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It was a warm spring day, though a fresh breeze helped to keep the temperature manageable. Tanjiro had wanted to get some air after receiving so many unexpected - though not unwelcome - visitors. Once everyone had bid their farewells, Nezuko and Zenitsu had wandered off in a similar direction, and Inosuke had seemingly already managed to slip away into the crowd that had gathered. It was one of the first times Tanjiro had found himself alone since he had awoken after the battle.
Although Tanjiro's time in the Demon Slayer Corps meant he had become a bit too accustomed to long periods of bedridden recovery, it never stopped the small ache he'd feel when gazing out of the window. He had grown up in the mountains after all. Even though Tanjiro would never claim to feel the call to nature quite as strongly as someone like Inosuke, long periods away from open spaces did leave him with a strange sort of homesickness.
Thus he'd found himself wandering towards the immaculately kept gardens of the Butterfly Estate. Tanjiro's strong sense of smell joyfully partook in the sweet hint of flowers that danced along with the breeze. He could not help the peaceful smile that spread across his face. This was what a world without demons felt like. Warm, peaceful, and quiet.
Tanjiro followed the outside wall of the building, simply enjoying his aimless wander. The smell of flowers grew stronger as he began to notice the pink petals of sakura gently gliding through the air. However another scent quickly caught his attention. It was a subtle one, twinged with bittersweet happiness that caused him to pause. Light and gentle, yet strong and steady. Tanjiro's smile widened, knowing only one person that could give off such a scent
"Kanao"
The familiar voice rings out throughout the Butterfly Estate garden. Kanao turns in surprise, snapping back to reality at the sound, though her expression quickly turns into a smile. She admittedly struggles to make out the figure walking towards her, though the flash of dark red is unmistakable.
"Tanjiro..." she says gently. Tanjiro beams widely at the dark-haired girl as he finally comes to stand beside her. The sakura gracefully flitters around the Flower Breath user. Tanjiro can't help but think that it makes a rather lovely scene.
"This sakura tree is impressive up close!" Tanjiro proclaims, turning to look towards the large tree that stands in the middle of the garden. It's branches stretch high towards the white clouds above, though the tops of them are lost in a forest of pink blossoms. Even using his one remaining eye, Tanjiro can appreciate the heights it has managed to reach. Kanao gives a small hum of agreement from beside him, face drawing into a proud expression.
"The first user of the Flower Breathing technique planted it." Kanao explains, "Its name is 'Victory'."
"Oh that's cool!" Tanjiro exclaims, turning towards the dark-haired girl. This tree would have withstood years of storms, harsh winters, and heated summers, yet still it remained. Tree or not, Tanjiro thought it was an impressive feat.
"I wanted to tell it..." Kanao carries on, her attention still solely fixed on the branches above, "...That we succeeded." A dusting of pink has settled onto her cheeks, a quiet sense of pride evident on her face.
Tanjiro can only give a small word of agreement, finding himself distracted by Kanao's expression. To think this was the same girl he spoke to on his last day of rehabilitation training all those months ago. She had worn a smile then, but it was empty. An expression plastered in place though not felt. Tanjiro remembers distinctly that her scent back then had been very different to what it was now. Strong, yes, nearly rivaling the Hashira. Though it was stilted and restrained, almost the opposite of the one Kanao presented currently. The smile on her face now was open; genuine.
Tanjiro had never felt so glad he chose to bet on heads that day.
Bringing his focus back to the conversation, Tanjiro can't help but think how kind it is of Kanao to let the blossom know of their success.
'She really is like Kocho. Both of them have good souls '.
A comfortable silence had fallen between them. Though uncertain on whether to break it, the burgundy haired boy wanted to keep talking to her. There were so many questions he wanted to ask her and now felt as good a time as any for them. His good eye falls on Kanao's injured ones. Her right eye had become full-blown, seemingly damaged beyond repair. Her left eye still held the same sharp purple as before, though it had clouded over slightly. Guilt twinged in Tanjiro's stomach at the sight, though he tried to push it down.
"Is..." he pauses as the dark-haired girl meets his eye, "Is your eye alright? How's the wound?"
"I'm fine." Kanao smiles at him reassuringly. Her gentle voice is honest and without hesitation. "I still have some vision."
"Really?" Tanjiro asks softly now, worry still managing to tinge his face despite her words.
"Yes. And the wound doesn't hurt anymore." Kanao's smile widens as she gestures towards her shoulder. Previously the girl had suffered from a near-fatal wound that stretched across her back. It had caused her to be bed bound under the watchful eye of Aoi for weeks. Even by the time he had awoken, Tanjiro knew it had still been healing. Although he had not seen it himself, he knew from the three young attendants of the Butterfly Estate that it was likely to leave a permanent scar.
