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Tanjiro knew nearly nothing about Giyuu Tomioka's crow but what he did know is that this letter he was holding had been lost by it and it should definitely not be in his possession, especially with Zenitsu around.
The three had been walking, to where he couldn't quite remember- the town's name was too long and complicated for him to remember it- when the crow came flying by. He could just by the smell of the letter, the adoration that wafted from the envelope alone proved that as fact. The letter had been carefully folded to create the least amount of creases possible.
He didn't want the letter, but by the time he had tried to give it back to Kanzuburo, they had already flown off. Now he was left with a letter he didn't even want. At the sight of this letter- and Inosuke's attention brought away from trying to catch the crow- before he knew it, both the boys were at his side badgering him about the letter.
"The letter isn't for me," He sighed, moving to put it in his pocket. "It's not my place to read it,"
"But what if he's in trouble?!" Now that got his attention. He let the letter hover around the area where his pocket was. What if Tomioka-san was in trouble? Tanjiro's lip quivered as he glanced down at the letter, turning it towards him. Those same thoughts whirled around his head for a few good minutes until he sighed and started to unfold the letter, resignation weighing heavy on his chest.
"What does it say? What does it say?!" Zenitsu questioned while he almost bounded over the other teen's shoulder. The redhead moved away but the blonde peaks over his shoulder despite that.
"Well, the letter starts," Tanjiro cleared his throat, fist briefly covering his mouth. "'To My Dearest Beloved. Of recently-'"
"'Dearest Beloved'?! Are you telling me that loser has a wife? No way in hell!" Tanjiro ignored him, carrying on reading the letter just in case there was something off or suspicious about the letter.
"As I was saying, 'Of recently, I find you occupying my thoughts, ordinary objects and ordinary senses such as certain foods and smells bring you to my mind, along with colors. What were you doing before you write back to me? Do you think of me as I think of you?'."
"I'll give him this, he's good with his words, but only on paper,"
With a sigh, Tanjiro settled with ignoring him, continuing on reading the letter. "'As I'm on this mission when the sun falls only you occupy my thoughts. I miss your company, I miss your warmth, and I miss laying beside you in the bed we share, the comfort it brings me is immense and makes the nights easier and quells the demons that like to haunt my mind. I hope to visit you soon. Longing for your company, your dearest, doll Giyuu'." He folds the letter with a sigh and puts it into his pocket.
Nothing suspicious about that letter, he thought, looks like it was a real waste. "Doll?" Inosuke echoed staring ahead confused.
"Doll?! I-I-I... That can only mean one thing!"
"That's a weird thing to call your minion," Inosuke pipped up, "No not that! It means he's... There are... Multiples... He's..." while the blonde on the other hand was struggling to conceptualize it all.
"It's an affectionate nickname!" Tanjiro interrupted, doing his best to quell whatever thoughts were swirling around in the older boy's head, the smell of confusion mixed with anguish was starting to give him a headache.
"W-Whaaaaaattttttt?! T-there's NO WAY that's an affectionate nickname, it applies there's... They called him a doll! A DOLL Tanjiro!" He grabbed the younger boy by the lapels of his haori and started to shake him, Tanjiro was unaffected by it, letting himself be shaken.
"Tomioka-san does look a bit like a doll though, his expression never changes like how a doll would, and when he isn't using water breathing his movements are kind of stiff and clunky."
"But it said 'YOUR DEAREST DOLL' that's implying there might be more of them?!"
"Monitsu I think you're thinkin' too deep into this, it doesn't make any sense what you're saying." The blonde scoffs at him and storms off. "You'd never understand what I'm talking about,"
"Wait- where are you going?!" The redhead called out and the lighting-breathing slayer shot him a scornful look. "I'm going to find out what's going on!"
"I don't think that's a good idea!" Yet the two followed the raging blonde anyway.
Aoi had been going on with her daily work when Kanao had come to her so suddenly with the vigor to break the routine.
"What? What is it? Did something happen?"
