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Zenitsu has never been to the beach before.
He’s seen the ocean, of course. Honshu Island is a big island, but in the end, it’s still an island. He’s seen the endless lake, the white-capped waves that make their way along the surface of the water. He’s heard seagulls screeching and waves lapping on the sand. The crash of waves as they run into each other. The gentle scratching of sand underfoot.
But his old girlfriends always found it a chore. They didn't like the sand, didn't like the seagulls, didn't like the scent of saltwater in the air. My kimono, my complexion, my –
My, my, my. That's all they ever worried about. There was a lot they didn't like about the beach. (Not as much as they disliked him.)
“There's a beach nearby,” Ayame-chan says, squinting into the distance. “Should we go?”
They've slain another oni. Inosuke dealt the killing blow this time, although Zenitsu wishes he hadn't. He's pretty sure the boar's gloating can be heard all the way in Hokkaido. Yeesh.
Zenitsu tilts his head. In the distance, the waves lap against the shore. The gentlest of swishes, or like water running down a sink, if such a sound could be pleasant.
“Have you ever been?” he asks.
Ayame-chan shakes her head. Tanjirou does too. Inosuke just tilts his head to the side. Huh, Ayame-chan does that a lot, but on Inosuke, he just looks like a confused wild animal. Not cute at all.
“That's the place with the really big lake that's too big to swim in, right?” Inosuke says.
Zenitsu opens his mouth to correct him, then slowly shuts it. He's… right. Which isn't as rare as people think, but as usual, he pulls surprising insight from his ass.
“That's the ocean,” Ayame-chan corrects gently. “The beach is the part of the land that leads to the ocean. It has sand and stuff.”
Tanjirou sniffs the air. “Huh. There's a beach here, eh?” He pauses, glancing off to the side. “We could just… go?”
As one, the four of them look up at the sky. There aren't any black birds or a small, brown sparrow coming to tell them of their next assignment. Zenitsu hesitantly thinks that they might have a break for today. For the night, at the very least; the sun is starting to set, and the moon will be out soon.
And if the moon is out, that means Nezuko-chan will be out too!
Nezuko-chan has probably never been to the beach either. Not if Tanjirou hasn't. Zenitsu wants to show it to her, show her the soft sand underfoot and the expanse of the inky black ocean. He wants to see her eyes light up, like they did when he showed her Shinobu-san's goldfish. He hopes she thinks the ocean is pretty.
Actually, he hopes the beach is pretty. He still hasn't been, but he's excited to find out.
“Let's go!” he exclaims. Before we get called out on a mission.
Ayame and Tanjirou share a look – because of course they do. Zenitsu turns to share his own look with Inosuke, but the boar just huffs smoke out of his snout and plants his fists on his hips.
“Let's go,” Ayame-chan says in a milder tone and Tanjirou, naturally, agrees.
The beach is empty when they arrive – and why wouldn't it be? It's the middle of autumn, nearly winter, and it's almost dark. For once, Zenitsu doesn't mind the possible danger of being outside after dark. He's with his friends, the gentle lapping of waves laps against the shore and his ears, and the sun is a brilliant ball of fire slowly sinking past the horizon.
He knows the ocean is supposed to be blue, but it's bathed in shades of yellow and orange. It reminds him of autumn leaves, like the song Ayame sang all those months ago after Tsuzumi Mansion.
How did it go again?
There's a quietude in the air – even from Inosuke. For once, Zenitsu hopes the sun sets faster. Then Nezuko-chan can come out from her box and experience this with them. It won't be the same, seeing the same sight bathed in moonlight, but it's still something she deserves to see.
“Huh?” Inosuke shouts. “Where's the other shore?”
Zenitsu reflexively turns to Ayame-chan with an exasperated sigh on his lips. He's waiting for her explanation, but it doesn't come.
She's gazing out at the horizon, lips parted slightly. Maybe it's just the sun in her face, but her eyes are shimmering. They're swirling with an emotion Zenitsu can't see, but he can hear it loud and clear. It's like being quiet, but not in a wretched way. It's the quietness that comes from peace, from happiness. From awe.
