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He realizes in the very beginning what Inosuke is.
To most, identifying the secondary gender of others by scent is difficult. Especially betas struggle with it, and can usually only differentiate between scents when an alpha or omega enters their mating cycle, the strength of their scent growing tenfold of the usual. Zenitsu is like that as well, and he always complains about not being able to tell the secondary genders apart.
Tanjirou's sense of smell, on the other hand, has been great even before he has presented as an alpha, and after, it has heightened to an impossible degree. Much information is hidden in one's smell, so he finds it rather useful; even something complicated like emotion could be read out of it.
When he meets Inosuke for the first time, it is this: angry, excited, determined. A desire to fight, a desire to prove that he's strong. Under, a scent of raw earth, soaking wet after rain, accompanied by the faint scent of unripe peaches.
They fight, Tanjirou emerges victorious, they argue. Tanjirou only notices the telltale scent of omega after he places Inosuke's injured head gently on his folded haori, and watches as Zenitsu tucks him in. The scent is subtle and subdued, just a hint of sweet. Young omegas typically smell like this, not yet in need of a pair.
Later, when they bury and pay their respects to the victims of the demon, Inosuke keeps trying to rile him up, get him on both feet to fight. He steals his food, and misbehaves on purpose, his anticipation towards Tanjirou's anger written all across his features in the form of an animated grin. Obviously, it does not work. Tanjirou treats him with patience, and after a while, Inosuke has no other choice but to give up, confused by Tanjirou's behavior.
Later, Tanjirou draws the conclusion that Inosuke most likely has recognized that he is an alpha, and it irritates him. Young alphas and omegas are like oil and water, his mother told him once, always competing.
From then on, Tanjirou makes sure to properly cover his scent glands at all times, and tries his hardest not to overwhelm Inosuke with his pheromones. Although Inosuke doesn't seem to openly notice his efforts, it doesn't take long until he becomes a bit less jumpy, a bit more willing to work together as a team.
With time, he learns that Inosuke is kinder than he lets on, it is only his circumstances growing up that make him so rough around the edges. So unwilling to let others close. Tanjirou wonders how it could have been to present all alone in the wilderness, vulnerable to the entire world. How difficult it must have been to learn how to survive first before he could hear loving words from his family.
Although Tanjirou has lost his parents young, he has been well taken care of under their doting attention for long years, and during that time, he has never suffered the absence of anything. To have lived and grown up without that unconditional love, Tanjirou can't even imagine it. His heart aches for his friend in sympathy, and he swears to treat him with kindness.
In due time, he notices that Inosuke grows fond of him.
It is nice to see his friend so trusting, so ready to allow himself to hide behind Tanjirou when their journeys take them to cities, unconsciously twisting a hand in his haori or placing a hand on his shoulder, the side of his arm, leg. Asking for reassurance and comfort through physical touch, as if he's sure Tanjirou can protect him. It's a vulnerability so unlike the usual Inosuke that Tanjirou wonders if he's even aware of doing it, and just lets him do what he needs to without a word. Becoming a person of comfort for such a precious friend warms Tanjirou's heart, and he swears to cherish it.
After a while, comfort seeking touching just becomes touching. Even if he doesn't seem outwardly stressed, his scent is even and content, Inosuke touches him. Places his legs on him. Climbs onto his back, trying to force him to shake him off. When this happens, Tanjirou just ends up carrying him, and Inosuke always seems to melt onto a puddle on his back after just a few steps. He sits in his lap, touches his hair, his face, grabs him, hugs him, snuggles up to him in his sleep.
"He's scenting you," Zenitsu says, his nose wrinkled in displeasure. The three of them are walking towards a village, and Inosuke is ahead on the road, chasing butterflies. He isn't proving to be very successful in capturing them so far. "Doesn't it bother you? You constantly smell like him."
Tanjirou shrugs, not being able to stop the smile on his face from spreading. "It's not a problem. We're friends, and it's his way of telling us that we are. It's sweet."
Zenitsu's gaze turns contemplating, and then he scoffs. "Rather than saying that you're friends, it's like he's saying that you're his, can't you feel it? Who else do you see going around, rubbing their scent glands all over their friends?"
Tanjirou's cheeks color, but he shakes his head. "I did that to you once, so you could sleep," he ends up pointing out after a beat of silence.
Zenitsu squeaks. "That was one time, and only because I had a nightmare! That's totally different!"
"Inosuke is different. He did not learn what he can and can't do growing up, so why shouldn't we be patient with him? I'm happy as long as he's happy."
Zenitsu rolls his eyes, obviously not agreeing. But Tanjirou has seen Inosuke seek the comfort of Zenitsu as well, even if not as frequently, sleeping close to him from time to time, and it doesn't seem to bother Zenitsu then.
Although their relationship could be considered peculiar to the outsider eye, there is mutual trust and compassion strengthening their bond, not unlike that of a pack. Just thinking about his friends has Tanjirou smiling.
Tanjirou isn't being obvious about it, but each and every touch that Inosuke gives willingly is welcomed warmly, and becomes a source of comfort to Tanjirou as well. On the nights Inosuke snuggles close he never has a single nightmare, and wakes well-rested.
Thus, Tanjirou gets used to it. Unconsciously, he too begins to initiate it.
"Aren't you cold?" He asks one day, expression concerned. It had been raining all night the previous day, and it chilled the air considerably. Inosuke has been walking around since morning with his torso completely exposed as usual, running among the woods, catching the falling raindrops from the leaves on his naked skin. If Tanjirou can trust his eyes, his torso is gradually turning a sickly pinkish.
