro teases in a sing-song voice, leaning over to wipe at the window. Part of her swears that he’s doing this on purpose, the little bastard. Hayami scowls, pushing at his chest with both hands in annoyance.

“Wait, Ginjiro,” Hayami snaps, patience quickly running out. “Get out of the way and let me out before-”

There’s a sudden crash behind both of them, and Ginjiro and Hayami whirl around to see Tanjirou standing there with a tense expression on his face. The stepladder lies at his feet, but he makes no move to pick it up.

For a moment, Hayami wonders if Tanjirou might say something unkind - the look on his face is truly something to behold. Tanjirou’s usually good at controlling his emotions (how else would he be able to put up with both Inosuke and Zenitsu at the same time), but this time, he doesn’t seem to be faring as well at reigning in his emotions. Ginjiro, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to notice just how much he’s managed to rile Tanjirou up, instead slinging one arm over Hayami’s shoulder.

“Right, Hayami, I wanted to ask if you’d like to come over to my house later after this. I’ve got some problems with literature homework, I just don’t get Macbeth.” Grinning, he nudges Hayami in the side. “We can catch a movie after, too. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? It’s a weekend tomorrow, and I’m sure your parents wouldn’t mind if you slept over at my house for the night.”

“I-” Hayami begins to say, but is interrupted by Tanjirou.

“Hayami usually comes over to my house on Friday nights, so I don’t think she’ll be able to go with you,” Tanjirou says tersely. Hayami frowns. She was about to say that herself, sure, but the fact that Tanjirou is speaking for her instead leaves her indignant. Hayami can speak for herself. “My mother’s already cooked for her, and besides,” he turns to her, “Nezuko misses you too. She says she hasn’t seen you for the entire week. Hanako, Shigeru, Rokuta, especially.”

Well, Hayami has been busy planning the next dance performance - it’s competition season for the performing arts, so she hasn’t had the time to go over to Tanjirou’s house as often as she likes. Still-

“Masako misses you too,” Ginjiro interjects, before Hayami can get a word in once more. “You know how my little sister is, she adores you. Besides, you’ve known my family longer, haven’t you? You should come with me, I’m sure you can visit Tanjirou’s family another day.”

At that statement, Hayami can feel her temper starting to rise. For Ginjiro to claim that his sister misses her is one thing, but to bring up their friendship to strong-arm Tanjirou’s aside is a huge no-no for her.

“I-”

“What exactly,” Tanjirou’s voice is completely level, and Hayami nearly has to bite back a shiver at his cold tone, “are you trying to imply here, Sato Ginjiro?”

She’s never heard Tanjirou like that before.

Ginjiro scoffs, shaking his head, that easygoing smile dropping to reveal a face full of seething jealousy. “Look here, Kamado, you’re the one who brought up the topic of family first. As if you weren’t trying to manipulate Hayami into visiting your house for your own gain-”

“Enough!”

At the sound of Hayami snapping, both boys immediately shut up. Hayami’s arms are folded over her chest, teeth gritted, and she pauses a moment to take a deep breath before she starts laying it all on the two of them.

“The two of you have been unbearable this entire week! I don’t care about whatever is going on between the two of you, but don’t you drag me into this! I already have my own issues with the dance performance coming up, and my parents,” she has to fight back tears at this point, the words simply spilling out of her as if a dam has broken somewhere inside of her, “are coming home sometime next week! I’m already massively stressed, and I don’t need the two of you adding on to it! So if the two of you aren’t done with your petty little argument, then I’m leaving first!”

With that, she storms out of the student council room, too angry and tired from her little rant to think too much about what she’s just said. Behind her, Ginjiro and Tanjirou stare after her back in shock at her little outburst, too stunned to respond.

Out of nowhere, the shrill sound of a ringtone fills the air between the two of them. Ginjiro fumbles to pick up his phone, pressing it to his ear.

“Masako? Yeah, yeah… I’ll buy some sushi for you on the way home. You’re hungry right now? Alright, I’m coming…” When he hangs up, Ginjiro gives Tanjirou a look out of the corner of his eye, the air between them so thick with awkwardness Tanjirou thinks he could choke on it.

“Okay, look, man, I shouldn’t have said what I said earlier.” Ginjiro says all of a sudden, words stilted as he fumbles with them. Tanjirou looks at him in surprise for a moment, before he sighs and relents.

