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Tanjirou was no stranger to sacrifice.
Anyone who knew him would attest to this fact. After all, as the eldest son of the Kamado family, and with five younger siblings, his parents relied on him for just about everything, but he was more than happy to step up to the task. And if people thought he overworked himself, well, it was more than worth it when he saw Rokuta’s grin on getting a new toy, or his mother got to take an evening off to relax.
Yes, he did have to quit the kendo club so that he could work overtime at the bakery to make ends meet, but after his father had passed away a few years ago, how could he do anything less?
Yes, he did have to sacrifice his sleep to six hours a night so that he could study and keep his grades up while also having some time to play with his siblings every now and then, but with their excited cheers whenever he joined in, how could he refuse?
Yes, he started making everyone’s lunches in the morning so that his mother didn’t have to get up quite so early, but it wasn’t a big deal when he was already awake to knead the dough and bake the goods to be sold that day, and yes it reduced his sleep down to five hours a night (which was more than enough really, but he may have to cut it down further soon), but seeing his mother’s grateful face, why would he ever stop?
… yes, he gave up on his hopes of going to university and studying, but really, this would just allow his siblings to follow their dreams, and who was he to begrudge them that?
What others called a sacrifice, for his friends and family, Tanjirou would do in a heartbeat and with a smile on his face.
How could he not?
But things had really come to a head when, shortly after his father’s death, a strange man had come to their bakery. Dressed in a crisp white suit with a hat, and his skin almost a matching colour as he was so pale, Tanjirou had immediately gotten a negative impression. The man’s smell was just … wrong. He couldn’t even describe it.
The strange atmosphere that the man gave off had even freaked out all of his siblings as well, but the redhead had quickly ushered them upstairs, where they lived, before continuing to man the counter. After all, he was still a customer, or so he thought.
He hadn’t expected his mother to hear the strange man out, let alone argue with him for long hours in the back room. However, when the door opened, letting the smell of fear and regret out with it, Kie’s face was ashen, her usual beauty dulled to the point where her pallor was as white as that of the man.
He had never seen her look like that, and in that moment, fifteen year old Tanjirou was more scared than he had been since visiting his father in the hospital.
The pair had approached him, his mother with obvious reluctance, and she looked down at the ground as she spoke to him. His tried catching her gaze but couldn’t, and listened to her with his breath in his throat.
“Tanjirou dear, I’m sorry, but pay attention to and do what this man says. He- I’ll explain later.” Her voice choked off for a second, but Kie managed to choke the last sentence out.
The smile that the man then gave him was one of the single most vile things that the redhead had seen, his teeth glistening as his tongue flicked out and rubbed one of his pointed canines, giving the appearance of fangs. This, combined with him leaning over the counter and demonstrating his far superior height to Tanjirou, made him feel like some sort of prey.
“Well hello there sweetie.” His tone dripped with fake kindness, the accompanying cloying scent making Tanjirou want to gag. “My name is Muzan Kibutsuji, and we will be getting to know each other quite well.”
Wide eyed, he looked towards his mother, only to be given a small nod. Trusting her judgement, Tanjirou looked back to Kibutsuji and bowed as far as the counter would allow.
“It is nice to meet you Kibutsuji-san! My name is Tanjirou.”
Kibutsuji just tutted, his scent turning sour with disappointment and annoyance. Tanjirou almost looked up to see the issue, but he restrained himself, being able to see only the shop counter..
“It’s Kibutsuji-sama to you, and don’t forget it.” Funny, how words could feel sharper than a knife.
Now straightening himself back up, the redhead swallowed nervously and nodded.
“Sorry Kibutsuji-sama, I’ll do better next time.”
-----
That was the start of his strange relationship with Kibutsuji. At first, requests had seemed rather innocuous. He would show up at the bakery and ask Tanjirou to make him a specific pastry, or ask for something for free. Nothing too weird, but draining for their business.
