Chapter Text
When Ubuyashiki Amane first met the young Tsugikuni Tanjirou, he was only 8. He was a bright and cheerful child, with the most beautiful smile. She and Kagaya had met Tsugikuni Tanjuro when the Sun and Moon Hashira brought their brother’s family to stay with them for the winter. She and Kagaya adored the little, fluffy ball of energy who seemed to dispel the winter chill. She was glad that her children were drawn to Tanjirou, who looked after the quintuplets as if they were his own younger siblings.
By the time Kamado Tanjirou and his family were to return to their home, the quintuplets were holding tightly on his tanzen that he wore on top of his winter clothing. Tanjirou knew the little ones were sad and didn’t want to see him leave. He kneeled and gave all five of them a hug, and a promise to write to them.
Tanjirou had kept his promise in writing to the Ubuyashiki family, where the letters would be sent to one of his uncles, who would then personally hand it over to the Lady of the Ubuyashiki family. Tanjirou’s family would then spend the next four winters visiting and staying at the Sun and Moon estate, until his father, Tanjuro could no longer travel because of his weakening constitution. It would be another four years until they could see the young Tanjirou again. Until then, the constant exchange of letters kept the Ubuyashiki family content, knowing that Tanjirou and his family were safe and sound.
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The demon activity seems to have been increasing as of late, with more reports of missing people or suspicious deaths in the central region of Japan.
Kagaya had asked his wife to visit Tanjuro and his family, to which she wholeheartedly agreed. She was to meet with the Tanjuro and Kie, and hopefully convince the youngest brother of Michikatsu and Yoriichi to move closer to the Hashira headquarters. It took three days for her and their two eldest children to reach the town where Tanjuro and his family resided. They knew they were already near it, as they could already smell the unique scent of the wisteria blossoms that lined the path that surrounded the quaint, 2-story residence. It was a Gasshō-zukuri style house with a Machiya-style interior near the foot of the mountain.
They had sent a letter ahead of time to inform Tanjuro and his family of their visit. They had left the nearest Wisteria estate at the break of dawn to get to the Amane, and her two eldest daughters immediately felt all of their exhaustion disappear when they saw Tanjirou, who was waving, smiling so brightly at them upon their approach. The young man bowed respectfully, ushered them inside their humble abode, and quickly brought them cool towels and refreshments, as well as a light meal. They had spoken with Tanjuro and Kie about the moving of their family but were declined, saying that they preferred to stay, as this was their way to continue assisting the demon slayers.
“We appreciate the Ubuyashiki family’s generous and kind offer, but we believe that our purpose is better served by making sure that any demon slayer passing by this route has a roof above their heads, someone to patch them up, and provide warm food to fill their stomachs,” Tanjuro said with a heartfelt smile. “Besides, those two will need someone to look after them when they are in town.”
Amane chuckled at the last statement, understanding what Tanjuro meant about “those two”. She could not refute their reasoning but still told them that the offer stood in case they changed their minds. They had stayed for the night to rest and enjoyed good company while catching up with Tanjuro and his family.
As they prepared to make their way back to their home, young Tanjiro met them at the engawa.
“Amane-dono, will you and your daughters not be staying for another night? It might get dangerous along the road if you are to depart at this time.” Inquired the 16-year-old young man.
“Do not worry, Tanjirou-kun. There is a Wisteria estate along the road that we would reach by the time the sun is about to set.” Amane informed the young man.
“I see.” Tanjirou pouted while chewing on his lower lip lightly. “Can you wait here for a moment, please?” He asked as he quickly went back inside their house after Amane nodded her head. A few moments later, Tanjirou rushed back to meet them.
“Please take these with you. I know that from here, it will be a bit far from the next Wisteria estate, and I am worried that you might get thirsty or hungry along the way.” Tanjirou said earnestly while holding out a furoshiki and three suito. “There’s onigiri and some warabimochi in these bento boxes.”
“You didn’t have to go to the trouble of preparing these for us, but we will gladly accept it. Thank you kindly for thinking of us, Tanjirou-kun.” Amane smiled and patted Tanjirou’s head, while Hinaki and Nichika took the offered bundles with care. Tanjirou blushed from the gratitude that he smelled from the three women. He felt relieved and bowed his head in respect.
“Thank you for dropping by, Amane-dono, Hinaki-dono, Nichika-dono. Safe travels, please take care. It was a pleasure to meet all of you again, and I hope to be able to meet with you soon.” And with that, he walked them to the gate and waved goodbye with a smile on his face.
When Michikatsu and Yoriichi heard about Amane’s visit, they went to their brother’s house to again try to convince him to move in with them in the Sun and Moon estate, but only to be gently turned down with an amused smile from their youngest brother. The two sighed, but that didn’t stop them from trying to change their brother’s mind. Nevertheless, it gave them all the more reason to frequently visit their family, especially knowing that they get to see their nephews and nieces—especially their favorites—but of course they weren’t going to say that out loud.
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A year after Amane’s visit, an unfortunate tragedy struck the family.
Michikatsu and Yoriichi were given a mission to investigate and destroy the demon that was terrorizing the area, which was within the vicinity of the town where their brother lived. Reached They ran as fast as they could while using Total Breathing Concentration, praying that their brother and his whole family were safe.
It was less than an hour before the sun was to set on the horizon. They were less than 5km away from their brother’s house when they started to smell the distinct metallic scent of blood, and then they saw the cart that Tanjiro used when traveling, carrying baskets of various produce, strewn off the side of the path. What they saw next made them skid to a halt, the sight before them knocked the wind out of their chests – blood, so much blood. Right there along the path, just a few feet towards the base of the mountain, lay the cold and bloody remains of Tanjuro and Kie, along with two of their children, Shigeru and Rokuta, who were accosted by a demon. From the looks of it, they were on their way back from town.
Yoriichi reached the bodies on the ground, immediately checking, hoping against hope to find any signs of life, but found none on the children and Kie.
“Tanjuro! Hang on, a Kakushi will be here any time now.” Michikatsu said while putting pressure on the open would. He knew that the Kakushi would not make it in time. If only they could stop the bleeding from the missing left arm and right leg, or the open slash wounds that Tanjuro had sustained, he would at least somehow make it.
“Michi-nii, Yorii-nii, please…my children. Please…take care of them, I know… I won’t make it.” Tanjuro heaved. Breathing had become difficult, and his eyes felt heavy.
“Michikatsu, go find the other children! I can sense that the demon is still nearby. Go!” Yoriichi urged his elder brother, who immediately got to his feet, to locate his nephews and nieces.
“Yorii-nii, I’m sorry. I couldn’t…protect my family. If only…I was as strong as you…and Michi-nii…”
“Don’t talk, and save your strength.” Yoriichi was holding back his tears, he knew that Tanjuro wouldn’t make it.
Yoriichi snapped his head to where he heard a loud crashing sound. He saw Michikatsu jumping away while avoiding and defending against the root-like branches while holding on to Tanjirou, who was passed out in his arms. Tanjuro was away from the battle and sat him against a tree not far off so he could help Michikatsu and get Tanjirou out of harm’s way. Yoriichi quickly appeared by his brother’s side, took Tanjirou in his arms, and laid him near his father. Once Yoriichi was sure that they could fully engage in battle, they realized that they were fighting against two lower-rank demons. They made haste in killing the demons to lessen the collateral damage and make sure that they didn’t escape to kill any more civilians in the town. After swiftly ending the battle by severing the heads of the lower-rank demons with their breathing techniques, the two made haste to get to their brother’s side.
“Did you…manage to kill…the demon?”
“Yes, we did,” Michikatsu said.
“That’s good… Yorii-nii, Michi-nii… I don’t have much time… my eyes grow dim… Promise me…that both of you will look after the children for us, please…” With the last of his strength, Tanjuro glanced to his side, where he knew his firstborn was lying down. “Tanjirou, my son… I’m proud of you…you did well… continue to make us proud… make your uncles proud of you…” He smiled; a single tear rolled down his face and he smiled one last time before going limp in his brothers’ arms.
“He already makes us proud, Tanjuro, he already does,” Michikatsu said as he and his brother pulled an unconscious Tanjiro closer, while they mourned for the family members they lost that night.
It was the sight of the Sun and Moon Hashira hunched over the dead body of their brother while holding their nephew close that the Kakushi and Hinoto saw upon arriving at the scene.
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Three Kakushi members had Nezuko, Takeo, and Hanako on their backs as they carried them back to their house for them to rest after being patched up for their minor cuts and bruises. The three were found by the Hinoto rank slayers with the help of their Kasugai crows, who were sent as backup for the Sun and Moon Hashira.
No one could speak to the two Hashira at present. The Kakushi present would only speak to let them know that they were done with cleaning up the remains of the deceased family members or let them know that their nephews and nieces were safe and sound.
Yoriichi and Michikatsu made sure to stay beside their nephews and nieces. Once they were awake, they had to break the news of their family members’ passing as gently as possible. There was no point in delaying the inevitable truth, after all, all four of them were also there when the demon attacked. The consolation to their pain is knowing that the demon responsible was taken care of by their uncles.
They cried silently for their loved ones; they were thankful that the Kakushi and slayers who had stayed and accompanied them in their home had given them the time and privacy to mourn. Yoriichi and Michikatsu made quick arrangements for their dead to be cremated. The ashes will be interred with the rest of the family who are laid together in the cemetery with the other demon slayers.
It will take time for their hearts to heal, it will take time for them to move on. They had the house cleaned up, belongings packed, and ready to be moved to the Sun and Moon estate near the Hashira headquarters. The house will be left to a caretaker, who will continue what Tanjuro and Kie had started.
The Ubuyashiki family was informed by Crow about the passing of Tanjuro, Kie, and their two children. It broke their hearts knowing that they had lost people that they had considered family. But they would be there for them, just as the Tsugikuni family has supported them all this time.
They will remember and honor the people who have passed, but they will not linger in the despair of their passing. They will move on and find the happiness that they all deserve.
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It has been almost a year since Tanjirou and his siblings moved in with their uncles after being adopted. Nezuko was glad that they had uncles who doted on them and treated them like their own. Her brother, Tanjirou, took the responsibility of cooking all of the food for the family, which made Nezuko thank the gods because she knew for a fact that the only things that their uncles knew how to make were steamed rice, grilled fish, and boiled eggs. Their uncles weren’t going to complain either, knowing that they would have restaurant-quality meals that would put shame on the chefs at the Ubuyashiki mansion.
One day, while they were having their breakfast, which consisted of steamed rice, miso soup, salted salmon, tamagoyaki, pickled cucumbers, and some spinach salad, Tanjirou asked his uncles if it was possible for him to open an izakaya of sorts that was near the estate.
“I think onii-chan is bored.” Nezuko quipped while she took a bite of her tamagoyaki.
“Not bored, but… I miss being able to help out the slayers like we used to back then. I feel a sense of fulfillment in being able to make sure that they get to eat something delicious and nutritious at the same time.” Tanjirou shyly admitted. “Besides, I can’t wield a full-sized nichirin blade aside from the wakizashi that Uncle Michi and Uncle Yorii gave me unless I train full-time and join the demon slayer corps.”
The twins straightened their backs upon hearing the latter part. They didn’t want their nephews or nieces out there fighting against demons as long as they had any say in it, especially Tanjirou. Their dear nephew was too precious and kind to be tainted that way. Michikatsu can still remember how his heart dropped from his chest when he found his nephew fighting for dear life against the lower-rank demon using the wakizashi that they gifted him on his 12th birthday. However, in their defense, they did say that it was for him to use for self-defense.
“Opening a restaurant isn’t a bad idea. We’ll talk to Oyakata-sama and let him know about it. I’m sure that he will agree with your idea.” Yoriichi smiled at his nephew.
“Onii-chan, can I help you in the restaurant if Kagaya-dono approves of it?” Nezuko asked. She too felt the same way as her elder brother, she wanted to be of help in any way possible.
“Me too, onii-chan!” Hanako and Takeo asked at the same time with an excited glimmer in their eyes.
“Of course you can! I’d be very happy to have you.” Tanjirou beamed.
“So, what will you be naming the restaurant?” Michikatsu asked.
Tanjirou paused halfway from placing the salmon in his mouth as he briefly thought about the name. He looked at his uncles and his siblings and then smiled.
“Sora Shokudō—because I have the sun, the moon, and the stars beside me,” Tanjirou explained as he looked at all of them, and that was how he found himself sandwiched between his family members.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya approved of the idea of a restaurant that would cater to the demon slayer corps, with a Mona Lisa smile on his face which Yoriichi and Michikatsu missed.
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つづく
Notes:
It's been a while since I last wrote something, so please pardon me for any spelling and grammatical errors.
I couldn't help but build a back-story before jumping into part where he meets the other Hashiras
Chapter Text
When Ubuyashiki Kagaya announced at the end of their meeting that there would be a new restaurant that would be operated by an acquaintance and cater exclusively to the demon slayer corps, most of the hashiras were quite skeptical. With an exception for the sun and moon hashiras, of course, who already knew all about it. The one thing that piqued their interest is what followed – “I can assure you that the restaurant serves quality food that will be to your liking. You must discover it for yourselves.” Kagaya smiled and left his children to their machinations after bidding them a good day.
“This just does not make any sense. I mean, we must look for a restaurant that Oyakata-sama recommended?” Sanemi mumbled to no one in particular.
“Isn’t this just like a treasure hunt?” Mitsuri piped in. “I’m getting excited to know what food they serve.”
“You and I think the same, Mitsuri!” Rengoku looked just as excited as Mitsuri.
“What’s so special about that restaurant?” Muichiro tilted his head in contemplation.
“I guess we just have to look for it when we have time to find out.” Kocho smiled.
The twins just side-eyed each other before discreetly leaving the younger pillars, not wanting to be dragged into whatever shenanigans they might come up with.
“This restaurant has to be very flamboyant if Oyakata-sama recommends it!” Uzui crossed his arms.
“How about you, Yoriichi-san, have you…“ Muichiro paused as he turned to look at the now-empty spot that the twins had previously occupied.
“It seems like Michikatsu-san and Yoriichi-san have already left when you were discussing the restaurant,” Obanai commented.
“Obviously.” Tomioka quietly said to himself.
“Since Oyakata-sama has adjourned us, it would be best if we prepared the training regimen for the low-ranking slayers to increase their survivability,” Himejima said as he walked towards the exit.
