What we share

by solangelonerd

Summary:

After a joyful afternoon by the river, Tanjiro, Kanao, Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Aoi gather at Nezuko and Zenitsu’s house for a quiet evening. While the boys clean up, the girls bond in the kitchen. Kanao opens up to Aoi about her traumatic encounter with her father. Nezuko and Aoi offer their love and support, strengthening their friendship.
Note: I suck at summaries, but please read it, it's very sweet!

The sun hung low over the horizon, casting golden rays through the trees and onto the grass of the riverside clearing. Blankets were spread across the ground, baskets half-emptied of snacks, and laughter drifted lazily in the breeze. The air was warm but starting to cool with the promise of evening.

Tanjiro leaned back on one hand, his other resting lightly on Kanao’s knee. She sat beside him, cross-legged, hair tied up with a soft ribbon Nezuko had given her that morning. The ribbon was pink. Tanjiro had smiled when he saw it.

A little ways off, Zenitsu had somehow tangled himself in a fishing net he'd insisted on bringing, even though no one asked him to. Nezuko stood over him, laughing so hard her braid bounced with every breath, while Inosuke grumbled about how the fish had ''outsmarted'' him again.

Aoi was lying on her stomach on a blanket, legs up in the air as she flipped through a recipe scroll she'd brought, pretending not to listen to Inosuke’s excuses—but her smirk betrayed her. Every time he said something particularly ridiculous, she’d mutter ''idiot'' under her breath. She didn’t deny she liked him anymore—but she refused to make it easy.

The group had eaten well—too well, maybe. There’d been rice balls, pickled plums, grilled fish (the only two Inosuke had managed to catch), sweet stewed beans, and a dessert Nezuko had made with Aoi's help. Now, the day was winding down, and the energy had shifted into something softer. They’d started packing up, knowing the sky would soon turn indigo.

Zenitsu and Nezuko offered to host the rest of the evening at their home nearby. Nobody argued.

 

---

 

Their house was small but cozy, tucked near a grove of trees that let the evening light filter through in dappled gold. By the time they arrived, the air was filled with the sound of cicadas and the rustling of grass underfoot. A kettle was already set over the hearth, and cushions were spread out in the main room.

''Okay, let’s put everything away before Inosuke eats all the leftovers,'' Zenitsu declared dramatically, puffing his chest as he took a bundle of folded blankets from Nezuko’s arms.

''I am going to eat all the leftovers,'' Inosuke replied, grabbing a steamed bun from the bag he was supposed to be carrying. ''That’s why they’re called leftovers.''

''Stop eating and help,'' Aoi snapped, yanking the bag away from him and swatting his hand. ''You’re unbelievable.''

''You like that I’m unbelievable,'' he grinned.

She turned away, cheeks pink. ''Idiot.''

Tanjiro laughed, already gathering cushions and shaking them out. ''Come on. Let’s get this done.''

''Fine,'' Zenitsu sighed, resigned to his fate as the responsible host. ''Inosuke, take the heavy stuff inside. Tanjiro, you help me fold these.''

As the boys headed off with various loads, Nezuko called to the girls from the kitchen doorway.

''Kanao, Aoi—come help me boil some water? I’m making that tea you both like.''

''You mean the one with the roasted barley?'' Aoi perked up immediately. ''I’m in.''

Kanao followed with a small smile, her hair a little wind-tousled from the walk. She felt quiet, content—the kind of quiet that didn’t weigh her down. Just settled gently in her bones.

The kitchen was warm, fragrant with tea leaves and citrus peels. Nezuko was already preparing cups, her braid tucked over one shoulder as she moved with practiced ease. Aoi opened the cabinet and grabbed the sweet biscuits they’d saved. Kanao stood by the counter, slicing a bit of preserved ginger into thin slivers.

It was peaceful. Familiar.

''I’m glad we did this,'' Nezuko said, pouring hot water into the teapot. ''I mean, we saw each other last week, but it's always nice to spend a day together.''

''You're right,'' Aoi agreed. ''And no accidents this time. Miraculous.''

Kanao gave a soft laugh.

''Especially with him around,'' Aoi added, meaning Inosuke. ''I swear, he draws chaos like bees to honey.''

''I think he is the chaos,'' Nezuko grinned, setting cups on the tray.

Kanao smiled again, then paused—her hand still resting near the ginger slices.

Aoi noticed the stillness first. She glanced up from the cabinet and saw something shift in Kanao’s expression. Not sadness exactly—just… weight.

''Are you okay?'' Aoi asked her gently.

Nezuko paused too. Her smile faded into something more knowing, more careful.

Kanao hesitated. Then, slowly, she turned to face them both.

''I never told you what happened in the village,'' she said, voice quiet. ''A few days ago. I mean—when I ran into… him.''

Aoi blinked, caught off guard. ''Who?''

Nezuko set the teapot down carefully, but didn’t speak. She only moved closer, a steady presence beside Kanao.

''My father,'' Kanao said, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. “He’s alive. Or was. We saw him.”

Aoi’s face paled, her voice dropping. ''Oh, Kanao…''

''It was… unexpected,'' Kanao said, almost matter-of-fact. ''He looked different, but not enough. I heard his voice first.''