"Cold? Don't make me laugh. This is nothing!" To further prove how nothing it is, he does a quick handstand and walks directly into a puddle, his biceps flexing as he does it. Triumph is radiating off of him in waves, his pheromones showing his satisfaction with his own performance.
Zenitsu snorts. "What are you even trying to tell us? That the puddle isn't cold? Or that you're strong?"
"Either way, we believe you, please stop doing that," Tanjirou pleads. Inosuke listens without a word of complaint, kicking his legs up in the air and arriving on both. He crosses his arms before himself, and scoffs at Zenitsu.
"Both, Monitsu. It's not cold because I'm strong. What do you not understand?"
Zenitsu shakes his head, unwilling to argue. Tanjirou walks up to Inosuke, sighing. "Your hands are all muddy and wet now, you're further cooling your body. You're going to catch a cold if you keep doing things like this."
As he is talking, Tanjirou runs his hands along Inosuke's, then up his arms, chest, back, smoothes it along the curves of his sides. Wherever he reaches he feels cold, clammy skin. "You see? You're freezing." Strangely, Inosuke only grunts, then belatedly mutters a half-hearted "I'm not."
"You are," Tanjirou says, tone leaving no room for argument, and takes out a handkerchief to begin to rub his hands dry. Although Inosuke leads a rough life, his hands are pretty and unblemished, skin smooth. Tanjirou admires it with an absentminded sort of admiration while he works, mentally comparing it to his own rough and coarse hands.
"Done. Now let's see." He grabs and holds Inosuke's hands between his, trying to summon up some heat. They feel like two stone cold gems in his hold, and it is only now that Tanjirou notices that they're slightly smaller than his. How strange, since they were just as or stronger than his own. It made him feel a sort of way he couldn't quite decipher.
"I can only do so much, so it would be nice if you accepted my haori at least. Inosuke? Are you listening?"
It's hard to tell if he is listening or not, although his boar head is directed towards the rough direction of Tanjirou, Inosuke is uncharacteristically quiet. Tanjirou sniffs the air unconsciously, and his scent tastes sweet and gooey, all over the place, as if he's... happy? Overwhelmed? Angry? Sad?
Tanjirou's brows run together, confused. He can't decide which one. It is strange, Inosuke is usually straightforward even with his emotions. "Inosuke, are you feeling okay?"
When he receives no answer, he slips a hand under the boar mask, his hand sliding across the side of his neck. He pulls it up slightly, just enough so he can peek at his face.
Inosuke's cheeks are painted a shade of deep crimson, eyes blown wide and lips parted. Tanjirou gasps.
"Ah, sorry!" he says, not even sure what he is apologizing for, and steps back, stumbling and falling on his backside. Inosuke's mask falls back on his head with a soft thud.
A beat of silence.
"All good," Inosuke says eventually, voice strangely even. Then he turns around and walks into a tree.
"Anyway!" He ends up yelling when he gets back on his feet, not looking at either of their shocked faces, "I'm gonna take the long route to the village! Race me there! I'm gonna get there before either of you! Weaklings!"
"Inosuke!" Tanjirou yells after him, watching helplessly as the boy disappears into the woods, still half-naked. "Please make sure to stay dry!"
"Not catching any colds!" Inosuke shouts back, his cackling fading as he leaves hearing distance. Tanjirou stays on the ground, baffled.
He is pretty sure the village is located in the opposite direction of where Inosuke is heading.
After a beat, Tanjirou glances at Zenitsu. He is standing at the side, face buried in his palm in a show of exasperation. "What do you think happened?" Tanjirou asks, and Zenitsu's scent seems to answer, 'you're an idiot.'
Zenitsu looks at him, taking pity on him at last. "You scented his neck, Tanjirou. After scenting him all over. I think that was too much even for his hard head."
Tanjirou's head spins, mouth gaping open. "I did? Oh god. I didn't mean to–!"
"Calm down, he doesn't even know what it means. Still, watching you two is just…" He does an aggressive motion with his hands, which is probably supposed to mean something painful and complicated. Tanjirou winces.
"I should probably go after him…"
"Yeah, you do that, but leave Nezuko with me. She doesn't deserve a long and uncomfortable chase in that box just because her brother was flirting."
Tanjirou places Nezuko down, smoothing a comforting hand along the wood of the box. "I wasn't flirting," he mutters, unconvincing even to himself with the traitorous hammering of his heart and the warmth in his cheeks. "I trust you with her!" He yells in lieu of goodbye, and takes off into the woods, following the trail of broken twigs and flattened row of underbrush of Inosuke's escape.
He wasn't flirting. How could he? Inosuke is his friend and companion, and doesn't deserve such a breach of trust on his part.
How could Tanjirou allow himself such feelings towards his precious friend when Inosuke doesn't know so much of the world? Inosuke relaxes around Tanjirou, and he pays it back with wanting more? There's no way Inosuke would ever want what he wants.
Despicable. He swore to never take advantage of his friend, so what is he doing now?
The image of the flustered Inosuke appears before his mind's eye, and his heart stutters. He stops for a second, taking a deep breath, and another, calming his fluttering pulse. Gradually, his mind clears.
When he begins running again, his heart is set. He won't let any unnecessary feelings flourish. He has a mission, he will turn his sister back into a human, he doesn't have time for personal matters. It is for the best that he doesn't complicate things, and doesn't put an unnecessary burden on everyone.