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Himejima considered himself an early bird. If ever he woke up too early, he meditated to clear his mind, especially with all the thoughts that were running in his head—from training lower-level slayers to his fellow hashiras. It has not been that long since the others have been promoted to their current ranks thanks to the help of the twins. Surprisingly, not even meditation helped. It was early in the morning; the sun had just peaked over the horizon when Himejima decided to take a morning stroll to clear his mind. With that in mind, he got up and exited the gate of this home.
It was by pure chance that Himejima discovered the entrance to the restaurant. He had stumbled upon a cat along his walk. It was a long-haired cat, which he was not familiar with. Even with his slightly low vision, he could tell that it was very pretty and well-loved considering how pristine it was. It had a pale cream coat over the body, and colored points—the face, ears, legs, and tail. The cat approached him and rubbed its body along his leg before mewling and trotting away. It stopped and looked at Himejima as if telling him to follow.
When Himejima discovered the quaint shokudō after entering the bamboo-lined, which was a few steps and slightly hidden (if one was not observant enough) off the beaten path that the demon slayers often take when coming and going from the Hashira headquarters, he did not expect to be greeted with a serene, open-air garden. The shokudō had a garden with gazebos and outdoor seats covered by large umbrellas, offering additional shade. There were around 4 outdoor seating areas that could accommodate groups of at least 8-10 guests per area. He could make out the pond and distinctively heard some splashes around it.
Walking further in, he saw someone sweeping in front of the door. He could not tell whether it was a man or a woman since their back was facing him. The cat that he was following trilled at the person before him before rubbing itself along the clothed legs.
“Good morning, Yuki! Did you have a nice stroll?” Said person received a cat trill in response.
“Ah, it’s man, he does have a nice voice.” Himejima thought as he walked closer to the man who was now sitting and giving the cat scratches. It did give him time to observe the young man. He had long, burgundy hair that was tied in a high ponytail, which reminded him of twin Hashira’s hairstyle. He was petite, almost the same height as Mitsuri if he were not mistaken.
The cat mewled after sitting straight to look at Himejima, who approached them. Tanjirou looked up, eyes widening in surprise, to see their early morning guest. “Ah, good morning, and welcome! Are you hungry? Please come in! I will have something prepared for you!”
“I hope I am not too early?” Himejima said as he followed him inside. He was surprised at how spacious it was, he realized that he did not even have to bend down to enter the premises.
“Not at all, I always open the shokudō early to anticipate guests who might need some takeaways if they would be on missions,” Tanjirou explained. “Would you prefer to sit by the bar, or would you prefer to be seated at one of the tables?”
“At one of the tables, please,” Himejima said while taking note of the interiors of the restaurant. The shoji windows were open, providing ventilation and at the same time providing cool air within the restaurant, with high ceilings that also allowed a lot of natural light to illuminate the inside of the establishment. The tables were adequately spaced, providing unrestricted movement.
“Of course! This way, please make yourself comfortable. My name is Tanjirou, and I am the owner of this shokudō.” Tanjirou said as he directed Himejima to one of the tables by the window that overlooked the koi pond and garden.
As Himejima took a seat at one of the chabudai tables, he noted that a warm towel was placed in front of him as well as a cool glass of water.
“Thank you, Tanjirou. You have a genuinely nice voice. My name is Himejima Gyomei, the Stone Hashira.” Himejima said as he unrolled the towel to wipe his face and hands.
Tanjirou lightly blushed and thanked Himejima for the compliment. “May I ask if there is anything you cannot eat in particular, Himejima-san?”
Himejima shook his head, he was not a picky eater. He enjoyed every single type of dish that was available for consumption. But of course, like any other human being, he did favor certain types of dishes that tickled his taste buds.
“That is good to hear, to be honest, I have yet to prepare the ingredients that I will be using for the day. I hope you do not mind if serve you omakase style for today?”
“I do not mind, please surprise me.”
When Tanjirou went behind the kitchen counter to prepare his meal, Himejima’s mind drifted off to what was bothering him, occasionally being distracted to admire Tanjirou, who was so focused on his work.
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Tanjirou was surprised at first when he saw the Stone Hashira. The man was the tallest person he had seen in his life. He had heard in passing that the stone hashira was strict and scary, but in his eyes, he could tell that the man had a kind and gentle soul. He was like a mountain that stood sentry, rising to the skies while keeping itself grounded.
When he saw him, Tanjirou sensed that the man was worried, unsettled about something—most likely related to the demon slayer corps, if not something else entirely. He thought about what to serve the hashira, something that would clear his mind and find balance. He looked at the ingredients that he had in his kitchen as well as the food that was already on top of the stove. Tanjirou smiled to himself.
“It looks like I did not have to think about it too much, I already have everything prepared and ready to be served.” Tanjirou thought as he prepared some tea while waiting for the rice to finish cooking.
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It had only been a few minutes when he was indeed surprised when Tanjirou brought out a large serving of a set meal that included his favorite - takikomi gohan. The set meal included saba shioyaki, tsukemono–shiozuke, Japanese spinach salad with sesame dressing, and homemade miso soup. His mouth could not help but water at the spread before him. Everything looked and smelled delicious!
“Tanjirou, have you had anything to eat this morning? Might you join me if you have not?”
Tanjirou tilted his head to the side in thought, “That is a good idea! Please give me a moment to bring out my meal.”
Tanjirou brought out the same set meal for himself, plus a pot of green tea to be shared, and sat across Himejima. As they started eating, Himejima could not help but get lost in the different textures and distinct savory taste of the rice. Every ingredient was proportioned and cooked to perfection, and that was a hard feat considering that if one puts too many ingredients, it will only absorb all the liquid in the rice and the rice will not cook properly.
“This takikomi gohan is by far the best I have ever had. I think this is even better compared to other restaurants; I do not think I can enjoy any other after this.” Himejima commented as he took another bite and tasted the other components of his meal. The two of them ate while chatting about random things but mostly asked things about each other.
“Himejima-san, I do not mean to pry, but is something worrying you? I noticed you had this far-away look like you were weighing things in your mind.” Tanjirou asked after pouring tea for both.
Himejima looked at the beautiful boy in front of him, noting that he was showing genuine concern, not out of meddling curiosity. He then began sharing what was on his mind with the young man in front of him. Even with his low vision, he could see the sincerity and understanding behind those big, sparkling eyes.
“If I may be so bold, I think that your ranks are one thing that may be holding back the lower ranks from approaching. The one thing about being at the top of the ranks is that it is usually accompanied by solitude unless you are in the presence of people of the same rank.
“The rest of the slayers might find it hard to approach because they are afraid, not realizing that all they need to do is reach out. I think the same thing could be said about the hashiras—they only need to let their subordinates know they are willing to help in any way they can. Just like the takikomi gohan—ideally, the rice and all the other ingredients are supposed to be cooked separately, but, in the end, we can make it work by finding the right balance in everything.”
Tanjirou took a sip of his warm tea and just looked at Himejima, telling him with his eyes that everything would be alright and fall right into place at the right time. Himejima sat there stunned, Tanjirou was right – communication was the key, and at the same time, making sure that there was a balance in how they interacted with each other without toeing the line.
After finishing their tea, it was already time for Himejima to go back to the temple where he resided to train the younger slayers.
“My tab – “
“Do not worry about it. The first time is on the house.” Tanjirou smiled as he placed his hands on top of Himejima’s who was reaching for his wallet. Himejima lightly blushed at the skin contact.
When they reached the genkan, Tanjirou asked Himejima to wait, as he had just remembered something. Himejima sat on the bench near the door when he noticed that the cat, Yuki, jumped and lay beside him. It looked at him and mewled as if asking for pets and scratches, which Himejima gladly gave and was gifted with purrs in return.
“Thank you for waiting, Himejima-san. Please take these with you. It is not much, but I thought that you might need something to eat after training.” Tanjirou was holding out two large, bamboo bento baskets. “I made you some hijiki gohan onigiri, onigirazu, and tenmusu.”
“Thank you, Tanjirou. This is very thoughtful of you, are you sure that you will not take any payment?”
Tanjirou giggled, "No, there is no need, the first time is on the house. Think of this as my thanks for your hard work, Himejima-san. Also, can you bend down a little bit, please?” Tanjirou then approached Himejima when he complied with his request, and stood on his tiptoes, reaching for the stone hashira’s face, gently running his thumbs between Himejima’s eyebrows in an upward motion.
“A frown will not suit you, Himejima-san. Do not fret about the things that cannot be changed, just focus on the things that can be done. You will be surprised to find that the things that you are worried about have already found their answers along the way.” Tanjirou smiled as his hands cupped the stone hashira’s face.
Himejima could feel his face heating up but could not even bring himself to care as he stared at those eyes that saw him just as himself and not as a hashira.
“Dewa, I believe I have kept you away from your subordinates. Until then, we will be waiting for your next visit.” Tanjirou said as he let go of Himejima’s face and picked up his cat Yuki in his arms. Taking one of its front legs and waving it goodbye to Himejima, who in turn waved back as he made his way back.
As Himejima exited the obscured entrance, he could not help but smile. He felt lighter, and all the worries that he had prior seemed to have drifted away like clouds making way for the clear blue sky. He was certain to come back to this hidden gem. Who knew that food would help ease his worries away? But if he was going to be honest with himself, the owner was another reason to come back – a warm and understanding presence who gave him a gentle push.
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🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
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Rengoku Kyojuro has had a rough day.
He was tired and had reached a crossroads when he was training his subordinates. He had a keen intellect, but there would be times when he would inadvertently hit a wall. He decided to call it a day and figure out what to do next when he got home. He would not be able to ask his father for advice, so he might as well check their library to see if his ancestors wrote about anything related to training. He had told his subordinates to clean up the dojo and that they would continue the next day.
While on his usual route on the way home, he suddenly stopped in his tracks when he smelled the aroma of food but could not pinpoint what it was. It made his stomach rumble reminding him that he had skipped lunch that day. He looked up the sky to determine what time it was, he figured that it was about mid-afternoon which would mean it would be too late for lunch but too early for dinner. He decided that he might as well get something to eat.
He let his senses guide him to what looked like a hidden niche, which then led him to a garden of sorts. He then saw a building with a noren curtain and a sign that read ‘Sora’ at the top of the entrance.
“Oh, oh…ohhh… It seems like I found the shokudō that Oyakata-sama mentioned.” Rengoku thought.
As he approached the building, he was met by a young woman who was wearing a pink kimono with an asanoha pattern and an ichimatsu patterned sash. He immediately recognized that she was the niece of the Sun and the Moon Hashira since she was one of the volunteers who sometimes helped at the Butterfly Mansion.
“Rengoku-san, good afternoon!” Nezuko greeted with a smile. “You have finally found the shokudō.”
“Yes, I have! Are you off to the Butterfly Mansion?”
“M-hm, yes, I am. I promised Aoi-chan that I would be helping her with her rounds this afternoon. While you are here, my brother will be assisting and serving you.” Nezuko said as she opened the genkan and called for her brother. “Onii-chan! We have a guest!”
“Okay! Please usher the guest inside, Nezuko.”
“Rengoku-san, please come in. Onii-chan, this is Rengoku Kyojuro, the Flame Hashira. Rengoku-san, this is my brother Tanjirou.” Nezuko ushered the Flame Hashira inside, and once more bid her brother goodbye.
What Rengoku was not expecting was a beautiful redhead who was wearing a dark red kinagashi, with a black-and-green ichimatsu-patterned apron tied around his waist, tabi socks, and zori adorning his feet.
“Irasshaimase! This way, please,” Tanjirou said as he led the Flame Hashira to his table, which was the same table used by Himejima the day before. “My name is Tanjirou, and I will be serving you today! Would you like a menu or omakase?”
Rengoku sat and stared transfixed at Tanjirou. Never in his life has he met or seen anyone as beautiful as the man before him. He was staring at the brightest set of red eyes, cute nose, high cheekbones, and cupid’s bow lips. His hands were itching to see if that skin was as soft as it seemed. Thankfully, he was shaken out of his reverie before he could reach out when he felt Tanjirou’s hand on his face while calling out his name.
“Rengoku-san? Rengoku-san, are you alright? You seem to be a bit warm, should I bring you to the Butterfly Mansion?”
“I’m fine! I’m fine! I am just famished because I missed lunch! And what was that you were saying earlier?” Rengoku smiled as he quickly made an excuse to cover up the fact that he was staring and daydreaming about those plump lips.
“Well, if you are sure.” Tanjirou looked worried at Rengoku, he looked like he had a fever. “I wanted to know if would prefer to look at the menu or go omakase for your meal?”
Rengoku thought that Tanjirou looked so adorable with that worried look on his face. “I will leave it to you.”
“I understand, please make yourself comfortable while I prepare your meal.” Tanjirou bowed, then went back to the kitchen. He came back with a pot of tea and poured Rengoku a cup before bowing and heading to the kitchen, which was just behind the bar counter.
Rengoku took the karatsu teacup and enjoyed the heat in between his hands before taking a sniff of the toasty aroma emanating from the tea. Taking a sip, he noted that the blend was different compared to what was served in most restaurants. The tea that Tanjirou served was sweet and smoky, with no bitterness. He felt himself relaxing on his zabuton while listening to birds chirping on the branch of a nearby wisteria tree. He would ask Tanjirou what tea it was later.
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The one thought that came to his mind when caught a glimpse of Rengoku-san was candlelight. That was what he would use to describe the man who had a halo of golden-flame-tipped hair. And yet, he appeared to be like a candlelight whose flame was dying, losing its light and warmth. Tanjirou could akin the feeling to the smell of firewood dying or being forcibly snuffed out in the middle of the night.
The thought didn’t settle well with Tanjirou. He thought of what he could make that would bring warmth to the soul, something that would keep that fire burning – to ignite it, and as usual, the answer was already right in his hands. It was not yet in season for it, but having a greenhouse in the estate did have its perks.
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Before he knew it, Tanjirou had returned with a tray laden with different dishes. Tanjirou placed each dish on the table with grace and care. “Please enjoy your meal and don’t hesitate to ask for seconds.” Tanjirou smiled before heading back to the kitchen.
Rengoku’s mouth watered when he saw the variety of dishes in front of him – a steaming bowl of rice, beef teriyaki, wakame seaweed salad, sauteed shiitake mushrooms, and miso soup with satsumaimo sweet potato. He eyed the bowl of miso soup; it reminded him of the time when his mother often prepared it for him. Rengoku took a sip from the bowl and noted that it tasted exactly how his mother made the soup! It was rich and packed with sweet potatoes and aburaage. After taking another sip of the soup and taking a mouthful of sweet potatoes and aburaage, warm memories filled him—memories from the time that his mother instilled the morals and principles that he carried with him down to the promise he made before his mother crossed to the afterlife.