Yet, when he asked his mother about it, she only said that he was a very rich man, and that his father had owed him a lot of money. Therefore, they had to do what he said, or he would run the bakery into the ground. Tanjirou had clenched his fists hard upon the first time he had learnt this information, he remembered, the crescent moon indents in his palms had stayed there for a week. It was one of the first times he had truly felt anger, and it scared him.
Because of this knowledge, Tanjirou made sure that his siblings were far away whenever Kibutsuji visited, despite him staying cordial. If Tanjirou couldn’t smell the insincere intentions from a mile away, he might have relaxed over time, but thanks to his nose that would never be possible.
Eventually he was proven right, if over a slow period of time. It had changed slowly, with visits to buy pastries evolving into just wanting to speak to Tanjirou, sometimes for hours at a time. On those days, he ended up not sleeping just to keep on top of everything else, and while his mother tried to lighten his load when Kibutsuji visited, it didn’t help much (not that he would tell her that).
Inosuke and Kanao, his friends at school, noticed of course, but while he couldn’t lie, he found methods around their questions. It was rather easy actually, as Inosuke would just tell him to eat more, and Kanao didn’t say much of anything. Sometimes Nezuko joined them for lunch, as she was just in the year below them, but she knew enough by now not to say anything. It embarrassed him, to have to rely on other people when he should have been the strong one, but he was also grateful for her backing him up when the other two got more worried than usual.
There was really no reason to be concerned, after all. He had it covered.
On the night of his 16th birthday, Kibutsuji took him out for the first time, to a club that he owned (his presence in which was illegal, not that he could do much about it). He had missed the cake that his mother had so lovingly baked, and gave Inosuke the remaining slice the next day out of sheer guilt.
Soon, the club outings became common, interspersed with expensive restaurants and once, an extravagant cruise day long. All the while, Kibutsuji would just ask questions about his life, his opinions on topics, what he wanted when he was older. It was bewildering, but he could tell by the other man’s sound that he wasn’t planning on taking advantage of the redhead like that – which was reassuring, at the least.
Still, Kibutsuji seemed to be probing, searching for something, and for what, he didn’t know. But he hoped that he wouldn’t find it.
-----
It was now his second last year in high school, and the time simply felt like it was flying by far too quickly. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Kanao and Nezuko liked each other, his little sister coming and spending more and more time with their little group, and it obviously wasn’t for him or Inosuke.
Not that he minded, in fact he was actually happy for them, as he couldn’t think of a better match for either of them, and his best friend and sister getting together was almost too perfect. Ironically, both he and Kanao had figured out that they weren’t straight at nearly the same time, late last year, and had come out to each other one evening as they were out stargazing for the hell of it.
Tanjirou was gay, Nezuko and Kanao were bi, and Kanao was also demisexual, although most of the school didn’t know it yet. Well, to be exact, only Inosuke knew, and that had been nerve wracking enough. Not that there was any reason to be, as he had just said that was cool and little else, looking worryingly thoughtful for the rest of lunch.
Then the next day the raven-haired boy had come in and declared himself pansexual “but not in the pan-fucking kind”, which made even Kanao giggle a little, breaking her more dreamy demeanour. Tanjirou would have been shocked at the announcement, if only Inosuke hadn’t been texting him asking for clarification on definitions all evening.
Funny, how the gays all found each other without even knowing it.
After that, Kanao and Nezuko started dating a little, both wanting to take it slow since they were still in high school, but Tanjirou could smell the affection that they held for each other as clear as day.
He was happy for them, he really was, but some part of him just craved getting that same bond that they had for himself. And no, Inosuke was not happening.
Still, time continued to march on, and eventually athletics day rolled around once again. It was their first one of the year, and the redhead wasn’t really looking forward to being asked to compete in half of the events like usual, as it was just so draining, but he would never turn down the requests (he’d feel bad, okay?). So he hauled himself to school, greeting the gang tiredly at the stands next to the running track and waited for the main races to be over, after which the other events would start.
What he was not expecting was to watch a boy with hair the colour of the sun to win every event, his legs carrying him so quickly that he reminded Tanjirou of a streak of lightning from his vantage point.