“I get it. For what it’s worth, I’m… sorry for what’s been happening the past week.” Ginjiro gives an awkward laugh in response, before moving towards the door.

“Well, I gotta go now, so…” He purses his lips, glancing over at the Hayami’s bag on the table. “Could you take that to Hayami and tell her I’m sorry?”

“I got it.” Tanjirou watches as Ginjiro makes a face, as if he wants to say something, but he apparently decides against it and simply leaves without another word. Once left alone in the student council room, Tanjirou runs a hand through his hair and lets out a long, heavy exhale. What exactly came over him just now?

Regardless of whatever it was, it was still unacceptable behaviour for him, and Tanjirou knows that he needs to apologise. With a sigh, he picks up Hayami’s bag and moves towards the door, intent on clearing up this mess before he heads home for the day.

She’s nowhere to be seen, but Tanjirou has a feeling that he knows just where she is.

Walking out of the school gates, he makes his way towards a small neighbourhood playground nearby. And sure enough, beneath the large cedar tree that flourishes there, he sees Hayami sitting beneath it with her knees drawn to her chest, her chin resting on her knees. Her hair is undone, and slightly messy from where she must have run her fingers through it in frustration.

Tanjirou feels awful, but he continues to step towards her. If Hayami notices his presence, she doesn’t say anything, not even when Tanjirou moves to take a seat beside her, but neither does she tell him to leave her alone. He decides to see that as a positive.

“Your bag,” Tanjirou offers, setting down her bag next to her. Peeking up, Hayami gives the bag a look before she buries her face in her knees again.

“Thanks.” Short and curt. But not… angry. That sends relief flooding through Tanjirou, and gives him the courage to do what he came here to do.

“I’m sorry,” he offers meekly, but his words and intentions are genuine. For a moment, Hayami doesn’t respond, but eventually she seems to relax just a little before she speaks.

“Yeah, I’m sorry too… for blowing up like that.”

Tanjirou winces as he recalls Hayami’s anger on full display. “Well, we deserved it,” he tells her honestly, and Hayami turns her head so that she can pin him with a stare.

“I don’t blame you for being so tense, Ginjiro is unbearable at times and I completely understand that.” Tanjirou can’t help but nod along as Hayami speaks. “But I really didn’t know why you weren’t just… I don’t know, ignoring his antics or whatever! Surely you know better than to play into his hands?”

Tanjirou presses his lips into a line as he thinks about all the times during this past week that Ginjiro has put his hands on Hayami, or tried to monopolize her time, and the same, irksome feeling rises up in him once more. Ah, Tanjirou’s eyes widen in realisation. It was-

When he glances up, Hayami is still looking at him, waiting for an answer. However, Tanjirou can only give a slight smile, and shakes his head.

“Sorry,” he says. “I don’t know what came over me. It won’t happen again.”

“I hope it doesn’t,” Hayami huffs, but Tanjirou can tell that she’s calmed down now. Both of them sit in silence for a moment, until Tanjirou feels something tugging gently at his sleeve. Turning around, he looks at Hayami, who’s glancing away towards the playground where the children are running about, the sounds of their laughter filling the air. There’s slight colour dancing along her cheeks, but Tanjirou can’t tell whether it’s from the light of the setting sun or something else...

“Still,” she begins to say, looking slightly hesitant, and Tanjirou tilts his head to the side as he waits for her to continue. “Still… Can we go to your house for dinner? I mean, it’s like you said, I miss Rokuta and Hanako, and the rest of them as well…”

Tanjirou laughs. “Of course we can. You’re always welcome at my home, remember?” Rising to his feet, he extends one hand to Hayami. “Come on, Hayami.”

Hayami blinks at his hand before she reaches out to take it. Her fingers wrap around his calloused ones, and he hoists her to her feet. “We should hurry. Mother cooked takoyaki and karaage for dinner tonight, so if we don’t hurry, Nezuko and Takeo will eat them all.”

Hayami’s eyes widen at the sound of Kie’s home cooking waiting for her. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” Tightening her hold on Tanjirou’s hand, she pulls him down the road towards his house. “Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Tanjirou only smiles, and follows Hayami with slower, steadier steps as she practically skips down the road. Although this storm has blown over without much incident, Tanjirou is more than aware that these affections for Hayami will only continue to grow with the passing of time.