It was a nice, gentle warmth—sad and happy at the same time, but it was a grounding feeling. Without noticing it, he was asking for a second serving of the soup before he could even touch the other dishes on the table. He began eating the food on the table with much gusto as Tanjirou came back with the second serving of soup, and a fresh batch of tea.
Tanjirou smiled fondly while he heard Rengoku exclaim “Umai!” at certain times after taking a bite of his meal.
After Rengoku had finished his meal—three servings in total, another dish was placed in front of him.
“Do you have room for dessert?” Tanjirou asked. “I hope that this will be to your liking.”
Rengoku eyed the golden-colored pastry before picking up the dessert fork to take a bite. The crisp and flaky exterior crackled in his mouth, followed by the rich, creamy interior of the sweet potato filling.
“Umai!” Rengoku’s eyes sparkled as he took another bite.
“This dessert goes well with the tea,” Tanjirou said as he refilled Rengoku’s teacup.
“M-hmm. If I may ask, what tea is this? I have not had anything like it. I know for certain that this is not black tea. And what is this dessert? Are you the one who cooked all of this?” Rengoku asked as he took another bite of the pastry. “Umai!”
“In the order of your question, the tea is a type of green tea called hojicha. We get the tea leaves from Kyoto and then I create this specific blend. That pasty is a sweet potato pie, and yes, I am the one who cooked all of this.” Tanjirou giggled.
“I am glad that you are feeling better,” Tanjirou said, making Rengoku look at him. Tanjirou pointed at his nose explaining that he had an enhanced sense of smell and that he could smell emotions and such.
“I am, thanks to you. But to be honest, I have hit a wall and cannot figure out how to overcome it.” Rengoku said as placed down the fork he was holding.
“I can lend an ear if you do not mind sharing what is bothering you?” Tanjirou offered.
Before he knew it, Rengoku found himself openly sharing his troubles (while omitting the part about the change in his father’s demeanor since the death of his mother) with the young man before him, who listened intently without any interruption.
“Have you considered reaching out to either the sun or moon hashira? From what I reckon, both have been with the demon slayer corps even before you joined, and they were the ones who trained you and the rest of the current hashiras, correct?” Rengoku nodded and thought about it. Seeing this, Tanjirou continued as he grabbed both of Rengoku’s hands in his while locking eyes with the hashira.
“We usually go to the person we look up to, and it may or may not be our parents who solely hold that position in our lives. Sometimes parents may not be physically, mentally, or emotionally available to give us the guidance that we need; thus, we have our mentors to guide us. There is nothing to be afraid or ashamed of for asking advice when you need it.”
And with those words, Rengoku had an epiphany. The young man was right, he did not have to carry the burden and search for the answers alone. With their eyes still locked on one another, Rengoku smiled and switched the way their hands were connected as he reverently brought Tanjirou’s hands to his lips. The redhead flushed pink from the gesture but took it as a strange way of saying thanks.
“How lovely, I wonder how far down that blush goes.”
Rengoku had mentally slapped himself and got his mind out of the gutter. No, he would be courting this young man in earnest. He was going to set Tanjirou’s heart ablaze. The two chatted for a few more minutes before Tanjirou had to excuse himself when a female Kakushi arrived and ordered a few items for takeout. After Tanjirou handed the food to the Kakushi, Rengoku stood up and approached the counter to pay his tab.
“The first time is on the house.” Tanjirou shook his head and declined the payment.
“I would like to ask why, but I think that would be a story for another time,” Rengoku said as he slid open the genkan.
“Rengoku-san!” Tanjirou called out when he followed the Flame Hashira out. “Please take this with you, some sweets to share with your family. I hope you will enjoy the rest of your day, and have a safe trip on your way home, Rengoku-san. We will be waiting for your next visit.”
Rengoku accepted the wrapped bundle, he wanted to ask what kind of pastries were in there but decided that he would rather be surprised. So far, the food he had was superb, and he was sure that whatever was in the bundle was something that he would enjoy. He thanked Tanjirou and made his way back to the main path outside the shokudō. Upon arriving home, he was greeted by his brother, who had just finished sweeping. He hugged his brother and told him to prepare some tea and to bring out some serving plates after showing him the bundle he was holding.
He was surprised to see a note. Tanjirou had packed him a variety of pastries, from the sweet potato pie that he had earlier along with some apple pies and matcha cake rolls. It made him happy to see that Senjuro was also enjoying the food. Yep, he was going to be visiting the restaurant more often for the food, if not just to see the beautiful owner.
But first, he had to talk to the sun and moon hashira to ask for their advice, among other things.
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At some random training ground, Yoriichi and Michikatsu felt chills run up their spine and got a foreboding feeling, respectively. They had an annoying feeling that they would be encountering something that would not sit well with their sanity.
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つづく
Notes:
Again, I apologize if there are any grammatical errors. ~( ´•︵•` )~
And so this begins Tanjirou becoming the perfect wifey in the eyes of the hashira. ≧(´▽｀)≦
- All of Hashiras are just touch starved puppies... ଘ(੭ˊ꒳ˋ)੭✧
- Himejima Gyomei has a slight low vision problem, and I would imagine that he has grey eyes in this story.
- The food that Tanjirou will be serving will consist of both traditional and modern Japanese dishes.
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Here's my inspiration for the interiors of the restaurant:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/traditional-japanese-restaurant.html?sortBy=relevantHere's what their uniform would look like but only in red:
https://ph.pinterest.com/pin/122160208633956098/
Chapter Text
It was a beautiful morning regardless of the chill that tickled his skin. He looked at the blue sky contrasted by the pink and orange clouds making way for the sun’s majestic entrance. After stretching for a bit and putting away his futon, Tanjirou made his way to the kitchen. He thought of what to make for bento lunches as he made quick work on breakfast for his family: steamed rice, miso glazed salmon, kabocha miso, natto, and spicy pickled cucumbers.
“Good morning Uncle Michi, Uncle Yorii!” Tanjiro greeted his uncles as he placed breakfast in front of them. “Both of you are up early, busy day?”
“Yes, we will be helping Rengoku Kyojuro today, he approached us yesterday asking for some advice and if we could review the training plan he created,” Yoriichi said as he dug into his breakfast.
“That young man has unlimited potential. If only his father could snap out of his depression so that he could guide his son.” Michikatsu added.
Tanjirou brightened when he heard that Rengoku-san had asked his uncles and, sad thinking that he might be going through some other problems. He didn’t like it if his friends were sad. They continued to eat their breakfast, often breaking the silence by asking about their plans for the day or sharing funny or interesting stories.
“Do you have anything planned for today, Tanjirou?” Michikatsu asked.
“I am looking forward to meeting with the fish peddler that we met last week. She sent me a letter two days ago telling me they would have a wide variety of fresh seafood today.”
The twins smiled at Tanjirou. Their nephew was the type of person who enjoyed the simple things in life and loved to take care of his special people.
“If you are going alone, it would be best to bring one of the servants with you to help you carry anything that you will be buying from the market,” Yoriichi said after taking a bite of the tamagoyaki.
“That’s okay, Uncle Yorii. Himejima-san already said that he would be accompanying me today. I tried to decline his offer, but he insisted. He is such a nice person!” Tanjirou continued to eat his breakfast, not noticing the exchanged glances between his uncles—he was too excited at the concept of getting his hands on an array of fresh seafood.
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After the maids cleaned the table, Tanjirou saw his uncles off while handing them their lunch bento.
“Please do not forget to eat lunch. I made several onigiris for both of you.” Tanjirou smiled when his uncles hugged him.
“Oh Tanjirou, thank you! Don’t you ever change,” Michikatsu nuzzled the top of his head.
“What are we going to do without you, little one?” Yoriichi kissed his forehead.
“Mou, I am not so little anymore!” They all laughed as Tanjirou saw them off at the gate.
The twins were already a considerable distance away from their estate when dark clouds formed on top of their heads.
“The stone hashira, huh?” said Michikatsu whose thoughts went back to the conversation they had with Tanjirou.
“So, Himejima has already found the restaurant and met Tanjirou. He’s a strong and honorable man. Tanjirou should be safe around him.”
“M-hmm. Something is bothering me, and I can’t put a finger on it. I can’t shake off the feeling that we are not going to like it.”
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He considered himself lucky to be collaborating with Kyojuro on the training plan for the demon slayers. He would oversee the improvement training for speed and reflexes, while Kyojuro would assist with improving their strength and total concentration breathing. He genuinely liked the man; he was flamboyant in a way, so that was a plus in his books.
It was still early in the evening when Uzui Tengen heard the gentle sound of a stringed instrument. Was it a shamisen or a biwa? No, only a koto could produce such gentle sounds that felt like a lover’s touch with every string that was plucked. Following the source of the melody, he found himself walking through a bamboo-lined path that led to a garden surrounded by wisteria. His eyes widened when they landed on the person sitting on one of the benches near the pond. He quietly made his way closer to listen and observe the musician, who continued to play the lovely tune.
Uzui noted that the person playing on what looked like a 21-string koto was breathtaking, with pale skin illuminated by the moonlight and surrounding lanterns and graceful, slender fingers that gently plucked every chord. Uzui stood there mesmerized at the sight before him; he realized that the person in front of him was a man.
As the song finished, the man placed his hands on top of the string and then looked up, a gentle breeze blew through the garden, gently swaying the long burgundy strands. Uzui stared at those glittering ruby pools who looked at him in surprise. A beautiful man whose beauty would put shame on the Oirans in the Yoshiwara district.
“Good evening. Welcome to Sora Shokudō. My name is Tanjirou, the owner of this restaurant.” Tanjirou stood up as he greeted the tall man.
“Uzui Tengen, the Sound Hashira. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope your establishment is still open?” Uzui closed the distance between them and took the smaller man’s hand in his, placing a kiss on the knuckles. Tanjirou was fighting a losing battle as his cheeks flushed at the boldness of the Sound Hashira.
“Yes, we’re still open. This way, please, Uzui-san.” Tanjirou smiled and bowed as he gestured towards the genkan. Upon entering, Tanjirou asked where Uzui preferred to sit.
“The bar is fine with me.”
The bar table was wide, offering adequate space for several dishes to be placed in front of the guest while offering a front-seat view of how the master of the shokudō prepared the meals. Uzui decided that he would sit there so he could ogle at the beautiful man.
“Would it be okay if I served you something I believe you would enjoy?” Tanjirou asked as he went behind the counter.
“Go ahead, beautiful, and showcase that flashy talent in the kitchen,” Uzui said as he rested his chin on his hand.
“I’m not that beautiful, and I think you would be the one who is talented, Uzui-san.”
“Please call me Tengen. Do I look like someone with any talent? Some people deserve to be identified as talented. I know someone who took up a sword and became a Hashira in two months. Me, talented? I think you need to get your eyes checked, beautiful.” Tengen rebutted, “If you only knew how many lives slipped through my fingers…"
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Tanjirou didn’t say anything about Uzui’s statement, he merely tilted his head and quietly observed Uzui for a few seconds before going through what he had available and immediately thinking of the perfect meal to serve Uzui.
While taking out the ingredients, he noticed the Uzui smelled despondent—like an artist who could not find the right medium to express his art or a composer who did not have an audience to listen to the composition he had painstakingly created. It was as if there was too much noise, too much chaos that echoed in the background. He wondered how he could help put out that noise and paint a different picture for the lost soul.
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Tengen watched Tanjirou as he moved around the kitchen. He vaguely saw the variety of seafood that was being prepared as he was mostly focused on the man holding the knife.
“And here I thought you would observe my talents in the kitchen. Is there anything on my face, Tengen-san?” Tanjirou asked as he placed the finishing touches on the food he was preparing.
“What can I say? I’m a man who appreciates beauty when I see it.” Uzui said as he looked directly at those amused ruby eyes.
“I cannot say that I am beautiful, but there is a seeing that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So, we will have to agree to disagree for now.” Tanjirou smiled. “Thank you for your patience! I was able to get my hands on fresh seafood this afternoon! Here is Sora’s special kaisendon,” Tanjirou gushed. He almost twirled around the kitchen, remembering the gems he found earlier at the fish market.
Tanjirou placed a bowl of rice topped with a variety of fresh seafood sashimi. Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, beakfish, squid, sweet shrimp, sea urchin, and ikura were beautifully layered on the bed of rice. Uzui admired the elements presented before placing the wasabi on the little plate provided and mixing it with the soy sauce before pouring it over the seafood.
Uzui took a bite and was hooked – the different textures, as well as the rich, sweet, and savory flavors of the seafood, danced on his tastebuds. He heard the waves of the sea crashing in every bite that he took.
“Please pardon my reach; allow me to pour your first cup,” Tanjirou said as he poured reishu into the Kiriko glass cup that he gave Uzui.
Uzui took a sip of the chilled sake, cleansing his palate. For some reason, Uzui felt all his troubles being washed away after each bite, and after each sip. He was about halfway done with Kaisendon when he Tanjirou placed, what he knew was a tiger pufferfish, on the chopping board. The toxins in one fish were so poisonous that it could kill 30 people. He observed how Tanjirou quickly but carefully prepared the fish, removing the highly toxic parts with precision.
Tanjirou placed a plate of fugu sashimi with a ponzu dipping sauce in front of him as well as a steaming cup of freshly brewed gyokuro.
“You say you’re not talented, but look at this—from playing the koto to cooking and preparing such a dangerous fish,” Tengen said as he looked at the beautifully plated, thin slices of fugu laid out in the shape of a flower.
“It’s an acquired skill, Tengen-san. I had to observe and study from a professional for me to be able to properly prepare and serve fugu. And I would have offered you more sake, but I don’t believe it would give you any clarity at this moment. Putting that thought aside, I think you and I understand and define talent differently. I see ‘talent’ as something innate to a person. In you, I see the natural ability to persuade people, among other things.
“How do you even define talent, Tengen-san? You having enhanced hearing is considered a talent, is it not? Besides, to be the first and only known user of Sound breathing is something else, and that is something that you should be proud of. Tengen-san, you may not believe my words, but let me tell you one thing: when a person looks in the mirror, most of the time, what they only see is what is on the front or the outside. And believe me when I say that I see you are talented—you are special and unique.” Tanjirou said while looking at Uzui straight in the eye.