“Kanao, who is that?” enquired the redhead, eyes not being able to leave the blonde mystery boy celebrating another win with a girl (girlfriend?) with black twin-tails.
“Mmmm? Who?” Lilac eyes followed Tanjirou’s gaze, and once they picked up on who he meant, sharpened with recognition. “Oh, that’s Zenitsu. He sits with me in English class.”
“Zenitsu …” the redhead rolled the name around his mouth, liking the way it sounded. Then again, he probably would have liked any name that the blonde had, but still. It was a nice name.
Inosuke just watched from beside him, before scoffing and elbowing Nezuko gently (read: not gently at all). “Your brother got a crush, Bezuko.”
Had Tanjirou been paying any attention to their conversation and not watching Zenitsu, he would have denied this stringently, and been caught in the lie in the process, but alas, he did not, and floated around in his thoughts about the blonde for the next week.
-----
Tonight, Kibutsuji brought Tanjirou to his mansion, where they dined (ate seemed too poor a word for the massive affair that it was) on a seven-course meal that left the redhead absolutely stuffed. He felt bad eating so much when his family struggled to make ends meet sometimes, but he knew from prior experience that the man would get angry if he didn’t finish his food, and there was never any opportunity to ask for leftovers.
But past that, just how rich was Kibutsuji? He even had servants to unfold your napkin like they do in the movies, something that Tanjirou had assumed was made up until this point. And the size of the house itself, you could fit at least 100 Kamado bakeries in the building alone, let alone the massive gardens around it! And that wasn’t even mentioning the opulence of the interior decorations.
So engrossed in his thoughts, Tanjirou was caught off guard by Kibutsuji’s question.
“So, have you started dating anyone yet?”
The redhead choked on his water.
“Uh- no Kibutsuji-sama, I haven’t.”
The man smiled at the honorific, his greased hair shining in the light, before tutting a little.
“But surely a snack like you must have someone that you’re after, right?”
Tanjirou only just held back his disgusted expression at Kibutsuji’s description of him, but the words had done their job and he inadvertently thought about Zenitsu, the blonde’s cheering form flashing through his mind.
“Ah, so there is someone, isn’t there.” There was that predatory smile again. “Good, tell me about her.”
The redhead hesitated for a second, debating on what to do, but the fear of Kibutsuji’s power won over. Who knew what would happen if he lied and the other man found out.
“Well … it’s a he.”
Never before had Tanjirou seen the other man look surprised, if only a split second before his usual, cold expression was back up again.
“Oh, I see. Well then … tell me about him.”
And so he did, not that there was much to tell. But Kibutsuji seemed rapt in attention, his gaze never wavering as Tanjirou divulged what small tidbits he had found out in the week and a half since he had first laid eyes on the blonde (who was surprisingly elusive, not that he would have had the courage to say something to him anyways).
But even with the lack of information, Tanjirou kept finding more and more to say. He had never really had a crush before, to be honest, but this one seemed to have hit like a train. The redhead could write novels about Zenitsu’s wonderfully blonde hair, his fantastic scent (that he unfortunately had only gotten small whiffs of from afar), the cute way how he scrunched his face when he was concentrating on something, how kind he was (Tanjirou may or may not have seen him protect a younger girl from some bullies in the yard from a distance, and he had rushed over to help but didn’t make it there before Tomioka-sensei, and then proceeded to get shy and couldn’t talk to the other boy). The point being, he could go on for hours, it was almost concerning for how little he knew the boy, and Kibutsuji’s strangely gleeful expression made him trail off eventually, unsure of why he was saying all of this anyways.
“My my, well he sounds absolutely delightful. It almost makes what I called you here for all the more sad.”
“What you called me here for?” asked Tanjirou, his tone highlighting his confusion. And what was going to be sad?
“Come on, let me walk you to the door first.”
Usually following the older man with reluctance, the exception was when he was being allowed to leave, and Tanjirou sprang out of his chair to follow him, the servants immediately busying themselves behind him.
As they walked, Kibutsuji spoke. “You see, I need you and Kanao, that friend of yours? Yes, the two of you are to be married. Not immediately of course, but you will start dating by the end of the week.”