He really should tell Hayami about these feelings that he has for her soon.

[silverynight]

Enemy

Arcane AU

Chapter 1

As he tries to avoid Nezuko's attacks, Tanjirou remembers every time she tried cheer him up after the death of their family. He remembers her voice and her kind eyes and all the times they have helped each other brush their hair.

He thinks about all of those things as he falls to the ground in that cold street in the Undercity.

"Nezuko, please!" He screams; there are people nearby, but the neighborhood they find themselves in is not a friendly one. Tanjirou knows no one is going to help him. "I'm your brother! Please, remember!"

Tanjirou is good at fighting; having lost all his family when he was a kid and being born in the Undercity has taught him a thing or two about surviving. He knows how to throw a kick and even knock someone out using only his fists, but he doesn't want to hurt Nezuko. Besides, this Nezuko is very different from his sixteen-year-old sister.

Her eyes are glowing purple and her nails have become sharp as she tries to reach his face to hurt him; she's stronger now. Tanjirou has heard about the drug Kibutsuji and his men use to slowly poison their own city, the one they distribute to control everything.

Tanjirou doesn't understand, he's sure he had warned his sister about taking the drug, besides, he's heard is expensive so how did she get it?

Finally, Tanjirou manages to push her aside and almost collapses again as he tries to rise from the ground that's quickly getting wet because of the rain. It's a dark day, but all days are the same in that particular region, the place is only illuminated by the neon lights that every building has outside. It makes everything look more sick and dangerous than it already is.

The sun never reaches the Undercity, that's a privilege only meant for the Topside, at the other side of the bridge.

Nezuko growls and charges at him again, Tanjirou doesn't have the time to move out of the way because she's so fast now; he grabs both her hands instead and trembles under the amount of force she's using. He's not going to last long.

"I'm Tanjirou!" He screams because he's desperate and because he fears she can't listen to him due to the rain. Her long, beautiful hair is all wet and she must be cold, although she doesn't seem to care about that at the moment.

Nezuko is too far gone.

"I'm your brother! Please, you're the only thing I have left! Come back to me!"

She chokes after managing to scratch his ear, the blood spilled makes her remember... Her eyes are not glowing anymore, but they're still purple and only then, only when she stops attacking it's when Tanjirou notices the syringe on the back of her neck. Someone did that on purpose. Someone poisoned her sister.

"Tanjirou?" Nezuko mumbles, looking like she's devastated. He's not sure if she's been crying or they're just drops of water that are falling all over her face.

"It's alright," he pulls her into his arms. "You'll be fine. We'll be fine."

He takes her home and asks her to tell him everything that happened; she doesn't remember that much, just a couple of people surrounding her as she tried to go back to the abandoned old basement they call home.

Tanjirou shouldn't have let her go on her own, but he had to collect his payment from the owner of the bar he works at.

She trembles even after she changes her clothes and comes back into the room so Tanjirou can use the towel in his hands to dry her hair.

"I'm a monster now," Nezuko mumbles, looking herself through the only broken mirror they have.

"You are not."

Nezuko chuckles, but Tanjirou doesn't hear any happiness in the sound. It's just pain.

"You're right. This drug doesn't turn people into monsters. We're more like demons."

"You are my sister," Tanjirou says almost fiercely, prompting Nezuko to turn around quickly to give him a hug. She sobs over his shoulder for a while and he tries to be strong for her even though he doesn't know what's going to happen to them now.

They've seen a couple of people die because of the drug, how addicted they become to it. How much they change.

"You'll have to tie me," Nezuko whispers then.

"What? No!"

"Tanjirou, I can feel the madness coming back again. I don't want to hurt you," she sobs. "If I try to... You can use one of those tubes to hit me on the head, perhaps if you knock me out–"

"No, please... Nezuko, I can find... I'm sure there must be an antidote, a cure, something... I'll find it."

"You're not going to risk your life by walking in Kibutsuji's territory! Besides, we don't know if he has a cure. I honestly don't think he cares about a cure..."

"But..." Suddenly, he remembers one of the things their friend Zenitsu heard once. "I'll find Urokodaki-san!"

"We don't even know if he's real. If one of the enforcers finds you so close to Topside they could take you to interrogate you."