When he finds Inosuke deep in the forest after a few minutes, he is pacing back and forth, seemingly unsettled. Tanjirou does not search in his scent, respects his privacy. He apologizes profusely for what he did, and Inosuke, although a bit confused, accepts it with a grunt. Then he leads them back to Zenitsu, careful to avoid touching him again.
Tanjirou makes sure to hide the sourness of his own scent too, and ignores the aching of his stomach.
Everything is alright. He can do this.
A few months later, it seems he is still acting a bit unlike the usual platonic friend.
"Will you stop that?" Uzui demands, after grabbing him by the collar of his kimono and dropping him into an alley. Tanjirou refuses to show that it upsets him, and looks up at the Hashira with defiance in his eyes.
"What? I'm not doing anything."
"You keep glaring at anyone who even remotely looks at that little boar freak, and you just ooze this smell of an upset alpha. Can you stop that as well? If you didn't notice, we're on a mission here."
Tanjrou's brows run together, his lip twitching in annoyance. "He's an omega! Of course I'm upset! What if they buy him and realize this? It's not safe!"
"Hey," Uzui says, jabbing a finger into his chest. "He's a demon slayer. He knows what he signed up for." Tanjrou can hardly stop himself from saying, no, he does not. Uzui does not know Inosuke like he does. "It is our lives that we are risking everyday, something like the body's purity is secondary. Do you understand?"
Tanjirou feels hot anger shoot to his head, nearly blinding him. The body's purity? Who the hell cares about that?! It is his safety he is worried for!
"Hey, you can calm your head. Do you think I can't smell that? I'm an alpha as well." He cages Tanjirou to the wall with a hand placed above his head, looming over him. Tanjirou wants to snarl at him. "Do you have no trust in him at all? Do you think he can't handle himself or something?"
"It's not that," Tanjirou spits out, averting his eyes. It would be troublesome if he got into a fight in the middle of the street.
"Then calm down already. Talk with him about safety or whatever but we're demon slayers, not a support group. People are dying while you worry over your omega."
"He's not my omega!" Tanjirou yells, then quickly covers his mouth with both hands. He did not mean to raise his voice.
Uzui is right. Many people's lives depended on this mission, many that were already irreversibly, permanently lost. They are losing time and he is being a burden just because he doesn't have enough trust in his friend's capabilities.
Time and time again, Inosuke proved that he was strong. He would be so angry if he had overheard Tanjirou speaking here, and he feels guilt overtake his anger.
"I'm sorry, Uzui-san," Tanjirou says, bowing slightly in apology. "I didn't mean to lose my head."
Instead of still being angry, Uzui whistles, backing off. "You're scary! One minute, and your scent is completely different. You have talent." Tanjirou's eyes twitch, not sure if he should be flattered by the praise. "Anyway, I didn't even notice that the boar kid was an omega. I could not feel it at all. You've got a pretty keen nose."
"I'm aware," Tanjirou says, forcing a smile on his face as he straightens up.
Uzui is stroking his chin, looking towards the busy street where they left Zenitsu and Inosuke. The two of them are standing around, one visibly excited, the other bored. "I'll make sure to give him to a house owned by a beta or where they have a lot of them; they probably won't notice his secondary gender that way."
Tanjirou's face lights up. "You would—? Thank you so much!"
Uzui gives him a look of deep contemplation. "Yeah, it wouldn't be very flamboyant if I didn't, after knowing that. Truth be told, you just pissed me off with your cockiness. Make sure to behave this time, or I'll send you home for jeopardizing the mission."
"Yes, Uzui-san," Tanjirou says obediently, satisfied for now. When they walk back to the rest of the team, Inosuke gives him a questioning look, and Tanjirou nods at him, smiling apologetically.
Although he would prefer that Inosuke didn't receive any kind of unwelcome looks, he has trust in Inosuke's ability to protect himself. He puts away his unease, and lets Inosuke cling to the side of his kimono, seeking proximity.
"Alright, Monjiro?" he asks, and Tanjirou moves closer to him, warmed by his concern.
"I'm alright. Let's just go."
And despite Uzui's assumption regarding the source of Tanjirou's worry, isn't it normal that one looks out for their friend? Tanjirou wasn't catching feelings, no. He was just worried about him.
So why is it that he catches himself giving long, lingering looks at Inosuke's thick, dark lashes fluttering against his flushed cheeks akin to butterfly wings? The color of his cat-like eyes turning from dark to pale green? The way wind brushes his bluish locks away from his unblemished neck, and why does Tanjirou feel like it's taboo for him to follow it with his eyes?
He won't even think to look down at the way Inosuke spreads his legs around the top of the roof, uncaring of his nudity as usual.
Why is Tanjirou bothered by his nudity in the first place? He is normally showing much, much more skin.
"Oi, Gengoro, are you paying attention? You keep spacing out."
Tanjirou swallows, refocusing on the task at hand. They're waiting for Zenitsu and Uzui-san to arrive and give their daily report. "Ah, sorry. I'm just a bit tired, I guess."
"Do they keep making you do the chores?"
"Yeah, it's not that I mind, though. It feels nice to help out."
Inosuke scoffs. "They won't even let me lift heavy boxes, it's always, be careful, Inoko-chan, that's not ladylike, Inoko-chan, they drive me up a wall," grumbles Inosuke. Tanjirou rubs his arm soothingly, and Inosuke leans into the touch, relaxing slightly.
"I'm sorry, Inosuke. On top of that, Uzui won't even let you speak. It must be hard."
"It is," admits Inosuke, but then shrugs, smirking widely. "But it's nothing for Boss Inosuke! Anything so we can defeat those stupid demons."