Uzui stared back at Tanjirou, not believing his ears. The way Tanjirou said it was not patronizing but as if he was stating the obvious facts that Uzui had been denying to himself. Here he was internally wallowing in his insecurities, his inner conflict and contradiction, and then one person who he just met shatters every wall that he built.
“Now I don’t know if I still need to convince you, but your fugu sashimi is going to dry out, and it isn’t going to disappear from that plate if you do not start eating it.”
Uzui blinked then stared down at the untouched plate. He looked back at Tanjirou and gave a boisterous laugh. He took his chopsticks and picked up a couple of pieces of fugu, wrapping them with some of the garnishes and dipping them in ponzu. He savored the sweet flavor of the meat and enjoyed the slight chewiness.
“You have a way with words, Tanjirou. You put a Buddhist monk’s teachings to shame.” Uzui teased. The two continued to talk, with Tanjirou sharing things about himself and his family and Uzui sharing about his life. Tanjirou didn’t even bat an eyelash; he only showed compassion and understanding when he shared with him about his life as a former shinobi or having 3 wives. They only paused their conversation when a random Kakushi or slayer came in to order food to eat or for pickup the next day.
“Not that I am asking you to go and be on your merry way to wherever your house is, but are your wives not going to get worried that you are still not home at this hour?” Tanjirou asked. He was seated beside Uzui at the bar counter while they were chatting and drinking tea.
“If I were any mediocre man, I would believe that you already tire of my presence. But to answer your question, beautiful, they understand that there will be times that I return late because of my position as hashira.”
“I see, nevertheless, I think it will be a good idea to bring home something for your wives.”
Tanjirou went back behind the counter to prepare a couple of bento for Uzui to take home.
“The first time is on the house,” Tanjirou told Uzui as he was about to pay.
“But what if I don’t come back?” Uzui asked as he took the bento basket that Tanjirou handed him.
“Then it only means that you were not able to find what you were looking for.” Tanjirou smiled.
Uzui chucked at Tanjirou’s response. Who was he kidding? He knew that he would be back, he would also be bringing his wives to meet this beauty in front of him.
“Before I go, can you grant my request?”
“And what would that be, Tengen-san?”
“Play the koto for me. Play the same tune that you were playing earlier.” Uzui looked at Tanjirou with earnest eyes.
“I believe I can do that. Come, let’s head to the garden. The moon is very pretty this evening, and it would be a waste not to enjoy music while viewing the moon.”
Tengen enjoyed the sweet sake that Tanjirou prepared for him while he listened to the young man play the koto into the night.
“To think that I was able to discover this hidden gem that Oyakata-sama mentioned…” His thoughts went back to Tanjirou’s words about his sense of hearing. “I think I should go ask Gyomei if he can thank Buddha on my behalf for being born with this talent.”
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- 𖣘 - ࿓࿓༄༄ - 𖣘 - ࿓࿓༄༄ - 𖣘 - ࿓࿓༄༄ - 𖣘 -
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Shinazugawa, in all his magnanimous tsundere glory, was out and about. It was a normal day if he counted the fact that he had been beating his subordinates like moles left and right during training. He huffed at how weak they were and how they lacked the necessary motivation to pass his training. He needed to go out and take a breather, he didn’t feel like preparing anything to eat and thus decided to go to one of the nearest eateries that he frequented. He was minding his own business when he noticed a cat, or what looked like a cat, out of the corner of his eye. He decided to take a closer look and saw the fluffiest cat that he had ever seen snoozing while perfectly balanced on the wooden fence.
Sensing his approach, the cat opened its eyes to look at her big blue eyes to look at her visitor. The cat yawned and stretched its long body before sitting down to start grooming herself. Shinazugawa reached out and scratched the cat’s head, who purred in response.
“You look too pretty to be a stray. Where do you live?” Shinazugawa asked the cat as if it would understand the question. His stomach then made a grumbling sound. The cat then sat straight before jumping down the fence. It pawed his feet, and lightly bit the buckles of his shin straps, tugging gently as if asking him to follow. He felt ridiculous having to follow a cat but did so anyway out of sheer curiosity.
What Shinazugawa didn’t expect was to walk through a bamboo path that led to a building that clearly looked like a restaurant. He slowed his steps to study the surroundings—there was a koi pond that was surrounded by a well-kept garden with wisteria trees and trellises here and about. Was this the restaurant that Oyakata-sama was talking about?
He was shaken out of his musings when he heard a tinkling voice. His first instinct was to hide and observe.
“Yuki! Where are you? I brought you your favorite—shredded boiled chicken!”
“What the hell?! It’s broad daylight, why the fuck am I hiding?!” Shinazugawa thought as he peeked from behind the wisteria trees. He saw a lithe man whose long red hair was tied up in a ponytail. His first impression of the man was that he was beautiful and graceful, with the loveliest smile he had ever seen.
“Meow!”
‘Yuki’ the cat came bounding towards the person who sat down to pet the creamy white ball of fur, rubbing its head lovingly against the person’s cheek. The man then placed the small cat dish near the wooden bench.
“There you are, sweet little girl. Don’t forget to drink some water after you finish your meal.”
The cat mewled before going back to slowly eating the shredded chicken in front of it. The redhead stood up and then went back inside the restaurant, not noticing the visitor who was staring intently at him.
Shinazugawa came out from behind the tree after a couple of minutes, making sure that no one else was around before approaching the building and entering the establishment.
“Hello! Welcome to Sora Shokudō.” Nezuko greeted. “Ara, Shinazugawa-san! Come in, this way, please.”
“Osu,” Shinazugawa greeted the young girl. He knew that she was one of the Tsugikuni twins’ nieces, as he had seen her at the Butterfly Mansion a couple of times together with her younger siblings whenever they came by to volunteer to help the injured or sick members.
Nezuko led Shinazugawa to a table and then handed him a menu. As he was about to open it, he saw his brother coming out of the kitchen.
“You! What the fuck are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you to get lost?!” Shinazugawa yelled as he abruptly stood up, causing the table to flip over.
“Aniki…” Genya murmured.
“Shinazugawa-san, please calm down!” Nezuko tried to pacify the Wind Hashira.
“Don’t get in my way!” Shinazugawa snarled as walked towards his brother.
And out of nowhere, Shinazugawa was grabbed by the front of his uniform and found himself lying akimbo with a swollen forehead on the restaurant’s floor after being at the receiving end of Tanjirou’s infamous headbutt.
“No fighting on my restaurant’s premises!” Tanjirou said as he stared at the white-haired Shinazugawa who was now lying prone on the floor. Tanjirou had rushed out of the kitchen after hearing the commotion, to see a white-haired man who looked like he was about to punch the living daylights out of Genya.
“What the hell?!” Genya paled as his jaw dropped to the floor; he was suddenly very afraid. Where did Nezuko’s kind and angelic older brother go?
“Now it is a little more peaceful,” Tanjirou said as he clapped his hands together. “Nezuko, why don’t you and Genya-kun have lunch? Alfresco sounds good, it is such a lovely day after all.” Tanjirou handed a tray with food to each of them, respectively, while guiding both outside. “I’ll take care of things in here while you have lunch with Genya-kun, yes?”
Or in Nezuko’s translation book, “Go, I will take care of this trouble-making punk and straighten him out. You need to eat, and while you are at it, please console and talk to Genya-kun, give him some advice if necessary.”
Nezuko just shook her head in exasperation while ushering Genya to one of the gazebos. “Genya-kun, let’s eat over there!”
Genya just let himself be pushed forward. He did not know whether he should feel sorry for his brother, who was still out cold on the floor, or be worried about Tanjirou being left alone with his brother. He prayed to whoever Buddha or God was listening to watch over those two. “Namu Amida Butsu.”
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Tanjirou sighed as he looked at the mess inside his restaurant—the overturned table and zabutons were lying in disarray. It was a good thing that the table didn’t hit any other tables or shoji panels, or else there would be hell to pay. It was a good thing that some of their customers had already left. He made quick work of arranging the furniture back to the way it was before going back to the kitchen to get a cold towel and some ice.
He went back out and carried the Wind Hashira with a bit of effort onto the slightly raised dais where the table he flipped over was located. He gently placed the cold towel on the hashira’s forehead before going back to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients for the food that he was going to prepare for the said hashira.
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Shinazugawa felt the cool touch on his forehead, he opened his eyes and tried to focus on the cool fingers on his forehead.
“I’m glad you’re awake. Is your forehead hurting?” Tanjirou asked the prone man.
Shinazugawa blinked a couple of times as he stared at the glittering eyes above him, and murmured the first thing that came into his mind.
“You’re very pretty.”
“I don’t think so, but thank you for the compliment. My name is Tanjirou. How are you feeling?”
“Shinazugawa Sanemi.” Shinazugawa then realized that his head was on the man’s lap and sat up so fast as if he were lying on a bed of coals. He could feel his face warming up in embarrassment, he didn’t want to admit that lying there with his head on the man’s lap felt incredibly nice… “I’m okay. It’s nothing serious.”
“That’s good! Now then, I’m assuming you are related to Genya-kun? Did something happen between the two of you for you to suddenly attack him?”
“That’s none of your business! Stay out of this!” Shinazugawa raised his voice and slammed his hand on the table.
“Ara, ara, it seems like you still do not understand that I do not tolerate disturbance in my restaurant, Shinazugawa-san. Would you like a repeat performance?” Tanjirou smiled, grabbing a fistful of the Wind Hashira’s uniform, and pulling him close.
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“Should we check on them? It’s awfully quiet.” Genya was worried that his brother might hurt Nezuko’s older brother.
“Don’t worry, Genya-kun. My brother can take care of himself, he can always headbutt your brother again if he’s being difficult. Besides, we don’t see any flying pots or pans, so that’s a good sign.” Nezuko smiled. The worst-case scenario would be when her onii-chan brings out his lovely collection of kitchen knives and starts hacking someone or, worse, starts throwing them. He had a damn good, accurate aim, but of course, she wasn’t going to tell Genya that information.
“If you are sure…” Now Genya wasn’t so sure about who he should be more worried about.
“Well, if it would ease your worries… Come with me.” Nezuko grabbed Genya’s hand and gently tugged him towards a particular spot. Nezuko lifted a finger to her lips, telling Genya to keep quiet as they sneaked about to right across an open shoji window, which coincidentally was smack dab right where they could see and hear their older brothers.
Genya went as red as a plum tomato while looking at their clasped hands.
“Ara, ara, it seems like you still do not understand that I do not tolerate disturbance in my restaurant, Shinazugawa-san. Would you like a repeat performance?” Tanjirou smiled, grabbing a fistful of the Wind Hashira’s uniform and pulling him close.
What they witnessed made them both blush, it felt like they intruded on something very personal. Nezuko pulled Genya away and went back to the gazebo, where they left their lunch.
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The Wind Hashira stared at Tanjirou, he would have normally flipped out and brought hell on earth for the audacity, but instead, he was left breathless at the sight before him. Tanjirou’s eyes seemed to light up, glimmering like fiery embers. The unmarred, porcelain-like skin. The cute nose, and those full lips…
Shinazugawa stopped his wandering thoughts, metal banging his head on an imaginary wall. He brought both his hands up in surrender, but for some odd reason, he could not say no nor deny the redhead in front of him.
“It’s good that we’ve come to an understanding. And just so to get my point across – I have knives in my kitchen, and I know how to use them. Now please sit down and relax, I will be serving you omakase. I’ll have your lunch brought out in a few minutes.”
The Wind Hashira sat quietly, thinking about the things that had happened with the fiery angel. It reminded him of a sweet cat who got its tail stepped on, and of him being the one who stepped on the said tail.
Tanjirou came out a few moments later and placed a det meal in front of him: a large serving of zaru soba with chopped scallions, a dab of wasabi, shredded nori, and mentsuyu dipping sauce, an assortment of shrimp and vegetable tempura, cucumber salad with crab, and a bowl of steaming rice with furikake on top.
After Tanjirou bowed and excused himself, Shinazugawa picked up his chopsticks and uttered a quiet ‘Itadakimasu’ before digging in. He liked the springiness of soba noodles and the balanced umami flavor of the tsuyu. The variety of tempura was no exemption either—it was crunchy on the outside, and soft and bursting with flavor on the inside. Tanjirou came back a while later with a teapot of the broth and a pitcher of mugicha.
“I hope the food is to your liking.”
“It is, although I am quite surprised with your choice.”
“I just thought that you would need something cool and refreshing. It seemed to me that you are too worked up among all things.” The redhead just smiled. Shinazugawa looked at the redhead in surprise; Tanjirou pointed at his nose and briefly exclaimed that he could somehow smell how a person was feeling.
“I know that this is none of my business, but why is it that you seem to keep pushing Genya-kun away? It’s like you are forcing yourself to cut ties with your brother.”
Shinazugawa wanted to growl but kept quiet as he looked at the drink in his hand. Tanjirou looked contemplative before sitting down himself. He looked at the Wind Hashira and told him of how he met his brother, along with two other mizunoto. Tanjirou smiled at the memory of those three troublemaking slayers.
“Your brother shared with me about what happened when the two of you were younger. He had joined the Demon Slayer Corps in hopes of reconciling with you.” Tanjirou noticed how the Wind Hashira suddenly gripped the glass. Fearing that he would break the glass in his hands and thus injure himself, Tanjirou quickly added, “Please do not be mad at your brother. It took him great courage to share his worries.
“This is rather presumptuous of me, but I think that you are afraid of losing your brother, and that is why you are putting up the façade that you hate him, am I right?” The silence that followed that statement confirmed that Tanjirou was correct.
“I’ve already lost enough people in my life. I don’t want to end up losing the only family I have left.” Shinazugawa admitted. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
“I understand exactly how you feel. You and I are on the same boat – somewhat.” Tanjirou proceeded to share how he and his remaining siblings had become orphans, of how they lost their parents and their two youngest brothers. He shared with him his fears about his two uncles getting injured or not coming back home from a mission.
“If our situations were reversed—if I only had one remaining sibling, I would most likely feel the same as you, wanting to make sure that they live a normal life and are as far away from any demon or battles against them as possible." But when I think about it, if I were in the place of that said sibling and knew that my brother or sister were fighting demons, I would want to support them in any way that I possibly can.”
Tanjirou reached across the table and clasped his hand around Shinazugawa’s own.
“I know that you only want Genya to live a peaceful, somewhat normal life, but there is a saying that ‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions.’