Zenitsu can't help but smile. This is his first time at the beach. This is his friends' first time at the beach too. He's glad he has a chance to share this moment with them.
Tanjirou glances at Ayame-chan. Zenitsu doesn't know what the redhead sees – or smells – but it's enough to have his lips curving into a soft smile.
“It's too far away,” Tanjirou answers Inosuke. “It's the ocean.”
Inosuke lets out a sound of understanding. “I'm gonna swim to it! The far shore! How far can it be?”
“E-eh? Inosuke, don't do that – ”
Too late. Inosuke is already running towards the ocean. Tanjirou follows after him, letting out concerned yelps. He has to rush forward before Inosuke strips and dives in.
Zenitsu rocks on his heels. He should probably go with the two idiots, but he doesn't want to leave Ayame-chan alone. He understands how she feels; this is a special moment, one that was probably completely different from how she expected it to be. Even so, it's still precious, so he won't leave her alone.
She's his best friend.
She isn't like Tanjirou, who called him strong from the get-go. He had hears the way she'd doubted Tanjirou's words, but she hadn't ignored them. She had waited and watched, and somehow Zenitsu has measured up to whatever benchmark she has set for him.
Zenitsu wants to prove her right. Mostly because Ayame-chan is always right, but also because he doesn't want her to be wrong about him. She can be wrong about other things (although that's a rare occurrence in and of itself), but not this.
Now he knows he isn't weak. He isn't strong either, but it's more important for him to know he isn't weak. He's not as strong as his friends and that's fine; everyone has their strengths. He'll never be as adaptable as Tanjirou, or as flexible as Inosuke, or have the mental strength that Ayame-chan has. All he has is the first kata of Breath of Thunder and enough stubbornness to refuse to be left behind.
He doesn't want to die, but he doesn't want to be the one who leaves his friends behind even more. Tanjirou shouldn't walk with slumped shoulders, attempting to curl into himself and disappear. Ayame shouldn't cry, tears spilling down her cheeks and dripping off her chin. Inosuke shouldn't go all quiet and forlorn, yelling louder to make up for the silence.
And he doesn't want to make Jiichan sad.
Jiichan has buried enough students, mourned many more that didn't have enough to bury. Maybe even Aniki will feel sad. He can't have that.
Ayame eventually turns to look at him. Her blue eyes are crystal clear.
She sounds like herself, so he manages to speak a few words.
“We should probably go with them,” he says. “Inosuke really might try to head for a far shore, and Tanjirou would probably go with him.”
The corners of Ayame-chan's lips tilt upwards. “You're probably right. They're kind of hopeless without us, aren't they?”
Us. That sounds nice.
He agrees readily enough, because Ayame-chan is right. There's barely enough common sense between Inosuke and Tanjirou to fill a thimble. Sometimes he thinks Ayame-chan doesn't have much common sense either – she's always rushing into danger, right next to Tanjirou – but at least she's better than those two.
Tanjirou is at the water’s edge, arms locked around Inosuke’s as he tries to pull the flailing boar back. The soft sand underfoot doesn’t make it easier, but Tanjirou is stubborn – boulder-brained – so he manages to hang on.
Ayame holds back a sigh; Zenitsu hears the way she stops herself from exhaling. “Inosuke, I bet I can find prettier shells than you.”
“WHAT.” Inosuke stops struggling. “Dream on, Hakone! I’ll find all the prettiest shells!”
Ayame squints into the distance. “I think I see one over there – “
“I’ll get it first!”
Inosuke races off, cackling loudly. He looks like he’s having fun already, skipping along the waves as it laps at his feet. Zenitsu doesn’t think he’s ever seen him that excited before. Not unless food is involved.
It’s nice.
They end up shedding their haoris, despite the autumn chill nipping at their skin. They have enough layers thanks to the gakuran, and Total Concentration: Constant is enough to keep them warm. Ayame goes off to join Inosuke (to keep him out of trouble) while Zenitsu and Tanjirou dip their feet into the freezing water. Zenitsu doesn’t like it, but Tanjirou has happiness in his sound, so he’s just glad to share this moment with him. Ayame-chan is his best friend, but if she wasn’t around, then that spot would probably be taken by Tanjirou. And not just because he’s his future brother-in-law!