"Agree," Tanjirou says. "But still, you should be proud of yourself. You've been doing an excellent job ever since we have arrived here. I, for one, am proud of you, Inosuke."
Sitting so closely and facing each other, Tanjirou catches the exact moment Inosuke's pupils dilate, then redness floods his cheeks. From the corner of his eyes, Tanjirou sees him reach for his collarbone, as if he were trying to tug down a phantom mask. A selfish part of Tanjirou is happy that Inosuke doesn't have it with himself and he finally can't hide his reactions from him.
"It's nothing!" Inosuke splutters, eyes leaving Tanjirou's. "I told you, stupid Kamaboko, it's nothing to me…"
Tanjirou is acutely aware where his hand is still resting on the side of Inosuke's arm, and as if he were controlled by an outer force, the hand climbs up, cups Inosuke's face and turns it towards himself. Inosuke's eyes slide back to meet Tanjirou's at the sudden touch, and then someone must move, or perhaps both of them do; because the next second they're kissing.
It only lasts for the blink of an eye — Tanjirou pressing his crudely painted lips to Inosuke's pink, floral scented ones — or is it the scent of something else? It's Inosuke who jerks back first, so it must have been Tanjirou who kissed him in the first place, and then he rolls away on the rooftop. Tanjirou is too stunned from their kiss, thus he's unable to catch him.
"Inosuke!"
Inosuke stops himself at the edge of the roof just before he could fall, crouching like a frog. Only the shell of his ear is visible to Tanjirou, and it's a shade of deep crimson, as if his whole face has caught fire.
Anxiety twists Tanjirou's stomach into tight knots, and he scrambles after Inosuke. He doesn't go as far as to attempt to touch him, afraid of rejection. "I'm so sorry, please, I didn't mean to do that, are you okay?"
"Okay," grunts Inosuke. A beat of silence, then he asks, voice rough, "You–?"
Tanjirou sits back, confused. His throat feels tight, he needs to swallow before he can speak. "...I'm okay. Of course I'm okay. But it was not okay for me to do that to you without asking you first. I hope I didn't… gross you out."
Inosuke scoffs, turning his head toward him slightly. Tanjirou feels his heart rate pick up at the sight of those deep green eyes, boring into his own. "Gross me out? Don't be stupid. I keep seeing the people around here lip-locking all the time. So that's how it feels."
"Oh," Tanjirou says, not sure how he should react. He sniffs the air, and although Inosuke's scents taste a tad bit different in a way he can't describe, he doesn't smell upset. "Were you… curious about that?"
Inosuke shrugs. "Not when those old men slobber all over the courtesans… but there's two girls in my house who keep sneaking off to kiss when they think no one's looking. That looked more fun."
Tanjirou flushes to the tips of his ears. He is torn between wanting to reprimand Inosuke for peeking at them and asking what he means by this, but it's more than likely that Inosuke only saw them by chance, and Tanjirou kind of understands what he's getting at. "...It must have looked more fun because they are lovers. It might sound old-fashioned, but I think those things should only be done out of love. Or when both participants are willing and enthusiastic."
Inosuke plays with the hem of his kimono, more thoughtful than embarrassed now. "Hm. So. You apologized for it just now, but you wanted it, did you not?"
He means the kiss. Tanjirou feels his head swim, but he answers, because Inosuke deserves his honesty. "Yeah. I did."
Ah. He tried so hard to keep himself in check, to keep his feelings subdued, but he ended up doing something so straightforward… Tanjirou feels like a despicable human being, not unlike the clients of the red light district.
"If it bothers you, I promise I won't ever do something like that again. You're my friend above everything else, and nothing will change that. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable—"
It is at that moment that Uzui appears on the roof beside them, holding Zenitsu by the scruff of his neck. Tanjirou bites his tongue and falls silent. He tries not to look at Inosuke.
"Yo, sorry we're late. Agatsuma here is hard to collect." He looks at the both of them, and raises a brow, probably picking up on the weird mood.
"Welcome, Uzui-san, Zenitsu," Tanjirou says quickly, forcing normalcy into his tone. But Uzui is not convinced, and what he wants to avoid the most happens; Uzui's nostrils flare, more than likely sniffing the air. Then he smirks, knowingly.
"Oh, I see that you two haven't been waiting around dying from anxiety. Hah, and I started thinking Tanjirou was a hard-working little guy. No surprise with the boar kid, though."
Tanjirou swallows nervously, but Inosuke jumps to his feet, offended. "Hah?! What do you mean?!"
Zenitsu is finally placed down as well, and he raises a questioning brow at the Hashira. "Yeah, what do you mean? Tanjirou is hardworking."
"Yeah, yeah," dismisses Uzui, then he seems to take pity on them, because he sits down cross-legged on the roof without further comments on the topic, "Enough of this, I'm bored, let's talk about the mission. We have wasted enough time."
Tanjirou refocuses on the mission, glad to have the chance to think of something other than the possibility that he ruined a precious friendship. Inosuke, as far as normal goes by his standards, doesn't act much differently, but Tanjirou still swears to properly apologize later.
Then they're swept away by the events of the next few days, nearly losing their lives. Inosuke nearly bleeding out in his arms.
Tanjirou clings to him and wails, unbridled and heartbroken, Yoshiwara mere ruins around them. The matters of the heart are dwarfed by the fact that they're risking their lives every single day and it is probable that they won't even get the chance to grow old. How could Tanjirou risk losing Inosuke as a friend, while there's a chance their time together is so limited? Leading a life like this, there's a chance they will both die in the near future, they have both swore to do their utmost in exchange for a better world.