Looking at Shinazugawa straight in the eyes, he continued. “Pushing him away is not going to help, and it is going to have the opposite effect on what you are hoping to achieve.
“I know it is going to be difficult to express what is on your mind considering that there are walls already built up around you, but please reconsider it. Tell Genya-kun what is on your mind, and if you cannot agree on something, then compromise. He is the only family you have left; life is short, and it is not meant to be lived with regrets,” He said as he reached out his hand to cup the Wind Hashira’s cheek.
Tanjirou then stood up and returned to the kitchen, leaving Shinazugawa to his thoughts. He came back to Shinazugawa’s table and placed a cup of matcha and a plate of ohagi in front of Shinazugawa.
“I’m sure you are familiar with this one,” Tanjirou said, pointing to the ohagi wrapped in anko. “While these two are coated with kinako and black sesame. Please enjoy them with our house blend matcha.”
“Thank you.”
“For what it's worth, I apologize for headbutting you, but I do not regret doing it.” Tanjirou smiled at Shinazugawa, who blushed in return. Why were there feathers and rose petals floating down around the redhead?
“N-no, i-it’s fine! Do not worry about it. I think I deserved that.” Shinazugawa stammered, looking to the side to avoid eye contact with Tanjirou. “Being that beautiful should be illegal!”
“Then I shall leave you to enjoy your dessert. Please call me if you want seconds or a refill of the tea.”
Shinazugawa picked up the anko-covered ohagi and took a bite. The delicate sweetness and texture of the rice were just as he remembered when he first tasted them. He remembered the happy times
He sat in contemplative silence, thinking about Tanjirou’s words.
--------------
After finishing his ohagi, Shinazugawa got up to pay for his meal.
“The first time is on the house.” The redhead smiled.
“Th-thank you. I’ll make sure to visit again next time.” Shinazugawa turned his head away, as he fought another blush that was creeping up his face. “See you later.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Tanjirou replied as he stepped out carrying a tray of sliced watermelons as he followed the Wind Hashira out of the genkan.
“What is he still doing here…” Shinazugawa stopped in his tracks, surprised to see his brother sitting together with Tanjirou’s sister.
“Genya-kun often comes here to help us out in the restaurant. But I do believe that the other reason is because he likes my sister, Nezuko.” Tanjirou whispered to Shinazugawa, before handing him the tray of sliced watermelons and giving him a smile and a gentle push towards his brother’s direction, whose eyes were downcast. “Go on, there is no better time than the present, as time waits for no one.”
“Nezuko, can you help me with something in the kitchen, please?” Tanjirou beckoned to his sister. Nezuko looked at her brother and then at Genya’s older brother and immediately understood.
“Genya-kun, we’ll be inside if you need anything. I believe your brother wants to talk to you.” Nezuko quietly said before jogging back inside the restaurant, followed by her brother, who looked behind his shoulder.
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“Aniki – “
“Genya – “
The two looked at each other and chuckled. Shinazugawa approached and sat on the seat that Nezuko had vacated as he placed the tray down between them.
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“Nezuko, it’s not nice to eavesdrop.”
“I’m not eavesdropping. I’m just checking if they are talking to each other. And what about you?” Nezuko asked her brother, who was standing behind her, also peeking through the small gap on the shoji screen.
“I’m making sure that they haven’t killed each other.” Nezuko slapped her brother’s arm. “Haha, just kidding! Just making sure that they are having a conversation. It’s a good thing that my worries are unfounded. Now come, help me in the kitchen, please.”
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It was a good thing that Tanjirou and Nezuko were able to finish the snacks on time. He saw that the two siblings seemed to have reconciled – with the elder brother ruffling Genya’s mohawk, and the latter finally smiling freely.
Genya had stood up, cleaning up the dishes that were left on the gazebo, his brother helping him gather the plates and placing them on the tray.
“Shinazugawa-san! I’m glad that you’re still here.” Tanjirou walked towards the two brothers. Nezuko also came out to help Genya with the dirty dishes.
“Please do not hesitate to visit us anytime. It would make me incredibly happy to know that you are hale and hearty. Until then, please take care of yourself.” Tanjirou said as he handed the Wind Hashira a bento box wrapped in a green furoshiki, which has a paper origami windmill design.
“Sanemi. You can call me by my first name.”
“Be safe on your way home, Sanemi-san.”
Nezuko giggled when she saw the light pink that dusted the Wind Hashira’s face. It seems like another one was caught within the “Tanjirou Effect”. Genya, on the other hand, was astounded to see his brother look so bashful in front of Nezuko’s brother—Genya was now a firm believer that Tanjirou was Buddha incarnate.
Upon his return to his estate, Shinazugawa opened the bundle and was surprised to see three bento boxes containing the same ohagi that Tanjirou served him.
His heart felt lighter.
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☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙
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“Ne, onee-chan, the last time I checked, the Hashira are humans, right?” Takeo asked his older sister after coming back from placing the food on their table.
“Whatever do you mean, Takeo?”
“Well, Uncle Michi and Uncle Yorii look like they want to slice the other hashiras like sashimi.”
Nezuko just laughed, already having an idea of what was going on. At present, there were six hashiras, their uncles included after hearing that the Stone, Flame, Sound, and Wind Hashira were in the restaurant.
“Don’t mind our uncles, they are just being silly,” Nezuko said as she continued to knead the mochi flour. She peeked from the bar counter and saw her uncles glaring at two Hashiras in particular. And if looks could kill, the flame and Sound Hashira would be 6 feet 10 feet under.
“Uncle Michi, you look like you are in pain, are you constipated? Should I ask Onii-chan to make you some seaweed soup and Natto Gohan? ” Asked after he placed the glasses of water on the table.
* Whack! *
“Itai!” A freshly steaming bump appeared on top of Takeo’s head.
“You cheeky brat…”
“Takeo-onii-chan, what is wrong? Are you okay?” Hanako asked when she saw her brother crouching on the ground.
“Oi, oi…watch where those hands are going,” Yoriichi said through gritted teeth.
“Uzui, Rengoku, the food is on the table.” Michikatsu bit back a growl when the two hashiras were getting too touchy with their favorite nephew. And of course, said nephew was too oblivious about said hands that were touching him.
Yep, this was the beginning of the twin’s nightmares.
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つづく
Notes:
I'm already working on the next chapter. It might take a while for me to post it as it would depend if my muse continues to be generous. ( •⌄• ू )✧
Chapter Text
Tanjirou was considering setting up one spot that would be reserved for only the hashira. With the way that they were dropping by, they might as well have reserved seats for them.
“Nezuko, which spot do you think would be best for when the hashira are here?” Tanjirou asked as he looked at two different table settings in the restaurant.
“It would be best if we used that room at the end since it is the biggest one and has the best overall view, and it's accessible from the outside through the engawa. This way, the other guests won’t feel intimidated when the hashiras come in through the main door.” Nezuko said while pointing at the side of the restaurant, which was the most spacious room. It was a veranda-style room where shoji doors opened and had immediate access to the garden and overlooked the pond.
“It would be best if you added two more tables in there just in case all of them are here, especially when Tengen-san brings his wives with him.”
She could still recall the moment when the three women had doted on her brother after they had recovered from the ‘Tanjirou Effect.’ She can’t wait to see the lovely chaos that would ensue once all the Hashira meets with her brother. It would be good blackmail *ahem* teasing material after all.
“That’s a brilliant idea, Nezuko!” Tanjirou hugged and kissed his sister’s forehead.
“Are the tables you ordered coming soon?”
“They should be arriving anytime within the week. I am looking forward to it—just imagine the additional meals we can serve!”
Nezuko could almost see the sparkles around Tanjirou as he gushed about the items he could add to the restaurant’s repertoire. Her adorable brother was constantly thinking of what his family and guests would like while making sure to make it nutritious. It was one of the things that made her brother so endearing aside from his caring nature.
The sound of the genkan being opened brought the two siblings back to reality, followed by an energetic greeting that could only come from the flame hashira.
“Good morning! Tanjirou, Nezuko-chan, I hope both of you are having a lovely morning!”
“Good morning to you, too, Rengoku-san.” Nezuko greeted.
“Kyojuro-san, good morning!” Tanjirou had begun calling the Flame Hashira by his first name after the said man’s second visit to the shokudō. The man had insisted until Tanjirou relented after the man had knelt and kissed his hand. The Flame Hashira was sometimes too much for his poor heart to handle. Nezuko had just cooed and giggled all the while on the sidelines watching her brother become flustered at Rengoku’s insistence.
“I hope I didn’t arrive too early for our excursion today.”
“It’s fine, it would be nice to get the first pick at the market today. However, are you sure that I am not bothering you? There must be some other important things that you need to do today.” Tanjirou looked worried. Rengoku, on the other hand, found it endearing.
The Flame Hashira took hold of Tanjiro’s hand in his as he kissed the other’s forehead. Another gesture from the Hashira that Tanjirou had already gotten used to.
“Spending time with you is the highlight of my day, Tanjirou! Besides, it would be my pleasure to accompany you today.” Rengoku smiled, enjoying the look of the flustered redhead.
“Alright then. I hope you don’t mind, but I made us bento for lunch today.”
“That would be splendid!”
“The two of you better get going on your date if you want to get there early. Please take care of my precious Onii-chan, Rengoku-san! Make sure to bring him back before 3 pm,” Nezuko said as she handed the Flame Hashira the large furoshiki that held the lunch that Tanjirou had prepared earlier. “See you later!”
“Eh?”
“Of course, Nezuko-chan! We’ll be off now.” Rengoku couldn’t hide his glee and didn’t bother correcting Tanjirou’s sister at the word ‘date.’ He took Tanjirou’s hand and led him outside towards their destination for the day. He’d have to introduce Tanjirou to his little brother on their way back. He was certain that Senjuro was going to adore Tanjirou when they met.
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“Good morning, uncles!” Nezuko greeted and hugged her uncles.
“Good morning, Nezuko.”
“Good morning, my dear. Are you the only one managing the restaurant today?” Michikatsu asked his niece.
“Hatsue and Haruna will be helping me today while I handle the kitchen,” Nezuko said as she placed their breakfast on the table. The twins decided that the family would have their meals at the restaurant. The other hashiras are coming not just as customers but as nuisances with how they have been trying to get their paws on their precious nephew.
“And where is Tanjirou? Will he not join us for breakfast? I know Takeo and Hanako had to go early to the Butterfly Mansion today to help the butterfly girls.” Yoriichi asked as he picked up his miso soup.
“Onii-chan had to leave early to go to the market with Rengoku-san.”
“I’m sorry, can you say that again, please?” The grilled trout lay forgotten before Michikatsu while Yoriichi almost choked on his miso soup.
“Rengoku-san offered to accompany Onii-chan when he heard about his plan to visit the market today. Onii-chan also made some bento for them, it’s almost like a date.” Nezuko said nonchalantly as if she were reading the newspaper, not minding that her uncles looked horrified and almost hyperventilating. Internally, she was having the time of her life. If her brother got their mother’s diamond-hard forehead, she did get their mother’s slightly sadistic streak.
Ah, life is good.
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᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽
----------------------------
“Can’t you tadpoles move any slower than this?! A turtle can run faster!” Uzui yelled while looking at the slayers who were running through a series of hurdles.
It was just another day of facilitating the basic training for the Uzui family. Tengen’s wives looked at their husband with fond exasperation and happiness. They knew that something good had happened when he came home that night with several bentos in hand. It was like he was freed from a burden that he had been carrying for so long. They had subtly asked about the change in his demeanor, then he proceeded to share about his encounter with a certain redhead. They had asked to meet said redhead as soon as possible, they knew that capturing their husband’s interest was not an easy feat, and they were certainly not wrong.
Meeting Tanjirou had been a delightful experience; they were mesmerized the moment they laid their eyes on the redhead. The young man was adorable, charming, and easy to talk to, and he had a comforting aura around him. He was as beautiful as a flower but had a dangerous streak when wronged or provoked. They had first-hand witnessed the said dangerous streak when they had invited the young man for a picnic.
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Uzui’s wives had planned and invited Tanjirou for a picnic by the lake, which was surrounded by plum blossoms. They wanted to know more about the adorable redhead who was so kind and cheerful. Tanjirou had volunteered to make the food for their picnic that day.
The four of them had picked up some sweets in addition to the bento that Tanjirou had prepared for them that day when some brutes who reeked of alcohol had accosted them on their way back to meet Uzui.
Tanjirou had initially tried to diffuse the tension but snapped when someone forcefully grabbed Makio and Suma. Hinatsuru was about to draw a kunai when Tanjirou headbutted the two men and kicked the other three away from them. Tanjirou could hold his ground; he was taught by his uncles after all.
“I believe the ladies had already expressed that they are married and not interested. What part of it did you not understand, you morons.” The redhead’s eyebrows were furrowed, eyes narrowed at the now unconscious brutes on the ground, with a dark cloud hovering above his head.
Tanjirou immediately turned to Uzui’s wives and checked for any injuries and noticed that Makio had a scratch on her arm. He cleaned the wound and then proceeded to comfort Suma, who was crying while clinging to his arm after he patched up Makio. He was suddenly worried about how he would explain what happened to Uzui.
“Thank you for standing up for us, Tanjirou-kun.” Hinatsuru patted his cheek.
“That was an amazing thing you did back there.” Makio held his hand.
“That was scary, but you were awesome!” Suma said, clinging tighter to the arm she was currently sobbing on. Tanjiro held Suma in his arms, trying to comfort the poor girl.
“I just did what I had to do. I do not like it when someone tries to hurt the people that are close to me.” Tanjirou said, which prompted another series of wails from Suma.
“You’d fit perfectly right in the family, Tanjirou.” All of them were startled when Uzui suddenly walked out from the shadows, placing his hand on the back of Tanjirou’s neck and gently rubbing his thumb right behind the redhead’s ear. Uzui’s wives knew exactly what he meant. They could easily see and understand why their husband had fallen in love with the redhead because the young man had captured their hearts as well.
Uzui was about to jump in when those thugs manhandled Suma and Makio when Tanjirou stepped up. He was honestly surprised to see that Tanjirou could fight back—well, knowing that he was raised by the Sun and Moon Hashira, he should have known better. Just seeing how fluid his movements were and the surprising headbutt to protect his wives just added to the redhead’s charm.
“Let’s head back to our spot and forget about those pigs! We should be having fun today!” Makio said as she peeled Suma off Tanjirou.