Tanjirou felt his stomach drop faster than gravity should have allowed. What?!?
“But-“
“But what?”
A click of the heels as they stopped by the front door, and Kibutsuji raised single arched, immaculate brow, the tone daring him to continue with his objection. The sudden switch from the earlier warmth, albeit fake, to this, was jarring even to Tanjirou, who was used to the older man’s mood switches.
Tanjirou swallowed, the tension in his throat feeling like he was being strangled, before looking back down at his feet in submission.
“Nothing, Kibutsuji-sama.”
That smile.
“Good, my pet. Although, you must surely be wondering why I ask this of you?”
Tanjirou nodded hesitantly, his gaze still directed away from the man’s face. Kibutsuji didn’t like it when the redhead looked at him without permission.
“You see, I want an heir, but the doctors say that I can’t have my own children. So, well, you’ll do it for me, understand? I want a strong, healthy son, so choosing the best parents possible was necessary.”
His stomach did a flip at the thought of having a child with Kanao, of sleeping with her. But what was he going to say? He couldn’t exactly refuse, and so, mouth dry with anxiety, he agreed.
“I understand, Kibutsuji-sama.”
“Excellent. Now remember, I’ll be watching. Behave yourself.”
Tanjirou was promptly ushered out, his night feeling like it had been turned upside down in just an hour.
-----
Breaking the news to Kanao wasn’t easy, but they only had four days. She had understood, the redhead having told her all about his situation previously, and Nezuko obviously knew why it had to happen, but that didn’t mean that it hurt any less. They consoled themselves with the knowledge that they would still be able to see each other in secret, at the least.
Inosuke had snorted when they had told him they were dating, but, quickly realising they were serious, began firing a million questions at once at them, and so they reluctantly told him about Kibutsuji. He had sat there, sullen, before declaring that he would hunt this man down and fight him. Convincing him not to had been difficult, but Tanjirou had no doubts that Kibutsuji could easily use his powers to put Inosuke behind bars.
What had been the worst, though, was walking into school hand in hand the following Monday with Kanao and hearing the whispers spread like a wildfire around them, about how ‘it took them long enough’ and ‘I knew they were fucking’. It made Tanjirou sick, the queasy feeling he got whenever he lied magnified a thousand times over, until he felt it roiling in his stomach and threatening to burst out. But he contained it, he had to. If there was ever a lie that he needed to sell, it was this.
His family was depending on it.
-----
Their one-year anniversary came the month before Kanao’s planned Halloween party, and Tanjirou was officially sick of it.
Sick of watching his actual crush from afar, sick of watching Nezuko and Kanao dance around each other because they couldn’t be seen doing more, sick of Kibutsuji’s games. Sick of everyone asking him about his girlfriend and how things were going, if you catch their drift (he did, and he was not amused). Still, he put on the front of being happy, because that’s what everyone thought of him. What everyone expected.
Nights with Kibutsuji had gone from bad to worse, with the nice act almost completely dropped. The older man would sarcastically ask how Zenitsu was doing, before stopping him and going ‘oh wait, never mind’ smugly. Things like that. One time he even told Tanjirou to sleep with Kanao or else, and the redhead had almost punched him before Kibutsuji had burst out laughing and claimed that it was ‘just a joke’.
It was little wonder that Tanjirou finally decided to take the risk and break Kibutsuji’s rules. In secret of course! He didn’t want anything blowing back on his family, but he- He just couldn’t take it anymore.
So he asked Inosuke for flirting advice (a terrible idea but who else would he ask anyways?), and, armed with some ridiculous pick up lines, went to Kanao’s party hoping that he would find his blonde knight in shining armour (sue him, he’s a romantic at heart) and that Zenitsu might even reciprocate his feelings.
And he definitely would be there, seeing as the redhead had specifically asked Kanao to invite him, and she had given him a knowing look and a smile in return. He had asked her the second his mother had basically forced him to go to the party, telling him that all of his siblings had events and houses that they were staying at and she wouldn’t mind a night to herself.