One which he had caused.
Tanjiro looks down as that dreaded pang of guilt returns. Knowing Kanao is rather perceptive, he hopes avoiding her gaze is enough to hide the emotions from her. Tanjiro knew he should stop the feeling in its tracks. Nezuko had scolded him countless times for it already and he did not want to make his younger sister upset. However it was hard to push away the edge of blame Tanjiro knew he had in many of his friend's injuries. Yes, he may have been at the mercy of Muzen's influence, but those scars and broken bones had still been caused by his own hands...
No. It had been Muzen's doing, not his. Tanjiro would never willingly injure his companions. And yet... Kanao had used her 7th breathing form because of him. Had lost her sight because of him.
Tanjiro found that he had once more fallen silent during their conversation.
Whether unaware of Tanjiro's sudden web of thoughts or hoping to distract him, Kanao quickly changed the topic.
"The Wind Hashira came earlier too," she says, though her attention was drawn to a slight movement from near her neckline. "Huh?! Really?" Not expecting to hear of Shinazugawa, Tanjiro jumped slightly and focused once more on the girl in front of him. "I should say hello!"
"You should!" Kanao replies, stifling a small giggle at Tanjiro's reaction. A shuffle of movement from Kanao's shirt catches both of their attention now. Casually, as though this was a usual occurrence, a white snake elegantly peeked its head out from beneath the cloth. Kanao smiles gently at the creature, raising a hand to which the serpent harmlessly flicks its tongue at her skin.
"I think he's still here." She continues, "He gave me the Snake Hashira's companion Kaburamaru." Kanao proceeds to calmly allow the snake to investigate its surroundings. "It is very intelligent."
"Whoa!! Kaburamaru!" Tanjiro beams at the white creature. He hadn't seen it since that bloody day all those months ago. Brief memories of Iguro flash in his mind. Although the sight of the serpent brings him too much joy to think of them much, it pulls his elation down a note. "I see...well, that's good!"
Said snake slithers towards him, tasting the air with a gentle hiss as it investigates the male. If snakes could smile, Tanjiro was sure Kaburamaru currently would be. Kanao watches the scene with a pleased expression, using her hand to support the serpent as it continues to greet Tanjiro. The male shifts his focus with his good eye onto Kanao. The blossoms contrast prettily against her dark hair, whilst complimenting wide, purple eyes with their pink hues.
Tanjiro finds his breath pauses slightly at the sight, causing his red eyes to soften.
"You've always had such a gentle touch with animals." He says lightly. Kanao shifts her gaze away from the serpent to meet his own, a note of surprise in her usually calm demeanor.
“Like back during the final selection.” Tanjiro continues, “When the five of us remained, you seemed to have drawn a lot of the butterflies away from the wisteria. Then when we each received our birds, yours let you touch its head almost immediately.” He can't help but let out a slight chuckle. “Unlike Matsuemon, who wanted me to know which of us was in charge. “
Kanao’s eyes widen, the sound of Tanjiro’s laugh as clear as a wind chime against the breeze. She feels her heart skip momentarily. Kaburamaru slithers back to settle around her shoulder as if to offer some form of strange emotional support.
“I was...simply following my orders back then. We were each given a bird to complete our missions. I did not think of it beyond that.” Kanao admits slowly, unsure how to respond with the rapidly increasing rate of her heartbeat.
“It wasn’t just that time though. When I first saw you in the garden after Mount Natagumo, you were surrounded by butterflies again.” Tanjiro tilts his head to the side slightly, a small smile spreading on his lips at the memory.
“Oh, that happened quite frequently to those of us that live here.” Kanao finds herself unconsciously returning the smile, though it falters slightly as her next words leave her mouth. “Kocho...Nēsan said it was due to the flowers planted here.”
There’s a beat of silence upon the mention of the fallen Hashira.
“That makes sense.” Tanjiro is the first to break the quiet. “Kocho always did smell faintly like wisteria.”
“Yes.”
Both of them find themselves looking at the tree once more.
“You know...I think Kocho is probably watching us now. I think they all are.” Tanjiro suddenly says. Kanao does not turn to face him, instead, she finds herself scanning the length of the tree with her limited vision.
“I think so too.”
“I’m sure they know that we succeeded too. You were kind enough to tell them here, after all.”
“Tanjiro…”
“Thank you, Kanao.”
At this, Kanao looks at him again. She had not been expecting those words. Tanjiro still stares up at the sakura tree with a small smile.
“For...what,” she asks slowly.