Kanao said nothing and handed her the letter. "What's this? Is it for me?" She shook her head, Aoi was only more confused. "Then who's it for?"
The girl just shrugged. "Well, then there's only one way to find out then,"
In haste, Aoi- carefully- unfolded the letter and opened it wide. As the other girl moved to peer over her shoulder she straightened out the paper to the best of her ability. There weren't many creases, it seemed intentional. She cleared her throat, and began to read, the handwriting was neat and easy to articulate.
'My Love,
I heard you've been taking more missions lately, is this true? You should know by now I hear my fair share of gossip with my occupation. If this is true then I should expect to see you here more then. You seem to be doing on a rebellious streak lately, have you not? I both anticipate and fear what will come next if this is true.
As much as I love your company, I love you being safer more. Take care and live life to the fullest.
Your beloved,'
Both Aoi and Kanao looked up from the letter at the same time and met each other's eyes. They shared a similar look.
"So we were right about our assumptions then?" Kanao nodded at her, a sort of pride playing in her eyes unobvious to most.
With a playful huff, Aoi smiled at her, her eyes shimmering with nothing less than pride she folded the letter back into her pocket and herded the other girl along. "C'mon now, let's get going," Kanao nodded and followed her along.
Most information circulates through the kakushi, so if you want the latest update on who's doing what or what someone else was wearing on a specific day, the kakushi is who you go to for they are the bearers of all gossip. So that's exactly who the three boys went to, the place where they resided the most, the Butterfly Mansion. Yet when they arrived there weren't any kakushi members there, only a few patients and the workers of the mansion. Needless to say, their little expedition was useless.
"I can't believe we came here for nothing," Zenitsu grumbled his arms cross flat over his chest kicking deftly at the ground. A girl passed behind them but the group ignored her. "We came all this way to figure out what was going on with that Water Hashira and we just didn't."
"Eh?" The girl behind them stopped and with her arms full of a basket of iridescent colored towels, Aoi says. "What about Tomioka-san? Are you looking for him?"
"NOOO!... I mean no... We weren't looking for ANYONE! Certainly not him!" As excuses waterfall from Zenitsu's mouth Tanjiro just turns towards her, eyes sparkling with interest. "Yes we are, do you happen to know where he is?" The blonde stops in his rambling and sharply turn towards the redhead and glares, pouting. Pouting very cutely as well.
Aoi however ignores this fact and shifts the basket till it's under only one arm, the other hand rests on her hip as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other and nods. "Yeah, he's in the kitchen right now if you want to see him." That makes the group stare at her wide-eyed, standing still.
.
.
.
"...What's he doing in there?" Tanjiro eventually piped up, partly hesitant, partly confused.
"Making Kocho-sama some lunch," She answers completely honestly, and the only thing she's greeted with is an uncomfortable silence.
.
.
.
"Yeah I was surprised too, but he's actually a pretty good cook, and Kocho-sama doesn't just eat from anyone, she's very picky."
"What's he making?" Tanjiro asked.
"Hey! Why aren't we focusing on how he has the nerve to think someone like him can come in and make Lady Kocho food!"
The three boys watched as she tapped her chin. "Well, he's making tempura shri-"
"He's making tempura?! He better make me some!" Inosuke suddenly jumped up from his seat and launched himself towards the door, rushing in the direction of the kitchen. "OI! Munioka! You better save some of that tempura for me too!"
The two boys shared a look of alarm as Aoi simply shrugged and carried on with her task at hand. The two don't need to share a single word before they both race off after their friend.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen the said Hashira they were talking about was busying himself with placing food on the tray he planned to bring to a certain someone. To his knowledge, the only ones in this mansion at the moment were a few patients and those who worked here which made it a good time to put his idea into action. So you can imagine his surprise when a familiar teen came bounding down the hallway and sliding into the kitchen.
"Romkoka!" The teen suddenly shouted but although confused about its meaning, Tomioka ignored it.