Tanjirou honestly didn’t know if he finally agreed because of the guilt he smelt as she asked him to enjoy his youth, or the thought of Zenitsu being there, but regardless, the time for worrying was behind him, because now it was time for the party.
Everything was set.
-----
Last night had been like a dream (if partially alcoholic induced). Not only had Inosuke’s lines worked (!!), but Zenitsu had kissed him!
They must’ve been moving too fast for the blonde with how everything ended, but it was certainly a start!
Tanjirou did make a point watch out for that terrible excuse for an older brother as he ran to the store to buy supplies and started cooking. Luckily, the ratbag didn’t show up, and the redhead couldn’t smell anything particularly disturbing in the house (rather, it smelt pleasantly of peaches and ozone, a combination that he hadn’t thought he would like but boy did he), so he relaxed somewhat.
Humming as he bustled around, Tanjirou worked with the efficiency of someone who was well versed in the kitchen. After all, a family of 7 didn’t feed itself! He was planning on making a breakfast to blow the blonde away, western style, and hopefully the meal would give him the chance to explain himself in full.
A chance, that was all he needed.
It was probably slightly weird of him to have been basically watching the other boy for the last year, but how could he help it? Zenitsu- he represented everything good in this world, everything that he wanted outside of Kibutsuji’s control. If only he could get all of that across, then it would all work out right?
He was just cracking an egg into the pan when the smell of peaches intensified, albeit slightly sour, like it was spoiling or something. Straightening up, Tanjirou turned around only to be treated with the sight of Zenitsu adorably rubbing the sleep out of his left eye, and he almost stared before remembering himself.
“You’re awake Zenitsu!”
The smell of peaches soured further, and Tanjirou couldn’t help but frown in response. Was that because of him? Did he do something wrong? Did- did the blonde regret what happened last night? He had to know, because how else would he make Zenitsu’s mood better again?
“Do you uh- remember last night?”
A variety of smells in the air, none of them positive. Eventually though, Zenitsu replied.
“Not really, I barely remember getting home. You didn’t have to make breakfast though.”
Wait.
Why … why was he lying about remembering? Was- was he that repulsive? Sure, he wasn’t the biggest looker, but surely he was good enough? Zenitsu had seemed to agree last night but … but apparently he wasn’t, in the end.
Then the blonde basically told him to leave, his excuses equally lies, but Tanjirou could barely even hear let alone process what the other boy was saying, the blood roaring in his ears.
Why was this happening?
His brain scrambled to think of something, anything, and the acrid stench of disgust made him realise what must have happened once he was shoved out of the door.
Kanao and Zenitsu were friends, right? Did he think that he cheated? That had to be it, right? Then- this was all a misunderstanding, surely?!
He made one last ditch effort to tell the blonde, to explain to him, that the only one he had ever actually liked was Zenitsu, that it was all fake. But it would only come out as a whisper.
“I’m not a cheater.”
His reward was a door slamming in his face, and the stinging of tears gathering in his eyes.
-----
Zenitsu made a point of avoiding him after that. At first Tanjirou had tried to talk to him, spell out what was happening, but it was difficult at school where anyone could listen, and the blonde wouldn’t give him the chance anyways. The bathroom was the only possible private location, but the one time Tanjirou had tried that, he had caused Zenitsu to literally burst into tears in front of him, and the redhead had shamefully ran away afterwards.
After that event, Aoi had cornered him in their shared English class and seemed almost ready to murder him, but he begged for her help.
“Please, I just need him to listen to what I have to say?”
While his gaze had lost it’s cheerful spark shortly after Kibutsuji entered his life, the redhead still didn’t usually cry, but the wetness he had felt on his cheeks became a far more regular sensation after that.
“You scum” Aoi had hissed, smelling of barely disguised hatred. “You know, Zenitsu has worked so hard to get over his last girlfriend, the one who- Ugh, you know what, I’m not getting into this.”
Tanjirou prostrating himself on the floor in front of her broke through the anger though, the (relatively) sweeter scent of shock entering the air.