She looked down for a second, gathering herself. Then she continued.

''He hit me. In the middle of the street. Called me the same names he used to when I was a kid. I froze. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.''

Aoi’s hands had gone still over the tea tray.

Nezuko moved to Kanao’s side and gently placed a hand on her back.

''Tanjiro got there just after,'' Kanao went on. ''He stopped him. Stood in front of me. Made him leave. I don’t remember everything, but… I remember Tanjiro’s voice. It was steady. Firm.'' Her voice wavered. ''I felt like I was five again. And at the same time, I felt… safe.''

Aoi stepped forward. ''You didn’t tell me,'' she said, not in anger—just hurt. ''I would’ve come. I would’ve—''

''I know,'' Kanao interrupted gently. ''I wanted to tell you. When we saw each other in the Butterfly Mansion. I just… needed to process it first. And then tonight, with just us—it felt like the right time.''

Aoi’s eyes glistened.

''I’m so sorry that happened to you,'' she said. ''You didn’t deserve it—not then, and not now. That man is nothing. And you’re everything he tried to break and couldn’t.''

Nezuko nodded, her fingers resting lightly on Kanao’s sleeve. ''She’s right. You’re here. And you’re loved.''

Kanao looked between the two of them. ''I know. That’s why I’m okay. I have you both. I have Tanjiro.'' Then smiled softly. ''And Zenitsu and Inosuke.''

''Inosuke is a lost cause,'' Aoi grumbled. ''But he does share a special bond with you. After your battle against Doma.''

''And even though my boyfriend is always whining,'' Nezuko chuckled, ''he's really grateful that you are his best friend's partner. It may seem like he doesn't notice, but he knows how happy you make Tanjiro.''

Aoi stepped closer and pulled her into a hug. Kanao let herself be held.

Nezuko wrapped her arms around both of them.

It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t loud. It was just real—three young women holding space for one another, pasts tangled and hearts mending in the warmth of a kitchen lit by evening light.

 

---

 

Later, after the tea had steeped and the room smelled of roasted barley and ginger, the girls carried the tray out to the main room, where the boys had finally settled.

Zenitsu was dramatically draped across a cushion like an exhausted poet, while Inosuke was upside down for some reason, legs in the air, munching on dried plums.

Tanjiro looked up as Kanao stepped in and offered her a warm smile. He got up immediately, walked to her, and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

''Hey,'' he said, voice soft.

''Hey,'' she replied, taking his hand.

Zenitsu groaned. ''Every time you two look at each other like that, I lose ten years off my life from jealousy.''

Nezuko giggled and flicked him on the forehead. ''You’re lucky I love you, or I'd lose twenty years off mine from living with you.''

He clutched his heart dramatically. ''Nezuko-chan, your kindness is the only thing keeping me alive!''

''You ate half the dessert while we were gone,'' she said, raising an eyebrow.

''It was a survival decision!''

''Survival from what?''

''From Inosuke! He was eyeing the rest like a boar ready to strike!''

''I am a boar ready to strike,'' Inosuke declared proudly.

Aoi crossed her arms and glared at him. ''And you won’t be striking anything if you eat one more of those rice cakes. Save some for the rest of us.’’

Inosuke grunted but obeyed, visibly sulking.

Tanjiro had guided Kanao to a cushion, sitting down beside her and wrapping an arm around her waist. She leaned into him naturally, her head resting on his shoulder as she sipped her tea.

''You okay?'' he whispered.

She nodded. ''I told Aoi.''

He didn’t need to ask what. He just nodded, kissed her temple gently, and held her closer.

The rest of the evening passed in warmth and laughter. They played a game of cards Nezuko had made up on the spot. Zenitsu lost every round and insisted it was a conspiracy. Aoi finally got Inosuke to eat something slowly—for once—by challenging him to chew ten times before swallowing. He took it as a competition and chewed twenty times.

When it got late, and the stars came out, they all found themselves lounging under blankets again. The air was filled with the sounds of summer night insects and the soft rhythm of contented breathing.

Nezuko rested her head on Zenitsu’s chest, and his hand found hers easily. Aoi leaned back against Inosuke’s arm, who tried (and failed) to pretend he wasn’t secretly proud of her.

Tanjiro and Kanao were curled together near the window, her eyes half-closed, his fingers tracing soft patterns across her back.

Kanao spoke, just once before sleep tugged at her.

''I think I’m healing.''

Tanjiro’s hand paused, then settled over her heart.

''You are,'' he said. ''You already are.''

Notes:

This is absolutely the way I picture these gatherings. The girls being like sisters to each other, the chaotic main trio being like themselves.
I also want to explore the relationships between them, especially Kanao's relationships (if you couldn't tell, Kanao is my favorite KnY character) with Inosuke and Zenitsu. I feel like Kanao and Inosuke would be pretty close friends, especially after what they both went through during their battle against Doma. Maybe Kanao wouldn't be as close to Zenitsu, but sometimes they would talk about how lucky they are that both of their partners are literally two rays of sunshine (Zenitsu and Kanao are, too).
As always, thank you for reading and kudos and comments are fully appreciated!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of The things we carry