Tanjirou would gladly give his life a million times if it meant he could heal the sole remaining member of his family, but he is afraid of losing his companions. Clutching his friends and his little sister close, Tanjirou is terrified of losing everyone again.
He needs to tuck away his personal feelings and keep going forward, less the fear freezes his legs immobile, and he won't be able to stand up anymore. He won't allow that. He can't allow that.
After that mission, they don't see each other for months.
They require differing amounts of time to recuperate, thus when all three of them are completely healed, they are sent on solo missions. Tanjirou goes on one, then another, his only company Nezuko. Not surprisingly, he finds solace in the silence, Nezuko's quiet support, her weight on his back as they trod along the road.
They return to the Butterfly Mansion on a fine spring day, and the scent of the peach trees blooming is overwhelming in the air. Tanjirou inhales, and feels his heart flutter pleasantly.
It's Naho who runs to welcome them by the entrance, nervousness written across her features. The sight nearly stops Tanjirou's heart.
"Tanjirou-san, Tanjirou-san! Inosuke is… did you know–?"
He runs into the mansion before Naho could explain what happened, then he is stopped by the kakushi inside. Rather than being injured, it seemed Inosuke was in heat.
He had arrived the previous day, and woke today morning with heat symptoms. He was immediately secluded, his safety thus ensured, the butterfly girls explained. It seemed to be his first ever normal heat.
Tanjirou is led away in a daze by Shinobu-san into her office, who observes him with a playful smile on her soft features.
"Tanjirou-san."
"Yes?"
"Did you know about his secondary gender?"
"Yes. I realized it early on."
Shinobu chuckles, delighted. "How fascinating, you really do have a keen nose. Isn't it surprising, given his character? I'm not one to judge, though, it always surprises everyone when they realize I'm an alpha."
Tanjirou hums, noncommittal. He thinks her secondary gender suits Shinobu well. "Inosuke… is he alright?"
"Hm, I wouldn't say alright, exactly. Heats are painful when spent alone, and he's unsuited to sitting idle for long. It must be driving him mad."
Tanjirou is fiddling with the hem of his haori, hands folded in his lap. "He's all alone and locked up, suffering. I wish I could help him somehow."
A mischievous light appears in Shinobu's eyes. "But you can help him, can you not, Tanjirou-san?"
Tanjirou looks at her in confusion, then the meaning of her words register and he splutters, putting up his hands before himself. "No! No, no, Inosuke is in no condition to consent—"
Shinobu chuckles, and Tanjirou abruptly falls silent, feeling himself flush to the tips of his ears. It seemed he was being teased, and he went and took it seriously.
"I'm well aware of that, Tanjirou-san, don't worry. I was only being a bit mean, given your relationship."
Tanjirou blinks. "Our relationship?"
Shinobu shrugs, inspecting her nails as she speaks, the perfect picture of nonchalance. "I'm not one to label something that might not have a name yet, but I did notice that the two of you share a strong bond." Tanjirou feels scrutinized by the look that she flashes at him from above her hand, as if he was an open book to her. "Don't worry, he should be alright in a week, and you can stay in the Butterfly Mansion with him. Although, you can't exactly meet him until then."
Tanjirou nods, worrying his lips. "I understand. Thank you for taking care of him."
"It's nothing," Shinobu says, smiling lightly. Then she claps her hands, ushering him up. "I believe your journey was exhausting, you should take a rest as well. Don't worry needlessly, Tanjirou-san."
Tanjirou dines with his sister by his side, in a six tatami mat room. His mission has been easy and completed without complications, thus he can go to bed without even visiting the medical ward.
Meanwhile Inosuke…
It's hard to ignore what is going on with him, given he can smell him everywhere. No matter where he goes in the Butterfly Mansion, Tanjirou can taste the nauseatingly sweet scent of peach blossoms on his tongue, belonging to Inosuke. Inosuke, lying on his bed in near fever, tortured by his heat. Sweat rolling on the curves of his defined muscles, his hands slicked where he touches himself, tears of frustration springing to his eyes.
Tanjirou might smell overly upset, because Nezuko retires to another room early on, leaving him alone. Strangely, Tanjirou is happy about being left on his own, even if the empty space of his room seems to suck him in and swallow him like a night sky without stars.
Long hours after he has retired to bed, Tanjirou lies on his futon without sleep coming to him, staring into the darkness. His head is a jumbled mess of thoughts and desires, reason and want.
He wants to go to him. He wants to go to Inosuke.
He is interrupted by the sound of knocking on the shoji screen from outside, and Tanjirou is up in an instant, opening it.
It's him.
Inosuke is standing in the garden in nothing but a shirt, black hair tousled and his cheeks flushed a deep red. His eyes are hooded, dark things, locked onto Tanjirou.
"There you are," he breathes, and jumps him.
Only after they have rolled to the ground and Tanjirou has a lap full of omega does Tanjirou come to his senses, and shoves Inosuke away.
"Wait, wait, Inosuke! What are you doing—?"
Uncaring of the rough way he was pushed away, Inosuke climbs back into his lap and nuzzles into Tanjirou's neck like an animal. Tanjirou's breath stutters, overwhelmed by the scent of want wafting off Inosuke in waves, matching his own. So he lets him nuzzle up to him, strokes his too hot back, cradles him close.
"Inosuke, we need to be careful…"
"Not you saying that too…" Inosuke mumbles into his neck, frustrated. "I could smell the exact moment you arrived, but they wouldn't let me come to you. Even though I'm not feeling okay."