“Please, you have to understand, I never, ever meant to hurt him. But please, tell me what happened, so I know what to do?”
Aoi had just stomped her foot in frustration. “If you have to know, his last girlfriend cheated on him. It was bad. So since you’re also cheating scum, he doesn’t want anything to do with you, even if you apparently ‘sound so sad it’s like you might die’. Really, it’s impressive how badly you’ve made both of us dislike you. I hope Kanao sees reason and dumps you one of these days.”
Tanjirou stayed on the floor even as she walked out, mind processing this information. He just didn’t see how things could ever really work out.
-----
He just didn’t know what to do.
Kanao had offered to help, with even her usual distracted nature affected by what was going on around her, but by that point the redhead was sure that the other boy hated him, and he had dejectedly refused. He just wasn’t worth the blonde’s time, by now he had learnt that, and the last thing that he wanted was to hurt Zenitsu further.
She had frowned a little, something that he remembered as her face usually stayed relatively expressionless, but acquiesced. He didn’t know whether to be glad or cry at his powerlessness.
Usually Tanjirou was stubborn to a fault, it’s not a secret, and he would have pursued the blonde until he knew what had happened, but the threat of Kibutsuji finding out, along with Zenitsu’s previous experiences with cheaters made him hold his tongue.
At this point, what was one more sacrifice, if those around him could stay happy?
And so he tried to block out everything for the rest of the school year and focused on his studies, as even if he wouldn’t be heading to university, his grades still mattered.
Spoiler: it didn’t work.
Instead of focusing on his exam dates, instead he counted down the days until their final school day, but not out of joy like most people. Instead, the number ticking down was like an ominous deadline of you will never see him again after this day, and once it got to the last week, his already frazzled state basically snapped.
It was almost unfair, watching Zenitsu from so close and yet so far away at the same time. Being able to see his expression of pure satisfaction as he ate his favourite dessert while chatting away with Aoi, as they had now basically joined their group. But also, seeing that same expression twist and darken when he remembered that Tanjirou was there.
It was almost enough to make him leave, just so that his presence wouldn’t pain the other boy, if only it wasn’t their last day. He wanted to- no, he needed to talk to him finally, to set things right. Even with all that he now knew, he just, he couldn’t live like this. So when the bell rang for them to head to class, Tanjirou grabbed Zenitsu’s arm.
“Wait, please!”
But the glare that the blonde sent him was so cold, so dead to the world that Tanjirou let go out of pure instinct. He had never seen the sunshine incarnate that was Zenitsu look like that, and by the time the shock faded and his senses returned, Zenitsu was long gone.
-----
They were to be married.
Kibutsuji broke the news gleefully, almost literally dancing in front of the redhead, who by this point only felt numb.
Well, he felt bad for Kanao of course, but at least she could continue to see Nezuko in secret.
He- he had nothing. Only his fear for his family’s wellbeing was keeping him going at this point.
His mother was shocked, but her mouth formed that familiar determined line as if she had a plan. He didn’t bother to ask at this point. What could any of them hope to do?
Alone, he was just …
He couldn’t summon the energy to do anything but march along according to Kibutsuji’s strings.
Wedding preparations went rapidly, Kibutsuji supplying the money for anything they could want at express delivery and on last-minute notice. His main condition is that it was a surprise to the guests, and so they told everyone that Kanao was just having another Halloween party. The other was more strange, in that he wanted it to be a Christian wedding, rather than a traditional one, but Tanjirou didn’t really mind.
Honestly, what did it matter in the end?
Zenitsu didn’t care, anyways.
Tanjirou told himself that he was dead to the world, that there was no point feeling emotions anymore. They just ended up with him getting hurt, didn’t they? So why feel, when he could just float along on this ocean of apathy that he found himself stranded in.
This charade of his somehow worked right up until the night before the wedding, when he was alone in his room and supposedly asleep. It all suddenly seemed too close, too real, too unbelievable.
He was getting married tomorrow, to Kanao, someone who sure, he loved but as a best friend, but romantically? Definitely not.
