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“Cra! Demon Slayer Kamado Tanjirou! Your assistance is requested! Cra!” called the crow, “Please follow me.”
Tanjirou blinked.
He had just finished a solo mission and was planning to ask a Wisteria Crest House permision to rest.
“Um, okay.” he agreed.
“Cra! This way!”
“Excuse me?” Tanjirou asked, as he took off after the crow.
“Yes? Cra!”
“What's your name? And who is asking for my assistance?”
The crow landed on his shoulder.
“Keep going straight.” it said, “And I am Niji.”
“Nice to meet you, Niji. But who sent you?” Tanjirou grinned at his feathered companion.
Niji flew ahead, denying to answer Tanjirou's question.
Tanjirou sighed and followed the crow down the path and towards a small wooded area.
First came the scent of food; rice and fish being the more prominent. Then the sweets and honey. Then came the scent of medicine and wisteria, of thunder and beasts, of gunpowder. Then, other scents of metal, snakes, ohagi, mixed together with earth and cleaned sheets. And flowers; lots and lots of flowers.
Niji flew off and sat on a branch, looking at Tanjirou with familiar amusement.
“I know your Slayer, don't I?”
“Indeed, Demon Slayer Kamado Tanjirou. You know her.” it replied, amused, “Are you going to guess?” it inquired.
Tanjirou blinked up at the crow.
“Somehow, you remind me of Shinobu-san.” he said, walking closer to the scents.
“Do I?” Niji laughed and flew off.
“Yes. Very much so.” he smiled, watching it fly away. He resumed walking, “Hello?” he called.
There was some rustling and some giggling, but everything was otherwise quiet.
The scent of excitement was overwhelming.
Tanjirou smiled, managing to contain his own laughter.
Once he was standing in the middle of the small forest, everyone present dropped out of the trees and up from the bushes.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TANJIROU-SAN!”
Tanjirou laughted.
“Thank you so much, everyone.” he bowed.
Kiyo, Sumi and Naho from the Butterfly Estate and Kotetsu-kun from the Swordsmiths' Village ran and crashed into him, all five of them falling to the ground, laughing.
There were Zenitsu and Inosuke, Murata-san, Genya, Kanao and Aoi. Haganezuka-san and Kanamori-san. Urokodaki-san. The Pilars were also there. Even some Kakushi had joined.
Tanjirou looked around, getting wishes from all his friends, as they all sat down to eat and enjoy this improptu birthday party.
Nezuko's box rattled, her way of wishing her brother a 'happy birthday'.
But he couldn't find Shinobu-san anywhere, even though he was sure he had caught her scent among his friends'.
“Looking for something, Tanjirou-kun?” a voice whispered playfully in his ear.
Tanjirou startled, drawing back slightly and turning to face Shinobu-san, who had once more sneaked up to him. He beamed.
“Not anymore.” he said, “Thank you, Shinobu-san.” he smiled softly at the Insect Pillar, “This was the best birthday present in a couple of years.”
“You turn sixteen only once, after all.” she replied airily, sitting down beside him, “I had to get your present.”
“You didn't have to. This was more than enough.” he said, looking on around them at his friends gathered all together.
“It's nothing big, but I thought you'd like it.” she said, handing him a small wrapped item.
Carefully, Tanjirou unwrapped his present and picked the small pin, holding it in the light.
“Ah…!” he breathed out.
It was a small green-and-blue butterfly pin with red accents, patterned similarly to Shinobu-san's hair pin.
“You spend enough time in the Estate, that you feel like one of its residents.” Shinobu-san explained.
Tanjirou pinned it on his uniform, over his hear. He then pressed his hand against it, eyes closed, bending over, bowing to Shinobu-san, tears falling.
“Thank you so much.” he said.
Shinobu smiled softly, running her fingers through his hair, before raising his face.
“You don't have to thank me so much, Tanjirou-kun.”
“Shinobu-san is doing so much for me, I can't not thank you.”
Shinobu sighed, but smiled back.
Once the sun had started to set, they started getting ready to return to their homes.
They wished Tanjirou once more before leaving.
Tanjirou, Nezuko, Zenitsu and Inosuke were welcomed to stay the night in the Butterfly Estate and so the four of them followed Shinobu and the girls.
Tanjirou realised why the woods felt familiar when he saw the back of the Estate.
He smiled.
“Niji made me go in circles.” he chuckled.
“Niji?” Zenitsu asked.
“A very special crow messanger.” Tanjirou smiled at his friend, glancing towards Shinobu.
That night, he sat on the roof, looking at his pin with a soft smile, tracing its shape with his finger.
A featherlike touch on his shoulder made him look at his side, to find the Insect Pillar there.
“Niji is your crow, isn't it?” he smiled.
“Yes.”
“Thank you. For today, especially, but also for everything.”
“I've also added to your burdens.”
“It's a great honor being entrusted with your and your sister's dreams.” he said, seriously.
Shinobu blinked.
“Dreams?” she asked, “I am sure I entrusted you only one.”
“The great majority of the Demon Slayer holds a deep hatred for demons.” Tanjirou said softly, standing up and looking Shinobu-san in the eyes, “And so does Shinobu-san. Shinobu-san's wish is contradictory to her sister's dream. The one with the heavier burden is Shinobu-san. So! The least I can do is make sure Shinobu-san's burden lightens, in any way possible. I'll see Shinobu-san's sister's dream through, but I will also do all I can to sate Shinobu-san's anger.”
Shinobu stared at the younger Slayer, before reaching out to cup his face.
“Today is your birthday and here you are giving me more than what I can give you.”
“Shinobu-san thinks of me and Nezuko as family. She takes care of me when I'm hurt and lets me rest at her house after missions. Shinobu-san has given me the closest to a home since my family was taken from me. There's not much I can do for Shinobu-san.” he replied.
Shaking her head, Shinobu pulled him in her embrace.
“Thank you.” she said softly.
Tanjirou held her tightly.
“I…I want Shinobu-san to be happy.” he said quietly, “If my hands can do anything to help and support Shinobu-san, even a little, I will do it happily. If what little I can do makes Shinobu-san happy, then…”
“Then maybe I should let your nose do its job.” Shinobu chuckled, embarrassed.
“Eh?”
“You can smell my emotions, Tanjirou-kun.”
“A-Are you sure?”
“It's still your birthday. You can get away with it today.” she said playfully, letting him go and sitting down beside him.
Tanjirou closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
Medicine and wisteria, laced with anger, disappointment and sorrow. Thankfulness and respect. Playfulness and peace. Slight embarrassement. And exhilarating joy laced with something warmer and deeper.
His eyes opened wide.
He stared at Shinobu, who was looking at him with a knowing smile.
“Well?” she asked.
Tanjirou shook his head and then scrambled to reach her and pull her in his arms.
Shinobu nestled in his arms and sighed content.
“I…” Tanjirou started, blushing hard, “I think I need to get Shinobu-san a present soon.”
“And I told you there is no need, Tan–” she turned to look at him, only for her words to be cut off by Tanjirou's quick kiss.
He looked away as quickly as he pressed his lips to hers, his cheeks so red they almost glowed.
Shinobu was staring still.
Tanjirou glanced worried by her silence.
“Shinobu-san?”
Shinobu hid her face in his chest, chuckling quietly.
“I think you should get that present after all.” she mumbled.
Tanjirou, still blushing, smiled, holding Shinobu tighter.
He looked at her and when their eyes met, he smiled softly, before looking up to the night sky, feeling Shinobu do the same.
“Best birthday ever.” he sighed.