The tone that Inosuke uses, it's like he is whining. He is clearly hurt. Tanjirou pulls him closer, letting their bodies fall into each other properly. "It must have been hard, bearing that all alone. I'm sorry, I wanted to come to you. If it weren't for our secondary genders…"
Inosuke grunts unhappily, his breath ghosting over Tanjirou's neck hotly. "I don't understand this alpha omega nonsense. Who cares what anyone is? I want to be with you."
Tanjirou's heart squeezes, but he needs to stay rational. Inosuke is in heat, and it is speaking for him. "Our secondary genders influence us greatly, Inosuke. You wouldn't be feeling, ah, this way towards me, if it weren't for your current state."
"Bullshit," Inosuke growls, then bites down on his neck. It's not hard enough to draw blood or mark, but Tanjirou yelps loudly regardless, trying to pull him off.
"Inosuke! You can't do that!" he yells, just a tad too harshly, and Inosuke scrambles away like he was burned, blinking at him with huge eyes in the darkness.
Then he begins to cry.
"Ah…"
"'m sorry, Gonpachiro," Inosuke sobs, clawing at his face with his fists, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it just hurts so bad, and you smell safe, I'm sorry–"
Panic coils into Tanjirou's stomach like snakes, and he crouches by Inosuke's side to stop his hands. He was too harsh, way too harsh. "Shh, I'm sorry, Inosuke, I'm the one who was wrong, I won't yell at you anymore, alright? I'm sorry, will you please look at me?"
Inosuke does, but it's like he can't even see, his tears fall so rapidly. Tanjirou cradles him close and presses soothing kisses to Inosuke's face where he was hurting himself. "I'm sorry. But you have to understand that because of our secondary gender, doing things to each other has big consequences. I could end up getting you pregnant, and now, if you have bit down on a slightly different spot, you could have made me your mate. That's for life, Inosuke."
Inosuke is still crying, not meeting his eyes. "Would that be… would that be so bad?"
"I'm not saying that," he answers firmly. "But I would be a terrible friend if I let you make decisions in a state in which you are not fit to do so."
Inosuke doesn't answer. He just keeps crying, but he doesn't push him away. Tanjirou's heart seems to break into smaller and smaller pieces with each second that passes by with Inosuke believing he's unloved.
"Inosuke, will you please forgive me? I, I truly cherish you dearly, and that is why I stop you now. Please, don't be sad."
"I ain't sad," Inosuke mumbles, hiccuping. He finally glances at him, although shortly. "It's just this heat thing… It makes me feel a lot. I hate it."
"I understand. Does it help a little, being here together?"
Inosuke sniffles his nose, blinking slowly. "Yeah. It's much better than being alone. Those stupid beds smell like soap."
It's probably because they are washed regularly for the slayers that pass by. Tanjirou understands that it's not the most ideal place to make a nest in. "You can stay with me, Inosuke, I'll take care of you. Do you need help rearranging my futon?"
Inosuke, instead of answering, just walks to Tanjirou's bed, and starts messing with the blanket and pillow. It's not much, so Tanjirou hurries to fetch where he left his haori and other clothes, then joins him.
It's not the first time Tanjirou assists in creating a nest, since his mother was an omega as well. She often invited them into her own, reassured by the scent of her children, and Tanjirou loved cuddling with his family, surrounded everywhere by those pleasant scents. It's a precious memory of his, clouded by the haze of the long years that passed since.
He helps Inosuke, but Inosuke is the one guiding what goes where, and at the end, he just pulls Tanjirou down in the middle with himself unceremoniously.
"There," he says, his tears dry on his cheeks. He hugs Tanjirou close, sighing deeply.
The silence stretches on, not unpleasant, but ringing anticipatory to Tanjirou's ears. Thus he says, at a loss for what better he could say, "I'm sorry, Inosuke."
"You keep saying that," Inosuke mumbles. The whine has creeped back into his voice. "Just don't move from now on, okay? I won't bite you anymore, I promise."
Tanjirou curls closer to him. "I wasn't mad at you for that, I was just scared. In truth, I would, ah, love it if you would bite me."
Inosuke's eyes blink open immediately, his gaze heavy. Tanjirou hurries to correct his words before other events can unfold. "If you would bite me when you're not in heat! I mean, uh, I'm open to talk about this with you later, if you'd like. When you're feeling better."
Inosuke scoffs, but the distress seems to ease from his scent. "Hah. I won't forget you said that!"
"Don't," Tanjirou answers gently, and pulls him to his chest. "You need to sleep now, though."
"Alright. Let's just be done with this heat, and then I'll make you mine." And then to show his determination, Inosuke closes his eyes, ready to fall asleep. It is a cruel twist of fate that his last sentence is bound to keep Tanjirou awake for a few hours more.
It's a long night, and then he wakes to Inosuke humping his leg, grunting softly and still asleep. Tanjirou braces himself for what is most likely going to be his longest week, and pries himself away.
It is challenging. To comfort Inosuke and draw a reasonable but strict line at the same time, so the week can pass without regrets.
It's not hard to get permission from Shinobu for them to stay together, though.
"The both of you are almost adults, so I expect that you can make grown decisions," she says with a smile, when Tanjirou is able to tear himself from Inosuke for a few minutes. "I'm not going to stop you. But I can't imagine this is easy for you."
"It isn't," Tanjirou admits. "But it seems to help Inosuke."