“Tengen-sama! Don’t dawdle; come now!” Hinatsuru called when she noticed that their husband was not behind them.
“Yes, I’m coming.” He took one last look at the faces of the five men before he followed his wives and Tanjirou back to their picnic spot—he would take care of those five later.
For now, he would enjoy the day with his wives, and future husband.
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᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽
----------------------------
“There’s a pretty girl by the entrance!”
“What? Where?”
“Whose girlfriend is she?” One of the slayers cried, looking accusingly at the others.
“That’s a guy, idiots! Can you not distinguish a person’s gender?” Another said while hitting someone’s head.
“Eh?! You’re lying!”
“Good afternoon! Would you happen to know where I can find the Stone Hashira?”
Everyone stared at the redhead, either because of his soft-spoken voice, the fact that he was painstakingly beautiful up close, or the fact that he was looking for the stone hashira.
“You’re already here. I hope you did not have a hard time getting here.” Himejima’s voice echoed through the courtyard as he approached the redhead.
“Gyomei-san! No, the way here was pleasant, and Zekka has been a great guide.” Himejima’s kasugai crow preened at the praise given.
“I’m glad to hear that. Come, let me show you around.” Himejima said as he placed an arm around the redhead’s shoulder. “Everyone, go on, take lunch, and resume completing the tasks I have assigned afterward.”
--------------
“Your subordinates and trainees really respect you. I saw how they listened to your words and advice, and how they look up to you.” Tanjirou shared as he laid down the picnic blanket underneath one of the maple trees.
“Your estate is very peaceful and serene. Thank you again for inviting me here.” Tanjirou said as he laid out the picnic bento he had brought with him.
“You’re welcome, Tanjirou. Please feel free to visit anytime.”
Himejima praised Tanjirou’s cooking as they dug into the food that the redhead had brought: inarizushi, a variety of onigiri, karaage, tamagoyaki, cucumber salad with crab, and dango.
They talked about random things in passing and their hobbies in general. Himejima had opened up a bit more to the redhead; he had a pure and kind soul, someone worthy of his trust. Before he knew it, he was sharing his past with him. Tanjirou sat there, listening intently about the orphaned children that he had taken care of up until Ubuyashiki Kagaya saved his life.
Himejima then looked at Tanjirou when he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand. What he didn’t expect was to see tears rolling down those soft cheeks. He dared look at those expressive ruby eyes and saw the compassion and understanding
“Gyomei-san, can I hug you?”
Himejima nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment. Tanjirou got on his knees and placed his arms around the Stone Hashira’s shoulders, hugging the other man tightly as tears continued to fall from his eyes.
“I’m sorry I made you cry.”
“I’m not crying because of you; I’m crying for you.” Tanjirou’s hold on Himejima didn’t waver as he continued to cry quietly on the stone hashira’s shoulder. “I am glad that Kagaya-dono found you, and that you are here now.”
At that moment, Himejima felt the darkness of his past being lifted, like a chapter in a book that had already ended and was now preparing for a new journey. Right now, he knew that a new chapter had already begun, and with it, his feelings for the redhead had already been set in stone.
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つづく
Notes:
The next set of hashira to meet Tanjirou will be posted next.
~ヾ(＾∇＾)
Chapter Text
Tanjirou had received a missive that day from Ubuyashiki Kagaya’s crow, asking him to come to the Ubuyashiki estate, and had promptly gone with the help of the crow’s guidance. Upon arriving, he was warmly greeted by Amane, Kiriya, and Kanata, who hugged him in welcome. They walked towards the room where the patriarch was waiting for them.
“Tanjirou-kun, it has been a while. How are you, my child?”
“I have been well, thank you for asking, Kagaya-dono!” Tanjirou observed the Ubuyashiki patriarch, taking note of his health. “I hope you do not mind, but I brought some tea leaves and snacks for you and your family. How is your health faring?” Tanjirou asked in concern.
Kagaya thanked the young man for his thoughtful nature and concern. They had an idle conversation, asking him how he was doing and how the reception of the shokudō was. Tanjirou shared what had happened the past few weeks and his encounters with the Hashiras, who had already discovered the restaurant. Kagaya was happy to hear about Tanjirou’s encounter with the other Hashiras, considering that his crows had also shared some insights with him previously.
It was a good decision to have the young man open the restaurant. Tanjirou had a kind, understanding, and caring nature, he had a natural talent to alleviate the worries and soothe the souls of the troubled people he came across. The young man had a heart that embraced anyone, regardless of who they were, it made him extremely easy to love and adore.
Aside from that, he had heard that his children, who had already met Tanjirou, had been enamored, which made him even happier, as he also wanted his children to find happiness despite all the challenges they faced. Besides, Tanjirou is a gem that needs to be protected, loved, and taken care of, who else would be the best candidate to do so?
“Carry on with what you are doing, and please continue to take care of the hashira, Tanjirou-kun.”
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-⌘｡ﾟ☁︎｡⌘｡ﾟ☁︎｡⌘｡ﾟ☁︎｡⌘｡ﾟ☁︎｡⌘｡ﾟ☁︎｡⌘-
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The stationery shop was one of his favorite places to visit during his spare time. Muichiro often spent an hour or so, selecting papers based on the material, designs, and sizes. Origami was a hobby of his that helped him focus as he was unable to remember the missing part of himself. It helped him take his mind off the mundane things in the daily scope of life.
Memories were a fickle thing for him. The people around him thought that he was an airhead, always daydreaming without a care in the world. What they failed to understand was that he was trying to tie all the bits and pieces that he could recall, but each time he felt he was about to remember something important, it would slip through his grasp like sand.
“Only Oyakata-sama understood.”
Muichiro had left the shop after paying for the healthy stack of papers that he had accumulated. As he was making his way back to the headquarters, he bumped into a man, causing both to lose their balance and land on a tangled heap on the ground.
“I’m sorry! Are you okay?”
Muichiro found himself lying on top of the prettiest human being he had seen. Oyakata-sama’s wife was pretty, but the person he was looking at was on a different level. He had the most striking ruby eyes that glittered under the sunlight, with long, dark red locks spread out around his head like a halo.
Warm hands cupped his face, shaking him out of his musings.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I should be asking you that since I am the one on top of you.”
“Oh, yes…I’m okay… Umm… Do you think you could let me up?”
“I don’t know. You might be dizzy from the fall, lie down just to be sure.”
“I’m fine, I’m not hurting anywhere, I promise!”
The poor redhead was somehow, unknowingly, saved by Muichiro’s kasugai crow, who gave the Mist Hashira the location of his new mission, along with two kakushi who carried him away to their destination.
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To say that Muichiro was annoyed and irritated was putting it lightly. He was a walking thundercloud; all his current trainees tried their best not to irritate him. Right now, his trainees were not making any progress; he was starting to feel that his lack of experience was affecting the results. Not only that, he lose the origami paper he purchased, but he was also unable to get that beautiful redhead's name.
“Let’s call it a day,” Muichiro called after the last trainee was down for the count.
Muichiro decided to head out, hoping to possibly cross paths with Shinazugawa or Iguro for a spar, although recently, he rarely sees Shinazugawa. It’s not like there were many missions recently, most of them were assigned to those of lower ranks.
He paused in his tracks when he saw a couple of dandelions along the way. He picked one of the dandelion puffs, carefully twirling it in his hand, thinking – hoping, and wishing that he could grasp and piece together the missing parts of his life. He blew on the dandelion puff and watched as the seeds flew away with the gentle breeze.
He was so lost in his thoughts when he found himself near the Sun and Moon estate. Muichiro decides he might ask the twins if they could spar with him.
As he was about to head to the estate’s entrance, he found a white cat grooming along his path. Muichiro stared at the cat, appreciating how pretty it looked when his stomach growled in protest at him. He then realized that he had skipped breakfast to start training.
The white cat approached him, then rubbed itself on his leg and mewled at him. The cat turned to walk towards a barely discernible path lined with bamboo. Ignoring his grumbling stomach, he decided to follow, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Muichiro was greeted with a view of a well-kept garden full of wisteria trees and trellises. The garden was bright and serene, with the cool breeze carrying the scent of the flowers in the air.
”How peculiar! I didn’t know there was a restaurant in this area. I guess this is the one that Oyakata-sama mentioned last time.” Muichiro thought. The cat he was following mewled at him before jumping on one of the benches in front of the building.
He continued to approach the building and saw a handful of demon slayers seated at the gazebos, laughing, and enjoying their meals. He was a few feet from the door when it opened to reveal two kakushi exiting the establishment with what looked like onigiri wrapped in a sheath made of bamboo leaves.
“Good day, Kasumi Bashira!” The two kakushi greeted him as they made their way for him as they went on their way.
Muichiro opened the door and was greeted with mouthwatering smells from the kitchen and light chatter from a group of kakushi, based on head coverings placed beside them on the tatami mats, hidden behind a silk screen divider.
“Welcome! This way, please—oh, it’s you!”
“It’s you!”
Both exclaimed. Tanjirou giggled as he looked at Muichiro.
“I was hoping to bump into you again. It’s a good thing that you found this restaurant. My name is Tsugikuni Tanjirou.” Tanjirou said as he led Muichiro to a table. “Please have a seat, I’ll be right with you.”
Muichiro was speechless. He thanked his luck that he was able to meet the beautiful redhead that he had been thinking of for the past two weeks. The redhead came back and handed him a package.
“I kept it safe for you after you were whisked away for your mission.” Tanjirou grinned.
“Thank you, Tanjirou. My name is Tokito Muichiro, the Mist Hashira.” Muichiro managed to say as he was surprised to see the bundle in Tanjirou’s hand. He was sure that the paper he bought was long gone or ruined.
“You’re welcome, and I’m glad to see you again.”
Muichiro’s stomach growled at him for the nth time that day before he could reply. Tanjirou chuckled,
“I’ll go ahead and prepare your food; I hope you won’t mind if I pick out your meal?”
“Go ahead.” Muichiro nodded. He took in the comfortable interiors of the restaurant; the opened shoji window provided a relaxing view of the garden outside and, at the same time, a circulation of cool air in the restaurant. His focus went back to the androgynous man, whose features leaned towards the effeminate side. He finally had a name to connect to the face that had been haunting him since that day when he first laid eyes on him.
A few minutes later, Tanjirou came back to his table. The redhead moved the ikebana arrangement aside and placed a bowl of steamed rice, miso pork teppanyaki, furofuki daikon, miso soup, and hijiki seaweed salad in front of Muichiro.
“How is it that you have daikon this season?” Muichiro asked while eyeing the dish in front of him.
"Ah, that is a different variety of daikon that can grow during this season. I was able to purchase some seeds a while back from a traveling merchant.”
Muichiro nodded in understanding, he was happy that he could eat his favorite dish outside of winter. Tanjirou bowed and excused himself as he assisted the other guests who came in.
“Itadakimasu.” Muichiro picks up his chopsticks and slices through the daikon with little effort. As he took his first bite, he could taste the perfect balance of saltiness and sweetness from the radish. It was delicious and was cooked just the way he liked it. He enjoyed the warmth that the dish brought to his senses, even if it was out of season.
As Muichiro continued to sample the other dishes, he was suddenly hit by a memory that flashed through his mind: a house by the woods, a family, a shared meal. He was shaken out of his stupor when the kakushi he saw earlier greeted him before making their way out of the restaurant, but before paying and thanking the redhead for the meal. He continued to eat his meal in relative silence, pushing back the vague memories from earlier.
Tanjirou had later approached the Mist Hashira with a cup of green tea and a plate of castella cake.
“I hope the food was to your liking?” Tanjirou said, placing the tray that he was holding in front of Muichiro.
“It is, thank you.”
“I’m glad that you liked it, Tokito-san. I hope you don’t mind me asking, do you like origami?” Tanjirou asked. The two continued to converse about origami and what their favorite objects were to create out of paper, down to whatever it was that both of them found interesting.
Muichiro found himself enjoying the presence of the redhead. It was warm and welcoming. All thoughts relating to being a hashira or being part of the demon slayer corps were tucked away in a little corner. With Tanjirou, he found that he was just Tokito Muichiro.
--------------
“How much do I owe for the meal?”
“The first time is on the house. Think of it as our thanks for your hard work.” Tanjirou replied.
“What if this is the first and last time that I visit?” Muichiro asked the redhead out of curiosity.
“Then it would only mean that I wasn’t able to meet your expectations, and you weren’t able to find what you were looking for.”
“And what is it that you think I am looking for?”
“To be honest, it can be whatever it is. In this place, my hope for the demon slayer corps is for them to find some sort of refuge—a place where they can relax, find the comfort of home, find a connection to something or someone, a quiet place, or just unwind and disconnect from the harsh reality of why they became demon slayers,” Tanjirou said with a soft smile.
“Why do you care so much about other people? Why do you do this?”
Tanjirou tilted his head in thought. “Helping others often ends up helping yourself. Besides, I love to cook, and seeing the people I care for enjoy the food I prepare for them is the best thing I could ask for.”
“What? What did you just say? Right now.” Muichiro felt a sense of familiarity that he couldn’t place.
“Seeing people enjoy the food I prepare for them?”
Just then, another customer entered the restaurant, breaking the flow of their conversation. Tanjirou politely excused himself as he went to greet the kakushi, who had placed an order for takeout. Muichiro was left in a daze as memories flashed through like a movie scene. He remembers the time when he was under the care of the Ubuyashiki family, from when Lady Amane and her two daughters rescued him from the brink of death up until his recovery.
Tanjirou later came back, apologizing for the interruption.
“It’s okay.” Muichiro shook his head as he stood up to leave with his packaged papers in hand.
“Tokito-san, please wait,” Tanjirou said as he wrapped his arms around the Mist Hashira’s shoulders. “You looked like you were troubled and at a loss. I’m sorry, I don't know if I have said something to upset you, but I do hope that you find what you are looking for.”
Muichiro was surprised at the sudden contact but welcomed it nonetheless as another wave of flashbacks flooded his mind—a memory of his family. He saw the faces of his parents and sibling, his twin brother.
Tanjirou released Muichiro and then handed him a hinged origami box, along with two large furoshiki.
“This is for you.” Tanjirou pointed to the origami box. “And if I am assuming correctly, the hashiras are currently training with their subordinates; I thought you might want to share some onigiri with them.”
“Thank you for these. I will be back to visit you again.” Muichiro said as he accepted the bundles.