When Ayame-chan and Inosuke return, their hands are crusted with sand and their arms are laden with seashells. Inosuke does end up finding prettier shells, but Ayame-chan manages to find something for all of them.
Zenitsu smiles down at the small conch shell she gives him, cheeks hurting from how hard he’s grinning. Inosuke scrutinises the flat shell she hands him, but he sounds smug. Just because his shell is bigger than Zenitsu’s…!
Tanjirou goes quiet when Ayame hands him the seashell she picked out for him. It’s a conch, like Zenitsu’s, but it lacks the sharp tip that his has. It has brown rings as well, getting darker at the top. Tri-coloured, like Ayame’s kumihimo cord they made for her.
“Thanks,” Tanjirou says quietly. His smile is achingly gentle, so Zenitsu turns his eyes away.
He wishes they wouldn’t do this in front of him. It’s a little painful, if only because they’re being so oblivious. Their sound has changed, but they’re still trying to act like everything is normal. It would be a lot better if they did something about it – like acknowledged it, instead of inching around it like it doesn’t exist.
But it’s Tanjirou and Ayame. They’ll do as they always do. That is to say, they’ll do things in a completely idiotic way, because they’re both highly intelligent, but also absolute idiots.
Ah, but they’re his idiots. Them and Inosuke.
When the sun sets, Nezuko-chan makes a little sound right before she pushes her door open. She blinks down at the sand, pressing a tentative hand to it. She quickly pulls her hand back when it starts to sink.
“Nezuko-chan,” he calls out happily. “Come on out! We’re at the beach.”
Nezuko-chan tilts her head cutely. She’s frowning, a little furrow appearing between her brows as she looks down at the dubious soft ground. Ayame and Tanjirou are out by the water, letting the waves lap at their bare feet as they talk about nothing. They haven’t realised Nezuko-chan is out yet.
Zenitsu hesitates, then holds a hand out to her.
“It’s okay, you won’t sink,” he coaxes. He pulls on a patient smile – like the kind he’s seen on Tanjirou. He doesn’t know if it works, but a claw-tipped hand slowly reaches for him. It’s soft as it lands on his palm, so he’s gentle as he curls his fingers around hers.
“It’s alright.”
Nezuko-chan hums uncertainly, but finds the courage to step out anyway. She slowly grows, until she’s the fourteen-year-old Tanjirou says she is. Zenitsu takes a moment to admire the sight, then gently tugs her forward.
Her first couple steps are wobbly, her frown deepening. Zenitsu just waits patiently, letting her get used to the sand shifting under her zori. They manage to make it halfway to the water before Nezuko-chan squats. Her hand slips out of his and he laments the loss.
Nezuko-chan starts patting the sand, letting it fall through her fingers. There’s a glint of fascination in her eyes, the sound of elation bright and cheerful in her sound. She really does sound like when he brings Shinobu-san’s goldfish to her.
Zenitsu’s cheeks are red hot, but he doesn’t mind. This is for Nezuko-chan, after all. The water is too cold to play in anyway. Nezuko-chan might be an oni, but she isn’t a Demon Slayer. She can’t use Total Concentration Breathing to regulate her temperature like they do and the last thing he wants is for her to freeze.
“Ah! Nezuko, you’re awake!”
Tanjirou runs towards them, sand crunching beneath his bare feet. Nezuko-chan stands, eyes curving into crescents as she lets out a happy hum. Tanjirou pats the top of her head, letting his younger sister curl into him, even if she leaves sand on his gakuran. They’re such an affectionate duo, the songs that make up their sound crescendoing whenever they’re together.
Ayame-chan draws nearer. She keeps a respectful distance, but Nezuko-chan catches sight of her and skips towards her, bunting her head against Ayame-chan’s side with Tanjirou in tow. The smile that Ayame-chan gives Nezuko-chan is softer than usual. Zenitsu thinks that’s the same smile she must have had when she was minding her little sisters.