Hands shaking, the redhead desperately struggled to pull his phone out of his jeans and dialled the one voice that he wanted to hear right now.
Kanao had given him the number only last night, and told him to ‘explain while he still had the chance’. Tanjirou had just stared at the numbers blankly. He couldn’t call, not after everything.
Well, that thought was out of the window now, as he held the phone to his ear and prayed to anyone that would listen.
It rang once, twice, and for a second Tanjirou felt the dread coil tighter at the base of his stomach before the call went through.
“Zenitsu- please, please don’t hang up.”
He knew that this was a slim chance, but Tanjirou could only hope that his desperation might make Zenitsu realise-
The long beep signalled that the other boy had hung up, and Tanjirou fell into despair.
He called him again, and again, and again, and again, each time timing out to ‘this number cannot be reached right now, please try again later’.
With each attempt, Tanjirou could feel the tears gathering like a knot in the back of his throat, and while the rational part of him knew that he should stop, that this was crazy, he just couldn’t.
Finally on the sixth call, he gave in, but not before leaving a voicemail in the hope that maybe Zenitsu would listen to that, if not have a conversation with him. He even typed out a message, well, more of an essay, but just couldn’t bring himself to hit the send button. The blonde had made it abundantly clear that he wanted nothing to do with him, so why bother him further?
He wasn’t worth even being on the other boy’s mind, let alone talking to him.
And so Tanjirou was left to stare at his phone in the dark, any faint whisper of sleep long gone, letting the seconds until his wedding tick by like a doomsday clock.
-----
Tanjirou arrived at the venue looking like death warmed over, but he supposed it was fitting at that point. Even without sleep, the wedding had arrived a million years too soon, and of course Kibutsuji was there to greet him joyfully at the door.
“Good afternoon my pet, so lovely to see you all excited for your big day!”
He didn’t- no, he couldn’t respond at that point, choosing instead to just nod mechanically. What did they say about the path of least resistance again?
His mother fluttered about him anxiously, but not even her well-meaning actions could do anything for him at this point, and she quickly (and oddly) excused herself.
He was going to marry Kanao.
And so he sat in a side room and let the attendants help him get ready, not deigning once to respond to anyone other than to nod politely. Vaguely he knew that this was so wrong, that his mother and friends would worry about him for acting like this, but right now? Let them worry.
He said that he didn’t mind sacrifice, but this-
It felt like his heart had been torn out and replaced with stuffing.
Only when Inosuke came into the room and whispered something to him did he stir.
“He’s coming? … here?”
The raven-haired boy just nodded, his demeanour uncharacteristically serious. Tanjirou could smell his concern, but didn’t have the willpower to address it.
Zenitsu was going to be at his wedding, his wedding to another person.
He felt sick.
Seconds later he was hunched over a toilet, Inosuke patting his back (read: not gently at all), the remnants of his breakfast being flushed away as he watched mutely.
Zenitsu was coming, and he was getting married to Kanao.
The attendants finished with him all too soon, but oddly enough his mother didn’t come to say anything or escort him up to the podium. In a normal situation, Tanjirou would have been heartbroken, but right now, he honestly didn’t care.
Standing up in front of the minister, the redhead looked over the sea of faces and strange costumes, eyes catching for a second on a smug bastard before moving on, searching for that familiar blonde mop and disgusted eyes, but he couldn’t see Zenitsu anywhere.
Disappointment and relief warred within him, the first feelings he had felt other than sadness in quite some time, but truly, he didn’t know what to think.
And then all of a sudden Kanao was walking up the aisle, and oh my fuck he was getting married.
She looked beautiful, that much was true, but he was very much of a different persuasion, and this was wrong wrong all so wrong.
He felt trapped in a daze, like he was viewing the events unfold through murky water. The priest was speaking?
“… speak now, or forever hold your peace.”
…
“I object.”
Ruby eyes widened in shock, and he cast about, looking for whoever dared to disobey Kibutsuji, only for his gaze to land squarely upon Kie Kamado.
She was trembling slightly, but squared her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly.