"I don't think they care too much about an eighteen-year-old running down the river. Besides, Zenitsu says Urokodaki is in a cave, in our side."

"Don't go, Tanjirou."

"It's our only choice," he mumbles, trying to embrace her, but she pushes him away. Her eyes are glowing again, but she doesn't attack him this time.

"You have to tie me."

His hands shiver, but he does it anyway; the enforcers come every now and then to "check on them" but the truth is that some of them have made a couple of deals with Kibutsuji and pretend they know nothing about what he does to the people in the Undercity.

However, if some of them see her while she's like that, if she attacks them they'll take her to the other side where she'll be judged by the nine Council members and even though Tanjirou hasn't met them, he's heard stories about them. Nezuko could end up either in jail or dead if she's considered a threat.

Fortunately, Inosuke and Zenitsu arrive in that moment and Tanjirou quickly has to explain everything because the blond boy is already angry with him for tying his sister to a chair.

"It's alright, Zenitsu," Nezuko assures him with a smile; she looks so calm in that moment, Tanjirou feels so proud of her. "It needs to be done."

"I'll find Urokodaki-san," he promises, taking his backpack.

"I can go with you, Monjiro!" Inosuke offers, as he puts a leather jacket over his shoulders and adjusts his face mask with fangs painted on it; Zenitsu usually tells him that it makes him look like a board from afar.

"No, please... I want you to stay with my sister, Inosuke," he begs, putting a hand over his shoulder. "In case she... needs it."

Hitting his own chest with his fist, Inosuke looks at Tanjirou with confidence.

"You can trust me, Santaro!"

"I know, thank you."

***

It's thanks to the years he's lived there that Tanjirou can get under the bridge without getting himself in trouble in the process.

It's still early, which means that he finally finds himself under the sun after a long time; he's missed the sunlight and its warmth, it makes him feel hopeful.

He follows the stream down until he reaches a small cave; it's not a place difficult to find but he supposes not everyone comes looking for a man who clearly wants nothing to do with other people.

"Hi?" Tanjirou walks in slowly, almost shyly... There's only the sound of the stream behind him and the noise his shoes make whenever he sets a foot on the water.

His heart starts sinking when he gets further into the cave and sees nothing but small rocks and some fishes... There's a lot of bright purple flowers as well. Some of them even glow in the dark.

"What are you doing here?"

When Tanjirou turns around, he sees a man with a dark red mask over his face, although it doesn't hide his grey hair.

"I'm looking for Urokodaki..."

"You're staring at him," then, before Tanjirou can say something else, he sighs and adds: "I can't give you what Muzan is using to poison our city, if you want that I'm afraid you'll have to go back and pay the full–"

"I don't want the drug," Tanjirou cuts him off, desperate. "I was looking for a cure, actually."

The man gets closer to Tanjirou, like he wants to get a better look at him; the boy wonders if Urokodaki can actually see with that thing over his face.

"Who needs it?"

"My sister," he mumbles, knowing that he shouldn't be letting his guard down, but he's too busy worrying about Nezuko and his friends. After a couple of seconds, he decides to tell him the whole story.

"Did she manage to control it?" Urokodaki asks, his voice sounds surprised and he doesn't bother to hide it.

"Yes, for a while... But she told me she could feel... the madness coming back. I had to... I tied her to a chair."

Tanjirou feels so terribly guilty about it and silently hopes he doesn't have to do something like that ever again.

After a moment of silence that seems to last an eternity, Urokodaki nods and gives Tanjirou a vial full containing something that looks like a lilac substance. It glows in the dark.

"She'll be fine; the addiction will fade but the purple eyes, strength and other side effects of the drug will remain. The madness won't take over her mind, but you have to come back for more every week."

It doesn't occur to Tanjirou until that exact moment that the man could be lying to him; that this is some other poison that could kill Nezuko or make the effects of the drug even worse.

"I know," Urokodaki says as if he's reading his mind. "Nothing that I say will make you trust me so I won't say anything... But think about this... do you really have any other choice?"

Instead of answering his question, Tanjirou bows and offers him all the money he had managed to save in the last couple of years.

Urokodaki shakes his head.

"Keep it. You need more than I do. Besides, that thing I've been trying to perfect is not to sell... I just want to find a cure."