“Do you want to walk by the water, Nezuko?” Ayame-chan asks softly. “It’s a little cold, but it’s still nice.”
Nezuko-chan tilts her head. Then she looks down at Tanjirou’s and Ayame’s bare feet. She sticks her foot out – so cute! – and Tanjirou chuckles good-naturedly.
“Zori off,” he agrees. “Good girl, Nezuko!”
Nezuko-chan’s laugh is muffled, but it still sings into the air. Zenitsu clutches his chest, because it’s such a sweet sight. Ah, he can’t take it!
“Let’s race across the wet sand,” Inosuke declares. He fists his hand in Zenitsu’s uniform shirt, uncaring of the yelp he lets out. “Totsumi, you and me!”
“That’s not even a race,” insists Zenitsu. “I’m faster than you!”
“And I’m stronger than you.”
“That’s just facts! There’s nothing to argue about on that front. Besides, what does strength have anything to do with winning a race?”
Inosuke stares at him. Seriously, those googly blue eyes are weird! Zenitsu is just about to back away when he ends up on his ass in the sand.
“Inosukeeeeee!” he roars, shooting to his feet so he can exact vengeance on that stupid pig.
How dare he shove him so he can win the stupid race that he’s going to lose anyway!
Zenitsu doesn’t realise when his infuriated squeals turn into light-hearted laughs. They burst from his chest, completely unrestrained. Inosuke ducks under his swipe with a cackle. His excitement must be contagious. That’s all.
As he’s chasing Inosuke along the water’s edge, he catches sight of Ayame and Tanjirou ambling behind them at a slow pace. Nezuko-chan is between them, one hand in each of theirs. Ayame-chan is gazing out at the water, while Tanjirou is looking down at his sister. Nezuko-chan smiles up at her brother, then looks up to meet Zenitsu’s gaze.
Her pink eyes are pretty, he thinks. He can even ignore the slitted pupils, because even with them, her eyes seem as kind as Tanjirou says she is. She doesn’t seem like the fearsome onis they go up against. She’s gentle too, in the way all small animals are.
Nezuko-chan breaks their gaze to look up at Tanjirou and Ayame once more. She tilts her head, then pulls backwards. The two hands in hers join in the middle.
“Ah, Nezuko…!” Tanjirou sputters, but Nezuko-chan is already darting around him.
To head straight to Zenitsu.
Ayame-chan still hasn’t quite realised what has happened. She’s deep in her thoughts, which happens a worrying amount these days. He doesn’t blame her, of course. There’s a lot going on. Even on the outskirts, Zenitsu feels like he can’t keep up. His head would spin if he was in her position.
Tanjirou’s cheeks redden, embarrassment colouring his sound. But he doesn’t let go. He’s still gripping Ayame’s hand gently, his free hand reaching up to fiddle with an earring. He does that a lot; at first, Zenitsu was worried, but then he started listening and realised that there was nothing to worry about.
He really hopes they get their act together. He’s not sure how much more of their buffoonery he can take.
The water splashes as Nezuko-chan draws to his side. Zenitsu offers a hand, inhaling sharply when she takes it. He’s not Tanjirou or Ayame, so he didn’t really think she’d take it.
I won’t let any water get on Nezuko-chan!
He’d dreamt that, on the train, but he’s realising how wrong he was. Nezuko-chan is pretty and maybe she’s kind, but she’s not delicate. If she was, Tanjirou would never bring her out on missions with him. He’s her older brother, so he knows his sister best. And Zenitsu knows Tanjirou, so he’ll have faith in him.
“Good job, Nezuko-chan,” Zenitsu says quietly. “Let’s go show Inosuke who’s boss, okay?”
“Mn!”
He won’t be able to catch up to Inosuke with Nezuko-chan in two, but that’s okay. What matters is that they’re having fun.
This is the first time he’s ever been to a beach. It’s the first time he’s gone to a beach with his friends too. He doesn’t want to think of it as the last time, but they’re Demon Slayers. The only thing that’s guaranteed at the end is death.
So he’ll take this moment and savour it. And one day, he hopes he can come back – all five of them together.