“We will be waiting.” Tanjirou bowed as he saw the Mist Hashira out.
--------------
Upon his return to his estate, he was met by the twins, who were there to check on the progress of the trainees as well as to ask if the young man needed any assistance.
Muichiro found the confidence to confide in the twins about his worries, and they gave him the advice that he needed.
“You may be lacking in experience in terms of time spent out there facing and fighting demons of different calibers compared to the rest, but you make up for it by being able to adapt quickly,” Michikatsu said after listening to the young man.
“You must not let your guard down regardless, as it can be proven fatal, especially if you underestimate your enemy, which I am sure you won’t,” Yoriichi added.
Muichiro heeded their words and asked if they could spare some time to spar with him. The twins gladly obliged his request, making sure to spar with him on equal footing and, at the same time, putting pressure on him to break past his limits. During this time, Muichiro was hit by one memory after another: a memory of what his father said, which was the same as what Tanjirou had said earlier, and a memory that spurred a rage that had been holed up in his soul as all of his memories came back. The memory of his brother’s death awakens the Demon Slayer Mark, which surprises the twins.
They continued their dance until Muichiro conceded. The twins congratulate the young man on awakening his mark and, at the same time, give him valuable feedback on his strengths and opportunities. Muichiro thanked them both and invited them for an afternoon snack, which was of course shared with the other trainees who had watched their sparring session the moment they heard the clash of bokken in the courtyard.
“And pray tell, why are you all here instead of practicing in the dojo?” Muichiro heaved a sigh as he stared at the trainees who were gathered in the courtyard. “Never mind, take a break and share this with the rest.” He approached them with one of the furoshiki that Tanjirou had given him.
Michikatsu and Yoriichi looked at each other, recognizing the presentation and taste of the onigiri that Muichiro had shared.
The twins prayed that the young hashira would not become another nuisance like the others before him.
--------------
“Please do continue moving at this glacial pace; I’m sure that the demons will be thrilled to wait and follow your lead, especially when you stop moving.” Tokito drawled as he struck another slayer down. He lowered down the bokken that he was holding as he called everyone’s attention. He began pointing out what the trainees were missing and what they needed to do to improve their form.
“Let’s end our session for the day; however, I expect to see even a minor improvement on your forms by tomorrow. All of you are dismissed.”
He headed out of the dojo and breathed in the smell of rain.
It has been a few days since his fortunate meeting with Tanjirou and his spar with the twins. Muichiro had finally found closure to a chapter of his life that had long been hidden in the darkness, years after his brother’s horrible passing. At least now he knew in what direction he was headed in life.
Gray clouds, heavy with rain, blanketed the skies. It was melancholic, to say the least, but it didn’t bother him the slightest. The Mist Hashira’s mind drifted off, thinking of the beautiful sunshine with sparkling ruby eyes and the brightest smile he had ever seen.
He brought out the origami box from the sleeves of his uniform and opened it. He carefully brought out the beautifully crafted origami bird—a metaphor for hope and recovery—and an origami fish—to wish for happiness, well-being, and good health. His heart beats with fondness whenever he looks at two pieces of folded paper.
He felt lighter in a sense, no longer tied down by uncertainties from both the past, present, and future.
A small smile graces his features as he gathers his umbrella, intending to head towards the sky, where a ray of sunshine is waiting.
----------------------------
🐉∿〰🐉∿〰🐉∿〰🐉∿〰🐉∿〰🐉
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Amezaiku was an art and a treat. Watching the sweet liquid turn into a work of art was fascinating, it required skill and speed to create such a fascinating confectionery.
Iguro was not one to indulge in such confectionery, but he knew how to appreciate the beauty of the craft.
He continued to walk down the street, occasionally checking the wares that various merchants had set up in front of their shops. Deeming that he had seen enough, he went around a corner and accidentally bumped into another person. His heterochromatic eyes widened as strands of deep burgundy filled his vision, and the scent of wisteria and bamboo filled his nostrils.
With Iguro’s quick reflexes, he instinctively grabbed the other person, ensuring the other didn’t fall to the ground. He spun on his heel while holding on to the redhead to balance their weight, with the person in his arm grabbing his hakama.
Once he was sure they had found their balance, he let go of the redhead and found himself staring right into those sparkling ruby pools.
“You have pretty eyes,” the redhead said, staring at the heterochromatic eyes of the hashira in front of him. The redhead blushed when he realized what he was doing. “I’m sorry! That is quite rude of me; my name is Tsugikuni Tanjirou.”
“Iguro Obanai. Are you related to the Sun and Moon Hashira?”
“Yes, they’re my uncles. You must be the Serpent Hashira, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Although it is quite embarrassing on my part to have met you like this.” Tanjirou bowed his head.
“It is nice to meet you as well.” Iguro’s serpent peeked his head and nudged its nose on the redhead’s cheek.
“Hi! It’s nice to meet you, Kaburamaru. I think you’re pretty, too!” Tanjirou said as he gently ran his finger along the white snake’s head. Iguro was surprised to see his familiar be cordial with someone he just met, and the fact that the redhead understood his familiar made him do a double take.
“Oh no, I’m running late. I’m so sorry for bumping into you. I was in a hurry to reach my destination. Please accept this as my apology, I made it myself. Have a good day, and I hope we meet again!” The redhead shoved a bamboo leaf-wrapped lunch before running to the distance, leaving the stunned hashira behind.
Kaburamaru and Iguro looked at each other before looking back at the item in the hashira’s hands; well, he was about to get lunch anyway.
Iguro found a secluded spot and leaped up the tree that he saw. He sat and undid the ties on the bento and found three pieces of tororo kombu onigiri. He removed the bandage on his face and began to eat, enjoying the umami-rich flavor. He liked all the different fillings: umeboshi and cod roe, salted salmon, and hijiki seaweed salad.
He was surprised that he could finish all three pieces when he normally could finish one or two at most. His thoughts went back to the pretty redhead who piqued his interest. Tanjirou was male, Iguro was sure about it, but the redhead exuded an effeminate beauty, a charm of sorts that had him mesmerized.
“Tsugikuni Tanjirou, I will have to thank you the next time we meet.”
--------------
Iguro was on his way to the Sun and Moon estate with a gift in hand. He was raking his brain for an excuse for his sudden visit—should he go on the pretense of asking for a spar or simply saying thanks for the bento?
”But that is too plain...”” He stopped in his tracks, needing to settle his internal conflict, when he was nudged by Kaburamaru, who diverted his attention to a discreet path and told him to go there. Iguro found it strange that there was a secret path in the area, he had passed this place several times whenever he had gone to the Sun and Moon Estate, but this was the first time he had seen the bamboo-lined path.
He knew he shouldn’t be distracted, but Kaburamaru had insisted that he take the path. Not wanting to deal with a snake having a hissy fit (or what he thought was a hissy fit), he obliged the request, so what he did not expect was to see a restaurant of all things in this area.
”Could this be the restaurant that Oyakata-sama had mentioned before?”
Upon entering the establishment, he was expecting to be hit by the overpowering smell of food, instead, he could smell something citrusy, and the light musky scent of the wisterias coming from the garden.
“Iguro-san! Welcome! Please feel free to take a seat anywhere that you prefer.” Nezuko greeted the Serpent Hashira from the bar counter, Iguro nodded back to the girl, whom he had met several times at the Butterfly Mansion.
“Ara, Iguro-san, we meet again! Please make yourself comfortable, I’ll be right with you.”
The surprises never seemed to end for him. He shook his head and took a quick look at space. The inside of the restaurant was relatively empty since it was already past lunch at that time, but even so, he could imagine that there would be space to move about even if it were filled with people. He selected a spot at the back of the restaurant with a byōbu and made himself comfortable.
“I will be serving you omakase, is there anything in particular that you cannot eat?” Tanjirou asked as he placed a glass and pitcher of yuzu and mikan-infused water on the table.
“No, but I would prefer smaller portions.”
Tanjirou tilted his head at the request but nodded nonetheless, “I understand, I will bring out your meal in a moment.”
Iguro nodded. He leaned back and enjoyed the tranquility of the restaurant, He listened to the gentle sounds surrounding him: the water flowing from the bamboo fixture by the lotus pond while an occasional koi broke from the surface, and the cool breeze that played the wind chimes played a gentle tune accompanied by the birdsongs. He stared into nothingness, and for once his mind was apparent and not plagued by the hands that clawed the shadows of his soul.
He was gently stirred back to reality when Tanjirou’s soft voice rang through his ears and his meal was placed in front of him: tororo kombu udon with onsen tamago, shrimp tempura, green beans with yuzu vinaigrette, and Japanese pickled cucumbers.
“I hope you won’t mind, but I took the liberty of preparing something for Kaburamaru.” Tanjirou placed down a small plate with a few pieces of diced-up fresh sashimi. “Please enjoy your meal.”
And as usual, his favorite dish was served—was it on purpose or just pure coincidence? Upon taking his first bite, he found that the taste of the food stimulated his appetite. The balance between the richness of the udon, the crisp yet juicy tempura, and the refreshing taste of the vegetable side dishes was overall very satisfying. He found himself once again finishing off all the dishes and almost wishing that he had asked for the regular-sized servings.
“Iguro-san, I hope you do not mind me asking, but are you not feeling well?” Tanjirou approached him with a concerned look in those ruby pools.
“I am fine; why do you ask?”
“Ah, I’m sorry for asking; it’s just that I assumed that you might not have the appetite that is common for people who are unwell since you asked for smaller portions for your meal.” Tanjirou blushed in embarrassment.
“No worries, I understand what you mean,” Iguro paused to take a sip of the tea that Tanjirou had brought to his table. “It’s just that I see eating as too much of a hassle.”
Iguro noted that Tanjirou had such expressive eyes. He could see the worry and sadness as plain as day in those ruby eyes, he could tell that the redhead wanted to ask so many questions but refrained from doing so.
He didn’t like seeing the redhead in such a disposition; it just didn’t sit right with him. Even Kaburamaru seemed to fret about Tanjirou, his snake was trying to get close to him and check if he was okay.
“Don’t worry too much about it, Tanjirou. Next time, I will request the regular portions, as I enjoyed the food you prepared.”
Tanjirou’s eyes lightened, and he smiled in return.
“Then, if it’s not too presumptuous of me, would it be okay if I joined you the next time you’re here? I mean, food tends to taste better when consumed with the company of others than when eaten alone.” Tanjirou blushed.
Iguro felt his heart warm up. No one had asked or invited him before; he was always by himself whenever he ate. However, if he accepted Tanjirou’s proposal, then he would need to remove the bandages that were covering the lower half of his face. He couldn’t bring himself to say no, yet he knew he would end up disappointed.
“I would like that. These are for you, I was supposed to visit the Sun and Moon Estate, but I didn’t expect to see you here.” He then handed Tanjiro the gift he had brought with him, a basket of mandarin oranges that he had received with a bright smile.
When it was time for him to leave and pay his tab, Tanjirou refused to take any payment.
“The first time is on the house. You can pay the next time you visit.”
Iguro stared at the redhead, thinking how peculiar he was, but in a good way.
“I’ll visit again soon.”
“We will be waiting for your next visit,” Tanjirou said as he saw Iguro out of the genkan.
--------------
The next time that Iguro visited, Tanjirou stayed true to his word. He had accompanied Iguro every time he visited. Iguro only adjusted the bindings on his face, not removing it completely. Tanjirou had asked him about it the first time and just told him that he was used to eating with the bandages on. Tanjirou seemed to have accepted the answer and did not prod further about it.
They had idle conversations during their meals, talking mostly about their interests, the other hashiras, fighting styles, and almost anything that caught their interest. Iguro found that Tanjirou was easy to talk to; he was honest, optimistic, and had a nice voice that was pleasant to the ears. He found himself enjoying the redhead's company and had come to look forward to his visits to the restaurant.
He didn’t want to admit to himself that he was starting to see Tanjirou as more than a friend.
On this particular visit, however, his whole view of the redhead changed. Nothing had prepared him for Tanjirou’s reaction when he saw the scars on his face.
Iguro didn’t realize that the bandages had loosened and slid down his face while they were having an afternoon snack by the pond. Kaburamaru usually informed him if the bandages on his face were loose, but right now, Kaburamaru was currently on Tanjirou’s shoulders, accompanying him while he fed the koi fish.
He had been eating the Ichigo Daifuku that Tanjirou had served him. He was enjoying his wagashi with some matcha when he heard a gasp. He looked up to see Tanjirou a few feet away from him. He was about to ask what was wrong when Tanjirou stepped closer and sat beside him.
“Does it still hurt?”
“What do you mean?” Iguro asked, confused when he saw that Tanjirou had a worried look on his face, and then he understood when he felt the soft pads of Tanjirou’s fingers on his face. He suddenly gripped Tanjirou’s wrist on impulse.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cross the line. I –“
“It’s okay. It’s an old wound, and it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Iguro let go of Tanjirou’s wrist to fix the loosened bandage around his face.
“No, don’t hide it from me, please.” Tanjirou held both of Iguro’s hands.
“You don’t find it repulsive?” Iguro stared into Tanjirou’s eyes, looking for any form of fear or disgust.
“ Your scars don’t make you any less attractive in my eyes.” Tanjirou looks at those heterochromatic eyes as his hands find their way to touch the Serpent Hashira’s face. “I’m guessing this is why you always cover them with bandages?”
Iguro nods; he sighs and closes his eyes while relishing the feel of Tanjirou’s warm and soft hands on his cheeks.
He finds himself sharing what caused the scars—his family, the time he was imprisoned as a sacrifice to a snake demon, up to the point where he was rescued by Rengoku’s father. And how the words of his only living relative made him feel worthless and how guilt he felt was eating him.
Tanjirou sat beside him as he listened while Iguro opened up about his past. He listened without interrupting while holding Iguro’s hand.
“You were only a child, you were supposed to live and laugh at the moment, you are not a tool to be used for your relatives’ sick and selfish gains. You are a human being who has the right to live your life just like anyone else, and you were robbed of that. Whatever your cousin said to you means nothing, for you are not to be blamed for whatever happened to your relatives.”
Tanjirou stood up and went to the pond, looking for something. When he found what he was looking for, he reached for the gardening shears that were kept nearby.
“Iguro-san, no matter how dark our past is, it does not define us. How we live our lives in the present, despite how dark our past is, makes us who we are. Do not let the chains of your past tie you to something you had no control over,” Tanjirou said as he handed a stalk each of a pink and white lotus flower.
