Chapter Text
Kanao doesn't consider herself good at reading people; she can investigate someone and find out their secrets but if you were to ask her to tell if a random person is hiding something then, unless that person is absurdly obvious, there is no way she could tell.
So it's a good thing that the way everyone was acting made it absurdly obvious that something was wrong.
Like many other times, she was accompanying Tanjiro in his errands, helping him out where she could while a part of her kept an eye out for any attempts on his life. There hadn't been any in a long time but she had made it a point to not relax her vigilance, lest someone is just waiting for that before striking.
The day started normally enough, she met the Kamado at the East Gate and the two went out together; she could tell something was weird when they arrived at the town, people were greeting him but it was… different, like there wasn't the usual joy of seeing the prince that she'd come to expect.
It became even more obvious when they arrived at the blacksmith and she recognized an obvious sad look on the owner as he looked at the red haired teen; she first chalked it out to him having a bad day or something similar but when everyone they saw kept giving those same glances, it became clear something was wrong.
Sadly, Tanjiro was called back before she could ask him about it so, after deliberating for a while, the Tsuyuri decided to ask if someone knew what was going on.
The first person she saw that she could ask was Kanzaki Aoi, she is a maid serving the Kocho House but also helps in the Kamado castle and she has heard that Shinobu has been teaching her some medicine.
Their relationship was… difficult; it's not that they have something against the other but since Kanao is still struggling to start and maintain a conversation, their exchanges tend to be brief and about their work, just exchanging pleasantries otherwise.
Nevertheless, Aoi has been with the Kocho House for a long time and it's obvious that Kanae and Shinobu trust her so she decided to at least try and ask her.
"Excuse me." She called out as the Kanzaki did the laundry.
"Oh, Kanao." Her blue eyes widened at the person who addressed her. "Do you need something?"
"It's…" The purple eyed girl trailed off, trying to think of the right words. "Has something happened in the kingdom that I don't know about?"
Aoi tilted her head at the question.
"What do you mean?"
"…I was out with Tanjiro-sama -escorting him of course- and… the people in town looked less lively than usual and I noticed certain looks sent his way."
The Kanzaki's eyes widened once more.
"You don't know?"
"Eh? Know what?"
Aoi let out a sigh and looked back at the clothes.
"The prince's birthday is next week." She said, putting a blanket to dry, her back towards the Tsuyuri. "Two years ago, on the day of his birthday… there was a big celebration like there is every year, a lot of people went to it and…"
Even Kanao realized that this story wasn't going to end well.
"And?"
"…someone managed to smuggle in a monster from the border." She eventually said.
The Tsuyuri's eyes widened; everyone knows about the monsters that come from the border of the kingdom to attack, the knights have patrols at all times and there are several sorties to put down large groups whenever they are spotted, Tanjiro goes to almost all of them.
There hasn't been one since Kanao began her training, as far as she knows, but everyone knows about them.
"I heard that there was something strange with that monster, that it was stronger than it should be, I don't know how true that is, I've never seen one before that." Aoi continued, her hands trembling as she tried to focus on her duties. "But regardless… it managed to kill several people before the knights put it down." She took a deep breath. "Ever since, this time that was an excuse to celebrate for everyone stopped being so."
"So that's why…"
"Yes, the people in town know about it, everyone knows, we just don't talk about it."
"…thank you for telling me and… I'm sorry for making you relive those memories."
"It's fine." Aoi answered, still not looking at her, her hands balled into fists at her sides. "I… still have some things to do, so if that's all…"
"…thank you again." Kanao nodded and turned to leave, a bitter taste on her mouth.
At night.
Kanao was lying down on her bed face up but sleep eluded her.
'A birthday…' Her mind continued to go back to what Aoi told her earlier. 'I've never had one but… Tanjiro thinks of them as important.'
She remembered one of their many conversations when they were out in town when the Kamado had asked her when her birthday was.
Kanao could only answer 'I don't know' since she doesn't know the day of her birth, nor has she ever had a celebration but the Prince is answer to that shocked her.
"What?! You don't know when your birthday is?!"
"No."
"That's not right! Birthdays are important!" He had frowned for a moment before an idea seemed to form. "Then, how about you choose a day for your birthday, that way we can celebrate it!"
"Eh? It's not necessary, Your Highness, I don't need a celebration." She had tried to brush it off but Tanjiro was adamant about celebrating. "It's not like it's that important… there aren't people that are grateful I was born in the first pl-"
"I'm grateful!" He had cut her off.
"Eh?"
"I am incredibly happy that Kanao was born!" Tanjiro had yelled, not caring about the looks they got by the people walking. "…just think about it, please."
They hadn't talked about it since, the Kamado scion probably not wanting to pressure her into something, but she knows he won't just forget it.
Regardless, it was clear that birthdays meant a lot for the red haired teen so, after much deliberation, she decided to at least get a gift for him.
Her mind made up, Kanao got comfortable on her bed and let sleep take her; the next days are going to be important.
It took Kanao more than she would have liked until she finally found a suitable gift. Not having any prior experience in this sort of thing didn't help at all and she only found something the day right before Tanjiro's birthday and late at night.
She managed to get up at the usual time, only feeling slightly tired but not to the point that it would impair her duties.
The day went on without much happening, except for when Tanjiro showed up at training and asked her to come to the dining room after she was done.