"Hey! Listen to me Nishioka!" That one got him to raise a brow but he continued to ignore it and continue with his ministrations, though, he thought there was something greatly similar with the name he said and his own.
"Nsunasoka!"
"Who?" A familiar lady peeked her head around the doorway and walked in. She looked between the teen and the man and tilted her head. Confused, Tomioka just pointed to himself.
"Tsunkona!"
"That's not-"
"Hold on hold on, he's almost there, I wanna see all the names he comes up with," As she held up her hand at him she smirked, her lips painted with mischief.
"Yusayaka!"
"Not even close," Kocho said.
"Isunyoca!"
"That was worse," Tomioka cringed.
"Tomioka!"
With a smile, Shinobu clapped her hands together. "Yes yes! You finally got boy, I'm proud of you!" Inosuke held his head up in pride, reveling in the feeling, however, he wasn't given long until just as the other two teens arrived in the room, Tomioka cleared his throat and got the woman's attention.
With his face flushed beyond belief, he grabbed the tray he had been placing the food on and presented it in front of the house's host, looking away as he did as if it were some cheap way to hide the redness of his cheeks. "This is... For you..."
"Oh..." Her lashes flutter as her lips curve upwards more, meeting her eyes and a hand rests on her cheek. "Did you make this all for me Tomioka-san?" The Water Hashira just nodded.
Shinobu clapped her hands together with a delighted smile. "Just what the doctor ordered!" With a bright smile, she took the tray from his hands but he just looked down gloomy. "...You didn't order it, it was meant to be a surprise..." Then, he spared a spitful glare at the teen wearing a boar mask. "But someone had to ruin it..."
Tanjiro felt himself jolt at the fierceness behind the man's glare even though it wasn't directed at him. "Yikes!"
"I know I know, I'm just jesting with you," She giggled at him and the demon slayer just looked away, scratching the back of his neck as his cheeks heated up once more.
"His... His heart...! It's beating so... So fast!" Zenitsu clenched at the fabric above his heart as spoke through gritted teeth.
"And I can smell the care and admiration coming from him too!"
"I can see him,"
Tomioka just glanced down at the floor, kicking at the surface as he muttered under his breath. "I also got your fish some food too..."
"Aww, you didn't have to, especially for me!"
"...It wasn't a hassle, I don't mind,"
Smiling even brighter, she handed off the tray to him, and he looked up at her confused and a little hurt. "You're giving it back? Do you not-"
"No no! I like it- I love it actually I just rather you carry it, come with Tomioka-san!"
"...Okay," He obliges without much of another word and follows her wordlessly out of the room, he either ignores or isn't aware of how much the blonde is fuming and how the brunette stared in awe.
Giyuu ended up making Inosuke some tempura later, much to his annoyance; it was hard to say no to Shinobu.
Zenitsu is in denial, deep denial that's apparent to anyone and everyone. But the teenager was insistent on proof or else it wasn't true, after all, how could someone like Tomioka ever dream of dating someone as lovely as Kocho?
But all that denial and suspicions all came to a head one fateful day when the three made their way to the Butterfly Mansion due to injuries they sustained on a mission. They weren't major injuries, minor if anything else so there was no worry about them getting immediately treated, at least to Tanjiro and Inosuke. Zenitsu barely had any, maybe a small scrape but he was insistent on finding Kocho so he could get her to treat him and talk to her.
And so against their will, the other two teens were dragged along to find her despite Aoi stating she could take care of their injuries just fine. But Zenitsu's joy was quickly cut short the moment he stepped into the room Kocho was in finding a sight he found quite unforgiving along with unbelievable.
It was Shinobu and Giyuu cuddling on a patient's bed. Giyuu was wearing the patient's clothes, apparent the reason why he was here was most likely for injuries more major than their own but the blonde didn't care to notice that. Shinobu was laying behind him, her hands cupping both of his cheeks while he rested one of his own on one of her wrists, leaning into her hands. The man was peacefully asleep, and in a quiet tone, she seemed to be teasing him, a smirk playing on her face.