--------------
Iguro was sitting in his room and staring at the ikebana arrangement he had made using the flowers Tanjirou had given him.
He had looked into the meaning of the flowers—purity and perseverance. Rebirth and beauty. A flower that had a fascinating will to live.
He found himself thinking of how Tanjirou seemed to find the right words at the right time; it was like a soothing balm on his soul. Tanjirou’s words felt like rain that washed away all the guilt that was clinging to him. Kaburamaru nudged him when he got lost again in his thoughts.
“I’m okay.” Iguro rubbed the snake’s chin. “Thank you for leading me to that path that day.”
Kaburamaru flickered his tongue at Iguro before going back to rest on his master’s shoulders.
Iguro looked at the flowers again and thought of Tanjirou.
”It looks like there’s no point in denying that I’ve fallen in love. Over and over again.” Iguro thought with a smile. He would do his best to keep that ray of sunshine smiling.
----------------------------
᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽
----------------------------
“Sanemi-san, thank you so much for accompanying us today; I appreciate it.” Tanjirou smiled at the wind hashira after he placed the food items he had purchased on the kitchen counter.
“I had some free time today, so don’t worry about it.” But in all honesty, he heard from Genya the previous night that he would accompany the siblings to the market to shop for ingredients. He had wanted to spend more time with the lovely redhead without his overprotective uncles breathing down on his neck.
”Seriously, those two need to loosen up.” Sanemi inwardly grimaced. But he couldn’t blame them, with Uzui and Rengoku openly flirting with the oblivious redhead, who wouldn’t be breathing fire?
“Why don’t you and Genya-kun make yourselves comfortable while I make us some onigiri.” Tanjirou gently nudged the two out of the kitchen.
“I’ll make some miso soup, onii-chan.”
“Arigatou, Nezuko.”
While the two were preparing brunch, Genya took the opportunity to talk to his brother.
“Aniki, when are you going to confess?” Genya asked quietly, and his brother choked on air at the question.
“The hell are you talking about?” Sanemi hissed back. At that moment, Genya did not look impressed with his brother.
“Aniki, even a blind man can see that you’re in love with Tanjirou, and let me tell you, you have to make a move before the others beat you to it.”
Sanemi knew what his brother meant, and before he could reply, Nezuko had arrived and brought them tea before returning to the kitchen with Genya, who offered to help bring out the half-moon trays with their side dishes. They came out of the kitchen shortly after, with Tanjirou carrying two trays along with Genya, and Nezuko brought a large plate of various onigiri to the table: salmon with soy-cured egg yolk, pork and garlic sprouts seasoned with red miso, and katsuobushi and sea urchin.
“Itadakimasu!” The four chorused as they began to dig in.
Sanemi’s eyes would often drift, and he often found himself admiring Tanjirou. He loves the way Tanjirou’s eyes light up whenever he receives small trinkets or flowers that he gives him, and the smile he receives whenever he sees him. He realized that he always found time to visit the restaurant and always rushed back once he was done with his missions.
Yes, he was in love with the redhead. He knew that he had fallen in love with Tanjirou for some time now.
Now, how will he court that adorable yet oblivious redhead?
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💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗
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Today was the day that Mitsuri was going all out with everything she wanted to eat. She was already thinking about the different items on the menu of the restaurant she frequented, it made her mouth water. She paused in her tracks when she overheard two kakushi talking about a fluffy, pretty white cat, and of course, the cat lover in her was instantly awakened.
“Excuse me! I’m sorry to interrupt you two, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Where did you see the cat that you are talking about?” Mitsuri asked with hopeful eyes.
The two kakushi knew of the Koi Bashira’s fondness for cats, as she had one on her estate.
“Good morning, Kanroji-sama! The cat should be near the Sun and Moon Hashira’s place, it usually roams around that area along the main path from here.”
“Kyah! Thank you! I’ll be off now. Have a good day!” Mitsuri bade the two kakushi before skipping off.
Not long after, Mitsuri arrived in the area, started looking for said cat, and found it sunbathing on a nice patch of grass along the road. She squealed and carefully approached the cat, not wanting to scare it off.
“Hello there, beautiful.” Mitsuri crouched down and slowly brought her hand to scratch the cat’s head.
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The cat sat up and tilted its head to where it wanted to get scratched, making Mitsuri squeal at its cuteness.
“Ne, nyanko-chan, do you have a home? You don’t seem like a stray cat to me.” Mitsuri asked the pretty cat in front of her, and then her stomach grumbled, reminding her of her reason for going out that day. The cat stood up and tugged on the blushing hashira’s sleeve.
“What is it, nyanko-chan? Do you want me to follow you?”
The cat mewled and tugged again at Mitsuri’s sleeves before leading the Love Hashira toward the place it called home. While following the cat, Mitsuri never thought there was such a path near the Sun and Moon Estate. She admired the bamboo-lined path while the cat mewled occasionally, making sure that the Love Hashira was still following.
When they reached the end of the path, Mitsuri was getting a whiff of the delicious aroma that made her stomach rumble again. Mitsuri looked around where she had ended and saw a couple of slayers and kakushi seated in gazebos enjoying their meal while laughing and talking.
“Sora Shokudō. Could this be the place that Oyakata-sama mentioned last time?” Mitsuri said to herself as she approached the building.
“Good afternoon!” Mitsuri greeted them as she entered the genkan.
“Mitsuri-san! I’m glad to see you! Welcome, please come in.” Nezuko greeted the Love Hashira.
“Nezuko-chan, you look so cute!” Mitsuri complimented her when her stomach grumbled one more time, making Mitsuri blush to the tips of her ears.
“You must be famished; don’t worry, we’ll take care of you! Nezuko, have our lovely guest seated so we can prepare a hearty meal for her,” Tanjirou said when he peeked out from the kitchen.
Mitsuri forgot her earlier embarrassment when she saw the beautiful redhead.
“Wh – Who is he? He’s so pretty!”
Nezuko giggled at Mitsuri’s reaction to her brother, then gently nudged the Love Hashira towards one of the tables. Nezuko knew that look on Mitsuri’s face – it was the look of love at first sight.
“He’s my eldest brother, his name is Tanjirou,” Nezuko said as she placed a cold glass of sobacha on the table. “Please make yourself comfortable. Since it is your first time here, would you mind if we let my brother prepare your food in omakase?”
“Not at all. I will look forward to the food.” Mitsuri said. Nezuko bowed and went to the kitchen to help her brother.
--------------
“There you are, Nezuko. Did our guest order anything specific?”
“Nope, so you have free reign over what to prepare. By the way, Onii-chan, Mitsuri-san has a large appetite, so we best prepare lots!”
“Really?” Tanjirou’s eyes sparkled at the prospect of preparing much food; it was good that they stocked up a lot the day before, and the rice that he had ordered arrived that morning. “Can you tell me a little bit more about our guest?”
Nezuko then shared what she knew about the Love Hashira with her brother as they started preparing.
--------------
Mitsuri was enjoying the comfortable atmosphere of the restaurant, occasionally talking to the demon slayers who greeted her on their way out. She loved how spacious the place was, it didn’t make her feel constricted, and at the same time, it felt like home. Her thoughts went back to the beautiful redhead.
She was shaken out of her musings when she heard Tanjirou’s melodic voice.
“Thank you for patiently waiting, Kanroji-san. I heard you have a healthy appetite, so I prepared a feast for you,” Tanjirou said as he placed an extra-large serving of butadon, katsudon, and omurice with demi-glace sauce on the table.
“What? How did you know?” Kanroji was looking at the dishes in front of her with hearts in her eyes.
“I asked Nezuko a little about you. Please don’t feel embarrassed, I like to get to know my customers a little so I can take care of them whenever they are here.” Tanjirou says as he finishes arranging the dishes in front of Mitsuri. “Please enjoy your meal. I will return to bring out the other dishes I prepared for you in a few moments.”
Mitsuri smiles and stares at Tanjirou’s retreating form. She picks up her chopsticks, picks up a piece of the sliced pork cutlet, and brings it to her mouth. She enjoyed every bite of the crispy and savory pork that exploded in her mouth, along with the runny egg and freshly steamed rice. It didn’t take Mitsuri long before she took the spoon provided for the omurice and scooped a spoonful—the egg was creamy and custardy and went so well with the demi-glace sauce.
Tanjirou and Nezuko returned with more trays of food, mostly donburi, and placed them on the table: tanindon, gyudon, unadon, ten don, and oyakodon.
Mitsuri looked at the array of food in front of her; she loved how everything looked and smelled so delicious. The food was so good that it was even better than her cooking. Every bite burst with umami flavor and melted in her mouth.
The other demon slayers who passed by the Love Hashira’s table were in awe at the mountain of plates and bowls neatly stacked on the chabudai. The siblings had roughly brought out more than three dozen extra-large donburi, ten plates of gyoza, numerous side dishes, and five additional omurice for Mitsuri.
“It’s impressive that you’re able to finish everything, Kanroji-san,” Tanjirou said as he came back with a pot of matcha and a large plate of various wagashi: Ichigo daifuku, dango, yokan, castella cake, nerikiri, dorayaki, and daifuku.
“You think so? You don’t find it strange? I really only nibbled today!” Mitsuri said as she began eating her dessert, enjoying the sweet confections together with the tea.
“No, I don’t find it strange. You tend to use a lot of energy when fighting demons, so I think it’s only natural that you eat a lot since the hashira are strong.” Tanjirou smiled at Mitsuri, which made her blush to see such beauty.
“Really? You don’t find me strange or abnormal? Others usually find me weird for my hair color and for having such insane strength.”
“What’s abnormal about it? I think your features and abilities make you beautiful and unique. Having such strength is a gift given by the gods because they know you have a purpose here on earth. Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous or scared of your unique traits,” Tanjirou said kindly.
Mitsuri stared at Tanjirou and started to tear up. Was it a coincidence that he said almost the same thing as Oyakata-sama?
“Kanroji-san! Are you alright? I’m sorry! Did I say something to offend you?” Tanjirou started to fuss over the Love Hashira.
“No, I’m okay, I promise! It’s just that most people say the opposite thing. Tanjirou, will you listen to my story?” Tanjirou nods, sits near Mitsuri, and wipes away the stray tears from her eyes. Mitsuri started to share her past with Tanjirou.
“Mitsuri-san, you are who you are, don’t try to fit into the mold just because that is what society has as normal. We aren’t born into this world to please everyone. Just focus on what is in front of you, on becoming a better version of who you are right now, and the things you can do. Don’t let others say what you can or cannot do; insignificant people's opinions do not matter. Don’t let them ruin your inner peace, as they do not define who you are.
“Just find the people who are important to you, whose opinions really matter; only then will you see that everything is just background noise. All of us were born with a purpose, and I think deep inside, you already know what yours is.”
Mitsuri’s face warmed, and she felt her heart skip a beat at Tanjirou’s words. And out of the blue, she began bawling her eyes out, leaving a dumbfounded redhead to fuss all over the Love Hashira all over again.
“Nezuko! Help me, please. I don’t know what happened, but Kanroji-san just burst into tears all of a sudden. What should I do? Did I do something wrong?” Tanjirou was starting to panic.
“It’s okay, Onii-chan. You didn’t do anything wrong; don’t worry about it,” Nezuko said as she approached Mitsuri and hugged her.
Mitsuri grabbed Tanjirou to bring him in a three-way hug and cried on his shoulder.
--------------
“Eh! But I ate so many donburis, why are you not letting me pay for the food? And call me Mitsuri!”
“The first visit is always on the house, Mitsuri-san. Besides, when I opened this shokudō, I didn’t open it to make a profit. I wanted to continue what my family had started: to take care of the Demon Slayer Corps. I only charge for the ingredients and the items I use to prepare the food.” Tanjirou explained with sincerity. “You can pay on your next visit.”
“Then I will definitely visit again!” Mitsuri held both of Tanjirou’s hands in hers before she headed toward the genkan.
“We will wait for your next visit, Mitsuri-san, and before you go, please take this with you,” Tanjirou said as he handed a pink furoshiki.
“Eh, eh? What’s this?”
“I prepared some more wagashi for you to take home. You will just have to find out what’s inside when you get home.”
--------------
Upon arriving at her mansion, Mitsuri went to her kitchen to prepare tea to drink with the wagashi that Tanjirou gave her. It was a bit embarrassing that she broke down upon hearing Tanjirou’s kind words, but the two siblings assured her that it was alright and that it was nothing to be ashamed of.
Mitsuri returned to her dining room and placed the freshly brewed tea on the table before focusing on the bento that Tanjirou gave her. She carefully opened the furoshiki, which revealed a four-layer jubako-style bento with a note on top.
”Be like a dandelion—be resilient and persevere no matter what people say. You have already transformed yourself and embraced your uniqueness. Stay strong and true to yourself.”
Nezuko and Tanjirou
She smiled at the note and carefully placed it aside before opening each layer to reveal a different type of wagashi in each box: Ichigo daifuku, mitarashi dango, sakura mochi, and nerikiri that were shaped like flowers, leaves, and animals. The nerikiri that caught her eye was the pink-colored one that was shaped like a dandelion.
Mitsuri just found herself falling in love with the redhead even more.
----------------------------
☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙☀ ☾ ☀️🌙
----------------------------
“Onee-chan, Uncle Michi, and Uncle Yorii look like they are going to have an aneurysm,” Takeo said to his elder sister.
Nezuko looked at Takeo, wanting to ask where he learned that word, but then realized that he might have heard it at the Butterfly Mansion. She already knew why he was asking, though: there were more hashiras in the restaurant compared to the last time, and they were all ogling at her sweet and rather oblivious onii-chan.
“This is getting ridiculous. I know that our Tanjirou is a great cook, but what the hell?” Michikatsu growled.
“I am seriously considering blocking the entrance, and just having a few Kakushi do a delivery service of some sort,” Yoriichi said as he narrowed his eyes at the group of Hashira who were staring at Tanjirou.
“And maybe get a chastity belt for Tanjirou while we’re at it.”
At times like this, Nezuko wonders if her onii-chan is going to die as a bachelor or if Takeo is going to be as oblivious as their brother. Either way, she was sure that her uncles were going to get gray hair before they turned 40.
Yep, life is good.
--------------
--------------
つづく
Notes:
Here's an extra long chapter for you guys..
*Disclaimer: The images used here are for reference only - they are not mine.*Looks left and right, then runs to hide...*
ﾍ(=￣∇￣)ﾉ
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