The Tsuyuri obviously agreed, wondering why the sudden invitation for the rest of the day.
'Ah, I should go get my gift for him before that.' She had brought it with her in a bag and placed it near the entrance of the training grounds.
With the gift in hand, she began her walk towards the dining room.
.
Taking a deep breath, Kanao knocked twice on the door, she heard some footsteps approaching and, a moment later, the door opened to reveal Aoi.
"Oh, you're here, come on in." She moved to the side to let her in.
"What…?" Kanao trailed off when she saw Tanjiro, his family, Zenitsu, one of the butlers, Inosuke, a fellow knight, as well as the Kocho family and Giyu. "What's going on?"
"Ha, don't you know? It's Mon… Gon… this guy!" Inosuke pointed to the Kamado. "Is birthday!"
"Oh, no, I did know, it's just… I thought you didn't celebrate it?"
"Hmm? Why would you think that?" Tanjiro asked, tilting his head to the side.
"Ah!" Aoi suddenly yelped. "It's probably because of me…"
Everyone looked at her with a questioning look.
"A week ago, she noticed that people were acting strange around Tanjiro-sama and asked me about it, I… told her of the incident two years ago." Everyone grimaced at that but no one interrupted. "I told her there is no longer a big party… but I didn't clarify that you still celebrate a small one with those close to you." She bowed towards Kanao. "I'm sorry, it was my mistake."
"I-it's alright." She quickly assured her. "I was just surprised."
"Come on, I want to eat!" Inosuke suddenly yelled.
"Pff, if everything is alright, then let's just the celebration." Nezuko said, holding back a chuckle.
Everyone agreed
.
.
The party, despite the limited number of participants, was very lively; a good part of it was that Inosuke kept making a ruckus forcing Aoi and Zenitsu to try and calm him down, which in turn made even more ruckus since they ended up in a screaming match, but no one really complained.
Tanjiro had been talking with everyone, thanking them for coming and for the gifts, getting dragged around by his siblings who wanted to do something with him, trying to calm down Inosuke every now and then (with just a bit more of success than the others) and overall enjoying himself.
"Kanao!" He called out and approached her, in a moment that he was free.
"Your Highness." She answered with a nod and a small smile.
"Are you having fun?"
"I… believe so, yes." The Tsuyuri said slowly. "I've never been to an event like this but… I like it."
"Really?" His smile looked brighter than ever after hearing that. "I'm glad! I was worried you might be uncomfortable."
"I'm still not sure how to behave and that makes me a bit nervous but… I know everyone here to a certain degree, so I'm not too worried."
"That's good." The Kamado nodded. "Thank you, Kanao."
"Hmm? What for?"
"For getting me a gift." Tanjiro answered.
"Eh? I mean, you're welcome… but isn't it normal to get you a gift for your birthday?" She tilted her head with a confused expression.
"No, I mean it is, just… you thought I didn't celebrate my birthday, right?"
"Yes."
"But you still got me a gift; I'm really happy you went out of your way to do that."
"It was nothing really, if it wasn't because I asked Aoi I wouldn't even know it was your birthday." Kanao tried to play it off.
"Doesn't matter! I'm still thanking you." Tanjiro answered happily.
"…you're welcome." Kanao said with a smile. "…can I… no, never mind."
"What is it?"
"No, it's nothing."
"Kanao." He began, frowning slightly. "If something is bothering you, you can tell me."
"…it's just… after what Aoi told me… I'm a bit surprised you still celebrate." She said, very softly.
"Yeah… I can understand that." Tanjiro looked at the rest of the place and to everyone having fun. "I haven't forgotten, a part of my mind is always remembering that event but… today is the day that I was born and got me to meet all of my friends and family." He looked back at her, his red eyes locking gazes with her purple ones. "I won't forget but I don't want to let what happened ruin this day."
Once again, the Tsuyuri smiled.
"That thought suits you."
"You really think so?"
"Yes." Kanao nodded. "There is another thing I've been wondering." Tanjiro tilted his head slightly, waiting for her to continue. "I noticed Inosuke kept cutting himself whenever he calls out to you."
"Ah, he said that for his gift, he won't call me by the wrong name for this entire day." The red haired teen answered. "But he still struggles to say the right name so…" He trailed off with a chuckle. "This is the only day when I can be certain he won't say something like 'Kamaboko Gonpachiro'."
Kanao nodded in understanding when an idea suddenly crossed her mind.
"Speaking of days."
"Hm?"
"You… do you remember what we talked some time ago? About my birthday?"
"Yes."
"I think I've decided on a day."
"Really?!" Every time that the Tsuyuri thinks his smile couldn't be brighter, he proves her wrong. "What day?"
"That's… um, please wait a moment, I'll be right back." She excused herself and ran off.
Tanjiro looked at her but did as she asked and waited.
A few minutes later, Kanao came back running.
"I'm sorry about that."
"It's alright." He assured her, noticing the piece of folded paper in her hands.
"Um… here, this is the day I decided on." She said, passing the paper to him.
Tanjiro grabbed it and opened it, his eyes widening when he saw the date she wrote down.
"This is…"
"I… don't think there is a more fitting day." Kanao explained, looking at the ground to hide her blush.
"I'll make sure to remember for the next year." Tanjiro said, his smile as large as possible.
The date she wrote is the day the two first met.