“For helping turn me back into a human again.”
Kanao opens her mouth slightly to reply but stops upon seeing that the smile on Tanjiro’s face is uncharacteristically strained. It's not a look she thinks she’s ever seen on him before.
It causes her heart to sink slightly.
“It was thanks to you and all the others...Nezuko, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Giyu...” Tanjiro continues to not face her, trailing off halfway through his words “...without the help of everyone in the Corps, I might not have come back. I might have...hurt you all more.”
“Tanjiro.”
He continues, unwilling to meet her gaze. His hands, Kanao noticed, which she remembered as being so strong, shook slightly.
“You even used your 7th form to help me. Despite the fact I hurt Inosuke and Giyu. Despite the fact...I made Nezuko cry. Then I hurt you too. I’m..I’m sorry, Kanao. I-”
She takes his hand in her own.
“Tanjiro...it’s okay.”
Tanjiro turns around at the contact, his eyes falling to his hand, which he now found clasp between two smaller ones. Kanao had stepped towards him and was now looking at him with an intensity that had Tanjiro by surprise. The usually gentle girl had come so far in opening up to others, though Tanjiro was pretty sure he had never seen her quite as open as she was now.
“What happened...was not your fault.” Kanao continues to keep his hand grasped in her own, every fiber of her being determined to stop it from shaking. “What we all did - we chose to do.”
“But...I still hurt you all.” Tanjiro replies quietly.
Kanao shakes her head. “No, it was him. Muzen hurt us...and you. I’m sure...Nēsan would agree. So please...do not say you are sorry. Do not say thank you when it makes you so sad.”
A scent that’s light and gentle, yet strong and steady. Purple eyes look intently into his red.
A small smile.
Calloused hands move to hold the ones around them.
“You’re right.” Tanjiro finally responds.
Kanao suddenly blinks, as though only now realising just how close the two of them are standing. Her eyes flash down to their joint hands and back up again. Pink floods her cheeks as she can’t help but be reminded of that time so long ago, when a certain boy had grabbed her hands and had told her to open up her heart.
And now here they stood, her heart having never been more open than to that same boy.
“It’s okay.” She manages to speak again. “It’s okay...if it takes time.” A small, understanding smile accompanies those words.
Tanjiro finds himself mirroring the facial expression. It feels like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He had been trying his best to shake it off - to bury it away - when Nezuko scolded him. To let the experience wear him down no more than any other trial he had faced. Seeing the faces of his friends should bring him joy at their shared victory, which he had joined in on celebrating, though at the corners of his mind he would recall hazy recollections of those same friends crying out to him.
It’s okay...if it takes time.
Maybe this time, he may not be able to bounce back at his usual speed...though Tanjiro would get there. To ensure those friends keep smiling, to ensure that the sacrifices were not in vain - he would defeat whatever shadows might remain. Even if it was not straight away...he would get there.
“Thank you, Kanao.” This time, he’s facing her wholly. Kanao simply nods, stunned into silence. His smile could only be comparable to sunlight. She is unwilling to move, though the heat from his hands suddenly seems to burn into her skin. Her cheeks flush to such a shade that they nearly match the blossoms around them.
“You...might want to hurry. You might miss Shinazugawa.” She finally manages, almost certain now that her hands will turn to ash if he continues to hold them.
Tanjiro blinks once, then lets out a small yell. He had almost forgotten about the visiting Wind Hashira! He jumps back, their hands now separated as he quickly gathers himself.
“Ah, I hope he’s still around! Um, I’m sorry Kanao but-” he blurts out, though Kanao holds up a hand to stop him.
“Go Tanjiro, you do not want to miss him.” She says, smiling widely as the usual Tanjiro returns. The boy nods in gratitude then before turning quickly on his heel and runs off towards the mansion. Before he disappears around the corner, Tanjiro halts mid-step, turning around suddenly.
“Let’s have dinner tonight with everyone! I’ll make sure to save you half of my tempura as thanks!”
Kanao stares at him with wide eyes. Though he is hazy in her vision, she can imagine him waving his arm frantically as he goes. Before she can call back to explain that she has no need for any extra tempura... the burgundy haired boy has already taken off. Kanao pauses for a while, her eyes locked in the direction where Tanjiro had been standing before. Her hand still blazes as she brings it to her chest.
Something gently flicks against the skin on her hand. A small movement from her shoulder indicates its Kaburamaru. Instinctively she raises her hand and allows the snake to move onto it. The white serpent provides a welcome distraction from the thumping of her heart and flush in her face. Turning her head towards the tree once more, she smiles.
“Tanjiro...I should be thanking you.”