It was truly a beautiful, almost domestic sight, at least for everyone except Zenitsu.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTT?!?!" Zenitsu loudly screamed, setting off an unpredictable chain of events.
At the noise, Giyuu shot up in the bed, doubling over with a wince as he grabbed at the side of his torso, looking towards it. "Ngh..."
"Tomioka-san!" Tanjiro basically shouted.
"Ah! Doll, are you alright? You shouldn't get up that fast your stitches-"
"I think I tore my stitches, Koko..." With a grimace he started to put pressure on the wound at his side, a growing red tint spreading underneath his hands.
"'Koko'?! 'KOKO'?! JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE CALLING LADY KOCHO 'KOKO' YOU UNRIGHTEOUS BASTARD!! I'M GOING TO-" Right before he could finish his sentence a book made contact with his head and he fell to the floor.
"Shut up!"With her lips pursed, Shinobu threw a book at the blonde, her face worn with anger. She turned toward the teen's friends with an urgent expression. "Go get Aoi, and take your friends with you while you're at it." She slide out from behind him and slowly helped lay him carefully down on the bed. She pressed his hand further onto the wound and didn't let him move away from it no matter how much he winced. "No no, keep your hand there and apply pressure, I don't want you to lose any more blood than you did yesterday! Okay, doll?"
The bleeding man's face grew suddenly flushed and in his embarrassment, he covered his face and looked away. "Ugh... Don't call me that..."
"You're bleeding Giyuu, you have better things to worry about- go get Aoi you two!"
With a groan, Zenitsu attempted to get up, grumbling harsh words under his breath as he did. "He doesn't deserve to be called that... He doesn't-"
Tanjiro grabbed the blonde by the back of his haori and dragged him away from the scene as he struggled a bit. Inosuke followed along and they got Aoi to help with the problem and soon went their separate ways.
"It's unfair... It's so unfair...!" Every word was punctuated with his fist slamming into the ground, tears of unjustified frustration leaking from his eyes. Inosuke and Tanjiro watched on in dismay as the teen continued his temper tantrum despite it being the next day. In confusion, the boar-wearing teen turned towards the redhead and tilted his head. "I don't get it, he makes a good tempura, so he's alright at least, so what is he whining about?"
"Have you seen him?! That loner doesn't deserve someone as beautiful and lustrous as Lady Kocho! Not someone as hideous as him! I hate him!" Tanjiro sighed, reaching forward and patting the teen's head.
"She must see something that you obviously don't-" The redhead tried to reassure him but was interrupted as the blonde slammed his fist into the floor below. "It's not FAIR!"
Tanjiro watched as he continued to spout the same nonsense over and over again. With another sigh, he resigned himself to his fate and watched as his friend refused to accept the truth- and most likely never would- for the next hour.
"I think he doesn't like me..." The two were laying down in her own private chambers now, away from everyone in the mansion and all alone by themselves. They had previously been in a lapse of silence which was oddly enough interrupted by Giyuu speaking up, Shinobu perked up at this. "And who are you referring to doll?" She watched as he shifted so he could turn to face her, laying his head on her chest. "The Agatsuma kid, he hates me..." With a huff, she shook her head and kissed his.
"Don't worry about him, he's just being stubborn," With a small, indiscernible noise he tucked his head in her neck, muttering something.
Smiling to herself, she held him closer and kissed the side of his head, her hand patting the side of his hair. "Well, even if he doesn't love you I always will," Then she kissed the side of his head again.
"Mph..." She giggled at him, and suddenly, an idea popped into her mind and with a mischievous grin, she kissed him all over his face while running her hands up his thighs. "Shinobu, stoooopp... MmnnNNNnnn..."
"I love you too honey,"
"Doesn't feel like it right now," He said, his voice muffled by the fabric of her yukata. "Whatever you say 'Tsunkona'~"
"Kokooooooo..."