“This man, this- this filth, Muzan, has threatened me, my business, and my family since my husband passed away a few years ago. He is forcing Tanjirou and Kanao to marry. I- I couldn’t do anything then, but I will not let him control my family anymore.”
Kibutsuji rose to his feet, outrage clear in his expression.
“Think twice before speaking such lies, precious Kie, before I do something that we all might regret.”
But his mother was uncowed.
“Sanemi, now would be great, and thank you for everything.”
A strange and muscular man stood up next to his mother before moving towards Kibutsuji.
“No, thank you Ms. Kamado. Muzan Kibutsuji, by federal warrant you are under arrest for coercion, blackmail, money laundering, tax evasion and second-degree murder on four counts amongst other charges. Please come with me quietly, and no one needs to get hurt.”
Tanjirou couldn’t believe what he was hearing, not even as he watched the distinctive white suit of Kibutsuji’s (he was dressed as a demon noble or something) be shepherded out of the front door, or when the crowd started cheering, the sound deafening.
Only when he felt the weight of Kanao throwing herself at him for a hug, continuously whispering “it’s over now”, did he allow himself to feel, to believe, to hope.
And if they cried in each other’s arms up where everyone could see, well, it was justified to say the least.
-----
Later on, after the wedding turned into an impromptu celebration of freedom, Tanjirou caught sight of that yellow mop of hair, and he excused himself from Kanao, Inosuke and Nezuko to run after it.
“Go get him my minion!” whooped Inosuke, and Tanjirou flashed back a grin, feeling lighter than he had in years.
All that he needed now, was for Zenitsu to hear him out.
For once, the blonde met him halfway, and they stopped in front of each other, both awkwardly waiting for the other to start.
“I-”
“Plea-”
They both broke off laughing a little, even if awkwardly, before Tanjirou motioned for Zenitsu to go first. He wanted to hear what his sunshine had to say.
“A-are you sure?” After receiving an encouraging nod, the blonde continued. “I just- I wanted to say I’m sorry. I should have heard you out, and this all must have been so hard for you.” The smell of salt grew as golden eyes began to water.
Tanjirou reached a hand out in comfort before freezing, still not knowing where boundaries currently were.
“It’s not your fault Zenitsu, you couldn’t have known.”
But the older boy shook his head rather violently in response.
“I wish I could just go back and make it up to you somehow.”
… it was probably too soon, definitely too soon in fact, but he couldn’t help himself, not when his crush of two years was finally on the same page as him.
“Well, …” Tanjirou started, before he felt his face flush to the same colour as his hair. “Could we start with a hug?”
Zenitsu just paused for a second, almost enough to make the redhead panic, before smiling shyly, his vampire costume somehow not at odds with the expression.
“Yeah, I think I’d like that.”
Tanjirou held out his arms a little awkwardly and the blonde all but threw himself into them, and Tanjirou let out a little grunt as the wind was knocked out of him. It didn’t matter though, as it was all worth it when he felt the other boy’s arms wrap around him from below, and he could feel soft blonde hair against his chin as he nuzzled into the embrace.
And if his eyes were starting to water with how happy he was, well, luckily no one said anything.
-----
Only four short years later, years filled with so much more laughter and light than his high school years, Tanjirou and Zenitsu were watching the news in their shared apartment. It had taken time, with Kibutsuji’s massive finances to pay for top lawyers, but it turned out that he had wronged many many people, and their shared testimony finally got him convicted and sent to jail with several life sentences, and no hope of parole.
He was never going to mess with any of them ever again.
“Hey Zen?” whispered Tanjirou, a finger idly playing with choppy blonde locks as they cuddled up on the couch.
His boyfriend looked up at him from where his head was on Tanjirou’s chest, and the redhead’s breath was still taken away even now as their eyes met.
“What is it?”
“I love you.”
The blonde paused for a second, like he always did, shutting his eyes and letting the words soak into him as if he was a sponge. His scent went even sweeter, if that was possible, before that sinful blonde gaze was redirected at him.
“I love you too, Tanji.”
Yep, everything was definitely fantastic.