"Thank you," Tanjirou finally mumbles, before rushing out of the cave. He knows he doesn't have much time left.

***

When he goes back and walks into the basement, he finds Nezuko trembling on the chair, her face is so pale and her eyes have started to glow purple. Inosuke is tense, like he's waiting for her to snap while Zenitsu is just watching with concern and pain; he's been in love with Tanjirou's sister since he met her.

For a second, she begins to growl, but she stops as soon as her eyes meet Tanjirou's.

Then, like an echo, Urokodaki's words come back to him right then and there.

Do you really have any other choice?

Tanjirou quickly kneels in front of her and helps her drink the content in the vial before she loses herself completely.

She starts calming down until she falls asleep tied to the chair; Tanjirou is not sure if it actually worked, but he can't bare to look at her any other second like that so he unties her quickly and carries her to her bed.

He tells his friends to go in case something happens when she wakes up, but they refuse to leave them.

After a couple of hours that seem like years, Nezuko opens her eyes again. They're still purple and have something wild in them, but Tanjirou can see she's his sister again.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine now."

***

They have to get used to the fact that Nezuko is incredible strong now; she becomes a little bit more protective of Tanjirou even though she's younger than him, but he doesn't mind.

Tanjirou starts visiting Urokodaki a couple of times in the same week, he brings him food and talks to him while he watches him use the glowing flowers to make different kinds of what he calls potential antidotes. He brings Nezuko a couple of times as well so Urokodaki can check on her himself and see how she's doing.

However, it's mostly just him paying visits to the man or just rushing in the cave for the vial.

Usually, those visits are really quick and everything goes smoothly, but one day he is not that lucky.

"Urokodaki-san! Good morning, I–" Tanjirou stops mid sentence when he realizes there's someone in the cave but it's not the man with the red mask.

"Who are you?" A young man with long, dark hair turns around to look directly at him. His clothes are too expensive to be someone from the Undercity.

"I'm Kamado Tanjirou," the boy mumbles, realizing that the person in front of him is probably just a couple of years older than him.

"Tomioka Giyuu" the other introduces himself while Tanjirou tries to determine the trouble he's in judging by his clothes: he looks like a scholar, but one that has a lot of money.

Even though he's not an enforcer, he's a topsider and he was taught not to trust them.

Tanjirou takes a step back, trying to see if Urokodaki is nearby or if he can see where he put the temporary antidote. He shouldn't have told the topsider his name.

"What do you want from Urokodaki-san, Tanjirou?"

When the boy doesn't answer, Tomioka takes the vial out of one of his coat pockets.

"This perhaps?"

It's too late to pretend he doesn't know what that is because Tanjirou's eyes betray him by opening wide on their own the moment they see the lilac substance.

Suddenly, Tomioka is right in front of him; Tanjirou doesn't have time to react to avoid the pair of hands that touch his face gently.

"You don't look like an addict."

"It's not for me," Tanjirou mumbles as a distraction before taking the vial and rushing towards the cave's entrance.

He doesn't get that far before he's tackled to the ground. Tanjirou doesn't even try to move out of the way because he's too busy holding the vial against his chest to prevent it from breaking.

When he opens his eyes and finds a pair of ocean blue ones staring back at him, he realizes that Tomioka put his arms around Tanjirou to shield him as much as he could.

He probably absorbed all the impact of the fall with his arms.

"I thought you were a scholar," Tanjirou blurts out without thinking.

Still wrapped around him, Tomioka chuckles.

"I am a scholar."

"You know how to fight," Tanjirou observes; perhaps it's not that uncommon in the other side of the city to find scholars who know how to tackle someone to the ground.

"I'm also a member of the Council. All of us know how to. It's part of the requirement."

Tanjirou gasps, turning almost white. If he's part of the Council, there's no way he won't tell the others, right?

Using his elbows to break free, Tanjirou rolls away from Tomioka before jumping on his two feet.

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know... Listen, I've also been trying to–"

"What are you doing here, Giyuu?" Urokodaki looks from Tomioka to Tanjirou before nodding to the younger boy. "Do you have it? Good. You can go now."

Trusting Urokodaki, Tanjirou runs away.

"Tanjirou, wait!"

He ignores Tomioka's voice, hoping Urokodaki convinces him not to tell anyone in the Topside.

If he does, he'll be in trouble.

***

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