"Oh, I bet it does," Shinobu says, her eyes turning into half-moon crescents as she places a delicate hand before her nose. Tanjirou flushes with embarrassment, and excuses himself quickly. Their mixed scents are seemingly pretty audible.
There are harder days and easier days, days when Inosuke is more insistent with his touches, when he's more needy, days when he just sleeps without letting go of Tanjirou, days when he tears up and can't be comforted.
The worst thing is that it hurts him, and Tanjirou can't help it.
Inosuke is curled up into a ball in the middle of Tanjirou's, in the middle of their futon, whining as he holds his stomach. He's crying softly and near silently, tears glistening on his pale cheeks.
"It hurts, Kentarou, it hurts," he keeps chanting. Tanjirou is peppering his face and neck with kisses, but no matter how much he scents him, the pain in Inosuke's lower belly doesn't seem to subside.
"It's going away soon, Inosuke, you can do it. Don't give up, alright? I'm here to help you, but you're strong and beautiful, you're incredible, Inosuke, you can do it."
Instead of answering him, Inosuke looks at him with clouded over eyes and slides a hand into his pants. Judging by the sounds, he begins to finger himself. Tanjirou doesn't look and doesn't help him, but let's Inosuke cling to him as he pleasures himself. His own answering arousal is only a slight discomfort compared to the pain Inosuke is going through.
"Tanjirou…" he sighs, accidentally or not saying his name correctly, and Tanjirou buries his face in his hair, in the growing scent of ripening peaches.
"I'm here, Inosuke."
Five days go by in similar fashion. By the end of it Tanjirou nearly falls ill by the repeated onslaught of strong pheromones and exhaustion. Inosuke is similarly incredibly worn out and dehydrated at the same time, but he sits up in their bed that morning with a surprised expression, hair sticking up in four different directions.
"Kanjirou," he exclaims, voice hoarse. "I think it passed!"
"Ah, finally… How do you feel, Inosuke?"
"Much better. I'm just thirsty," he says, then his brows run together. He looks at the tousled form of Tanjirou peeking out from under their blanket with an indecipherable gaze. "Hey. Why did you stay here if you don't love me?"
Tanjirou is immediately wide awake, sitting up. "What? Inosuke, what do you mean I don't love you?"
"You kissed me but then you avoided me. You stayed here but didn't let me bite you. You wouldn't put it in me!"
It's clear that Inosuke is deeply upset, but Tanjirou flushes at his words. "Inosuke… You might not remember, but I explained it to you. I didn't do it because there was no way to make sure you really wanted those things."
Inosuke snarls, standing up. His energy is returning to him by the minute. "Stop lying, you didn't do it because you don't love me! You told me people should only do those things when they both want it, then it means you don't want me!"
Tanjirou's brows furrow, too exhausted to properly follow Inosuke's line of thinking. "But did you really want it? Now with a clear head, do you still want me?"
It's the wrong thing to say. Inosuke bares his teeth like an animal and jumps on him, both of them rolling to the ground. Tanjirou groans in pain and blinks up at the omega with befuddlement.
"Isn't it obvious by now? I do! I do, so it's your time to answer, Sechirou, do you want me?"
Ah. After spending five days of his heat with Inosuke, Tanjirou began to have the growing suspicion that his feelings perhaps aren't as unrequited as he had assumed in the beginning. But what could he have done? Risk hurting Inosuke over mere suspicions?
It turns out Inosuke likes him, desires him as more than a friend and companion. Tanjirou's pulse is fluttering with pleasant excitement, overriding the uncertain aching of his stomach. He takes a steadying breath and confesses,
"Inosuke, I do want you. Not only that, I love you, Inosuke. I'm in love with you."
There, it's out. Tanjirou feels his heart thumping against his eardrums, making his head swim.
Inosuke's face is a mix of joy and self-satisfaction, surprise and puzzlement, hovering above Tanjirou's own. "...You do? Hah–! I knew it! So why didn't you do what I asked you to? We could have ended my heat much earlier together, they told me!"
"Inosuke…" Tanjirou whispers, at a loss for words. He tried to do what was best for Inosuke, but it seemed he just ended up deeply confusing him. "Please try looking at this from my point of view. Imagine me being completely vulnerable, in pain, at your mercy. Despite what I say you can do with me, you have a chance at hurting me. What would you do?"
Inosuke's lips tighten unhappily, and he crosses his arms before himself. He is still sitting in Tanjirou's lap, as if it was his designated place. "Ugh… Obviously, I would keep you safe. But still—!"
Tanjirou sits up, circling his arms around Inosuke's narrow waist. The skin of his chest is warm against his face as he pulls him close, the sweet pheromones of his heat still clinging to his body. "Inosuke, please believe that I did what I really believed was right. I apologize if I made you think that I didn't care for you, I can't tell you how important you are to me." He swallows, peeking at Inosuke's face. He is not unaffected by his words, a deep blush spreading on his cheeks. "But now that we know how we both feel… we have the chance to spend all your future heats together, if you'd like. Didn't you say that you'll make me yours once your heat is over?"
Tanjirou knows he sounds shameless, but he can't help himself, seeing Inosuke's adorably dumbstruck reaction. The omega whines and hugs Tanjirou's head close, bouncing in his lap excitedly.
"Yes, I promised to do that! Good job remembering it! So brace yourself now!" Despite his words, Inosuke remains in his lap, his heart hammering against his ribcage excitedly. A minute later he lets out a puff of air, and rests his head against Tanjirou's. "I'll do it after I sleep some…" he mumbles, and Tanjirou's heart flutters.
