Chapter Text
Loneliness.
He had managed to grow fond of it early on in his life. Having an emotionally unavailable brother who hated you as your only family left did this to people.
He became okay with it. He was alright with being alone. He didn't want that to change.
However, after his later 'mission' in the Swordsmith village a few weeks ago that turned into a disastrous fight, he didn't seem to have control over the people he kept around.
He sat on the bed in the Butterfly Mansion, his back resting against the headrest and the duvets covering the lower half of his body.
Inside the room were 3 other people present, who had seemed to want to be around him.
Well, 2 of the 3 at least. One seemed pretty far up on his high horse, but he didn't hate him, he guessed.
Tanjiro Kamado had begun talking to him after they met again in the Swordsmith village. Though the ravenette had continuously tried to push the boy away, shut him out, he couldn't even try after the guy saved his life back there.
He would visit him often after that, usually accompanied by either his two friends or his little sister, the infamous Nezuko Kamado, the slayer core's demon. She was a sweet girl, despite the violent nature of her 'kind'.
He really has no place to talk, he eats demons and gains their traits and he was much meaner than her. But he had changed.
He thought maybe, this time, he'd let it slide. He'd let someone be his friend.
"Genya, are you alright?" Tanjiro asked, worry laced in his voice as he looked at Genya's eyes. He'd spaced out.
It startled him, but he answered quickly, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine". Tanjiro gave him a genuine smile, before turning to his friends who were fighting each other.
He let himself space out again, before around 5 minutes later, there was a knock on their door. The door opened, a short, black and blue haired boy entering the room. The Mist Hashira, grinning slightly, waved at the people inside.
"You've built quite the defensive system against poison, though the fact that it affected your abilities remains." Shinobu spoke, preparing the cup of medicine in the nightstand.
"You've been weakened for the meantime, though not permanently. I will let the Master know about it and see what we can do about your next mission. It is likely that you will be assigned missions with a partner, just in case." She continued, as the Hashira nodded along.
"I also advise you to avoid using the technique you used to fight this time. Although it might be a side effect of the poison, your temperature was raised." Tokito's eyes slightly went wider, then back to their normal state. His emotions were fluctuating and he had to admit that he liked these feelings, even if they're not positive sometimes. His expressions vary more now.
"Why would it not be a side effect of the poison?" Muichiro questioned, confused. "Well, Tanjiro did say that the mark that both you and Mitsuri got is one he also acquired before and it usually gives him a fever." The doctor told him, handing the boy a cup of green-coloured liquid.
He chucked it down, placing the cup of the nightstand, before muttering a quick "I see."
"You're free to go for now, but you'll have to come in weekly for check ups, alight Tokito?" She finished up, smiling to the shorter boy.
He got up, leaving out the door but not before answering back with "alright, goodbye!"
Tokito told them about Shinobu's words, Tanjiro and Genya seeming to be the only people listening to him. "That makes sense." Genya said, tapping his finger against his chin.
He watched the Hashira interact with Tanjiro, as he felt the warmth surrounding his cheekbones. He looked away to recollect himself, calming down rapidly.
Why was this happening to him again? He hasn't told anyone about it, trying his best to ignore it.
"How are you feeling Genya?" a soft voice followed along with a little grin. The taller boy stammered. "I'm fine, I think I have a mission soon" he said. "That's good, we might get assigned together.'' Tokito hoped out loud.
Those two? On the same mission? No way, absolutely not. Muichiro is a Hashira, he is a low rank, how would that even work?
Yet still, he couldn't help but mutter "I hope so…" under his breath, just enough for Zenitsu to catch the sound of it.
As if on cue, a black crow sat on the window chirping. It was Genya's Kasugai crow, Hashibami. Genya looked its way, extending his hand for it to fly over to him.
When they first met, Genya had yanked it away from him, but he grew used to his crow companion. 'Am I getting a mission already?' He thought to himself, before the crow began speaking.
As he spoke, Genya was surprised to hear that his next mission was in Shinjuku, which was not that close to the Butterfly Mansion or the Corps Headquarters, so he'd have to travel a long distance.
Zenitsu seemed to perk up at this as well, recognizing the area, but he kept quiet as the crow continued on the details.
Though the details seemed to shock Genya slightly. As if life was laughing right at his face for what he believed, for thinking the way he did.
"You will accompany the Mist Hashira for this mission" said the crow, causing Muichiro's eyes to light up, even if Genya was too busy trying to decipher the reason why to pay attention to it.
"You are leaving tomorrow at dawn!" Finished the crow, finally flying away and out the window. Genya was left awed, sitting in his bed with his mind in the clouds.
"Well I guess it's our luck, huh!" Genya tried to joke, making the younger of the boys chuckle lightly at his words. Genya swore that the skip of his heart was a side effect of the previous mission.
"Shinjuku, hm?" Thought Zenitsu out loud, drawing the others' attention. "Yeah, what about it?"
Genya looked at him after those words, attempting to read his pretty firm expression. "That's my hometown…" he finally spoke, making his face shift rapidly to a concerned one.
"Genya, did your crow say anything about the demon?" Asked Tanjiro, catching the memo. "I think he just said that it's only one, but since Tokito-san is going I'm sure its a strong one." He analyzed the data, tapping his finger to his chin with thought.
Genya's eyes looked around, before accidentally locking with Tokito's. They held eye contact. He looked away. Then again, for another minute. But then he continued, "I'm sure everything's gonna be alright, yeah?" He tried to assure.
Genya didn't know Zenitsu all that well, but he looked really perturbed by the news. He was a good kid, Genya wanted to help.
"Yeah, we'll be fine" Tokito added, his gaze still lingering to Genya's, still looking at those dark purple eyes that made him metaphorically jump. But he'd take that to his grave if you tried to ask him.
"RAGHHH! I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STUPID DEMON, JUST COME HERE AND FIGHT ME MONTSITSU!" Inosuke propped up again, who'd only gone quiet cause he wasn't dense, he knew there was tension.
"THAT'S NOT EVEN MY NAME!?" Zenitsu yelled back, flapping his arms around in irritation.
"Well we better get going then! You have a mission tomorrow, rest well!" Said Tanjiro to Genya, pushing the other two fighting outside the room.
Genya felt as if everything was going too fast, he couldn't process it fast enough and only managed to wave after the three were out the door.
Then it was just them. Just Muichiro and Genya. In the same room. Alone. And 'oh my gosh I'm so fucking red' is the only thought that Genya could get through at this point.
Muichiro seemed to also redden, but that was surely the lighting of the estate, there's no- "Well, guess I'll see you tomorrow morning, partner" the smaller boy bid goodbye, smile from ear to ear.
"Yeah, bye!" was all Genya could say to the boy and then he was also gone. He needs to get his head on his shoulders, his mind on the line, cause he couldn't even make coherent thoughts, let alone speeches.
'Maybe I should just sleep for now…" he thought, pulling the covers towards himself, before burying himself inside them.