Chapter Text
Inosuke didn’t like this, not one bit.
What didn’t he like? Well, it was hard to describe. Mostly confusion. No, definitely confusion. Confusion mixed with rage. Maybe some sickness? Was he ill? What was going on with him? Why was he feeling this way?
These thoughts swimming in his head suddenly manifested into a loud scream of frustration, making his cohorts jump in their beds, looking at Inosuke in confusion.
“What’s wrong, Inosuke?” Tanjiro asked, having noticed a while ago that his friend seemed to have something on his mind, “You’ve been quiet for some time.”
“Why are you screaming?!” Zenitsu chided loudly, having been enjoying the brief moment of peace and quiet.
“I’m angry because (a bad butchering of your name) makes me sick!” Inosuke finally figured out his ‘problem’, assuming he was sick and it was all due to you, that stupid (guy/girl) who was working at the Butterfly Estate, having been taking care of the boys after their latest fight left them in very rough condition. With your stupid kind eyes and stupid sweet smile, just the thought of seeing you again made him angry and sick but as much as he hated to admit it, he- he liked feeling sick or at least what disease you infected him with.
“Why do you think they would make you sick?” Tanjiro furrowed his brow, not sounding like you at all to make someone sick on purpose.
“They make my stomach twist and my heart beat faster and my face hot!” Inosuke spat out his symptoms to Tanjiro and Zenitsu.
Tanjiro smiled sweetly after hearing this while Zenitsu, his clenched smile wobbling before he couldn’t contain himself any longer, laughing uncontrollably.
“What’s so funny, Monitsu?” Inosuke glared at the choppy haired blond, obviously infuriated.
“Isn’t it obviously?! You like (y/n)!” Zenitsu chuckled at his friend’s ignorance, “You must be so confused, having grown up in the mountains! Aw, how sad!”
“Stop talking nonsense!” Inosuke screamed, throwing his pillow in anger and knocking the blond off his bed.
“It’s nice you found someone you like,” Tanjiro smiled softly, trying to be the encouraging one.
Inosuke was trying to process what Tanjiro was saying, knowing he had to do something about it. If he didn’t, he’d been seen as weak by Tanjiro and Zenitsu. “I wanna do something about it, Ponjiro.”
“That’s great! Maybe we can write them a letter or tell them straightforward?” Tanjiro suggested, wanting to help as best he could.
Inosuke suddenly got out of bed, knowing exactly what he wanted to do.
“Inosuke?” Tanjiro cocked his head to the side, confused by Inosuke’s actions... well, more confused than usual.
“I’N GOING TO SLAP THEM!” Inosuke announced before heading out of the room at full speed, cackling to himself.
“INOSUKE!” Tanjiro panicked, grabbing Zenitsu, who just got himself back to bed, and dragged him along to stop Inosuke, whining all the while.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“(An even worse butchering of your name)!!!”
You turned your head to see Inosuke at the door, you having been hanging up clothes to dry outside. He looked mad, beyond mad, and you didn’t know why.
You had always been so nice to Inosuke; changing his bandages, sneaking him extra tempura, and giving him lots of encouragement! From a simple head pat to a motivation speeches, you did your best to get him back out there in tiptop condition, to get back on his own two feet and continue to slay demons! Ah, his passion and drive were contagious and unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, you managed to catch it from him. But in all honesty, you never wanted to be cured. Inosuke was just so raw, so genuine, so real and you- you admired it, liked it, lo- you couldn’t admit that just yet.
And yet here you were, just now realizing that Inosuke was face to face with you, the giant blue eyes of his boar’s head seemingly piercing through your own (e/c) ones.
“Ino-osuke?” You stuttered, the boy having no real idea when it came to personal space, “Can-n I hel-lp you?”
“YOU MADE ME SICK!” Inosuke shouted right into your face, lifting his hand, “AND NOW YOU’LL PAY FOR IT!”
Everything seemed to slow down after those words. Your world crashed before you. Inosuke didn’t like you. He thought you made him sick. He was gonna hit you for making him weak. You didn’t know if you could react in time to dodge his attack, only closing your eyes and bracing for the impact now.
But it didn’t happen.
In fact, you felt the presence lessen, causing you to open your eyes now. Inosuke was being held back by Tanjiro and Zenitsu, struggling for the most part but for now, they had him subdued despite his thrashing and complaining.
“I’m sorry for his behavior!” Tanjiro began to apologize, the boy holding onto Inosuke’s arms, “He thinks you’re making him sick but it turns out he likes you! He just doesn’t know how to express it!”
Upon hearing Tanjiro’s words, your heart, broken mere moments ago, had been mended and was beating even faster then before. It seemed your efforts weren’t in vain after all...
“Inosuke!” You finally yelled back at him, the self proclaimed god of the mountain ceasing his escape attempt to look at you, “You- you make me sick too but it’s a good sick and I like it! I- I like-e you...”
Something clicked in Inosuke’s head, finally realizing, or as much as he could, that you liked him. He seemed happy as the boys let him go, still on the defensive if something were to happen.
Inosuke walked over to you, held your shoulders firmly, a puff of hot air from his snout blowing a few stray hairs around your face. “I’ll work harder then to make you like me more!”
“I’ll do the same!” You beamed brightly, mimicking his energy and hopefully someday, you could copy his bluntness and just admit that you- you loved him too...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OMAKE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“How did he find someone to love?!?” Zenitsu whined, looking at the two committing themselves to be better for the other before looking at Tanjiro.
“I’m happy for him,” Tanjiro mused, glad to see how much Inosuke had grown up since they first met.
“They were taking care of all of us, so why didn’t they fall in love with me?!” Zenitsu continued to wail, “I wouldn’t have tried slapped them.”
Tanjiro gave him that look, the pure essence of disgust, sending Zenitsu wailing on the floor. “Don’t look at me like that!!! Even if they don’t like me, I still have a chance with Nezuko, right?!?”
Tanjiro’s face was even more twisted with disgust, causing the blond to freakout more before being dragged away, the kind young man looking over his shoulder at Inosuke and (y/n), glad that even in these troubled times when demons brought death and destruction, things like friendships and love could still blossom and flourish into something beautiful...