"That's more than alright, I won't go anywhere. Do you want me to… lie down with you?"
"Yeah… You should do that…"
"Alright, Inosuke."
"...Thank you for staying with me. I forgot to thank you, but I'm so glad it's you…" he sighs, his voice trailing off. In the blink of an eye, Inosuke is asleep, his breathing deepening and evening out.
He's still in his lap, so after a few minutes Tanjirou pries himself away as gently as he can and places Inosuke on the futon, watching him sleep so peacefully. He brushes a lock of hair from his face and tucks it behind his ear, but Inosuke doesn't stir.
"No need to thank me, dear, I just hope we can talk about things more later on," he whispers. A crease appears between Inosuke's brows so he leans in to kiss it away. "We should take a bath after you wake up. For now, sleep well, Inosuke."
Tanjirou then leaves quietly to get some water from the kitchens. Inosuke desperately needs the hydration, but he also feels like he could drink a well dry by himself.
When he comes back, he slips under the blankets next to Inosuke, curling into him like he's returning home.
Zenitsu is sitting cross-legged on the floor, fingers drumming on his arm in an unsettled manner.
"Tanjirou… Be honest. Is he pressuring you?"
Tanjirou stops wiping down his katana and glances at him. "Is that why you called me over so seriously? Don't be ridiculous, Zenitsu. I wouldn't take something like this so lightly as to let myself be pressured into it."
The slayer purses his lips, unhappy with the answer. "But you always go along with him! Aren't you two too young for a decision like this?"
Tanjirou is finished. He holds up his sword to inspect it in the beams of the sunlight that the open screens allow into the room. Spring is slowly coming to an end; the days are stretching longer, growing warmer and brighter. The wind carries the smell of blooming flowers, sweetening the air.
"I thought like that in the past. But I realized we might not have much time left together. Why not share what love we have in the meantime?"
Zenitsu snorts. "You speak like an old man."
He just laughs, as if Zenitsu has told a funny joke. "My 18th birthday is coming soon. I only asked Inosuke to wait until then."
"So you'll really become mates," Zenitsu states, puzzled. He has stopped the drumming on his arm. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you two. The pair of you have been insufferable ever since I've got to know you… Still, I wouldn't have thought such a day like this would come."
Trailing off, Zenitsu begins sniffing, and Tanjirou almost drops his katana in surprise. He quickly sheathes it and places it down, scooting closer to his friend to comfort him.
"Zenitsu, are you alright? Why are you crying?"
"You dumbasses," he hiccups, "I was so worried for you! I had to watch you circle around each other for years! Blush and make heart eyes at each other! It was so frustrating! And now both of you will have a mate sooner than me! It's not fair!"
Tanjirou's brows furrow, but there's an amused smile playing on his lips. "We will be each other's mates, so I don't know if that counts… And you're going to find your special person as well, in due time."
Zenitsu is rubbing at his cheeks, smudging his tears everywhere. "We gotta, uh, turn back Nezuko into a human as soon as possible."
"I don't know how that's relevant to the conversation, but I agree. We are going to. We are going to have long years together, I'm sure of it."
The wind shifts, and Tanjirou takes notice of the scent of peaches growing stronger before the approaching steps become audible.
Inosuke bursts into the room, accompanied by a loud boom, boar head swaying on his head wildly.
"Why is the cheese-stick crying again?!"
"You dumbass!" Zenitsu cries, pointing at him accusingly. "I was giving you my blessings, so be nice to me!"
"Huh, who asked for your blessing?" snorts Inosuke, but he sits down next to them, cross-legged and smelling happy. "You're not fooling anyone, though. I know you're worried we'll leave you behind!"
"Lies," whines Zenitsu, but he has already rubbed the tears out of his eyes. Now he's just pouting. "I'm gonna have a beauty for a wife, you just watch. I don't need the two of you."
"We aren't going to leave you behind just by becoming mates," Tanjirou says to him gently, but he notices Inosuke perk up at hearing that particular word, so he reaches over to hold his hand. "We're a pack, after all."
Zenitsu snorts. "I know exactly that nothing will change, you two have always been lovesick fools. Don't you dare make out in front of me, though."
"No promises," barks Inosuke.
"You two are terrible," sighs Zenitsu, standing up. "I can't believe you're getting mates sooner than me. Inosuke gets a mate sooner than me. I will need time to stomach that." Inosuke makes an offended noise, but he continues, "You two are idiots, but loveable idiots. You have my blessing, I guess."
"Thank you, Zenitsu," Tanjirou replies, smiling at him widely. "It means a lot, coming from you."
Inosuke just grunts, his way of showing his agreement, and Zenitsu heaves a sigh as he heads for the door. "Uhh. I'll leave the two of you alone. Please be mindful of my ears."
With that last request, he shuts the shoji doors behind himself, padding away. Judging by the direction of his steps, he's going towards the kitchens to bother Aoi.
Finally left alone, Inosuke climbs into Tanjirou's lap and heaves a big sigh. Tanjirou's hands instinctively come up around him, holding him close.
"I guess even Monitsu can be alright from time to time..."
"Yeah. I'm happy he's so supportive of us."
"Your birthday's soon," comments Inosuke suddenly, failing at appearing nonchalant. Tanjirou hums.
"That's right. Are you excited?"
"Yeah. Are you?"
Tanjirou slips a hand under the boar mask, pulling it off slowly. The face that becomes visible in its absence is pink, the look in those green eyes unwavering and intense. "I am," confesses quietly Tanjirou, and leans in to press a kiss to Inosuke's lips.